MPT or Master of Physiotherapy is a postgraduate degree programme that is suitable for physiotherapy graduates. The course is conducted over the duration of two years. Students can become professional physical therapists or occupational therapists after completing it. This medical stream course offers an in-depth knowledge of physiotherapy and its practical aspects. Through hands-on training, clinical practices, lab work, internship and case studies, students can develop their critical thinking abilities and gain practical experience.
The full-time MPT course is offered by several private and some public academic institutions recognised by UGC or AIU. The course fee usually varies from INR 2 lakhs to 7 lakhs, depending on the institution from where a candidate pursues the course. After completing the course, physical therapists may find employment in medical clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, research centres, medical departments of industries and organisations, and even educational institutions and universities. They can get into positions like a research assistant, researcher, chief physiotherapist and osteopath.
Students who want to become physiotherapists can pursue the MPT course from a variety of institutions in the country. However, a few of these institutions lead the scene with their high-quality education and learning pedagogies. Check out a few of these best options available for you:
Aspirants of the MPT course must follow certain basic eligibility criteria to seek admission. While there may be additional criteria for local and foreign students, candidates must meet the following conditions:
In addition to the above, some institutions or universities may require candidates to have done a one-year rotating internship and have completed a full-time BPT degree from an institution recognised by the Indian Association of Physiotherapists. As additional eligibility criteria may apply, along with the above-mentioned conditions, it is recommended that candidates must ensure their eligibility for an institution before applying for admission in its MPT course. The course will usually take place according to the semester system, in which each semester is for six months and there are four semesters in total.
The Master of Physiotherapy or MPT course is an evidence-based programme that provides ethical learning to students in all domains of physical therapy. Students not only learn about preventative practices in different areas but also about restorative and rehabilitative practices. They gain a deeper understanding of such practices in the domains of Orthopaedics, gross motor development, hydrotherapy, respiratory conditions, orthotic monitoring and assessment, and more.
While it is a specialised programme in physiotherapy, students can go for varied specialisations under the MPT course. Pursuing a specialised course in MPT can give their career a specific direction in a field of physiotherapy. Check out below the most commonly available specialisations under the MPT programme:
The specialisation in the MPT course deals with the ways of treating several cardiological problems. The course trains students on heart-related therapies and actions that can make the heart function efficiently and in a healthy manner. Post-graduation in the cardiopulmonary physiotherapy can open many career avenues for students, as they get trained in managing critical cardiac and pulmonary issues that can arise due to surgical or medical conditions in human beings.
Job Prospects: After completing this specialised course, students can be experienced, clinicians and physiotherapists. They can also take up job roles like consultant doctors, physiotherapy trainees, lecturers, and medical coding executives. They may not only work in ICUs and OPDs, but also in mental health centres and medical colleges.
This MPT course specialisation focuses both the functioning of heart and lungs. Students in this course learn to treat patients with respiratory problems and conduct cardio-thoracic and similar surgeries to help patients get rid of cardiorespiratory complications.
Job Prospects: Students who specialise in the cardiorespiratory domain can make a professional career as therapy managers, respiratory therapists, clinical specialists, and medical representatives. They can also go into teaching in medical institutions. Cardiorespiratory experts are required mostly at government hospitals, private clinics, defence hospitals, hospital administration, or research institutions. Thus, they have a vast scope in the field.
Those specialising in cardiovascular and pulmonary specialities learn about handling such patients who have the lung, heart, and vascular conditions. Students in this domain learn to apply the latest technologies to solve clinically relevant issues. They get to know about varied cardiovascular and pulmonary complications in the body, as well as their diagnoses and therapeutic treatments.
Job Prospects: This MPT course specialisation leads to various job opportunities in medical facilities. Professionals in the field of cardiovascular and pulmonary specialities can work as cardiovascular technologists or technicians, echo cartographers, sonographers, and registered vascular specialists or cardiovascular invasive specialists.
Taking care of the cardiorespiratory system is the responsibility of cardiothoracic physiotherapists. By pursuing this specialised course, students are able to develop into skilled cardiothoracic physiotherapists who can work in acute conditions like chronic obstructions and asthma or chronic bronchitis.
Job Prospects: Students can find various fields open after they complete this specialised course in the MPT programme. They can work as cardiothoracic surgeons and physiotherapist executives, as well as dieticians, nutritionists, and even lecturers in the field.
While it is a less preferred specialisation in the MPT course, some students truly realise the needs of the community and want to pursue it. It is important for physiotherapy students to know that this field is not limited in terms of career opportunities. In fact, many NGOs have been seeking physiotherapists who have specialised in providing community-based rehabilitation support.
Job Prospects: Whether by working with NGOs or other medical organisations, students can make a change by ensuring a quicker and better recovery of communities by their knowledge of community rehabilitation and physiotherapy.
This specialisation is related to the above specialisation in community rehabilitation. Community physiotherapy focuses on health promotion, clinical management, and physiotherapy skills. Students learn in detail about community-based rehabilitation, primary healthcare, healthcare delivery system for women and children, geriatrics, and even industrial health.
Job Prospects: The course can equip students to work in hospitals, defence services, NGOs, hospital administration, and research institutions. They can also start their own clinics as community physiotherapy specialists. Some can also go into health education.
The MPT course in Neurology trains students to treat patients with neurological disorders, which means the issues of brain, spinal cord, and nerves. After completing this specialisation, they are able to deliver specialist care to patients with neurological injuries.
Job Prospects: While specialists in neurology can explore the work positions like neurology consultant, medical advisor, neuro-physician or neurologist, they can also be involved in neurological rehabilitation. Neurology specialists can even work as medical writers in various firms working in a related field.
Similar to neurology students, the neuro-physiotherapy students also learn to deal with patients with neurological disorders and help in neurological rehabilitation. The MPT course in Neuro-Physiotherapy trains students in creating neurological rehabilitation plans and implementing and evaluating those plans.
Job Prospects: Students of neuro-physiotherapy can work in hospitals, medical laboratories, research colleges, polyclinics, and even dental institutions. They can occupy job roles, such as neuro anaesthetist, neuro physician, neurosurgeon, neuro consultant and medical representative.
The MPT course in Ortho-Physiotherapy helps students in gaining an understanding of the entire musculoskeletal system of the human body. They learn to provide treatment to patients with muscular or skeletal injuries and trauma. Whether it is a sprain, fracture, or sports injury, students are able to take care of all matters of bones and muscles.
Job Prospects: This specialisation can turn students into professionals who can work with sports organisations, hospitals, dispensaries, research institutions, and military services. They usually work in the roles of ortho-consultant, orthodontist, orthopaedic surgeon, physiotherapist, etc.
The MPT course in Hand Conditions is slowly becoming popular among students who are interested in learning about hand therapy and treatment of upper limb and hand conditions. Thus, several institutions in India have started offering this physiotherapy specialisation.
Job Prospects: By completing this specialised course, students can become successful hand therapists in hospitals and private clinics. They can also open their own specialised clinics to treat patients with hand conditions.
The MPT course specialisation of musculoskeletal physiotherapy trains students in providing physiotherapy for any conditions and injuries that put their effect on muscles, soft tissues, and joints in the body. Students receive the learning in varied domains by pursuing this specialisation. These domains include physiology, anatomy, psychology, rehabilitation, pathology, and kinesiology.
Job Prospects: With the multidimensional study in the area of musculoskeletal physiotherapy, students can become proficient physiotherapists or therapy managers in hospital administration or different types of medical facilities. They can also do their private practice or work with multi-specialty clinics.
Students pursuing the MPT course in Paediatrics focus on the health of children, especially with regard to their motor skills and posture. If there are any injuries or musculoskeletal problems in children, then those specialising in paediatrics can comfortably handle those issues. Such problems may include knee injuries, joints troubles, flat feet, mobility issues, etc. The specialisation also imparts learning on developmental disorders in children or any nervous system or brain complications.
Job Prospects: Students of paediatrics can explore career opportunities in roles like paediatric physiotherapist, paediatric consultant, paediatric cardiologist or paediatric demonstrator.
This specialisation allows students to study about women’s health and urology issues, as well as the therapeutic techniques to treat them. At some academic institutions, this specialisation course is also termed as MPT in Women’s Health.
Job Prospects: By completing this specialised course, students can become urologists in renowned hospitals and medical research centres. They can also work in the gynaecological departments of hospitals and clinics.
Biomechanics is a specialisation in the MPT course that concentrates on the study of biomechanical principles, instrumentation, and measurements. The course also trains students in clinical gait analysis and biomechanics of sports. They can learn about sports physiology and the ways to treat any sports injuries in patients.
Job Prospects: With the study of biomechanics in MPT, students can take up careers in health centres, fitness centres, sports facilities, special schools, etc. They can also work as physiotherapists in multinational companies with suitable roles for them.
This specialisation is similar to biomechanics but focuses majorly on the treatment of sports injuries and related issues. Sports physiotherapists play a great role in maintaining the health of athletes, rehabilitating them post injuries, and giving them fast treatment.
Job Prospects: After completing the MPT course in Sports, students can become sports physiotherapists with sports clubs, fitness centres, hospitals, defence services, etc. The field has been opening up with every-increasing career options.
The rehabilitation specialisation in the MPT course is the backbone of physiotherapy, which is all about rehabilitation and prevention of injuries and disabilities. The course trains students in restoring the independence of patients and maintaining maximum functionality.
Job Prospects: Rehabilitation physiotherapists can work in any medical facility or research centre as efficient practitioners of physiotherapy techniques.