Master of Physiotherapy (MPhty)

Regulations for the Degree of Master of Physiotherapy (MPhty)

1. Admission to the Programme

   1. Admission to the programme shall be subject to the approval of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Health Sciences).
   2. Every applicant must:
      1. have been awarded the degree of Bachelor of Physiotherapy or hold an equivalent Physiotherapy qualification acceptable to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Health Sciences);
      2. be registered with the Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand and possess an Annual Practising Certificate where appropriate or be a registered (or equivalent) physiotherapist in their country of practice or residence; and
      3. have post-qualification clinical experience in physiotherapy.

Note: Admission to and enrolment in certain papers in the programme are subject to safety checking of students for suitability to work with children, as required under the Children’s Act 2014.

2. Structure of the Programme

   1. The programme shall consist of either:
      1. PHTY 545 or an approved paper worth 30 points; PHTY 610; and a thesis embodying the results of one year of full-time or equivalent part-time supervised research; or
      2. approved papers to the value of 180 points, as prescribed in the Schedule for the chosen coursework option.
   2. With the approval of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Health Sciences) a candidate may be permitted to substitute papers worth up to 30 points in a relevant subject for one of the PHTY papers for the Masters of Physiotherapy by coursework, as per Part 2 of the Schedule.
   3. A candidate whose qualification for entry to the programme is a Postgraduate Diploma in Physiotherapy may be credited with those papers in the programme for the degree which have been previously passed for the diploma.
   4. A candidate may not present a thesis or dissertation which has previously been accepted for another degree.
   5. The programme of study, the topic of the thesis, dissertation, or research project, and the supervisors of the research must be approved by the Board of Studies in Physiotherapy.
   6. For a thesis, the research should be of a kind that a diligent and competent student should complete within one year of full-time study.
   7. A candidate must achieve an average grade of at least B in the 500-level papers in order to proceed to the 600-level papers for the coursework Masters or an average grade of at least B across the two papers preceding the thesis.

3. Duration of the Programme

   A candidate achieving the degree by papers and a thesis shall normally follow a programme for the equivalent of not less than three semesters of full-time study and not more than five semesters of full-time study, and a candidate achieving the degree by thesis alone shall normally follow a programme of study for the equivalent of not less than one year of full-time study and not more than two years of full-time study. Exceptions shall be permitted only with the approval of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Health Sciences).

4. Terms Requirements

   1. No candidate shall be eligible to sit a final examination for a paper without having gained terms in that paper.
   2. A candidate gains terms in a paper by satisfactorily demonstrating the acquisition of sufficient knowledge, professional behaviours and skills; by attendance (in person and/or online); by performance in a professional manner of such practice/clinical and other work as the School of Physiotherapy may require; and on overall performance in all components of each paper.
   3. A candidate who fails to gain terms in any paper will, if other regulations have been met, be required to repeat the whole of that paper.
   4. Terms granted in any paper shall normally be for that year only.

5. Withdrawal from the Programme

   Where a candidate withdraws from the programme after completing the equivalent of 120 points of approved papers required by regulation 2(a)(ii) the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Health Sciences) may recommend the award of the Postgraduate Diploma in Physiotherapy (endorsed) or determine which papers shall be credited towards the diploma.

6. Examinations

   1. A candidate shall be required to gain terms in a paper before being permitted to sit the examination for that paper.
   2. A candidate who obtains a D grade in a paper may be permitted to sit a special examination for that paper. Any candidate who has obtained an E grade in a paper shall not normally be admitted to a special examination in that paper but may be offered an opportunity to repeat the paper.

7. Examination of Thesis

   1. The Dean of Physiotherapy (or nominee) shall appoint a Convener of Examiners to oversee each thesis examination.
   2. The thesis shall be assessed by at least two examiners, at least one of whom shall be external to the University.
   3. The candidate's supervisor shall not be an examiner but may make a report on the work of the candidate to the Convener of Examiners.
   4. Each examiner shall supply a written report on the thesis and recommend a mark and grade on the basis of the thesis as submitted, and an overall result selected from the options specified in clause (e) below.
   5. The examiners may recommend that a thesis:
      1. be accepted without requiring amendments;
      2. be accepted subject to minor corrections made at the discretion, and to the satisfaction, of the Convener of Examiners;
      3. does not meet the criteria for the award of the degree, but may be revised and resubmitted for examination;
      4. does not meet the criteria for the award of the degree, and should be rejected without right of resubmission.
   6. Amendments (regulation 7(e)(ii)) and revisions (regulation 7(e)(iii)) shall be completed by a specified date to be determined by the Convener of Examiners.
   7. A candidate shall be permitted to revise and resubmit a thesis for examination once only.
   8. If a revised and resubmitted thesis is finally accepted, the result shall be either 'Pass' or 'Fail' (i.e. ungraded) and without eligibility for the award of the degree with distinction or credit.
   9. Where examiners cannot agree on a result, the Convener of Examiners shall engage in established mediation procedures, and if unresolvable, so report to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Health Sciences) who shall arrive at a decision after consulting a referee who should normally be external to the University.
   10. The relative weighting of the components of the programme for the dissertation option is papers 33% and thesis 67%. In the case of a thesis 'Fail' result, the degree will not be awarded.

8. Examination of Research Project

   1. The Dean of Physiotherapy (or nominee) shall oversee the assessment process for each research project.
   2. The research project shall be assessed by at least two examiners internal to the School of Physiotherapy.
   3. The candidate's supervisor shall not be an examiner but may make a report on the work of the candidate to the Dean of Physiotherapy.
   4. Each examiner shall supply a brief written report on the research project and recommend a mark and grade on the basis of the research project as submitted, and an overall result selected from the options specified in clause (e) below.
   5. The examiners may recommend that a research project:
      1. be accepted without amendments;
      2. does not meet the criteria for the award of the degree, and should be rejected without right of resubmission.
   6. Where examiners cannot agree on a result, the Dean of Physiotherapy or nominee shall engage in established mediation procedures and arrive at a decision.
   7. The relative weighting of the components of the programme for the research project option is papers 83% and research project 17%.
   8. In the case of a research project 'Fail' result, a candidate may be eligible to be considered for the award of a Postgraduate Diploma in Physiotherapy, subject to fulfilling the requirements for such an award.

9. Exclusion from the Programme

   Any student who, during the course of their studies, is

   1. subject to criminal charges; or
   2. subject to disciplinary proceedings of the University or of a professional body; or
   3. found to have an issue in connection with their mental or physical health that could adversely affect their fitness to practise; or
   4. found to have failed to declare a matter covered by (a)-(c),

   May be excluded from further study towards the degree by the Academic Board of the Division of Health Sciences on the recommendation of the Board of Studies for Physiotherapy.

10. Level of Award of the Degree

    The degree may be awarded with distinction or with credit.

11. Variations

    The Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Health Sciences) may in exceptional circumstances approve a course of study which does not comply with these regulations.