Overview

Support healthy lives by restoring function, managing pain, and treating injuries.

Gain real-world experience across major hospitals, community settings, and international clinical placements, while developing advanced skills in physiotherapy. Designed to meet the evolving needs of patients and the health sector, the DPT prepares you for roles in chronic disease management, health promotion and prevention, as well as sports, rehabilitation, acute care, and private practice across the lifespan, empowering you to make a real difference from day one.

Key features

• Become a physiotherapist. Graduate ready to register as a physiotherapist with the Australian Health Practitioner Registration Authority (AHPRA) and start work straight away.
• Expert educators. You’ll be led by highly credentialed clinical educators, lecturers, researchers and mentors, with connections to leading hospitals, research institutes, and the private sector.
• Exciting placement opportunities. Gain diverse clinical experience in major metropolitan teaching hospitals, primary care, and rural settings. With this exposure, you will have the opportunity to develop a better understanding of what future path may best suit you.

Learn about the Doctor of Physiotherapy at Melbourne

Watch how Talia Clohessy, a Physiotherapist at the Melbourne Academic Centre for Health is using her postgraduate education to advance physiotherapy and rehabilitation treatment for those living with lifelong chronic diseases.

YouTube video player

Why study physiotherapy at Melbourne?

The Doctor of Physiotherapy provides a strong foundation in physiotherapy theory and practice, preparing graduates for the evolving demands of contemporary practice. With more than 25 weeks of clinical placements across diverse healthcare settings, you will develop the confidence and capability for independent professional practice across the three-year program.

You will develop core skills:

• Practical application. See healthcare in action while working with diverse community groups. This develops skills to analyse health challenges in their broader context and build practical, meaningful solutions that make a real difference in people’s lives.
• Communication. Learn to explain treatment plans, listen actively to patient concerns, and adapt your approach based on cultural context and individual needs. These skills build trust, improve patient outcomes, and prepare you to work effectively within healthcare teams.
• Ethical practice. Explore real dilemmas you'll face as a clinician and learn to apply professional standards to make decisions you can stand behind. This foundation builds patient trust and ensures you practise with integrity throughout your career.

What support services can Doctor of Physiotherapy students access at Melbourne?

• Melbourne University Physiotherapy Students' Society (MUPSS). The MUPSS delivers social and educational events to ensure your time in the DPT program is fun, supportive and engaging.
• MDHS Student Hub. Stop by for help with placement checks, wellbeing, training, and support.
• Peer mentoring program. Get to know those in higher years through the physiotherapy mentoring program.
• Commonwealth Prac Payments. Apply for support to financially aid you throughout your clinical placements.

What do students say about the Doctor of Physiotherapy?

Varnika Vaddiraju

“Being able to do [clinical placement] in a well-scaffolded environment with lots of support from academics and supervisors has been crucial to helping me develop the confidence required to become an independent practitioner."

Learn more about the School

Visit the Department of Physiotherapy

Past information session

Doctor of Physiotherapy Information Session

When: Thursday, 16 April 2026, 6:00PM - 7:00PM AEST

Hear from Course Coordinator - Associate Professor Sze-Ee Soh and current students and discuss, how we prepare students for the changing roles of the physiotherapist.

Watch recording