Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours) (Whyalla)
Undergraduate
2024
You're considered an Australian student if you are any of the following:
Undergraduate
2024
None
SACE Stage 2 Physics
SACE Stage 2 Biology
More info
The admission criteria have been grouped to assist you to easily find the information most relevant to your circumstances. However, you may fit into more than one and the university will consider applicants against each of the relevant criteria.
Certain conditions apply. For more information refer to Appendix 4 of the University's Selection and Entry policy.
Applicants are required to meet one of the following criteria with a competitive result, and demonstrate that they fulfil any prerequisite requirements and essential requirements for admission:
Recent secondary education
Meet any prerequisite requirements with a minimum grade of C- or equivalent
AND
Applicants who have not achieved the Selection Rank required for automatic selection may be selected for any remaining places based on the grades of their year 12 subjects.
OR
Higher education study
OR
Vocational Education and Training (VET)
OR
Work and life experience
New program available from 2024, and applications are now open. If looking to transfer from a similar program, only first year courses will be taught in 2024 so available credit will be limited.
Become an expert in the structure and function of the human body, and help enable people of all ages to lead healthy lives.
Graduate ready to register as a physiotherapist with the Physiotherapy Board of Australia.
Complete 45 weeks of practical experience in local, industry-based clinical placements in areas like acute care, rehabilitation, paediatrics, aged care and disability, musculoskeletal and sports physiotherapy.
Graduate competent and confident to work across all areas of physiotherapy's scope with a respected honours degree, with opportunity to specialise in research or professional practice.
Experience quality face-to-face teaching, and benefit from the relaxed environment, small class sizes and strong community connections of our Whyalla campus.
Immerse yourself into the local workforce while studying and benefit from our established links with industry to kick-start your career.
Study a contemporary and culturally diverse curriculum informed by above world-class research in physiotherapy.1
Learn from award-winning teaching staff, including practising health professionals and expert researchers at the forefront of their fields.
UniSA is an unstoppable university for unstoppable people. As one of the World’s Top Young Universities,2 we’ll ensure you get the experience your future profession demands so it’ll feel like you’re studying one minute and in a career the next.
1Results in Clinical Sciences - 2018 Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA). 2Ranked #52, 2023 THE Young University Rankings.
Kickstart your unstoppable career helping people to reach their full potential, and lead healthy, functional lives as a physiotherapist. This four-year honours degree will develop your expertise in the prevention, assessment and management of health conditions across the full lifespan.
Allied health professionals play an integral role in improving the health and wellbeing of regional South Australians. 1 As a registered physiotherapist, you’ll be one of the most sought-after allied health professionals in Australia. Pursue careers in a range of areas such as working with children, disability, brain injury, spinal cord injury, muscloskeletal, sports and aged care.
Further study opportunities to specialise your scope of practice or increase your research capacities include a Master of Research, doctoral studies or the Master of Advanced Clinical Physiotherapy (Sports or Musculoskeletal).
Applicants who are overseas trained physiotherapists should explore their eligibility for registration with the Australian Physiotherapy Council before they apply for this degree.
1SA Rural Allied and Scientific Health Workforce Plan 2021–26, Government of South Australia
Students who undertake activities where interaction with patients/the public is required for their degree, such as field or clinical placements/visits and in University clinics and gyms, must demonstrate they meet mandatory pre-placement conditional requirements. These include criminal history clearance, a Working with Children Check and immunisation requirements.
Please visit the Clinical Placement Unit for information on key requirements, and to access the full student checklists.
Physiotherapy is a physically and cognitively demanding profession. Please refer to the degree’s Rules and Notes for further information on requirements to successfully complete this degree.
All students enrolled in a program leading to professional registration must be registered with the relevant national board. The registration process is undertaken by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) with the University providing notification to AHPRA following enrolment in the program.
The Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours) (Whyalla) will teach you to assess, treat and prevent health conditions across various areas of practice, including sport, musculoskeletal, cardiorespiratory and neurological disciplines.
You’ll start practical courses from day one and will learn foundational medical sciences in courses such as human anatomy and physiology. You also begin your training in physiotherapy-specific skills, starting with biomechanics and movement assessment.
You’ll also study important aspects of pharmacology and pain sciences; courses that will challenge your understanding of the mechanisms and management of pain in the biomedical model of health, and how to work collaboratively with patients to help them achieve their best outcomes. Experiential teaching is delivered through clinical placements that develop and refine your reflective physiotherapy practice.
You’ll graduate with qualifications to not only work as an autonomous practitioner concerned with prevention and management of movement disorders in the workplace or community, but also as a member of a multidisciplinary healthcare team. This holistic view of a patient’s health is critical, especially across the different types of care needed for people of all ages.
You can gain an extra qualification and broaden your career prospects by completing a Diploma in Languages.
At UniSA, you’ll gain in-depth theoretical knowledge and practical skills required to excel as a physiotherapist with patient-centred care at the heart of your practice.
Graduating with an honours degree will set you apart from the crowd, ensuring you have a competitive edge and are well-placed for a career in industry, research or further postgraduate study.
At UniSA, you're encouraged to build industry relationships from day one of your degree. You’ll advance your knowledge and skills through supervised clinical placements, completing a minimum of 45 weeks of practical experience across a variety of physiotherapy disciplines. Your learning is carefully designed to gradually reduce your need for support as you move toward graduation, to ensure you have the confidence and capacity to walk into a job as a new graduate physiotherapist.
You’ll benefit from the expertise of UniSA’s above world-class research in physiotherapy.1 We’ve been teaching in this field for more than 50 years and are proud of the rich knowledge base we’ve created. You’ll be taught by expert registered practicing physiotherapists and award-winning academics at the top of their fields throughout your studies.
1Results in Clinical Sciences - 2018 Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA).
The demand for physiotherapists continues to grow, with 9,400 new job openings projected to become available over the next five years1.
A successful physiotherapist is a biopsychological expert that understands the human body, but can also adeptly communicate, assess, manage and problem-solve a variety of issues for their clients.
Physiotherapists can work across management, administration, education, research, policy development, advisory and regulatory contexts. Industry settings can include:
This qualification can also be used as a pathway to further learning, including a Master of Research, doctoral studies or the Master of Advanced Clinical Physiotherapy (Sports or Musculoskeletal).
1Australian Government National Skills Commission Employment Projections 2021.
Applying to study with us:
Australian
There are other pathways you can follow to study this degree, including:
This degree is available for deferment. This option is made available by responding to your offer during the application process via the SATAC website. Applicants who receive an offer into a midyear degree are eligible to defer for six months.
Every year, over 2,500 UniSA students are supported in their studies through scholarships and grants worth millions of dollars. Check out the scholarships below. One of them may be perfect for you. Visit our scholarships page for more.
$5,000 scholarship for South Australian students with an ATAR of 99 who enrol to study a UniSA undergraduate degree.
Up to $10,000 per annum (full time) for South Australian students who obtain an ATAR of 99.95 or IB equivalent and enrol to study at UniSA.
Our campuses are home to fantastic facilities including modern lecture theatres, libraries, workshops and laboratories, as well as spaces that simulate real work environments. But you’ll also discover that your journey at UniSA is about social experiences, healthy living and getting involved. You’ll find student sports and fitness facilities, community clinics, tech zones and chill-out spaces. There are campus sport activities to keep you active, and if you are keen to explore the social side of university life, there are movies, cooking demonstrations, parties and loads more.
Adelaide also has a variety of accommodation options to suit different requirements and budgets. Options include dedicated student accommodation and private rentals. See our long-term accommodation pages, or explore our student accommodation by Scape on Bank Street in Adelaide’s lively cultural precinct, an ideal location for students. It is within easy reach of UniSA’s city and metropolitan campuses, Rundle Mall shopping, the Central Market, Chinatown, and the West End’s vibrant nightlife. It is also across the road from the Adelaide train station, and on bus and tram routes.
As a physiotherapy student you'll have access to purpose-built facilities, including:
You’ll also have access to a range of on-campus spaces including collaborative teaching rooms and relaxed student lounges.
There are a number of ways to apply to study UniSA's undergraduate and postgraduate coursework degrees.
Applications for admission into the University of South Australia’s undergraduate and most postgraduate degrees are made via the South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre (SATAC). Visit satac.edu.au and follow the links.
For the MBA degrees please apply through the UniSA MBA Application Portal. Applications for a small number of degrees are submitted direct to UniSA through our Apply Online portal. It will be noted on the degree page if you need to apply via Apply Online.
Postgraduate study by research
For information on applying to do postgraduate study by research, including Master of Research, PhDs or Doctorates, please visit unisa.edu.au/resdegrees.
Undergraduate
Yes. The deadline to apply to study a degree at UniSA for semester one (commencing late February) and be given equal consideration is in early December. While you may be able to apply after this date, you are not guaranteed to be considered equally with other applicants and your application may not be assessed in time for the main round of offers (mid January). Some degrees will not make any offers after the main offer round. Please click here find all of the key dates for applications here.
Postgraduate
Most postgraduate degrees do not have a closing date for applications. However, there are exceptions, so it is best to check – either on the SATAC website, Apply Online or the degree homepage. Postgraduate offers are normally ‘rolling’, meaning they may be sent out at any time up until the program starts. This also means that applications may close at any time without warning, if the quota is filled earlier. For this reason, postgraduate applications should be submitted without delay. For more information, please contact our Future Student Enquiries team on (08) 8302 2376 or via the online enquiry form.
Credit transfer or advanced standing
You may be eligible to receive a credit transfer or advanced standing for your chosen UniSA degree based on your previous studies, if they are in a related area at an equivalent or higher level. Receiving a credit transfer will reduce the number of courses you undertake within the degree, and may also reduce the overall duration of your degree.
Recognised prior learning
If you have related industry experience, you may also be eligible to receive recognised prior learning for this experience. Receiving recognised prior learning will normally reduce the number of courses you undertake within the degree, and can reduce the duration of the degree.
How do I get credit?
Credit transfer and recognition of prior learning is assessed on a case-by-case basis by the Program Director who will discuss your prior learning and experience with you to ascertain what credit you may be eligible for.
Many of our credit transfer arrangements are listed on our online Credit Assessor.
UniSA welcomes the opportunity to speak with you regarding your study options. Our staff are able to talk to you about degree information, career outcomes and pathways, entry requirements, applications, and student life, so that you are able to make the best study decision for your future.
Click here to book a 1:1 appointment with one of our enquiries team.
If you are interested in studying an MBA please contact admissions@unisa.edu.au and our Future Student Enquiries team will contact you regarding your enquiry.
Alternatively, you can complete a MyCareerMatch career profile. MyCareerMatch is an online career profiling tool that you can use free-of-charge through UniSA. MyCareerMatch specialises in career profiles and provides you with a personalised career report outlining information about your personality style and a list of career options, which are complementary to your natural strengths and talents.
We have many events throughout the year where you can speak with a lecturer or tutor about your degrees of interest. You can find out what is happening at UniSA by visiting our events page or by signing up to our mailing list, so you're the first to know about careers events, information sessions, degree requirements, scholarships and more!
There are also many career counsellors external to the University that you can discuss your career options with. If you are unsure where to start your search, you can contact the Government's Work Ready team (formally Skills for All). Visit skills.sa.gov.au or call 1800 506 266.
You may also find Job Outlook a helpful resource in your decision-making.
It can be difficult to decide what degree you would like to do and where. You might find information from government organisations will help to weigh up your degree and provider options.
Find a course or a provider
TEQSA is a regulatory body for higher education providers. Use the TEQSA national register of higher education providers to search for a course or a provider. Compare courses and providers for undergraduates and postgraduates using the Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT) online comparison tool.
More information on university admission
Visit the SATAC website to find out important news, events and information on applying to university in South Australia. Visit Study with Us to find out everything you need to know about studying at UniSA, admissions and the application process.
Questions about your application
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your application you should contact the Future Students Enquiries team in the first instance.