Are physiotherapy and physical therapy the same?

Yes, physiotherapy and physical therapy are almost interchangeable terms. Physical therapy is commonly utilized in the USA, whereas physiotherapy is commonly used in other regions of the world, such as the UK, Canada, Australia, and Ireland.

What is the scope of physiotherapy abroad for international students?

Physiotherapy is a noble health profession, highly in demand, particularly in countries with well-developed healthcare systems, organizations, and policies for citizens like the USA, UK, Australia, Germany, etc.

Do you need to be registered to practice as a physiotherapist?

Yes, obtaining a license to practice as a physiotherapist requires registration. For example, in the UK, they must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), while in Australia, registration is handled by the Physiotherapy Board of Australia while the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) is involved in the USA. However, in order to be registered, an applicant must pass the national physiotherapy examination of that country or state.

Top Physiotherapy/Physical Therapy Universities in 2022-2023

Best Physiotherapy Colleges and Universities in the World

About Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy, often known as physical therapy, is a health-care profession that focuses on restoring movement and function to those who have been injured, ill, or disabled. The movement experts who are qualified to help patients improve their quality of life by prescribing physical treatment, providing hands-on care, and educating patients are known as either physiotherapists or physical therapists. In the USA, the term physical therapist is used frequently, whereas, in other parts of the world, such as Canada, Australia, Ireland, etc., the term physiotherapist is popular.

Duties of a Physiotherapist

Patients must recover properly after an injury, surgery, or illness to maintain their health and well-being for a long-time. Physiotherapists utilize exercise, acupuncture, dry needling, massage, electrotherapy, and a number of other treatment modalities to help patients recover from an injury. The following are the key responsibilities of this group of healthcare professionals:

Examine a patient to assess the patient’s physical abilities through evaluative procedures such as functional ability tests
Design and prescribe treatment goals based on the diagnosis
Evaluate teaching methods and modify them to suit patient needs
Educate family and caregivers on the patient’s condition and suggest ways to improve and maintain the given physiotherapy treatment
Collaborate with other healthcare professionals such as doctors, occupational therapists, and health workers to discuss the background of the patient’s health as well as the progress of the patient
Keep up-to-date with the latest developments in the field of physiotherapy
Supervise and train junior physiotherapists and physiotherapy assistants and other support workers
Maintain all of the patients’ clinical and healthcare records
Conduct and create physical health programmes for patients, the community, and health care workers

Popular degrees for pursuing a career in Physiotherapy

A student wishing to become a physiotherapist can opt for an undergraduate graduate degree either in physiotherapy or in relevant fields such as biological or behavioral science, physiology, psychology, or sports science, followed by a graduate level program in physiotherapy. But these degrees need to be from an accredited university. For example, the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) is in charge of accrediting physiotherapy degrees offered across all the universities in the USA. Many students prefer to gain some practical experience after completing their undergrad before going for a master’s degree. In the USA, a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree is necessary to practice along with state licensing.

Bachelor’s programs

Bachelor in Physiotherapy (BPT)
B.Sc. in Physiotherapy
B.S. in Rehabilitation Studies
B.S. in Kinesiology
B.S. in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology

Master’s programs

Master’s in Physiotherapy (MPT)
M.Sc. in Physiotherapy
M.Sc. in Kinesiology
M.S. in Health Services Administration
M.S. in Nutrition and Exercise Physiology
M.Sc. in Neurophysiotherapy

Doctorate in Physiotherapy

Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
Doctor of Physiotherapy (DPhysio)

Specializations in Physiotherapy

Physiotherapists give patients strategies and tools to overcome pain and mobility issues to make sure that they live a quality life for a long term. Specialization is the process through which a physical therapist develops a greater depth of knowledge and skills related to a specific area in physiotherapy. The following are some of the specializations in the field of physiotherapy:

Advanced Physiotherapy
Neurophysiotherapy
Cardiorespiratory Physiotherapy
Pediatrics Physiotherapy
Physical Therapy in Musculoskeletal Healthcare and Rehabilitation
Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy
Sport Science and Performance Coaching
Applied Sport and Exercise Science
Pain Science and Management
Neuromusculoskeletal Healthcare
Clinical Exercise Science
Hand Therapy
Veterinary Physiotherapy
Orthopedic Physiotherapy
Geriatrics Physiotherapy
Post-operative Physiotherapy
Wome’s Health

Duration of programs in Physiotherapy

In general, undergraduate degrees in physiotherapy last three to four years, with four years being the norm in the United States. Master’s degrees in physiotherapy usually last one to two years. physiotherapist and takes three to four years to finish.

Country	Bachelor’s Degree	Master’s Degree	Doctoral Degree
USA and Canada	4 years	1-2 years	3-4 years
UK	3-4 years	1-2 years	3-4 years
Australia	3-4 years	1-2 years	3-4 years
Others	3-4 years	1-2 years	3-4 years

Career opportunities in Physiotherapy

There are many places where a physiotherapist can work, for example, hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, schools, sports and fitness centers, private, etc. Therefore, they have a lot of options to choose a work environment that is best suited for them and their skills such as

Physiotherapist
Sports physiotherapist
Professor or lecturer in physiotherapy
Personal trainer
Physician associate
Aquatic or marine life physiotherapist
Management
Private physiotherapist

Average salaries for Physiotherapists

Physiotherapy is a well-paying career, although the salary depends on the degree of education, level of experiences, skills and also on the country. The demand for physiotherapists would remain high due to the increased life expectancy and aging population, especially the baby boomers. The following are the average salaries physiotherapists earn in popular countries:

Country	*Average salary in USD/year**
UK	61,423 (Source: Glassdoor)
Canada	61,308 (Source: Talent)
Australia	67,909 (Source: Talent)
USA	80,000 (Source: Talent)

*Note: All prices mentioned in the USD are for reference only. Exchange rates may vary from time to time and from country to country.

Top 50 universities in the world for Physiotherapy based on world rankings (Shanghai/QS/THE):

QS Ranking	Shanghai Ranking	THE Ranking	University	Country	Bachelor’s Programs	Master’s Programs
2	7	1	University of Oxford	UK	Click Here	Click Here
3	2	4	Stanford University	USA	Click Here	Click Here
5	1	2	Harvard University	USA	Click Here	Click Here
8	17	18	University College London	UK	Click Here	Click Here
13	15	13	University of Pennsylvania	USA	Click Here	Click Here
14	11	9	Yale University	USA	Click Here	Click Here
19	8	11	Columbia University	USA	Click Here	Click Here
23	26	24	University of Michigan – Ann Arbor	USA	Click Here	Click Here
25	16	13	Johns Hopkins University	USA	Click Here	Click Here
26	22	18	University of Toronto	Canada	Click Here	Click Here
27	67	44	McGill University	Canada	Click Here	Click Here
30	201-300	201-250	Western University	Canada	Click Here	Click Here
37	33	33	University of Melbourne	Australia	Click Here	Click Here
38	69	58	University of Sydney	Australia	Click Here	Click Here
40	14	20	University of California – Los Angeles	USA	Click Here	Click Here
46	42	37	University of British Columbia	Canada	Click Here	Click Here
47	51	54	University of Queensland	Australia	Click Here	Click Here
48	18	34	University of California-San Diego	USA	Click Here	Click Here
52	32	23	Duke University	USA	Click Here	Click Here
70	87	42	Catholic University of Leuven	Belgium	Click Here	Click Here
75	31	58	University of Wisconsin – Madison	USA	Click Here	Click Here
77	151-200	124	University of Southampton	UK	Click Here	Click Here
79	30	96	University of Copenhagen	Denmark	Ckick Here	Click Here
85	19	29	University of Washington – Seattle	USA	Click Here	Click Here
87	151-200	116	Lund University	Sweden	Click Here	Click Here
90	101-150	105	University of Birmingham	UK	Click Here	Click Here
100	29	52	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	USA	Click Here	Click Here
103	101-150	141	University of Nottingham	UK	Click Here	Click Here
107	23	51	Washington University in St Louis	USA	Click Here	Click Here
112	95	62	Boston University	USA	Click Here	Click Here
120	101-150	85	Ohio State University	USA	Click Here	Click Here
121	101-150	201-250	University of Sao Paulo	Brazil	Click Here	Click Here
126	101-150	125	University of Alberta	Canada	Click Here	Click Here
140	92	80	McMaster University	Canada	Click Here	Click Here
151	151-200	189	Cardiff University	UK	Click Here	Click Here
160	101-150	82	Emory University	USA	Click Here	Click Here
163	101-150	140	University of Pittsburgh	USA	Click Here	Click Here
173	97	154	University of Florida	USA	Click Here	Click Here
179	101-150	72	Erasmus University Rotterdam	Netherlands	Click Here	Click Here
186	40	86	University of Minnesota – Twin Cities	USA	Click Here	Click Here
189	101-150	178	University of Liverpool	UK	Click Here	Click Here
206	301-400	301-350	RMIT University	Australia	Click Here	Click Here
209	101-150	115	Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam	Netherlands	Click Here	Click Here
233	201-300	127	Maastricht University	Netherlands	Click Here	Click Here
235	151-200	201-250	University of Calgary	Canada	Click Here	Click Here
362	301-400	201-250	La Trobe University	Australia	Click Here	Click Here
455	201-300	251-300	University of Iowa	USA	Click Here	Click Here
601-650	501-600	401-500	University of Plymouth	UK	Click Here	Click Here
801-1000	301-400	601-800	University of Alabama at Birmingham	USA	Click Here	Click Here
	42	39	Karolinska Institute	Sweden	Click Here	Click Here

Top universities in the USA for Physiotherapy

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job prospects for physiotherapists are thought to boost by 22% between 2018 and 2028, far greater than the average rate of growth for all occupations, This is the perfect opportunity for aspiring physiotherapists to study in the USA. Also, the USA ranks highest when it comes to the number of universities offering undergraduate and postgraduate courses in physiotherapy. Even with a USA bachelor’s degree in physiotherapy, a student can earn an average of over 67,000 USD/year (Payscale).

QS Ranking	Shanghai Ranking	THE Ranking	University	Country	Bachelor’s Programs	Master’s Programs
14	11	9	Yale University	USA	Click Here	Click Here
107	23	51	Washington University in St Louis	USA	Click Here	Click Here
75	31	58	University of Wisconsin – Madison	USA	Click Here	Click Here
85	19	29	University of Washington – Seattle	USA	Click Here	Click Here
163	101-150	140	University of Pittsburgh	USA	Click Here	Click Here

*Note: All prices mentioned in the USD are for reference only. Exchange rates may vary from time to time and from country to country.

Top universities in the UK for Physiotherapy

Studying in the UK is one of the best choices for international students, especially when it comes to physiotherapy, as the UK offers a lot of scholarship and funding options. The NHS Learning Support Fund provides funding support of at least 6,363 USD/year to all pre-registered students for undergraduate and postgraduate physiotherapy courses. Qualifying students will also receive up to 3,818 USD in additional funding. Plus, student loan companies help students with tuition and maintenance loans. The fees for undergraduate physiotherapy in UK colleges range from 24,253 USD/year to 33,188 USD/year. While the fees for postgraduate physiotherapy courses for international students start anywhere from 29,000 USD/year.

QS Ranking	Shanghai Ranking	THE Ranking	University	Country	Bachelor’s Programs	Master’s Programs
2	7	1	University of Oxford	UK	Click Here	Click Here
103	101-150	141	University of Nottingham	UK	Click Here	Click Here
189	101-150	178	University of Liverpool	UK	Click Here	Click Here
90	101-150	105	University of Birmingham	UK	Click Here	Click Here
8	17	18	University College London	UK	Click Here	Click Here
151	151-200	189	Cardiff University	UK	Click Here	Click Here
87	151-200	116	Lund University	Sweden	Click Here	Click Here

*Note: All prices mentioned in the USD are for reference only. Exchange rates may vary from time to time and from country to country.

Top universities in Australia for Physiotherapy

Because physiotherapy is on Australia’s Skilled Occupation List (SOL), getting a work visa is almost guaranteed. Therefore, many students prefer studying in Australia in comparison to the USA and UK. After completion of either a bachelor’s degree in physiotherapy or a master’s degree in physiotherapy, students have to register with the Physiotherapy Board of Australia in order to start their practice.

QS Ranking	Shanghai Ranking	THE Ranking	University	Country	Bachelor’s Programs	Master’s Programs
37	33	33	University of Melbourne	Australia	Click Here	Click Here
206	301-400	301-350	RMIT University	Australia	Click Here	Click Here
362	301-400	201-250	La Trobe University	Australia	Click Here	Click Here
38	69	58	University of Sydney	Australia	Click Here	Click Here
47	51	54	University of Queensland	Australia	Click Here	Click Here

Top universities in Canada for Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy is a highly regulated profession in Canada, but it is also in high demand, making it a perfect place to study a professional degree in physiotherapy. As per the Canadian government, physiotherapy will be on the rise from 2019 to 2028, therefore many universities in Canada are offering post-graduate and undergraduate courses in physiotherapy.

QS Ranking	Shanghai Ranking	THE Ranking	University	Country	Bachelor’s Programs	Master’s Programs
26	22	18	University of Toronto	Canada	Click Here	Click Here
46	42	37	University of British Columbia	Canada	Click Here	Click Here
126	101-150	125	University of Alberta	Canada	Click Here	Click Here
140	92	80	McMaster University	Canada	Click Here	Click Here
27	67	44	McGill University	Canada	Click Here	Click Here

Academic requirements for studying Physiotherapy

Since physiotherapy is a healthcare profession, getting admitted to one in the USA is highly competitive. Students must have strong academic records. Individuals should have high GRE scores in addition to a high GPA before applying. The following are some academic credentials required for admission to physiotherapy courses in top universities.

Bachelor’s level

A pre-degree or foundation course with a GPA of 3.0 or greater (on a scale of 4.0)
Academic transcripts
SATs or ACTs score
Personal statement
Letter of recommendation (optional for some universities)
Valid passport
English proficiency test scores such as TOEFL (generally above 90) or IELTS (generally above 6.0)

Master’s level

A bachelor’s degree in physiotherapy or relevant fields from an accredited institute with a GPA of 3.0 or greater (on a scale of 4.0)
Academic transcripts
Personal statement
Letters of recommendation
Valid passport
Residency or work experience
GRE score of 290 and above (although varies from university)
English proficiency test scores such as TOEFL (generally above 90) or IELTS (generally above 6.0)