Admission & Application

For 2024

• Applications are accepted (using the ORPAS online system) beginning October 13
• The last day to submit an ORPAS application is January 5
• Last Casper test date accepted is January 27
  
  • Visit Casper for test dates
• Offers of admission are sent out:
  • In May for domestic applicants

Requirements

Applicants must:

• Have successfully completed a four-year bachelor's degree with high academic standing from a recognized university or postsecondary degree-granting institution
  
  • Applicants in the final year of their bachelor's degree must provide proof of degree completion (ie. degree conferral) by June 30
  • Applicants whose bachelor's degree was completed at an institution outside of Canada, must submit their transcripts for equivalency (see Application Components section below)
  • The Master of Physical Therapy program is an intense, full-time program and applicants must demonstrate through their application and academic background that they can be successful in the program.

NOTE: Applicants may submit a request for special consideration due to extenuating circumstances that may have affected their application. Please see the Special Considersation section below.

Prerequisite Courses

Prerequisite courses may be taken at any recognized university. Prerequisite courses may have been taken as part of an undergraduate degree or as additional university credit courses. University, web-based and distance education courses are accepted providing they meet the prerequisite requirements.

All prerequisite courses must have been completed within the past seven years (from the ORPAS application deadline). A minimum grade of 70% (or B-) must have been achieved for each prerequisite course.

Pass/fail grades will not be accepted for the prerequisite courses unless completed during the winter 2020 term.

The following university level prerequisite courses or their equivalents are required:

• Human/Mammalian/Vertebrate Physiology – 1 half course
  • We do not accept Animal Physiology, Invertebrate Physiology or Exercise Physiology to fulfill this requirement
• Science – 1 full course (or 2 half courses) in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Anatomy, Biomechanics, or Exercise Physiology
  • We do not accept Earth Science or Health Studies courses to fulfill this requirement
• Statistics/Research Methods/Research Design – 1 half course
• Social Science/Liberal Arts – 1 full course (or 2 half courses)
  • Example of courses include: Psychology, Sociology, Economics, History, Geography, Anthropology, Languages, Fine Arts, Philosophy, Ethics, Classical Studies, Film Studies, Comparative Literature, Humanities, Music, Dance, Visual Arts

Full courses are generally defined as six credit, full-year courses; half courses are defined as three credit, half-year courses.

Prospective applicants may complete summer courses and part-time academic year courses to fulfill the prerequisite course requirements. All prerequisite courses must be completed or in progress by the ORPAS application deadline (see above).

A transcript is required to show proof of “in progress” courses. The MPT Program must receive a final transcript that shows the final grade of the “in progress” course(s) by June 30 of the application year.

Note: We are only checking that prerequisite courses have a minimum grade of 70% and were completed within the last seven years (as of the application deadline). Prerequisite courses will only be included in the subGPA, if they fall within the last 20 half courses used in the subGPA calculation.

The following prerequisites do not come into effect until the 2025 application cycle. We will be keeping the Human/Mammalian/Vertebrate Physiology, Statistics/Research Methods/Research Design and Social Science/Liberal Arts prerequisites.

• Canadian Indigenous History – certificate or half course
  • This requirement can be satisfied by taking the for certificate course Indigenous Canada, a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) hosted on the Coursera platform. Students will receive a certificate upon completion that they will need to submit by June 30th of the application year.
  • This requirement can also be satisfied by taking a for credit half-course in Indigenous history.

• Human Anatomy – 1 half course

• Science – 1 half course in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Anatomy, Biomechanics, or Exercise Physiology
  • We do not accept Earth Science, Health Studies, Geography, Geology, or Astronomy courses to fulfill this requirement

English Language Proficiency

Applicant's whose first language is not English and who have not completed a four-year degree at an English language institution, must provide evidence of their English-language proficiency by achieving the minimum required scores, within the last 2 years, on either the TOEFL or IELTS test.

The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

• A minimum overall score of 105 (internet-based) or 620 (paper-based) is requied
• TOEFL scores must be sent directly to the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies at Western University using TOEFL ID 0984
• In addition, a copy of the TOEFL test score must be uploaded to the ORPAS application

The International English Language Testing Service (IELTS Academic)

• A minimum overall score of 8 in both the overall and writing section is required
• IELTS test score must be sent directly to the Master of Physical Therapy Admissions Coordinator ( ptadmit@uwo.ca) from the testing agency
• In addition, a copy of the IELTS test score must be uploaded to the ORPAS application

If, after admission, a student shows an inadequate command of spoken or written English, they must improve their proficiency to the satisfaction of the School of Physical Therapy. Students may be asked to withdraw from the program if their command of English interferes with their ability to provide quality professional health care services.

Casper

In addition to submitting an application through ORPAS (see below), applicants are required to complete a Casper online, video-scenario, situational judgement test. Casper testing takes place outside of the ORPAS application.

NOTE: Applicants must add Western’s School of Physical Therapy to their Casper distribution list in order for their scores to be sent directly to us from Casper.

For the 2024 application, the last CASPer test date that will be accepted is on January 27, 2024. Visit Casper for all available test dates.

Applicants must use the same name and email address on the Casper as they do on their ORPAS application.

Failing to enter correct and identical information may mean we are unable to match an applicant's Casper results with their ORPAS application. In this case, we will consider an application incomplete and the application will be disqualified from further consideration.

We will not consider applicants with incomplete or missing Casper scores.

• Learn more about Casper
• Testing Dates
• Casper FAQ

Note: Altus Suit Snapshot or Duet is not required for application to this program.

ORPAS Application System:

Transcripts:

• Official transcripts must be sent directly to ORPAS from the originating academic institution
• Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended must be submitted, including transcripts for course work that is currently in progress, taken with a letter of permission, transfer credits, exchange credit program or advanced standing credits taken during high school or CEGEP
• For transcripts issued in a language other than English, applicants must submit one official transcript in the original language, as well as one certified English translation
• Applicants, whose undergraduate degree was completed at an institution outside of Canada or the United States, must submit their transcripts for equivalency using the two steps outlined below
  • Submit the foreign transcript to World Education Services (WES) for evaluation
  • Submit both the original transcript and the WES evaluation to ORPAS
  • WES assessment is not required for courses taken on exchange
  • Note: The applicant is responsible for any costs incurred in obtaining the WES evaluation.

Prerequisite Courses:

• Identify the prerequisite category, institution, course code, course title, start date/credit, final grade, and course URL

Two standard letters of reference: 

• References must be submited online through the ORPAS application
• Academic Reference:
  • One reference must be completed by an individual who holds an academic faculty position in a university, who has taught or supervised the applicant, and who is qualified to judge the applicant's academic ability relative to a number of other students
  • Positions such as a teaching assistant or athletic therapist/trainer do not qualify as academic referees
• Professional Reference:
  • The second reference must be completed by a professional who can judge the applicant's performance and interpersonal skills from his/her perspective as a physical therapist, or someone who supervised the applicant working with individuals with special needs
  • References must not be submitted by relatives, friends or family friends
• Referees should elaborate on the applicant's unique and exceptional qualities

Applicant Statement: (completed as part of the ORPAS application)

• An explanation of why the applicant has chosen physical therapy as a career, demonstrating their knowledge of the profession and its scope of practice
• A description of what the applicant will bring to the physical therapy profession (e.g. strengths, experiences, attributes, leadership skills and/or abilities)
• A reflection on how the applicant feels the principles of equity, diversity, inclusion and decolonization are important in the physical therapy profession
  • Applicants who self identify as Indigenous should speak to how their identity will impact their future practice
• The Applicant Statement should elaborate on the applicant's unique and exceptional qualities rather than just their aspirations to become a physical therapist

Evidence of Paid or Unpaid Physical Therapy-related Experiences

• Provide a brief list (maximum of 4) of any activities (volunteer or paid) directly related to the physical therapy field, including a clear outline of the types of patients/individuals and the applicant's role
• This experience does not need to take place at a physical therapy clinic but should include working with patients/individuals with needs that could be serviced by a physical therapist
• Documentation must include the total number of hours of involvement, as well as the applicant’s role and the population with which the applicant interacted
• IMPORTANT: Enter the total number of hours, applicants who enter only the number of hours per week will not be credited since the total number of hours cannot be discerned

Evidence of Paid or Unpaid Non-Physical Therapy/Community Service Activities

• Provide a brief description (maximum of 4 activities) of any other activities (volunteer or paid experiences) that provide evidence of involvement and leadership in increasing the well-being of individuals, groups or society
• Documentation must include the total number of hours of involvement, as well as the applicant’s role and the population with which the applicant interacted
• IMPORTANT: Enter the total number of hours, applicants who enter only the number of hours per week will not be credited since the total number of hours cannot be discerned

Supplementary Documentation

• Applicants who are permanent residents of Canada must submit a copy of both the front and back (date on the back must be legible) of their Permanent Residency Card as part of their application

Grade point average (GPA) calculations are completed by ORPAS. Questions pertaining to GPAs should be directed to the MPT Graduate Affairs Assistant at ptadmit@uwo.ca or 519-661-3360.

A calculation of the sub-GPA for admission purposes will be completed based on the final 20 half courses of university academic study (i.e., the equivalent of 10 full courses or 60 credit hours) completed by December 31 of the fall term preceding the application deadline. Summer, part-time, intersession, distance education and undergraduate university courses taken beyond the four-year undergraduate degree are also included. Because the GPA does not include all university undergraduate courses, it is referred to as a sub-GPA.

For applicants currently enrolled in the fourth year of a bachelor's degree program, this calculation starts with the applicant's final fall term grades (completed by December 31) and moves back in chronological order based on the courses listed on the transcript. Where grades must be extracted from a term to achieve the equivalent of 10 full courses, the average of that year (e.g., applicant's second year) will be used.

Western does not include marks from the following types of courses in the calculation of an applicant's sub-GPA:

• Graduate degree
• Internship/placement or activity-type courses
• Bachelor of Education
• Certificate or diploma program
• Non-convertible grades (e.g. pass/fall)
• Naturopathic or chiropractice medicine
• Continuing Education programs

Exchange program grades are included in the admission sub-GPA if they are convertible.

Cut-off sub-GPA of Top 300 Selected Files for Admission Review

Applicants seeking special consideration for extenuating circumstances that may have affected their application, may submit a Request for Special Consideration form (available upon request) to the MPT Admission Committee for review. All requests will be reviewed on a case by case basis. Supporting documentation (medical, personal, academic, etc.) must accompany the form. Requests for special consideration must be submitted by the application deadline. Send an email to ptadmit@uwo.ca for more information and to receive a copy of the Request for Special Consideration form.

Western’s MPT Program reserves two spots for Indigenous applicants who are Canadian citizens and who have fulfilled the necessary admission requirements. Consideration will be given to Indigenous applicants with a GPA (as calculated by ORPAS) of 3.4 or higher. An applicant must self-identify as an Indigenous applicant on the online ORPAS application.

Students who self-identify as Indigenous must submit a consent form and documentation to the Office of Indigenous Initiatives at Western University. Visit MPT – Indigenous Applicant Admission Category page for additional information.

The MPT Program at Western is committed to facilitating the development of healthcare practitioners prepared to serve the diverse health and functional needs of Canadians and International communities. We acknowledge and embrace an environment of respect and value for the unique life experiences of International applicants. We deliver on this commitment through equitable admission practices and review and evaluation of international applicant files that reflect these values. We endeavour to elevate applicants who have demonstrated the academic and personal attributes which will allow for successful completion of the program while prioritizing candidates who can enrich the program and profession through their life experience and may be benefitted by a pathway of study in Canada.

Two (2) spots are reserved for International students who have fulfilled the necessary admission requirements and are not eligible to apply as a domestic applicant. By applying to this stream you are agreeing to enrol as an international student and are agreeing to pay international fees for your whole program. Consideration will be given to International applicants with a sub-GPA (as calculated by ORPAS) of 3.4 or higher. An applicant must self-identify as an International student in the ORPAS application.

To be considered, applicants must complete all of the admission requirements as listed above.

Official transcripts must be sent directly to ORPAS from the originating academic institution. Official English translations must be completed by a certified translator and provided for all non-English documentation submitted.

Transcripts must be evaluated for equivalency. You are required to submit your international transcript to World Education Services (WES) for evaluation. Both the original transcript and WES evaluation must be submitted to ORPAS. You are responsible for any incurred costs in obtaining the WES evaluation. Please note that original transcripts sent to WES from your home university must also be sent to ORPAS.

Applicants whose first language is not English must provide evidence of English language proficiency by satisfactory achievement within the last two years in either the TOEFL or IELTS. A minimum TOEFL score of 105 (internet-based) or 620 (paper-based) or a minimum IELTS score of 8.0 in both the overall and writing section is required. The official test results report must be uploaded into the ORPAS application, sent directly to the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, Western University by the testing agency and received by the application deadline. For further details, please see the English Language Proficiency section above.

If, after admission, the applicant shows an inadequate command of spoken or written English, they must improve their proficiency to the satisfaction of the Master of Physical Therapy program.. They may be asked to withdraw from the program if their command of English interferes with their ability to meet course and program progression requirements, including courses involving clinical placements in professional health-care facilities.

The top applicants will be invited to participate in an interview in March. Applicants are required to complete the interview process. The interview is for applicants to meet the admissions committee, learn more about the program, and ask any questions they may have about coming to Western. This interview will make use of video conferencing software like Zoom.

Previous international students have recommended that students who are new to Canada arrive by July 1st to prepare for their time in the program. All international students should complete the International Student Orientation for Graduate Students offered through Western’s International & Exchange Student Centre as soon as they are able. You must present your Study Permit to the School of Physical Therapy by September 1, 2024.

Read more about services available for International Students at the International & Exchange Student Centre.

Applicants who have already partially completed a physical therapy professional degree at another institution may make a request to transfer into Western University's MPT Program. Applicants must meet Western University's MPT Program’s admissions criteria, submit an application through the ORPAS website and indicate that they wish to be considered as a transfer student on the application. Applicants may apply for Special Consideration if admissions criteria are not met and may apply for Advanced Standing for specific courses according to MPT policy, if applicable. To apply for Special Consideration or Advanced Standing, contact the MPT program. Transfer requests are considered on a case-by-case basis. All decisions are final and not open to appeal.

Applicants who have met the requirements and have completed the prerequisite courses, are eligible for admission. Place of residence, program of study and university where undergraduate courses and degree were completed are not criteria in the selection process.

The MPT Program uses the following process to determine admission to the program:

• Based on the applications received, the 300 applicants with the highest sub-GPA are selected for further consideration
  • The cutoff sub-GPA is dependent on that year’s applicant pool and therefore varies from year to year
• The top 300 applicants’ files are screened for completeness including all necessary documentation, Casper score, and appropriate prerequisites
• Casper ranking: Students who are ranked below average on the Casper test will not be given further consideration
  • Students ranked more than two standard deviations above average, may be added to the files sent for external review even if they were not within the top 300 applicants ranked by sub-GPA
• The Applicant’s Statement, Letters of Reference, volunteer/paid physical therapy experience and volunteer/paid non-physical therapy activities/community service are then assessed by three independent reviewers and a score is assigned using standardized rubrics for each of these areas
  • The rubric is not available for applicants to review
• Final ranking for offers of admission is determined by the average of the scores from all three reviewers
  • Applicants not receiving a first round offer of admission, are placed in order of rank on the waiting list

Admissions decisions made by the School of Physical Therapy are final and not subject to appeal.

NOTE: The Admissions Committee may need to contact applicants during the selection process. Information will be sent electronically to the address that was used to apply through ORPAS. It is important that applicants configure their email settings to accept messages coming from @uwo.ca addresses. Applicants are encouraged to check their junk/spam mail folders often to ensure important information is not missed during this time.

Before accepting an offer of admission to Western's MPT Program, incoming students should be aware of the information listed below:

• The Master of Physical Therapy (MPT) Program is a two-year, full-time program
  • Incoming students should ensure they are prepared to be a full-time student
• For many laboratory sessions it is useful to wear clothing that allows access to anatomical structures and landmarks (e.g., shorts and t-shirt). However, students are encouraged to wear clothes they are comfortable and can move around in. Students acting as simulated patients may be asked to remove articles of clothing (e.g., socks, shirt), but clothing removal is not a requirement. We ask that all students respect the privacy of their peers and treat simulated patients in the same manner they would treat patients and clients in the community.
• The ability to practice clinical skills in a healthcare program is an integral part of professional training. As a student in a physiotherapy program, experiencing the interventions you will propose will allow you to better understand the patient perspective. Informed consent to participate in laboratory sessions or assessments will be assumed unless a student states otherwise. However, a student may not be comfortable with some interventions for a variety of reasons and the right to withdraw consent will always be applied, as this is a fundamental aspect of any physiotherapy intervention. Students acting as simulated patients can withdraw consent at any time without judgement or bias if they are not comfortable with the proposed practical technique to be performed.
• Comprehensive knowledge of human functional anatomy is considered essential to Physiotherapy practice. Cadaveric anatomy education is a privilege of bequeathal programs. The foundational functional human anatomy course in the MPT program requires cadaveric based learning and students must be prepared to participate fully in all scheduled sessions. All students entering the MPT program must be prepared to participate fully in scheduled human cadaver anatomy labs.
• Incoming students must obtain and submit documentation of a police Vulnerable Sector Screening (VSS)
  • Conviction of a criminal offence may affect a student’s ability to obtain the necessary clinical placements for successful graduation from the MPT program
• Incoming students must meet the Ontario Ministry of Labour policies and guildelines for the protection of workers as when in the MPT program, they may be required to care for persons with infectious diseases (including but not limited to hepatitis B, TB, HIV)
  
  • Students are responsible for any costs incurred to fulfill medical, non-medical and Bill 18 MPT program and clinical site requirements
• Western continues to follow the advice of federal, provincial, and local health authorities and prioritizes the health of students, faculty, and staff. Students in the MPT Program are required to take part in clinical placements in different practice settings, including acute care and rehabilitation hospitals. Students must be aware that at this time, most placement partners, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, and community clinics, have pre-placement policies for students that include mandatory vaccination requirements. Students will be required to be compliant with the policy requirements of our placement partners in order to attend placements in those facilities. If students are not compliant with those policies, they will not be able to attend those placements and will fail to meet clinical graduation requirements. Students that fail to meet clinical graduation requirements will not be eligible to complete the program.