Physiotherapy is a four-year degree requiring a bachelor pass with a high APS, Mathematics, Physical Sciences and Life Sciences. It is among the most competitive health science programmes in South Africa after medicine and dentistry.
Physiotherapy is offered at a limited number of universities, which concentrates competition. Applicants who meet every published requirement are regularly not admitted, so applying to several institutions is essential rather than optional.
Entry Requirements at a Glance
Entry is assessed on the following.
- A bachelor pass with a high APS
- Mathematics at the level required, with Mathematical Literacy not accepted
- Physical Sciences at the level required
- Life Sciences, required or strongly preferred at most institutions
- Health screening and a police clearance certificate
- Evidence of job shadowing, required by some institutions
Academic and Minimum Admission Requirements
The degree runs four years and combines academic study with supervised clinical practice across hospital and community settings. On completion you register with the Health Professions Council of South Africa as a physiotherapist and complete community service.
Physiotherapy is a first-contact profession in South Africa, meaning patients can consult a physiotherapist without a referral. That independence is part of why the qualification is tightly regulated and the training clinically intensive.
Registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa is required before you may practise, and community service applies to most health science professions after qualifying. Only a qualification from an accredited programme leads to registration, so confirm accreditation before enrolling.
Subjects, APS and Qualification Requirements
Life Sciences underpins the anatomy, physiology and biomechanics content and matters more here than in most health science programmes. Physical Sciences supports the biomechanics and electrotherapy components.
Mathematics is required at all institutions. Physical Education or sport participation is not a requirement, though institutions sometimes note it favourably given the rehabilitation context.
Points are calculated by each institution own method, and because intakes are limited by clinical placement capacity, the score that actually secures a place is set by competition rather than by the published minimum.
Documents and Application Requirements
Applications normally require the following.
- A certified copy of your identity document
- Your National Senior Certificate or latest statement of results
- Proof of the application fee, where one is charged
- Your final matric results, used to confirm any conditional offer
- A medical or health screening report and a police clearance certificate, required before clinical placement
Selection, Intake and Eligibility Considerations
Places are strictly limited by clinical placement capacity, and physiotherapy consistently attracts far more qualifying applicants than there are places. Several institutions require documented job shadowing hours as part of the application.
If you are not admitted, related routes such as occupational therapy, biokinetics, sport science and nursing are valuable professions in their own right, and biokinetics in particular shares much of the rehabilitation focus.
Frequently Asked Questions
How competitive is physiotherapy?
It is among the most competitive health science programmes after medicine and dentistry, and is offered at a limited number of universities.
Do I need job shadowing?
Several institutions require documented job shadowing hours. Arrange it well before the application window.
Do I need Life Sciences?
It is required or strongly preferred almost everywhere, because the degree is built on anatomy, physiology and biomechanics.
What are the alternatives if I am not accepted?
Occupational therapy, biokinetics, sport science and nursing are valuable professions, and biokinetics shares much of the rehabilitation focus.
Confirm job shadowing requirements early, since they must be completed before you apply. Confirm programme accreditation and registration requirements with the Health Professions Council of South Africa. Confirm the exact APS, subject levels and closing dates with each institution for your intake year. See admission requirements and browse all education requirements.