Study area_

Physiotherapy

Enabling free movement across communities
We're committed to educating people-centric physiotherapists through a 'scaffolded' degree structure that helps build clinical experience over time.

Courses in physiotherapy

Learn how to assess, diagnose and treat people with movement problems caused by a wide variety of joint, muscle and nerve disorders. Our curriculum incorporates international, local and indigenous perspectives to ensure a breadth and depth in students' knowledge.

Our courses in physiotherapy are accredited by the Australian Physiotherapy Council (APC), which qualifies graduates to register with the Physiotherapy Board of Australia and practice as a physiotherapist in Australia.

Undergraduate courses

Postgraduate courses

Postgraduate research

What is physiotherapy?

Physiotherapy is a clinical allied health profession that aims to rehabilitate and improve the physical well being of patients with movement disorders resulting from a wide variety of joint, muscle and nerve disorders.

Physiotherapists are responsible for assessing, diagnosing, treating and preventing injuries utilising drug-free techniques such as exercise, adapted equipment, education, and motivation.

Physiotherapy is used to manage a wide range of conditions including neurological illnesses, movement disorders in children, rehabilitation after injury, post-operative recovery, and chronic conditions such as asthma.   

Career opportunities

Physiotherapists work in diverse settings including hospitals and healthcare organisations, private practice, sports settings, workplaces, schools, universities and research institutions.

Career paths include a range of specialised clinical areas such as sports medicine, paediatrics, orthopaedics, musculoskeletal physiotherapy, neurological physiotherapy, cardio-respiratory physiotherapy and more.

Research opportunities

Applied research in physiotherapy at the University of Sydney is aimed at improving evidence-based treatment and prevention strategies to improve the lives of people with physical disorders or disabilities. Our research staff support higher degree research candidates to develop research expertise.

Research Supervisor Connect matches your research interests to available PhD and master's research opportunities and supervisors.

Why study with us?

1

Brand new education and research facilities
in the Susan Wakil Health Building

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2

Graduate career-ready and in demand
we’re 1st in Australia for graduate employability and 3rd in the world for sports related subjects

View our rankings
3

Finish in 3 years as a postgraduate student
our Doctor of Physiotherapy degree offers advanced clinical training and streamlined entry requirements.

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4

Hands-on clinical training
gain comprehensive professional experience with clinical placements embedded throughout your studies

Learn about placements
5

Learn from highly respected practitioners and researchers
Our research ranks "well above world-class" (ERA level 5)

Our research

Our people

  • ABC Life quoted Professor Paulo Ferreira from the Sydney School of Health Sciences and Charles Perkins Centre in an article about looking after your body when working physically demanding jobs.
  • Sydney Morning Herald quoted Professor Evangelos Pappas from the Sydney School of Health Sciences on whether surgery to repair the anterior cruciate ligament in the knee is more beneficial than rehabilitation without surgery. 

Head of Discipline

Evangelos Pappas, Physiotherapy Head of Discipline
Associate Professor Elizabeth Dylke
View academic profile