Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences School of Physiotherapy

The International Student Experience

The International Student Experience

Studying for a degree at the University of Melbourne is not just an academic experience, it is a total experience - intellectual, social, cultural and educational, from which lifelong professional and personal friendships, networking and associations grow.

Physiotherapy at Melbourne provides its graduates with opportunities for an international career.

The Bachelor of Physiotherapy qualification is well regarded overseas and graduates are highly sought after.

What Students Say

Tshepo Rasekaba, a student from Botswana, graduated with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy in 2003. 

Tshepo chose to study at Melbourne University because his country does not have a medical /physiotherapy school.  As many of his contempories were choosing to study in the UK, Canada, Ireland and the USA, Tshepo chose The University of Melbourne in Australia to be different. 

Any advice to prospective students:

That they prepare themselves to work hard right from the start.  No underestimating the course by thinking it would necessarily be very easy. Be prepared to work out a balance between school and social life - it can be a big challenge to grapple domestic issues and study at the end of long hard day.

Get advice from students who have been there before you. Make use of the staff who are always ready to assist and support the students.

Would you recommend the course to others?

Yes, the Melbourne University program seems to be more organised in terms of the clinical component of the program.  There is a very good network of teaching hospitals.

Where did you complete your Global Elective?

Done in my home country. All isn’t as smooth as in Melbourne in terms of practice. The physio assumes a number of roles that would otherwise be performed by other supporting professions in the health care system in Melbourne, OT, Social Workers, Psychologists. It reinforced my thinking in the context of my country’s situation throughout the course.


 

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