Rady Faculty of Health Sciences College of Rehabilitation Sciences: Physical Therapy applicant admission requirements (2025-2026)

November 15, 2024

The selection process for the Master of Physical Therapy (MPT) program follows the Faculty of Graduate Studies' Academic Calendar and the Physical Therapy Supplemental Regulations. 

This process is managed by the Selections Committee, which is a standing committee of the Master of Physical Therapy Program Committee within the College of Rehabilitation Sciences. 

Successful applicants will be admitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

NOTE: This page is included with the application and is considered part of it. All applicants are expected to read and understand this information before submitting their completed application.

Programs offered

Master of Physical Therapy – MPT

Canadian residency

All applicants must be a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident of Canada at the time of application.

Academic requirements

To apply for the MPT program, you need to meet these requirements:

• Degree:
  • You must have completed a 3- or 4-year bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution recognized by the University of Manitoba.
  • For admission in 2025, your degree must be conferred by fall 2025.
• Grade point average (GPA):
  • You need a GPA of 3.25 in the last 60 credit hours of your studies.
  • Only grades from university courses completed by November 15, 2024, will be considered for this calculation.
  • For details on GPA calculations and equivalency, visit the Graduate Studies admission requirements website.
• Final transcripts:
  • If recommended for admission, you must provide final official transcripts.
  • These transcripts should show all completed coursework and confirm a last 60 credit hour GPA of 3.25 or higher.

Prerequisite course requirements

• Prerequisite course requirements include:
  • Anatomy of the Human Body (3-6 credit hours)
  • Physiology of the Human Body (3-6 credit hours)
  • Psychology (3 credit hours) 
  • Statistics (3 credit hours)
  • English Literature (3 credit hours)
  • Indigenous Studies (3 credit hours) 
• Minimum grade: A minimum grade of ‘B’ is required in each prerequisite course or approved alternate course by December 31, 2024.
• Physiology requirement: The physiology prerequisite must be completed within 5 years of application (i.e., no earlier than 2020).
• Psychology requirement: If the grade in Introductory Psychology is lower than a ‘B,’ a higher-level Psychology course may be used. It is important to note that the same course cannot meet both Psychology and Statistics requirements.
• Indigenous Studies requirement: The Indigenous Canada certificate (Massive Open Online Course) through the University of Alberta will not qualify towards this requirement. For prerequisite course work to qualify, it must be graded with at least 3 credit hours earned on the post-secondary transcript.  
• Other prerequisite courses: All other prerequisite courses must be completed within 10 years of application (i.e., no earlier than 2015).

Exceptions to time limits

Exceptions to the time limit may be considered on a case-by-case basis by the MPT chair of admissions if evidence of the application of knowledge can be demonstrated.

• Requesting an exception: A written request, along with supporting documentation (e.g., transcripts, resume), must be submitted by email to the MPT chair of admissions at CORS.PTprogram@umanitoba.ca.

NOTE: If you can't find your course(s), you can check if the University of Manitoba has assessed courses from your home institution. Courses already assessed for equivalency are listed in the University of Manitoba’s Transfer Credit Equivalencies database.

Assessment of Canadian institution courses

Courses from other Canadian institutions may have been directly assessed by the Master of Physical Therapy program Admissions Committee and can be used as prerequisites, though they may not be in the database.

If your course(s) isn't listed in the Transfer Credit Equivalency database, email the Physical Therapy Admissions Officer at CORS.PTprogram@umanitoba.ca to inquire about equivalency assessment.

Submission process for assessment

If your course hasn't been assessed previously, you'll be asked to submit a detailed course syllabus to CORS.PTprogram@umanitoba.ca for consideration. In your email clearly state the prerequisite requirement that you would like to the course to qualify towards. 

Assessment process

Courses will be reviewed for equivalency by the MPT Chair of Admissions. You'll receive email notification of the outcome.

Deadlines

For prerequisite pre-assessments before the November 15th MPT application deadline, submit course requests by October 1st.

If you haven't had your coursework reviewed or pre-assessed by October 1st, email your course syllabi to CORS.PTprogram@umanitoba.ca when applying.

Situational judgement test (Casper)

If you're applying to the MPT program at the University of Manitoba, you need to complete the Casper assessment online.

Important dates:

• Test dates: Check the Acuity Insights website for available dates. For fall 2025 admission, you can take the test from July 21, 2024, to December 5, 2024.
• Score release deadline: Make sure to request that your scores be sent to the Physical Therapy program by December 18, 2024.

For more information:

• Casper FAQs: Visit the Casper Frequently Asked Questions page.
• Inquiries: Contact Acuity Insights directly if you have questions about the test, need accommodations, or require financial assistance.

NOTE: You don’t need to complete the duet assessment for this program.

English language proficiency requirements

If English is not your primary language and you don’t qualify for a waiver under the University of Manitoba’s regulations, you'll need to show proof of English proficiency. For a list of countries exempt from this requirement, visit the Faculty of Graduate Studies website.

Required evidence of English proficiency:

If your education was not conducted in English, you must provide English language proficiency scores that meet the standards set by the Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators and the College of Physiotherapists of Manitoba. These scores are needed for the national Physiotherapy Competency Examination, which is required to practice in Canada.

Physical therapy program requirements:

• IELTS: You need a minimum overall score of 7.0, including all test components (listening, reading, writing, and speaking).
• TOEFL (iBT): You need a minimum total score of 92, with no sub-score lower than 21.

NOTE: Only IELTS and TOEFL (iBT) tests are accepted.

A. Application Fee

Application availability: Applications for the Master of Physical Therapy program will be available online from August 1, 2024, until November 15, 2024, through the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

Submission requirement: Applications are not considered received until the online application is submitted and the non-refundable application fee of $100.00 CDN is paid.

Payment deadline: The deadline to pay the application fee is November 15, 2024.

Deadlines and important dates

Required application documentation

Upload all supporting documents to the online application portal by November 15, 2024. Your application will be incomplete until all documents are received.

Transcripts:

• List all post-secondary institutions you’ve attended, including exchange, transfer, and letter of permission courses.
• Provide proof of enrolment in current courses.
• Upload updated transcripts for MPT prerequisite courses in progress during Fall 2024 by January 31, 2025.
• Inform the Admissions Office at CORS.PTprogram@umanitoba.ca of any deferred exams or grade changes.

Additional documentation:

• Proof of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit heritage: Required for Canadian Indigenous Category applicants. (See Section 4: Selection Process, D. Priorities of Applicants)
• Proof of English proficiency: Required according to English language proficiency requirements. (See Section 2: Eligibility Requirements, D. English Language Proficiency Requirements)
• Special requests: If you have special requests, upload relevant written correspondence from the MPT Chair of Admissions or the MPT Admissions Officer directly in the online application.

NOTE: Official documents are required only if you’re offered admission.

Required post-admission documentation

Criminal record, child abuse, and adult abuse registry checks

Physiotherapy is a self-regulated profession with a mandate to protect the public. These checks are necessary to facilitate completion of the MPT program; they are required for student registration with the College of Physiotherapists of Manitoba (CPM) and to engage in clinical placements throughout Canada during the program. The presence of a positive record check could impact a student’s ability to complete the program and/or work as a fully licensed physiotherapist upon completion of the MPT program.

NOTE: The review process by the Department of Physical Therapy is independent of reviews conducted by clinical sites, regulatory colleges, or future employers.

Additional required documents for successful applicants following admission to the MPT program

In addition to the following checks outlined in this guide:

• Criminal record check with vulnerable sector search
• Child abuse registry check
• Adult abuse registry check

Successful applicants to the MPT program must also submit the following:

1. Immunization package: A completed package ensuring all mandatory vaccinations are current for clinical placements.
2. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification: At the Basic Life Saver (BLS) for Healthcare Provider level or higher, provided by a Heart & Stroke Foundation-certified instructor.
3. N95 mask-fit certification: Necessary for participation in clinical placements.

Note that the College of Rehabilitation Sciences may assist with the application process and costs associated with Child and Adult Abuse Registry checks and N95 mask-fit testing.

NOTE: It is crucial that successful applicants carefully read the information provided by the Department of Physical Therapy to ensure they obtain and submit each document in strict accordance with the processes and timelines indicated.

A. Calculation of last 60 credit hour GPA and prerequisite course reviews

Last 60 credit hour GPA calculation:

Your GPA for the last 60 credit hours is calculated using courses completed by the application deadline of November 15, 2024. Courses completed after this date won’t be included.

For details on how to calculate Canadian and US GPAs, and equivalencies for Canadian universities, check the Faculty of Graduate Studies website.

Key notes on last 60 credit hour GPA calculation:

• Course repeats: Only the higher grade will count.
• Included courses: All university-level courses taken in the last 60 credit hours count, no matter your degree status, session (regular or spring/summer), or enrollment status (part-time or full-time).
• More than 60 credit hours: If you have more than 60 credit hours, we use the highest-level courses first, then the ones with the highest grades.

Prerequisite course reviews:

• Review process: We review prerequisite courses only if you are in the competitive range for a Multiple Mini Interview offer.
• New prerequisites: If a prerequisite course hasn’t been reviewed before, we’ll ask for a detailed course syllabus from you.
• No refund: If a course isn’t equivalent, you won’t get a refund on your application fee.
• Minimum grades: You must meet the minimum grade requirement (‘B’) for prerequisites. Applicants who don’t meet this or lack required courses won’t be considered for interview offers.
• Outside competitive range: Prerequisite courses for those outside the competitive range won’t be reviewed in detail.

B. Multiple Mini Interview (MMI)

Applicants with the potential for admission will be interviewed as part of the admissions process. However, eligibility alone does not guarantee an interview.

Interview details:

• Schedule: Interviews are held in March every year.
• Format: The interview takes the form of the MMI. During the MMI, applicants move between six 10-minute-long stations.
• Content: Applicants will respond to questions about themselves, the profession, the University of Manitoba Physical Therapy program, and specific scenarios.

Interview process:

• Interviewers: Representatives from the College of Rehabilitation Sciences and the physical therapy clinical community will conduct the interviews.
• Confidentiality: Interviewers will not have access to applicants' academic information.
• Assessment: Applicants are assessed and assigned an interview score based on their responses to a standard set of interview questions. All applicants must pass the interview process to be considered for admission.

NOTE: For more detailed information about the MMI, visit the Physical Therapy (MPT) website.

C. Overall Score calculation

The Overall Score is determined by combining the last 60 credit hour GPA and the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) score, weighted as follows: 60% for the last 60 credit hour GPA and 40% for the Interview Score.

This is calculated using the formula: Overall Score=(Last 60 credit hour GPA×0.6)+(Interview Score×0.4)

Please note that standardization into a z-score is not shown here, as this calculation depends on the rest of the applicant pool.

D. Priorities of applicants

Canadian Indigenous peoples category

Canadian Indigenous peoples who meet all entry requirements will be given priority for up to 20% of the admission seats. Canadian Indigenous peoples include First Nations, Métis, and Inuit. Proof of Indigenous ancestry is required, such as a copy of a Status or Treaty card, Métis membership card, Nunavut Trust Certificate card or roll number, or any other proof accepted by Inuit communities, or a letter of verification from their community at the time of application.

Applicants who self-identify as First Nations, Métis, or Inuit will have their contact information shared with the senior lead Indigenous Health Student Affairs, Ongomiizwin Education. The senior lead will contact all applicants to begin to develop a relationship that will be a source of support throughout their learning journey.

First priority: Manitobans

Graduates of the universities within Manitoba who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents and Manitoba residents who are graduates of out-of-province universities will be given first priority.

The University of Manitoba defines Manitoba applicants as those who:

• have graduated from a Manitoba high school; or
• have a recognized degree from a university in Manitoba; or
• have completed a minimum of one year of consecutive full-time academic studies in a recognized program at a university in Manitoba, while physically residing in Manitoba; or
• have been a resident in the Province of Manitoba for a minimum of two (2) years at the time of application; the two-year residence period will not be considered broken where the Admissions Committee is satisfied that the applicant was temporarily out of the province on vacation, in short-term volunteer work or employment, or as a full-time student.

Second priority: Canadians who reside in other provinces or territories

Up to five spots will be held for competitive out-of-province candidates who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents, who are graduates of universities recognized by the University of Manitoba and who are residents of Canadian provinces or territories other than Manitoba.

E. Notification of decision

After the Selections Committee has made its decisions, applicants will receive an email instructing them to log into their application portal to view their decision. If admitted, students must either accept or decline the offer. If the offer is not accepted within 14 days from the date indicated in the letter, it will expire, and the offer will be considered declined. It is important to regularly check both your email and application portal.

Please make sure your email account is up to date and able to receive emails from the University of Manitoba (check your email filters!).

Appeals process

Individuals seeking to appeal a decision of the Selections Committee should refer to the Faculty of Graduate Studies Academic Guide and the University of Manitoba policy on admission appeals procedures and guidelines.

Procedure for appeal

• Applicants requesting a reconsideration of a Selections Committee decision must submit a formal request in writing, including all supporting documentation, within ten (10) business days of receiving the electronic notification of the decision.
• Requests should be sent to the chair of the Admissions and Selections Committees at CORS.PTprogram@umanitoba.ca.

Further appeal

Any appeal of a reconsidered decision must be submitted within ten (10) days following the emailing of the reconsidered decision to the University Secretariat, Room 312 Administration Building, for transmission to the University of Manitoba’s Senate Committee on Admission Appeals.

NOTE: Applicants should understand that appeals to the Senate Committee on Admission Appeals focus on ensuring correct adherence to published policies and procedures by Selection Committees. The appeals do not consider substantive issues or the relative merit of applications.

The Department of Physical Therapy offers counselling to applicants seeking guidance regarding admission to the Master of Physical Therapy program. It is important to note the following:

Guidance approach

The department's policy is to provide information that enables applicants to make informed decisions rather than instructing them on specific courses of action.

Applicants are encouraged to discuss their plans with knowledgeable advisors. However, caution should be exercised as second-hand information about the department's admissions policies may not be accurate.

Admission assurance

No university official can guarantee admission to any applicant. Admission decisions are made annually by the Committee based on competitive criteria.

Formal inquiries

Applicants are advised to submit written inquiries to receive official written responses. Only these written responses can be considered as evidence of advice provided.

For contact information, please refer to Section 8: Contact Information.

The University of Manitoba is committed to providing all students equal access to learning opportunities. If you are a student with a diagnosed disability (permanent, chronic, or temporary) who may require academic accommodations, please contact Student Accessibility Services at 204-474-7423 or by email at student_accessibility@umanitoba.ca to learn more about the confidential supports available.

The following other contacts may also be useful.