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. However, a GPA of >3.6 for Alberta applicants and >3.9 for out of province applicants on the most recent sixty credits of study is recommended for a competitive application. 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.

• English (3 credits) General course with assessment of reading, writing, and essay composition. Can be introductory level. Technical English and Business Communication courses may be acceptable (please email mscpt@ualberta.ca for more information).

• 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. Sport Psychology and Exercise Psychology courses are not acceptable.

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

• Human Anatomy (3 credits) Must be a separate course focusing on gross HUMAN anatomy. Combined Anatomy and Physiology courses are not acceptable (exception: KNES 259/260 from University of Calgary). PTHER 350 is the recommended course. Must be completed within 5 years of applying. For the 2023 intake, it must be completed after January 1, 2018. It may be in progress at the time of application. Please see our list of pre-approved Human Anatomy courses.
  • Applicants accepted into our MScPT program are expected to have a strong level of anatomy knowledge. Successful applicants are required to first compete PTHER 516 - Human Anatomy in order to move forward with the program. This is an intense graduate level course that is delivered in a condensed format over a one month timeframe. Students consistently give the feedback that their prerequisite course did not adequately prepare them for the level of detail required for PTHER 516. Based on this feedback, here are some key recommendations when considering a prerequisite course:  
    • Taking a more senior level course (e.g, 3rd or 4th year course).
    • Taking the course more recently (e.g within 3 years).
    • Taking a regional anatomy course over a more generalised systems based course.
    • Taking a course with a strong focus on musculoskeletal anatomy.
    • Taking a course with a cadaver lab is not necessary but provides an advantage.

• Human Physiology (6 credits) Must focus on HUMAN physiology. 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.

• Canadian Indigenous History (3 credits OR certificate) an 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.

*This requirement has been waived for the 2023 Application Cycle.

• A minimum of 30 hours of volunteer or work experience working hands on with individuals who have cognitive or physical disabilities. Working with family members is not acceptable.
  

• The volunteer experience should be completed within the past two years upon application to the program.

• Experience gained as part of a program of study (practicum, work term, co-op, placement) is not acceptable, regardless of whether it counts for credit or not.

• Applicants must have their primary supervisor complete a Verification of Work Experience form and return the completed form to the applicant. The applicant then must upload the completed form to the Graduate Studies online application before the deadline.

• A maximum of two separate forms are accepted.

• Find out what counts as suitable work experience. If you are not sure, please contact us to check.

• Eligible candidates will be invited to participate in a Multiple Mini Interview (MMI). The MMI is a series of short, multi-station interviews 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.

• During the interview, invited applicants will move through a total of six to eight different stations; spending approximately eight minutes at each station. A different interviewer will be at each of the stations, therefore an applicant has the opportunity to share his/her experiences and thoughts with a variety of individuals. The entire interview will take approximately 60 minutes.

• 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 MMI prep courses are separate from the Department of Physical Therapy's Multiple Mini Interview 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.

• The applicant currently has a permanent residence in Alberta.

• The applicant is a graduate of the University of Alberta or any other university within Alberta (exception: Athabasca University).

• The applicant is currently serving or is a member of a family unit in which the spouse, a parent or a legal guardian is serving in the Canadian Armed Forces or R.C.M.P in Alberta.

• If an applicant has graduated from an Alberta post-secondary institution, but does not have a residence in Alberta and does not consider Alberta their hometown, they need to contact the Admission Coordinator at mscpt@ualberta.ca prior to submitting their application to the program.

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 550 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 FGSR. 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.