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Postgraduate Study in Rehabilitation

    Learn new ways of thinking from our interprofessional team of rehabilitation experts and support your patients to get back to full participation in their lives.

    Our postgraduate programmes are delivered online so you can study from wherever and whenever it suits you.

    Hear from our team about how our rehabilitation programmes can enhance your practice

    Tailor your study to an area of interest

    Our flexible programme allows you to tailor your study to the area of most relevance to you. Choose from our key rehabilitation specialties:

    • Rehabilitation with children
    • Musculoskeletal rehabilitation
    • Best practice in work rehabilitation
    • Rehabilitation for the older adult
    • Personal and psychological factors in rehabilitation
    • Neurological rehabilitation

    Learn from leaders and innovators in rehabilitation research and clinical practice

    Our postgraduate programmes are taught by the outstanding Rehabilitation Teaching and Research Unit (RTRU).

    This interprofessional team draws on the knowledge and experience of experts in medicine, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and clinical psychology.

    More about the Rehabilitation Teaching and Research Unit

    Who are our programmes for?

    Our qualifications will benefit those involved with improving rehabilitation outcomes across a wide range of disciplines.

    These include:

    • Physiotherapists
    • Nurses
    • Occupational therapists
    • Speech-language therapists
    • Osteopaths
    • Psychologists
    • Social workers
    • Vocational advisers
    • Health service managers
    • Policy advisers
    • Exercise physiologists
    • Personal trainers

    Enrolments are also welcome from those with lived experience of rehabilitation who are interested in a career in the field.

    Paper schedule

    RTRU paper schedule 2025-2027 (PDF)

    What our students say

    “I recently changed jobs to work with ACC contracts such as Vocational Rehabilitation. I felt I'd best meet the needs of a new patient population by furthering my education in rehabilitation. Otago offered relevant papers through distance learning.

    “I'm enjoying contemplating my role as a health professional from a deeper perspective and interacting with fellow students following different career paths. This helps me consider different points of view and expand my learning.”

    – Hamish Gunson (Postgraduate Certificate in Rehabilitation)

    “As a health professional, I felt it was important to have supervisors who could identify with my clinical experience and support me in merging clinical and research roles.

    “I received the high-quality education I expected from Otago, with a great balance of support, direction and autonomy.

    “If studying by distance makes it more accessible or feasible for you to continue your education, then do it. You won't regret it!”

    – Catherine Vingerhoets (PhD student, Rehabilitation)

    Choose a study option

    Whether you are advancing your career with our specialised graduate qualifications or pursuing in-depth research and expertise through our postgraduate programmes, Otago is here to support your aspirations.

    Postgraduate qualifications

    Honours, Master’s, PhDs, and other advanced degrees for graduates. Just one additional year of study will earn you a valuable postgraduate degree. Or perhaps you want the depth of a full year of research-only time during a Master’s or to step up to a PhD.

    Graduate Qualifications

    Our graduate qualifications are crafted to transition students from foundational studies to advanced, specialised knowledge.

    Ready to apply?

    Take your expertise to the next level with advanced study.

    Programme details

    Compare programmes for this subject.

    Thesis option
    • REHB 701 Rehabilitation Principles
    • Two further REHB papers
    • Approved research methods paper(s) to the value of 30 points
    • A thesis (120 points)
    Coursework option
    • REHB 701 Rehabilitation Principles
    • Two further REHB papers
    • Approved research methods paper(s) to the value of 30 points
    • Further approved paper(s) to the value of 30 points
    • A dissertation (60 points)
    Note: A candidate, with the approval of the Board of Studies, may substitute alternative papers to the value of 30 points.

    Papers

    The programme of study shall consist of two papers:

    Papers
    • REHB 701 Rehabilitation Principles
    • Two further REHB papers
    • Further approved papers to the value of 30 points from the Schedule of Papers available for the Degree of Master of Health Sciences

    Papers

    View a list of all related papers below.

    REHB papers

    Paper Code Year Title Points Teaching period
    REHB701 2025 Rehabilitation Principles 30 points Semester 1
    REHB703 2025 Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation 30 points Semester 2
    REHB704 2025 Neurological Rehabilitation 30 points Not offered in 2025, expected to be offered in 2026
    REHB706 2025 Work Rehabilitation 30 points Semester 2
    REHB707 2025 Rehabilitation for the Older Adult 30 points Semester 1
    REHB710 2025 Rehabilitation Service Innovation and Evaluation 30 points Not offered in 2025, expected to be offered in 2026
    REHB711 2025 Special Topic 30 points Not offered in 2025
    REHB714 2025 Personal and Psychological Factors in Rehabilitation 30 points Semester 2
    REHB716 2025 Rehabilitation with Children 30 points Semester 1
    REHB780 2025 Research Project 30 points Semester 1, Semester 2, Full Year
    REHB790 2025 Dissertation 60 points Full Year
    REHB791 2025 Dissertation 60 points Semester 1, Semester 2

    Contacts

    Rehabilitation Teaching and Research Unit
    University of Otago, Wellington
    Email rtru.uow@otago.ac.nz
    Tel +64 4 385 5591
    Web otago.ac.nz/rehab


    This information must be read subject to the statement on our Copyright & Disclaimer page.

    Regulations on this page are taken from the 2025 Calendar and supplementary material.

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