About the School of Physiotherapy

Watercolor sketch of the Forrest Building, home of the School of Physiotherapy.

By 1976, enrolment had increased to 25, and the program became a four-year Bachelor of Science (Physiotherapy) degree. Physiotherapists who had graduated earlier with diplomas were given the opportunity to obtain the new degree as either full-time or part-time students. To ease the way for them, the school offered the post-diploma program through distance education, the first physiotherapy school in Canada to do so.  In 1995, the school achieved another important benchmark, with the approval of the MSc program in physiotherapy. Faculty with a broad range of clinical and research expertise provide an exciting array of options for clinicians who were ready for specialized education in integrating research with clinical practice. The first graduate students entered the program in 1996.

The school has also opened its doors to international students for degree programs and for clinical placements. For example, students from Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and India have joined our undergraduate and graduate programs. Exchanges with countries such as Britain and Sweden have also allowed us to host international physiotherapy students to gain clinical education in our facilities, while Dalhousie students gain clinical experience abroad.

The entry-level Master of Science (Physiotherapy) program began with the new term in September 2006.  A limited number of seats are available to qualified international applicants. The school also offers a Master of Science (Rehabiltation Research — Physiotherapy) and an Interdisciplinary PhD program.