The medical field of physiotherapy helps patients improve, maintain, and maximise their strength, function, mobility, and general well-being. The phrases “physiotherapy” and “physical therapy,” as well as “physiotherapist” and “physical therapist,” are interchangeable and refer to the same thing. To assess, identify, and treat the symptoms of sickness, injury, and disability, physiotherapists thoroughly understand how the body functions and specialise in hands-on clinical skills. In addition to injury prevention and fitness enhancement, physiotherapy also focuses on rehabilitation. To better satisfy a patient’s healthcare requirements, physiotherapists frequently collaborate with other medical specialists in teams.
In 460 B.C., doctors like Hippocrates and Galenus are thought to have advocated massage, manual therapy methods, and hydrotherapy as a treatment for patients. Similar to subsequent advancements in physiotherapy, devices like the Gymnasticon were created to cure gout and related disorders by exercising the joints systematically after the establishment of orthopaedics in the seventeenth century. The “Father of Swedish Gymnastics,” Per Henrik Ling, established the Royal Central Institute of Gymnastics in 1813 to promote massage, manipulation, and exercise. This is the oldest known reference to the beginnings of genuine physiotherapy as a profession.
Physiotherapy is a highly effective speciality treatment for illness, injury, and diseases. It can reestablish mobility and function in the damaged region by physical means. Physiotherapy also aids in protecting the previously injured body part from subsequent harm or injury. Any age group can benefit from physiotherapy care and the full assistance they need to manage their health and avoid illness. Physical therapy may enhance health and quality of life at any stage. Whatever treatment is received will always be in the hands of qualified, seasoned specialists because physiotherapy is a degree-based profession.
To keep the curriculum current and ensure that graduates have the information and skills they need for the real world, universities continuously improve their contributions in response to feedback from stakeholders, including students and other investors. The course could vary as a result of this.
- Physiotherapy Practice 1: Essential Skills
- Clinical Anatomy and Kinesiology for Physiotherapy and Sport Rehabilitation
- Fundamentals of Human Anatomy and Physiology
- Informing Practice Through Research and Inquiry
- Physiotherapy Across the Lifespan
- Physiotherapy Practice 3
- Research and Evidence in Practice
- Healthy Futures
- Consolidation of Learning into Practice
Physiotherapy employment is expected to increase by 17 per cent between 2021 and 2031, substantially faster than the average for all occupations. Over the next ten years, there are expected to be, on average, 15,400 opportunities for physical therapists.
A physiotherapist assists in treating patients during all stages of recovery, from the initial diagnosis through the therapeutic and preventative phases. Physiotherapy may complement other treatments or serve as a stand-alone alternative.
Why Study This Program
Enhance Quality of Life
The opportunity for a challenging, gratifying, and fulfilling career exists in physiotherapy. Physiotherapists enhance patients’ quality of life, health, and wellness by restoring functional mobility. Physiotherapists are highly valued and held in high respect by society. People of various ages can experience chronic pain, sports injuries, and mobility problems, all of which can be considerably reduced with the help of physiotherapy.
The emotional gratification you get after assisting someone deserves some consideration. It’s a sentiment that lasts forever. Many individuals find that physiotherapy can help them in a way that is so crucial to them that they feel compelled to take the time to express their profound thanks to you. That is the main focus. Knowing you’ve genuinely changed someone else’s life is unlike anything else, and experiencing it often in a physiotherapy environment will further inspire you to follow this route. Helping people resume the pursuits that give their lives purpose daily feels incredible.
High in Demand
A variety of jobs are available in the high-demand field of physiotherapy. Graduates of this program can find employment in medical facilities such as clinics, nursing homes, hospitals, and educational and sporting institutions. The society holds physiotherapists in high regard and values them. Chronic pain, sports injuries, and mobility issues can affect people of all ages, but they can all be significantly alleviated with physiotherapy. An increasingly ageing population’s healthcare requirements drive up demand for physiotherapists’ services.
As our population ages, there may be a rise in the number of injuries and the need to treat acute and chronic pain, which may raise the demand for these experts. Numerous conditions, such as vertigo, arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, shoulder instability, chronic pain syndrome, head injuries, and imbalance, have increased the demand for physiotherapists. This need is influenced by the world’s continually evolving way of life. For instance, stress at work has led to mental health problems in certain people.
Significant Career Opportunities
A career in physiotherapy has much income potential due to the higher-than-average full-time salary and anticipated rapid job development. It is a reality that there is an effective unemployment rate and that technology is replacing human labour. However, with a career in physiotherapy, you can be sure you will have a stable job if you decide to become a physiotherapist. Additional numbers are required since more individuals require physiotherapy due to illnesses like diabetes that impair movement.
Candidates who enrol in undergraduate physiotherapy degrees have several career and promotion opportunities. Physiotherapists are required in every hospital and healthcare facility since they are essential to the healthcare sector. A candidate with a degree in physiotherapy could join any health and fitness facility or start their private physiotherapy practice, among other career options. It has also been noticed that many multinational firms use physiotherapists to safeguard the welfare of their employees. In addition to this, many boarding schools have physiotherapists on staff.
Highly Practical Choice
Since physiotherapy is a profession, the cost of education reflects this. Clinical assignments in various healthcare settings are guaranteed for physiotherapy students at all institutions that offer degrees in the field. This offers pupils the chance to put what they’ve learned into practice and gives the theory they’ve been studying some perspective. Graduates are well-equipped for careers in physiotherapy.
The study of practical skills is recommended for physiotherapy students. In some years of their undergraduate degree, students can participate in clinical tasks and put their classroom knowledge to practice. To fully prepare students for the profession, placements are coordinated with each of the three primary areas of study in physiotherapy—cardiorespiratory, neurological, and neuromusculoskeletal. Hence, ensuring you are learning in-depth knowledge in this field to be set in your career is crucial. Understanding the practical methods and views that are shown in your courses is something that will eventually benefit you.
Improve Your Lifestyle
Physiotherapists help patients get well from sports-related or other injuries so they can resume their regular lives and activities, whether professional or recreational. As a result, it presents a chance to improve your patients’ quality of life. For you as the physiotherapist, this might ultimately be quite rewarding. Physiotherapists and other ‘care professions’ members are regarded highly by society for the same reason. They are typically seen as having a significant impact on improving human welfare. Those exploring career alternatives in physiotherapy also find great joy in this high esteem.
Physiotherapy is much more appealing when you can move about while working. For most individuals, a career with the term “physical” at its root completes the picture. It’s significant to note that a profession in physical therapy involves some desk work. Physiotherapists must write down what happened when interacting with patients after their appointments. The exercises suggested, the treatment and instructions given, the progress reports, the clinical observations, and the plan. Although it takes time and effort to create these notes, PTs typically spend 80% of their day helping patients while only 20% of their time documenting.
Why Study In Malaysia
Recovery and Rehabilitation Tool
With a broad understanding of strategies for rehabilitation and recovery, students studying physiotherapy not only learn how to help others but also how to help themselves. Once you have learned everything there is to know about the human body and the best ways to preserve mobility and function, you will be completely aware of what has to be done to maximise your physical wellness. If you educate yourself on injuries and joint problems, you will have a stronger desire to care for your body.
Higher Studies
The fundamental goal of physiotherapy is to provide students with the cognitive and practical breadth they need to operate as competent practitioners immediately after graduation while also having the potential to learn new topics and progress their careers with further studies. They want to provide students with a diverse educational experience at universities, assisting them in developing skills like self-directed study, collaboration, social responsibility, problem-solving abilities, and others. Some top institutions provide a proper bachelor’s degree program in physiotherapy with a professionally developed curriculum.
Affordable Course Fees
The fee required to study physiotherapy in Malaysia is comparatively less than that required in many other countries, such as the USA, the UK, Australia, and Canada, to name just a few. With physiotherapy degree expenses shooting up worldwide, Malaysia comes across as a reliable option to receive a high-quality education at an affordable cost.
Globally Recognised Degrees
physiotherapy degrees from Malaysian universities enjoy global recognition. Studying physiotherapy in Malaysia allows students to pursue the program in Malaysia and then move anywhere globally. Several students continue their master’s and specialisation in Malaysia or transfer to other countries to pursue different pathways.
International Education Standard
The standard of physiotherapy programs in Malaysia meets international standards. This ensures exceptional education for students who enrol in this course. The course curriculum is rigorously developed, keeping in line with international benchmarks to ensure students learn the latest developments in physiotherapy in Malaysia.
Excellent Campus Facilities and Infrastructure
Malaysia offers excellent campus facilities, modern infrastructure, and innovative teaching aids for studying physiotherapy in Malaysia. The schools in Malaysia offer a great learning atmosphere. Several leading universities have developed in-house labs and testing facilities dedicated to helping students learn with hands-on experience, operate with state-of-the-art machinery, and stay up to date with the latest innovations.
Career Prospects
Contrary to popular belief, physiotherapists don’t necessarily focus on treating sports- and back-related problems. Physiotherapists are highly skilled medical specialists who treat patients with physical issues brought on by sickness, accident, disease, or ageing. A physiotherapist’s goal is to enhance a person’s quality of life by employing a range of therapies to reduce pain and regain function or, in the event of chronic illness or injury, to diminish the impact of any dysfunction. A physiotherapist’s duties vary, and no two days are the same. A physiotherapist may need to evaluate the patient’s physical state to identify issues and implement a treatment plan.
Knowing what a physiotherapist performs is essential before picking this career path. To enhance their patients’ overall welfare and encourage a healthy lifestyle, they work together with their patients. The role and responsibilities of a physiotherapist are:
- Identifying and treating different health issues or circumstances
- Creating treatment plans.
- Carrying out therapeutic exercise sessions.
- Using specialised methods to treat various illnesses or injuries.
- Data gathering and analysis.
- Creating case notes and reports.
- Coordinating with other medical specialists such as nurses, therapists, and general practitioners.
- Teaching and preparing patients and caretakers about mobility and exercise.
- Keeping up-to-date with the most recent techniques and information in the field.
It requires much physical effort, mental anguish, and long hours. You must be qualified and have many excellent talents to help you execute your work correctly. This is crucial since you ensure patients of all ages can move their bodies freely. Here are some skills you will need to be a physiotherapist:
- Using time wisely
- The capacity to establish a relationship with clients from all backgrounds and interact with their family members and caretakers
- Patience and tolerance
- Excellent bodily and mental condition
- Personality traits
- Teamwork abilities
Animal Psychotherapist
Animal physiotherapists assist animals recovering from medical and surgical procedures by rehabilitating them. Physical therapy’s goals include recovery and maintaining mobility, function, independence, and performance. It is used in various treatments, including curing joint or spinal issues and rehabilitation following fractures or injuries.
Physiotherapist
You will assist patients as a physiotherapist to identify their physical issues or concerns. Once a diagnosis has been made, you will construct and evaluate the best treatment plans utilising various methods, such as manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, and electrotherapy. Along with providing medical care, you’ll encourage patients’ health and welfare and educate them on how to stay healthy and manage chronic problems independently.
Sports Therapist
When injuries from exercise or sports occur, you, as a sports therapist, will respond quickly and work to get the patient back to total health. To assist in preventing accidents from occurring in the first place, you’ll also give guidance and support. Your work will be centred on the fundamentals of sport and exercise science, utilising physical methods to assist the patient and creating rehabilitation and injury avoidance programs.
Acupuncture
Several forms of acupuncture, including Western and traditional, can be used as supplemental or alternative medicine. Tiny needles are added to the skin or muscles at specific places to treat pain or ailment in both methods.
Chiropractor
As a chiropractor, you’ll treat various disorders and ease patients’ pain using manual manipulation, massage, and rehabilitation exercises. To restore patients to 100% health and mobility, you’ll use your hands to apply a striking force to joints in the spine or other joints that aren’t functioning correctly.
Dance Movement Psychotherapist
A dance move psychotherapist employs dance and movement as a form of expression to assist clients in exploring their emotions without necessarily speaking or interacting conventionally. The goal is to promote social, physical, emotional, cognitive, spiritual, and personal integration and growth.
Exercise Psychologist
As an exercise physiologist, you will research how people react to and adapt to muscle activity. You will apply your expertise to help people perform better, be fitter, or prevent or cure sickness. Typically, you’ll help teams and players in one or more sports with your scientific expertise.
Health Service Manager
The commercial healthcare industry will employ you as a health service manager. In this position, you will oversee healthcare services’ cost, delivery, and quality. While considering the needs of governmental policy and local conditions, you’ll collaborate with clinical and non-clinical professionals and other partner organisations.
Osteopath
As an osteopath, you will treat various medical conditions using your in-depth understanding of the musculoskeletal system. You will evaluate the patient’s symptoms, medical background, and lifestyle to develop the best treatment plan by taking a holistic approach to their health.
Personal Trainer
A personal trainer designs customised training plans for their customers, encouraging and assisting them as they work towards their objectives. Clients may want to develop muscle mass or lose weight, and as a personal trainer, you’ll instruct and support them in exercising correctly using routines and detailed schedules.
Program Duration
The duration to study physiotherapy in Malaysia is four years for the bachelor’s program. English is the medium of instruction followed in schools across all major international private universities.
The first year will have a number of common subjects between different specialisations. As students progress to years two and three, their modules and subjects will become more specialised as per their field of choice.
Students can sometimes switch from one specialisation to another, but it will require approval from the University faculty and the relevant authorities in Malaysia.
Students who want to opt for program transfers to another University will usually need to prepare the transfer paperwork and start processing from their second year onwards to ensure all the paperwork and approvals are in place so the program transfer can be done.
Entry Requirements
The Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) sets the entry requirements and guidelines for university admissions in Malaysia, which all universities must adhere to. All prospective international students must meet the minimum entry requirements, as the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) takes these standards into account during the application acceptance and processing phases.
The admission requirements to study physiotherapy in Malaysia for international students may vary from one university to another. However, the basic entry requirements are the same for most universities.
Usually, there are two pathways to entering a degree program in Malaysia:
- First, students can join a foundation program after completing their secondary schooling, O levels, or equivalent qualifications. After completing the foundation in Science, they can continue to the bachelor’s degree as per their choice.
- Second, students who have completed their higher secondary school or A levels or equivalent will be able to join the bachelor’s degree programme directly into year one.
If a student fails to meet the entry requirements for a bachelor’s degree programme, the faculty may offer different pathways into the degree programme, for example, through a foundation or a diploma programme.
Universities may raise the entry requirements to ensure incoming students are academically prepared for the rigours of their programmes. So, prospective international students should consult with an admission advisor to determine the precise entry criteria for their chosen programme and their preferred university.
General Entry Requirements For Bachelor’s Degree
A Levels or Equivalent:
- Pass with a minimum Grade D in two (2) of the following subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Physics / Mathematics.
Foundation:
- Minimum GPA of 2.33 in two (2) of the following subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Physics / Mathematics
English Language
International students who wish to study physiotherapy in Malaysia will also need to provide proof of their English language proficiency with IELTS or TOEFL exams. Students who have studied the British or American curriculum are generally exempted from the English proficiency requirements since the medium of instruction for that curriculum is in English by default.
Students who have studied other curriculums where the medium of instruction is also English will usually need to provide a supporting letter from the school stating that the instruction language for their schooling has been English. With that letter, English language requirements are proven to have been completed.
Fees & Cost
Students sometimes only look at the tuition fee during the comparison. However, depending on how forthright and clear the fee guidelines from the university are, the extra fees can be a hefty amount that could be a surprise. So students are advised to correctly add all the fees and decide which university fits their budget requirements to study physiotherapy in Malaysia.
Various factors will contribute to the overall cost structure, such as:
- Tuition fees
- Accommodation fees
- Admission fee
- Registration and Visa fees and
- Other one-time fees.
These fees vary from university to university and can depend on varying factors. The quality, infrastructure, facilities and teacher-to-student ratio will also determine how much a university charges.
You must find the right balance between quality and cost to get the best education possible. The average cost to study physiotherapy in Malaysia is between RM40,000 to RM60,000 per year, depending on the University.
For reference, that’s around USD $10,000 to $13,000 per year for a 4-year physiotherapy degree program at the current exchange rate.
Accommodation
Accommodation cost is going to be another recurring fee for international students. Generally, students have two options: they can either stay at the on-campus accommodation provided by the university or at private accommodation. The prices will differ according to which university and area you choose.
Generally, campus accommodations at major universities start at around US$150 per month and can go up to $400 per month. The pricing for on-campus accommodation is determined by the size of the room, whether a student will be sharing the room or will be staying alone, or if the student is taking a master room which generally comes with an attached bathroom or decides to stay at a sharing room with shared bathroom.
Some universities also offer cooking facilities and on-campus accommodation, which are shared facilities which will also be factored into the accommodation costs. Utility costs are generally an add-on fee.
While choosing the university, you can check with your admissions advisor on the options available for accommodation and how much they will cost so that you have an idea of how much of a monthly budget you will require as a student.
Admission Procedure
Researching, applying and managing overseas admissions is a tedious, time-consuming and often confusing process. Incorrect application submissions can lead to lengthy processing, delayed approvals, or rejections. You can visit education, exhibitions and fairs to collect information. However, that is not enough. You can only collect cursory information at these places. However, your admission processing will usually take much longer. During that time, you will need consistent and dedicated support to ensure your application is in the right experienced hands.
This is where we help.
Edmates helps international students from around the world with complete admissions processing. Our integrated one-stop centre helps international students with everything. We help you find future-driven programs that match your abilities and interests in leading universities.
We handle the entire process from the beginning until you have joined the university. Our international support system will manage everything for you, absolutely free.
Each student is assigned with a dedicated admission advisor who will manage the complete admission process and also guide the student throughout the admissions process. The advisor will also liaise with the university admissions department to ensure clear communications and faster processing.
You can speak with your assigned advisor anytime by booking a free call online through the website. You will also receive regular updates regarding your application via emails, SMS and WhatsApp.
To learn about each step of the admission process, you can read our complete guide to start applying for your higher education the right way.