Masters (Coursework)
Deakin's Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology has a national reputation for teaching excellence, world-class facilities and graduate employability. This award-winning course creates a simple pathway towards becoming an Accredited Exercise Physiologist, and the 300-plus hours of industry experience you undertake will open the door to exciting opportunities.
Want to study alongside the brightest minds in the field at our purpose-built Deakin Clinical Exercise Centre?
This course gives you all the tools you need to become a successful clinical exercise physiologist. You'll study in world-class facilities, learn from brilliant teachers who are leaders in the field, benefit from extensive practical experience and grow your professional network through our long list of industry partners. If you love the feeling of helping people manage or overcome chronic conditions through exercise, we can help you channel that passion into a long-lasting career. Equally, if you want to enhance your skills in a high-performing, nurturing environment, this is the course for you.
Build on your current expertise and develop a deep understanding of advanced principles within clinical exercise physiology. Everything you learn is grounded in science and the evidence-based techniques you explore allow you to deliver better outcomes for your patients. When you graduate, you will be able to confidently treat a diverse range of chronic conditions, injuries and disabilities. You will also learn about the effects of acute and chronic exercise on physiological and pathophysiological processes in individuals with injury and disease. Some of the conditions you will cover include:
Looking to become an Accredited Exercise Physiologist? Deakin's Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology is an approved pathway towards accreditation with Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA). In fact, it's the first clinical exercise course in Victoria to gain accreditation. On top of that, graduates will be eligible to apply for provider numbers with Medicare Australia, WorkSafe Victoria, DVA, TAC and other compensable funds and schemes.
One of the best parts of the course is being able to test your new skills in real clinical settings. You'll undertake 300-plus hours of clinical placement that gives you a taste of your future role and provides valuable opportunities for professional development. If your dream is to work one-on-one with patients in a clinical setting, you will find this experience incredibly rewarding. An accredited exercise physiologist (or qualified professional) will guide you through your placement units, which are designed to optimise your exposure to a wide range of clients, practitioners and institutions. Some of these placements lead directly to future employment.
When you're not on external placement, you will also be getting practical experience at the award-winning Deakin Clinical Exercise Centre (DCEC). DCEC was developed specifically for Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology students. At the centre, students can work alongside accredited exercise physiologists to apply their clinical knowledge to real clients. Students also have access to our multi-million dollar Specialised Indoor Exercise and Sport Science Teaching Building and Elite Sports Precinct. To give you a more rounded education, the curriculum is balanced with a research component. You will plan and execute your own research project, and the skills you learn will allow you to critically analyse, reflect on and synthesise scientific research to better inform clinical reasoning.
Ultimately, you will be joining a program with a proven track record of excellence. This course, along with our graduates, has received a number of ESSA awards, including runner-up exercise physiology practice of the year (2012), supervisor of the year (2014) and graduate of the year (2014). Better still, our school of exercise and sport science has been ranked number one in Australia for three years running.
Individuals with chronic conditions can now have treatments from an Accredited Exercise Physiologist (AEP) covered by Medicare and many private health insurers. This has increased the career opportunities for those with an AEP-recognised qualification, and puts graduates of this course in a strong position for career progression.
Your practical experience, technical knowledge and problem-solving skills will allow you to thrive in a variety of settings including:
When you're on clinical placement, it's always a good idea to put your best foot forward. Some of these placements lead directly to future employment.
Explore more careers information for this course
To complete the Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology students must attain 12 credit points. All units are equal to 1 credit point completed over three trimesters (minimum 18 months) of full-time study and/or part-time equivalent undertaken in campus mode of study. All units are core units (these are compulsory). There are no elective units.
Students cannot complete the course in less than 18 months.
All commencing Faculty of Health Undergraduate and Postgraduate course work students are required to complete DAI001 Academic Integrity Module (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in their first trimester of study.
Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.