University
University of OtagoBachelor of Physiotherapy (BPhty)
This course is available
On-Campus
Level of Study
Bachelor's Degree
Duration
4 years
Next start date
Expected Oct 2026
Campus
Dunedin Campus
Summary
The Otago Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPhty) degree is a prestigious four-year programme positioned at the cutting edge of physiotherapy education. It is internationally renowned for excellence, because the graduates it prepares for the profession are among the best in the field.
The academic year is from late February to November. The programme is of four years' duration with years 2 to 4 being undertaken at the School of Physiotherapy. In the first year students take the Health Sciences First Year course and in the majority of cases students are selected from this year.
Students who complete all the competencies of the four years of study are then eligible to apply for registration as a physiotherapist with the New Zealand Physiotherapy Board.
Division of class after third yearClinical education teaching facilities for undergraduate Physiotherapy programmes are provided in the Dunedin, Christchurch and Wellington Clinical Centres and associated Clinical Hubs. After completion of the third year, the class will be divided and students allocated to one of the Clinical Centres or Clinical Hubs for the remainder of their programme. Students may also be required to complete their third year clinical training at one of the School's Clinical Centres.
In dividing the class, account will be taken of each student's personal preference as far as possible. However, if the number of applicants for entry to any Clinical Centre or Clinical Hub exceeds the number of places available, a ballot may be held to determine which students will be required to take a place in one of the other Centres or Hubs.
Honours students will normally be allocated to the Dunedin Centre. However, such students may be assigned to another Centre, or required to complete a component of their final year of clinical training at a location outside Dunedin at the discretion of the School. In determining the location, account will be taken of each student's personal preference as far as possible.
Entry criteria
Entry to the Health Sciences professional programmes First year – general entry requirementsIf you have done no prior tertiary study, your first year at Otago will be the Health Sciences First Year (HSFY). The HSFY programme is subject to the same general entry requirements as general bachelors' degrees at Otago.
Second year – limited entryAdmission to the second year of the Health Sciences professional programmes is competitive, and will depend on your academic record. For most applicants, this will be based on your grades in Health Sciences First Year papers, but there are also application categories for people with other relevant academic or professional experience.
For detailed information about the application categories and their requirements, please refer to:
General entry requirementsA university entrance qualification is essential for admission to the University of Otago for all types of programmes. You must also be at least 16 years of age by the first day of classes in your period of study and meet English language requirements.
Domestic studentsYou need to have met the New Zealand University Entrance standard, based on your achievement in secondary school or other prior study. Learn about the different categories for achieving University Entrance and what information you may need to provide with your application.
International studentsCheck recognised entry qualifications by country, and find out what documents you need to provide for a successful application.
English language requirements First yearAll students must be proficient in the use of English. If your first language is not English, there are several ways you may provide evidence of English proficiency, including through prior secondary or tertiary study, internationally recognised English language tests, and foundation language programmes.
The level of English proficiency required for undergraduate study is equivalent to an overall IELTS score of 6.0, with no individual band below 5.5.
For details about what is accepted as evidence of English proficiency, please refer to:
Second yearAll students enrolled in Health Sciences First Year who are planning to apply for Health Sciences professional programmes are required to take the HSFY English diagnostic.
For detailed information, please refer to:
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