Application Requirements

• Completion of a four-year baccalaureate degree or its academic equivalent in any field of study from an accredited post-secondary institution is required.

• Minimum GPA of 3.0 on the University of Alberta 4-point grading system or an equivalent standing from another recognized institution is required. GPA is calculated on the most recent 60 credits of university-level coursework taken (courses must be transferable to the University of Alberta to be included). Practicums, work terms, field studies, and physical activity/studio courses are not included. However, senior-level physical activity courses may be included at our discretion. For more information on how GPA is calculated please visit the FAQ section.

• All applicants are required to complete Casper as part of their application for the 2026/27 admissions cycle. The Casper must be completed prior to our application deadline of February 1.  Casper is an online, open-response situational judgment test that takes 90-110 minutes to complete. 
• You will register for CSP-10211, Canada Casper 2.
• Casper measures different personal and professional skills that we believe are important for successful students and graduates of our program. It will complement the other tools we use for applicant review and evaluation, and we require Casper as part of our efforts to enhance fairness and objectivity in our selection process.
• Casper is administered by Acuity Insights.
• How to sign up for Casper
  • Go to takecasper.com to create an Acuity Insights account and register to complete Casper.
    • You will register for CSP-10211, Canada Casper 2 with a piece of government-issued photo ID.
    • Please register with the email address you are using for your application and check it regularly, as there may be updates to the test schedule.
  • Select a Casper test date from the available testing dates and times, which have been approved in line with our admissions timelines.
    • These are the only testing dates for applying to our program and no additional tests are likely to be scheduled.
  • Register for your test at least 3 days before your preferred test date and time to allow time to perform a system requirements check and take the sample test in your account. Last-minute bookings are not recommended.
  • Ensure you have selected University of Alberta, MScPT for distribution before the distribution deadline listed on the Dates and Fees page.
• To take the assessments, you will need a:
  • Valid email address (the same one you will use to submit your application).
  • Desktop or laptop computer, ideally using Windows or macOS.
    • Smartphones and tablets are not supported.
  • Working webcam and microphone.
    • Wired inputs or your computer’s built-in microphone are recommended.
  • Reliable high-speed internet connection with download speeds of at least 1.5 Mbps and upload speeds of at least 2 Mbps.
  • Learn more about technical requirements.
• Applicants requiring testing accommodations to complete Casper should submit an Initial Request Form (Part 1 and 2) at least four (4) weeks prior to your scheduled Casper test date. Learn more about the accommodations policy.

• If you have any questions, please contact the Acuity Insights team via the chat bubble on the bottom right of your Acuity Insights account or on takecasper.com. You can also review their collection of Frequently Asked Questions.

• Human Anatomy (3 credits) Applicants require a strong foundation in musculoskeletal anatomy to be successful in our graduate level anatomy course (PTHER 516). The anatomy pre-requisite must be a stand alone course in gross HUMAN anatomy. Combined anatomy and physiology courses are not accepted*. The course must be completed no later than 5 years before the application deadline (For the 2027 intake, it must be completed after January 1, 2022). Within 3 years is preferred. PTHER 350 is the recommended pre-requisite course. When considering other anatomy courses the following criteria are strongly recommended: 

• A senior level course (e.g, 3rd or 4th year course).
• A regional anatomy course (not an introductory systems based course).
• A course with a substantial portion of content on musculoskeletal anatomy (e.g., structure of joints, nerve plexuses, muscle origins and insertions, nerve and nerve root supply to muscles, muscle actions and function, and the course of major arteries). 
• A course with robust summative assessment requirements (e.g., written exams, term quizzes, graded term papers, lab exams, graded final projects)  

Please see our list of pre-approved Human Anatomy courses. (Please check back regularly as the list is under revision to ensure the courses meet the above criteria)

* University of Calgary Kin 259/260 is currently accepted but is under revision.

• Human Physiology (6 credits) Must focus on HUMAN physiology. Mammalian physiology courses are not accepted. Please see our list of pre-approved Human Physiology courses.

• Human Movement (3 credits) Applicants who have completed a baccalaureate degree in Kinesiology/Human Kinetics or Physical Education/Activity will be considered to have completed the pre-requisite coursework for introductory human movement and will have met this requirement. Applicants who have completed undergraduate degrees in other areas should register in PTHER 351 (Principles of Human Movement for Rehabilitation) online through the University of Alberta. Please also see our list of pre-approved human movement courses.

• Statistics (3 credits) General course covering basic statistical concepts and data analysis. PTHER 352 is one option.

• Psychology (3 credits) Must be from a designated introductory/general Psychology course. PTHER 353 is the recommended course. Sport Psychology and Exercise Psychology courses are not acceptable.

• Humanities/Social Science (3 credits) Acceptable course subjects. (This must be met by taking a course with a course code that falls under the Humanities or Social Sciences headings of the table).

• Canadian Indigenous History (3 credits OR certificate) can be satisfied by taking an approved credit course, or by taking the certificate course Indigenous Canada, a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC).
  • You do not have to be a University of Alberta student to take the MOOC. Students will receive a certificate upon completion that should be included in their application. Please have this certificate course completed by the time of application. The certificate course will not be included in the GPA calculation.
  • If an applicant chooses to take this prerequisite for credit, they should ensure that the course has been approved by the Department of Physical Therapy by emailing mscpt@ualberta.ca. Credit courses will be included in the GPA calculation, if applicable, and may also be used to satisfy the Humanities/Social Sciences prerequisite. Kinesiology or similar courses that focus on Indigenous health and wellness are not sufficient for this requirement.

• Eligible candidates will be invited to participate in an Interview(s). The interview(s) is based on predefined scenarios designed to evaluate the interviewee's critical thinking ability, ethical decision making ability, communication skills and the non-cognitive/humanistic skills required for success in a clinical environment. View sample questions.

• The interview evaluation constitutes a significant component of the overall admissions assessment.

• All applicants who are invited to participate in the interview process will be required to sign a Confidentiality Agreement to ensure the security of the interview questions/scenarios.

• The University of Alberta's CAPS MMI prep course and any other interview prep courses are separate from the Department of Physical Therapy's interview(s) and are not connected in any way.

• Please Note: Physical Therapy is a regulated health profession that is governed by the Health Professions Act in a manner that protects and serves the public interest. The Code of Ethics for Physical Therapists in Alberta describes the set of ethical principles and values that guide physical therapists' interactions with patients, healthcare professionals, and the public. Professionalism is a core value of the Code of Ethics and is also central to the Department of Physical Therapy. Physical Therapists are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that maintains public confidence in the integrity and dignity of our profession. In selecting students for the MScPT program we are looking for applicants who will conduct themselves in a manner befitting our profession. As such, any and all communications and interactions with the Department of Physical Therapy before, during and after the interview are considered part of the interview process and may be taken into account during admission deliberations. Admission may be denied to applicants who communicate or act in a manner that may be considered inappropriate or unprofessional regardless of academic standing or interview performance.

Preference will be given to residents of Alberta as defined by the University of Alberta Calendar definition of Alberta residency.  Up to 15 percent of offers will be made to out-of-province and international applicants. 

An applicant will be considered an Alberta resident if the following is met:

• The applicant is a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident (Landed Immigrant) who has been continuously resident in the Province of Alberta, the Yukon, the Northwest Territories or Nunavut for at least one year immediately before the first day of classes of the term for which admission is sought.

• The one-year continuous residency period is not considered broken where the Admission committee is satisfied that the applicant was temporarily out of the province on vacation, in short-term employment, or as a full-time student.

If you feel that this definition reflects your current and expected residence, you may claim Alberta residency on your application. We reserve the right to correct your residency claim should we feel that the information in your application does not support your claim and would refer the applicant to the Admissions Policy

Applicants of Indigenous ancestry (First Nation, Inuit, Metis) are first considered in the general pool of applicants. If Indigenous applicants are not competitive for the general pool they may then compete for seats reserved for Indigenous students. Applicants applying for reserved seats for Indigenous students must meet the minimum GPA to qualify for an interview and must receive a passing score on the interview. Applicants applying for the seats reserved for Indigenous students must be Canadian citizens; preference will be given to Alberta residents.

The University Calendar provides a definition of an Indigenous Applicant: For the purpose of application and admission to the University of Alberta, and in accordance with the Constitution Act, 1982, Part II, Section (35)2, an Indigenous applicant is an Indian, Inuit or Métis person of Canada, or a person who is accepted by one of the Indigenous peoples of Canada as a member of their community.

Indigenous applicants must be aware that proof of ancestry does not guarantee admission to any program. All positions at the university are competitive, and admission committees will make their selections from among the best-qualified candidates. Please refer to the University Calendar for examples of acceptable proof of Indigenous ancestry.

• Applicants must demonstrate a high level of proficiency in English as English is the primary language of instruction at the University of Alberta. Physical Therapists within Canada require a high level of English language skills to effectively communicate with patients and other professionals.

• Applicants with degrees/qualifications in a language other than English may need to demonstrate English Language Proficiency through an approved English language exam, or the completion of EAP 500 through the Faculty of Extension at the University of Alberta.

• To determine if you are required to demonstrate English Language Proficiency, please review this list of Countries and Universities that are exempt from the English Language Proficiency requirement. If your institution or country is not on this list you must include an approved ELP exam, meeting the minimum scores listed below.

• The Department of Physical Therapy considers the following as the minimum requirement;
  • A TOEFL (paper based) score of 580. You must also complete a TSE with a score of at least 50
  • A TOEFL (internet based) score of of 102 - no less than a score of 23 for the speaking component, 24 for the listening component, 24 for the reading  component, and 27 for the writing component
  • A TOEFL (computer based) score of 237
  • An IELTS (Academic, not General exam) overall band score of 7.5 with no less than 7.0 on each band
  • For all other approved English language examinations the approved score is the minimum score accepted by FGPS. The Department of Physical Therapy also reserves the right to require further demonstration of English language proficiency (Section 203.2.4 of the University of Alberta Calendar).
  • Please be aware that scores more than two years old cannot be verified; therefore if your exam was completed more than two years ago you will be required to re-take the test.