Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPhty)

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.

Information for new applicants

Applications for Physiotherapy:
Open: 1 July 2025
Close: 14 August 2025

Information regarding the guidelines for admission can be found on the following website.
Division of Health Sciences

Division of class after third year

Clinical 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.