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Graduates of the Master of Physical Therapy (MPT) program promote 'Movement and Function for Life'. Using the Lifespan approach, the major areas of study in the 26-month MPT program include: basic sciences, clinical decision making, clinical practice (musculoskeletal, neurological and cardiorespiratory), exercise and movement sciences, and rehabilitation research.
The MPT Program has been accredited by Physiotherapy Education Accreditation Canada, and has a strong relationship with the clinical community. Students experience a total of 1080 'hands-on' clinical hours over six clinical placements in diverse aspects of clinical care. The evidence-based curriculum is structured to promote critical thinking, develop problem solving skills, promote teamwork and collaboration, and empower students to be lifelong learners.
The UBC Master of Physical Therapy program (MPT) is the only fully distributed, entry-to-practice Physical Therapy program in British Columbia. The MPT program offers students the opportunity to study at one of two locations: UBC’s Point Grey Campus or University of Northern British Columbia’s campus in Prince George.
MPT-Vancouver and MPT-North cohorts have the opportunity to learn using state-of-the-art facilities that are equipped with cameras and large screen monitors when observing demonstrations of even the most detailed subjects. Additionally, students have access to break-out rooms designed to help practice their clinical skills.
The Department leads in innovative research and is well known globally for its high standards and excellent faculty. Both academic and external faculty are recipients of prestigious teaching awards, providing an excellent learning environment.
The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies establishes the minimum admission requirements common to all applicants, usually a minimum overall average in the B+ range (76% at UBC). The graduate program that you are applying to may have additional requirements. Please review the specific requirements for applicants with credentials from institutions in:
Each program may set higher academic minimum requirements. Please review the program website carefully to understand the program requirements. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission as it is a competitive process.
Applicants from a university outside Canada in which English is not the primary language of instruction must provide results of an English language proficiency examination as part of their application. Tests must have been taken within the last 24 months at the time of submission of your application.
Minimum requirements for the two most common English language proficiency tests to apply to this program are listed below:
Overall score requirement: 100
Reading
22
Writing
21
Speaking
21
Listening
22
Overall score requirement: 7.5
Reading
7.0
Writing
7.0
Speaking
7.0
Listening
7.0
Some programs require additional test scores such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Test (GMAT). The requirements for this program are:
The GRE is not required.
Recognized baccalaureate degree in any field (120 credits).
Prerequisite courses in Physics, English, Anatomy, Psychology, Statistics and Human Physiology.
Minimum of 70 volunteer hours or work experience with people with disabilities.
All applicants have to submit transcripts from all past post-secondary study. Document submission requirements depend on whether your institution of study is within Canada or outside of Canada.
A minimum of three references are required for application to graduate programs at UBC. References should be requested from individuals who are prepared to provide a report on your academic ability and qualifications.
Many programs require a statement of interest, sometimes called a "statement of intent", "description of research interests" or something similar.
Course-based programs do not have a thesis component. While they may assign academic advisors to students, they do not require applicants to reach out to individual professors / faculty members to seek commitment as their thesis supervisor. Please do not contact faculty members for the purposes of thesis supervision if you are applying to this program.
Permanent Residents of Canada must provide a clear photocopy of both sides of the Permanent Resident card.
All applicants must complete an online application form and pay the application fee to be considered for admission to UBC.
Primary consideration is given to residents of British Columbia, those out of province students who have completed a Bachelors degree or higher in BC within the last five years, and applicants who are residents of the Yukon, Northwest Territories, or Nunavut. Applicants are considered BC Residents if they hold a currently valid BC CareCard or BC Services Card at the time of application to the program. Residents of the Yukon, Northwest Territories are treated as BC residents and will be required to provide equivalent documentation to the BC residency requirement. By the application deadline, applicants must submit a scanned copy or photocopy of their BC CareCard or BC Services Card. The Admissions Office reserves the right to contact applicants for further information or documentation, if required, to clarify BC residency status. We can currently accept up to 10% of all incoming students from out of Province. Beginning with the September 2016 entrance, the Department of Physical Therapy will accept up to 8 international students per year into the Master of Physical Therapy program.
| Fees | Canadian Citizen / Permanent Resident / Refugee / Diplomat | International |
|---|---|---|
| Application Fee | $116.25 | $168.25 |
| Tuition * | ||
| Installments per year | 3 | 3 |
| Tuition per installment | $2,335.02 | $15,637.87 |
| Program Fee | $16,345.14 | $109,465.09 |
| Int. Tuition Award (ITA) per year (if eligible) | Not applicable | |
| Other Fees and Costs | ||
| Supplementary fees (once) | $1586.81 $130.25 Supplemental application fee, $1456.56 program fee | |
| Student Fees (yearly) | $1,116.60 (approx.) | |
| Costs of living | Estimate your costs of living with our interactive tool in order to start developing a financial plan for your graduate studies. | |
| Deposit to accept offer (if admitted) | ||
| Deposit requirement | $1000.00 | $1000.00 |
Applicants to UBC have access to a variety of funding options.
Organizations may provide their employees with tuition benefits as part of an employment package to support lifelong learning of their workforce.
Professional / course-based programs usually do not provide merit-based funding. Some programs may offer bursaries.
Canadian and US applicants may qualify for governmental loans to finance their studies. Please review eligibility and types of loans.
All students may be able to access private sector or bank loans.
Many foreign governments provide support to their citizens in pursuing education abroad. International applicants should check the various governmental resources in their home country, such as the Department of Education, for available scholarships.
The possibility to pursue work to supplement income may depend on the demands the program has on students. It should be carefully weighed if work leads to prolonged program durations or whether work placements can be meaningfully embedded into a program.
International students enrolled as full-time students with a valid study permit can work on campus for unlimited hours and work off-campus for no more than 20 hours a week.
A good starting point to explore student jobs is the UBC Work Learn program or a Co-Op placement.
Students with taxable income in Canada may be able to claim federal or provincial tax credits.
Canadian residents with RRSP accounts may be able to use the Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP) which allows students to withdraw amounts from their registered retirement savings plan (RRSPs) to finance full-time training or education for themselves or their partner.
Please review Filing taxes in Canada on the student services website for more information.
Applicants have access to the cost estimator to develop a financial plan that takes into account various income sources and expenses.
These statistics show data for the Master of Physical Therapy (MPT). Data are separated for each degree program combination. You may view data for other degree options in the respective program profile.
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applications | 436 | 402 | 385 | 306 | 330 |
| Offers | 134 | 135 | 111 | 118 | 93 |
| New Registrations | 118 | 119 | 99 | 100 | 80 |
| Total Enrolment | 338 | 318 | 279 | 257 | 237 |
Physical therapists specialize in the assessment and treatment related to movement. Common movement disorders result from impairment of the neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, respiratory or cardiovascular systems. Following assessment of their clients, physical therapists often use physical agents such as therapeutic exercise, heat, cold, and electrical stimulation to increase muscle strength and function, reduce pain, promote general health and fitness, and prevent disability. As specialists in movement dysfunction, physical therapists also provide expertise in human mobility, carefully analyzing gait patterns and prescribing treatment regimens or devices (such as braces, crutches, or wheelchairs) to enable clients to move independently through their environments.
Departments/Programs may update graduate degree program details through the Faculty & Staff portal. To update contact details for application inquiries, please use this form.
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