Course overview
- Description
In the past 15 years, under the guidance of a professional body—Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA), accredited Exercise Physiologists (EPs) have gained national recognition as the allied health professional with the knowledge and experience to prescribe exercise for people with chronic and complex medical conditions. EPs now have provider status with the Health Insurance Commission (Medicare), as well as many private and government health and compensable insurance schemes.
This master's degree course will develop students' knowledge and skills in preparation for work in the allied health industry. The course will be accredited by ESSA so that graduates will be eligible to apply for accreditation status. Students may structure a course which is best tailored to their future requirements and area of specialisation. The course is designed to provide a holistic understanding of the use of exercise as a modality in the treatment of musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, metabolic and other chronic and complex conditions.
- Course title
- Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology (coursework or coursework and dissertation)
- Award abbreviation
- MClinExPhys
- Course code
- 73520
- Course type
- Master's degree by coursework or by coursework and dissertation
- Status
- Current / 2025
- Administered by
- Human Sciences
- CRICOS code
- 089267D
Course details
- Intake periods
- Beginning of year and mid-year
- Attendance type
- Full- or part-time (Student visa holders should read Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 for more information.)
- Articulation
- The Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology has the following exit awards: 74320 Graduate Diploma in Clinical Exercise Physiology (48 points) (48 points), 93520 Master of Exercise Rehabilitation (min 72 - max 96 points) (min 72 - max 96 points)
- Credit points required
- 96
A standard full-time load is 24 points per semester. - Standard course duration
- 1.5 years full-time (or equivalent part-time) comprising 72 points of taught units and 24 points of admission credit, as recognised and granted by the School
- Maximum course duration
- 2 years full-time (or equivalent part-time) comprising up to 96 points of taught study (see Rule 5 for further information)
- Professional accreditation
- Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology (coursework or coursework and dissertation) is accredited by: Exercise and Sports Science Australia.
- Time limit
- 5 years
- Delivery mode
- Multi-mode
- Locations offered
- UWA (Perth)
- Domestic fee type
- Commonwealth supported and/or HECS-HELP; or postgraduate fee-paying/FEE-HELP
- Available to international students
- Yes. For information on international student fees see 'Student Procedures: Fees'. (Enquiries: https://www.uwa.edu.au/askuwa)
- Course Coordinator(s)
- Dr Bonnie Furzer
- Fees
- Visit the fees calculator.
Enquiries and course advice
- Note
Students entering the 96 pt program must submit a Graduate Entry Assessment (GEA) to ESSA before the end of their first semester in the course.
Prospective students should see the Future Students website for details on admission requirements, intake periods, fees, availability to international students, careers information etc.
No study plans found for this course. See study plans for more information.
Specialisations
Course structure
Key to availability of units:
- S1
- Semester 1
- S2
- Semester 2
All units have a value of six points unless otherwise stated.
Students who have not completed (a) a Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Sciences Science from this university or equivalent as recognised by the course coordinator; or (b) a bachelor's degree in Sport, Exercise and/or Movement Sciences from a recognised tertiary institution that has been accredited by ESSA at the 'Exercise Science' level must complete relevant conversion unit(s) up to the value of 24 points, as advised by the course coordinator.
Students Students may also be recommended by the Course Coordinator to take units from a broader range of conversion units than those listed.
| Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | SSEH2201 | Exercise Prescription and Delivery |
| 90 mins of Lecture/week and 2 hours of practical/workshop per week |
| S1 | SSEH2260 | Exercise Physiology |
| lectures: 2 x 45 min online lectures per week for 12 weeks; seminar: 1 x 45 min face to face session per week for 11 weeks; labs: 2 hours face to face per fortnight over 8 weeks; |
| S2 | SSEH2295 | Foundations of Work Integrated Learning |
| Seminars: 3 hours per week for 12 weeks; WIL preparatory and competency requirements (based on student pathway); Commencement of WIL placements in line with student pathway (estimated ~ 40 hours). |
| S2 | SSEH3388 | Promoting Lifelong Physical Activity |
| lectures: 2 hours per week; labs: 1 hours per week |
| S1, S2 | SSEH3394 | Professional Practice |
| seminars: 1 hour per week for 13 weeks; placement preparation: assignment and interview; practicum placement: 70 hours |
| S1 | SSEH3553 | Exercise as Medicine | 2 hours lecture per week and 2 hours labs per week | |
| S1, S2 | SSEH3555 | Motor Development: Principles to Teaching in Practice |
| lectures 2hours/week; labs 2x1hour/week; Prac 1.5hours/week for 10 weeks |
Take all units (72 points):
Note: Students who have completed SSEH3389 in their undergraduate degree are not required to complete SSEH4489. These students are required to contact the course coordinator to arrange permission for a unit substitution.
| Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S1, S2 | SSEH4489 | Advanced Exercise Rehabilitation |
| Lectures: 2 hours per week; Labs: 2 hour per week |
| S1 | SSEH4664 | Exercise and Health Psychology |
| Lectures occur weekly (approximately 1 hour) and are available online. Seminars (2 hours) occur weekly for 10 weeks of Semester, leaving two weeks for students to focus on assignment submissions. |
| S2 | SSEH5643 | Cardiac Rehabilitation |
| lectures: 2 x 2 hours per week (online) Seminars: 1 x 2hours every fortnight Labs: 2 x 2 hours in weeks 1, 6 and 12 |
| S1 | SSEH5644 | Neurological Rehabilitation |
| This unit is delivered in a blocked, structure based on alignment with Postgraduate and MCEP course requirements. Week 1= face-to-face teaching on campus (multiple sessions) Week 2 - 11 = asynchronous online learning modules (e.g., self-paced learning) via LMS; face-to-face workshops on campus (see unit Syllabus); and unit assessment items Week 12 = face-to-face teaching on campus (multiple sessions) Exams = online exam administered via LMS. |
| S1 | SSEH5645 | Workplace Injury Prevention and Management |
| The lectures, laboratories and seminars will occur in two 3-week intensive blocks (at the beginning and end of semester), leaving a 8-week space in between for industry placements. These intensive teaching blocks will require your presence on campus full time. |
| S2 | SSEH5646 | Chronic and Complex Conditions |
| Lectures, readings, and all additional learning content for this unit will be provided online. Periodic face-to-face workshops will be undertaken throughout the semester, which will require your presence on campus at these times. |
| S1 | SSEH5647 | Brain and Behaviours |
| This unit is delivered in a blocked, structure based on alignment with Postgraduate and MCEP course requirements. Week 1= face-to-face teaching on campus (multiple sessions) Week 2 - 11 = asynchronous online learning modules (e.g., self-paced learning) via LMS; face-to-face workshops on campus (see unit Syllabus); and unit assessment items Week 12 = face-to-face teaching on campus (multiple sessions) Exams = online exam administered via LMS. |
| S2 | SSEH5651 | Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation |
| Lectures, laboratories, seminars and supplementary material for this unit will be provided online. Periodic face-to-face workshops will be undertaken throughout the semester, which will require your presence on campus at these times. |
| S1 | SSEH5667 | Clinical Paediatrics and Disability |
| Blended teaching model including online learning and face-to-face sessions. All Seminars, Laboratories and Practical classes are conducted face-to-face see timetable for schedule. Lectures will be available online. |
| S1 | SSEH5691 | Work Integrated Learning (Clinical Exercise Physiology) |
| Blended teaching model, including synchronous and asynchronous online learning and face-to-face applied workshops. Weekly workshops will be conducted including required face-to-face sessions linked with preparation for practice and work integrated learning. |
| S2 | SSEH5692 | Work Integrated Learning (Evidence-Based Practice) |
| Blended teaching model, including synchronous and asynchronous online learning and face-to-face applied workshops. Weekly workshops will be conducted including required face-to-face sessions linked with preparation for practice and work integrated learning (WIL). Students will undertake WIL with industry based hosts, and based on their individual course plans. WIL will require face-to-face attendance with placements varying in length and weekly commitment. |
| S1 | SSEH5693 | Work Integrated Learning (Diverse Populations & Settings) |
| Blended teaching model, including synchronous and asynchronous online learning and face-to-face applied workshops. Weekly workshops will be conducted including required face-to-face sessions linked with preparation for practice and work integrated learning (WIL). Students will undertake WIL with industry based hosts, and based on their individual course plans. WIL will require face-to-face attendance with placements varying in length and weekly commitment. |
| S1, S2 | SSEH5699 | Exercise Physiology Clinical Portfolio (0 points) | None | No contact hours. Students submit a portfolio to the course coordinator. |
Students in the course by coursework and dissertation take 24 points.
| Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S1, S2 | SSEH5020 | Literature Review and Research Proposal |
| 1 hour weekly meetings with supervisor |
| S1, S2 | SSEH5021 | Sport Science Exercise and Health Research Project Part 1 |
| averarge 1 hour weekly meetings with research supervisor |
| S1, S2 | SSEH5022 | Sport Science Exercise and Health Research Project Part 2 | average 1 hour weekly meetings with research supervisor | |
| S1, S2 | SSEH5023 | Sport Science Exercise and Health Research Project Part 3 | average 1 hour weekly meetings with research supervisor |
See also the rules for the course and the Student Rules.
Rules
Applicability of the Student Rules, policies and procedures
1.(1) The Student Rules apply to students in this course.
(2) The policy, policy statements and guidance documents and student procedures apply, except as otherwise indicated in the rules for this course.
Academic Conduct Essentials and Communication and Research Skills modules
2.(1) A student who enrols in this course for the first time irrespective of whether they have previously been enrolled in another course of the University, must undertake the Academic Conduct Essentials module (the ACE module) and the Communication and Research Skills module (the CARS module).
(2) A student must successfully complete the ACE module within the first teaching period of their enrolment. Failure to complete the module within this timeframe will result in the student's unit results from this teaching period being withheld. These results will continue to be withheld until students avail themselves of a subsequent opportunity to achieve a passing grade in the ACE module. In the event that students complete units in subsequent teaching periods without completing the ACE module, these results will similarly be withheld. Students will not be permitted to submit late review or appeal applications regarding results which have been withheld for this reason and which they were unable to access in the normally permitted review period.
English Language competency requirements
3.(1) To be considered eligible for consideration for admission to this course an applicant must satisfy the University's English language competence requirement as set out in the University Policy on Admission: Coursework, except as otherwise indicated in the rules for this course.
(2) Applicants presenting with the IELTS Academic require an overall score of at least 7.0 and no band less than 7.0.
(3) Applicants presenting with the TOEFL iBT require an overall score of at least 94, a minimum score of 27 in the Writing section, a minimum score of 23 in the Speaking section, and no other sub-score less than 24.
(4) Applicants presenting with the Pearson Test of English (PTE) (Academic) require an overall score of at least 65 and no sub-score less than 65.
(5) Applicants presenting with the Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) test require an overall score of at least 185.
(6) The UWA Centre for English Language Teaching (CELT) Bridging Course does not satisfy the English Language Competency requirements of this course.
Admission requirements
4.(1) To be considered for admission to this course an applicant must have—
(a) a relevant bachelor's degree, or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA;
and
(b) the equivalent of a UWA weighted average mark of at least 60 per cent;
(2) Applicants are awarded a place in the 72-point course if they have either;
(a) a bachelor's degree that has been accredited by Exercise & Sport Science Australia at the 'Exercise Science' level;
or
(b) an official ESSA "Graduate Entry Assessment" letter that demonstrates equivalence with "Exercise Science" members.
(3) All other applicants are awarded a place in the 96-point course and must have a relevant bachelor's degree that included foundation units in human anatomy, functional anatomy, biomechanics, exercise physiology, exercise and health and research methods/statistics with equivalence to ESSA ‘Exercise Science' standards.
Admission ranking and selection
5. Where relevant, admission will be awarded to the highest ranked applicants or applicants selected based on the relevant requirements.
Articulations and exit awards
6.(1) This course has the following exit awards:
- 74320 Graduate Diploma in Clinical Exercise Physiology (48 points)
- 93520 Master of Exercise Rehabilitation (min 72 - max 96 points)
(2) A student who withdraws from the Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology course before completing it, but after completing 48 points of course core units in line with the course regulations, may apply to the School to be awarded the Graduate Diploma in Clinical Exercise Physiology.
(3) A student who withdraws from the Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology course before completing it, and does not meet requirements of accreditation body ESSA, may apply to the School to be awarded the Master of Exercise Rehabilitation.
Course structure
7.(1) The course consists of units to a total value of 96 points (maximum value) which include conversion units to a value of 24 points.
(2) Units must be selected in accordance with the course structure, as set out in these rules.
(3) Students who have completed (a) a bachelor's degree that has been accredited by Exercise & Sport Science Australia at the 'Exercise Science' level;
or
(b) a relevant bachelor degree and provided an official ESSA "Graduate Entry Assessment" letter that demonstrates equivalence with "Exercise Science" members;
and
(c) the equivalent of a UWA weighted average mark of at least 60 per cent. are granted credit for conversion units up to a value of 24 points.
Satisfactory progress
8. To make satisfactory progress a student must pass units to a point value greater than half the total value of units in which they remain enrolled after the final date for withdrawal without academic penalty.
9. A student who has not achieved a result of Ungraded Pass (UP) for the Communication and Research Skills module (the CARS module) when their progress status is assessed will not have made satisfactory progress even if they have met the other requirements for satisfactory progress in Rule 8.
Progress status
10.(1) A student who makes satisfactory progress under Rule 8 is assigned the status of 'Good Standing'.
(2) Unless the relevant board determines otherwise because of exceptional circumstances—
(a) a student who does not make satisfactory progress under Rule 8 for the first time is assigned a progress status of 'Suspended';
(b) a student who does not make satisfactory progress under Rule 8 for the second time is assigned a progress status of 'Excluded'.
(c) a student who has not demonstrated they have met Exercise Science standard via accreditation or graduate entry assessment with ESSA within first 48 points will be excluded from the course and may undertake an alternative exit pathway, Master of Exercise Rehabilitation 93520.
11. A student who does not make satisfactory progress in terms of Rule 9 is assigned the progress status of 'On Probation', unless they have been assigned a progress status of 'Suspended' or 'Excluded' for failure to meet other satisfactory progress requirements in Rule 8.
Award with distinction
12. To be awarded the degree with distinction a student must achieve a course weighted average mark (WAM) of at least 80 per cent which is calculated based on—
(a) all units above Level 3 attempted as part of the course that are awarded a final percentage mark;
(b) all relevant units above Level 3 undertaken in articulating courses of this University that are awarded a final percentage mark;
and
(c) all units above Level 3 completed at this University that are credited to the master's degree course.
Deferrals
13. Applicants awarded admission to the course are entitled to a deferral of up to 12 months, as per the University Policy on: Admissions (Coursework).
Additional rules
Research project
14.(1) Students who want to undertake a research project as an optional unit must have —
(a) entered the degree with a cognate background
(b) a weighted average mark of at least 65 per cent in at least 24 points of Level 4 and 5 units completed within the course, or equivalent as recognised by the Faculty;
and
(c) a supervisor, approved by the Faculty, who has confirmed their willingness and availability to supervise the research project.
(2) Students who are required to complete conversion units are normally not permitted to complete a research project.