Sept 2025 Entry
1 year (Full-time)
2.5 years (Part-time)
31
The Postgraduate Scheme in Rehabilitation Sciences comprises the following awards:
- MSc in Rehabilitation of People with Developmental Disabilities 發展障礙人士復康理學碩士學位
- MSc in Rehabilitation Sciences 康復科學理學碩士學位
- MSc in Manipulative Physiotherapy 手法物理治療理學碩士學位
- MSc in Occupational Therapy 職業治療學理學碩士學位
- MSc in Sports Physiotherapy 運動物理治療理學碩士學位
The awards under this scheme admit students in alternate years.
What's New
Programme Aims
Graduates of this programme are able to
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meet the changing needs in rehabilitation practice and contribute to its development;
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demonstrate a lifelong ability to critically analyse and evaluate current practice to ensure and advance the quality of practice;
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assess patients and make rational decisions regarding physiotherapeutic approaches to treatment, through a logical clinical reasoning process;
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demonstrate proficiency, confidence and independence in the safe use of manipulative physiotherapy expected of a graduate in the field;
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critically evaluate management methods and work within the framework of the evidence-based approach.
Description
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This programme fulfils all of the international monitoring requirements set by the International Federation of Manual and Musculoskeletal Physical Therapists Incorporated (IFOMPT).
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Students who successfully complete the programme are eligible to apply for full membership in the Manipulative Therapy Specialty Group of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association, which is a member organisation of IFOMPT.
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The programme offers students a unique experience of Chinese manual therapy in an East-meets-West context.
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Clinicians and clinic/department managers of private and public organisations highly commend the programme for its focus on clinical specialisation.
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The programme offers a balance between theory, practice and scientific investigation.
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Reasonable credit transfer will be considered for equivalent subjects obtained at postgraduate level.
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This programme fulfils all of the international monitoring requirements set by the International Federation of Manual and Musculoskeletal Physical Therapists Incorporated (IFOMPT).
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Students who successfully complete the programme are eligible to apply for full membership in the Manipulative Therapy Specialty Group of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association, which is a member organisation of IFOMPT.
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This programme does not confer eligibility for registration with the Physiotherapist Board of Hong Kong.
Programme Structure
This programme consists of
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4 credits |
|
21 credits |
|
6 credits |
| Total | 31 credits |
| Proposed Study Plan for One Year of Full-time Study | ||
|
Year 1 Full-Time Study
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Semester 1 (Sept – Jan) |
Research Methods and Data Analysis* |
| Physical Diagnosis of Neuro-musculoskeletal Disorders* | ||
| Diagnostic Procedures in Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy* | ||
| Project Study | ||
| Academic Integrity and Ethics (Health and Social Sciences) | ||
|
Semester 2 (Jan – May) |
Advanced Principle and Practice of Manipulative Physiotherapy (Lower Quarter)* | |
| Advanced Principle and Practice of Manipulative Physiotherapy (Upper Quarter)* | ||
| Musculoskeletal Injury and Repair* | ||
| Project Study | ||
|
Semester 3 (June – July) |
Advanced Manipulative Physiotherapy Practice I & II (5 weeks of full-time day clinic) |
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* Evening classes
| Proposed Study Plan for Part-time Study | ||
|
Year 1
|
Semester 1 (Sept – Jan) |
Research Methods and Data Analysis* |
| Physical Diagnosis of Neuro-musculoskeletal Disorders* | ||
| Diagnostic Procedures in Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy* | ||
|
Semester 2 (Jan – May) |
Advanced Principle and Practice of Manipulative Physiotherapy (Lower Quarter)* | |
| Advanced Principle and Practice of Manipulative Physiotherapy (Upper Quarter)* | ||
| Musculoskeletal Injury and Repair* | ||
| Academic Integrity and Ethics (Health and Social Sciences) | ||
|
Year 2 |
Semester 1 (Sept – Jan) |
Advanced Manipulative Physiotherapy Practice I* Project Study |
|
Semester 2 (Jan – May) |
Advanced Manipulative Physiotherapy Practice II* Project Study |
|
|
Semester 3 (June – July) |
Project Study | |
Core Areas of Study
- Musculoskeletal Injury and Repair
- Diagnostic Procedures in Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy
- Physical Diagnosis of Neuro-musculoskeletal Disorders
- Advanced Principle and Practice of Manipulative Physiotherapy (Lower Quarter)
- Advanced Principle and Practice of Manipulative Physiotherapy (Upper Quarter)
- Advanced Manipulative Physiotherapy Practice I
- Advanced Manipulative Physiotherapy Practice II
31
Scheme Coordinator
Prof. Karen Liu
PDOT, BSc, MPhil, PhD, FOTARA, HKROT, OT Registered (AHPRA), OTR
Award Coordinator
Dr Sharon Tsang
PhD (RU), MMani Th (Curtin), MSc HC (PolyU), BSc PT (PolyU), FHKCOP (Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy)
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A Bachelor’s degree in physiotherapy from PolyU or a recognised institution or the equivalent, preferably with 1 year of post-qualification work experience in physiotherapy;
OR -
A professional diploma in physiotherapy from PolyU or a recognised institution or the equivalent, with 2 years of work experience in physiotherapy and evidence of continuous education over the last 2 years.
If you are not a native speaker of English, and your Bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification is awarded by institutions where the medium of instruction is not English, you are expected to fulfil the University’s minimum English language requirement for admission purpose. Please refer to the "Admission Requirements" section for details.
Individual cases will be considered on their own merit. Applicants may be required to attend interviews or tests to further demonstrate their language proficiency.
For academic matters, please contact:
Dr Sharon Tsang
Tel: (852) 2766 4332
Email: sharon.tsang@polyu.edu.hk
For general matters, please contact:
General Office
Tel: (852) 2766 6728
Email: rsmsc@polyu.edu.hk
3 for local students
6 for non-local students
HK$7,000 per credit for local and non-local students
The Master of Science in Manipulative Physiotherapy is a globally recognised and well-structured programme. It not only focuses on mastering manual techniques but also emphasises the development of critical and evidence-based clinical reasoning skills. The programme includes clinical placements led by a group of experienced clinical educators who inspire us to analyse and treat musculoskeletal conditions through various reasoning approaches.
Students enrolled in this programme are physiotherapists who are passionate about the musculoskeletal specialty. The programme is an excellent platform for the exchange of experiences, knowledge and ideas, thereby fostering mutual growth throughout the course. This two-year Master's programme has been incredibly rewarding and inspiring. I gained valuable knowledge through the shared experiences of knowledgeable educators and engaging discussions with my classmates.
I highly recommend this course to physiotherapists seeking to enhance their professional knowledge and expertise in musculoskeletal physiotherapy.
As part of the efforts to improve my clinical practice, the valuable Master of Science in Manipulative Physiotherapy programme has enabled me to become a better physiotherapist with greater precision in clinical judgement and a stronger heart for patient care. The programme provides broad exposure to both contemporary and classical schools of thought in the arts of manual therapy. It enables students to critically synthesise the strengths and pitfalls of different theories related to manual therapy, establish a specific physical diagnosis and apply the best treatment options with reason and accuracy against various neuromusculoskeletal diseases and painful conditions. By learning from the example of our great mentors and teachers during the year-long clinical placement, we were able to improve our ability to listen to our patients not just with our ears but also with our hands, to see patients’ concerns with greater understanding and to enable them to recover from their conditions through specific exercises and self-management, in addition to our effective manual therapy. The extraordinary research experience with expert guidance in conducting experimental projects also inspired me to dedicate myself to clinical research to discover new knowledge that can be transposed to clinical practice. I am very grateful to have graduated from this rewarding and renowned programme.
<What kind of physiotherapist do you want to be?>
The Master of Science in Manipulative Physiotherapy is a rewarding and well-organised programme in which you can sharpen your mind and technique to become a physiotherapist specialising in the musculoskeletal field. During this programme, you will be guided by a team of renowned experts in musculoskeletal physiotherapy. Not only do they teach us the required knowledge and skills but they also guide us during the thinking process, to see the beauty of the art of physiotherapy. Upon graduation from this programme, you will be able to develop a structured flow of assessments and treatments with a solid foundation of clinical knowledge, up-to-date evidence-based practice, precise manual techniques, effective patient communication and clinical reasoning - the core of a therapist. All these essential assets will certainly equip you as a musculoskeletal physiotherapist.
What kind of physiotherapist do you want to be? If you are interested in pursuing your career in the musculoskeletal field, are committed to providing quality care to your patients, and are determined to make a difference as a physiotherapist, the Master of Science in Manipulative Physiotherapy is your choice. You will definitely find it rewarding.
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