About Programme
Musculoskeletal conditions are among the most common reasons patients seek physiotherapy care, spanning acute injuries, post-surgical recovery, chronic pain, and complex biopsychosocial presentations across the upper and lower body. As Singapore’s national healthcare strategy places growing emphasis on moving beyond disease management towards preventive, person-centred health — particularly in the context of an ageing population with higher rates of musculoskeletal complaints — there is increasing demand for physiotherapists who can practise at an advanced clinical level and contribute meaningfully to service improvement.
For practising physiotherapists, advancing beyond foundational training requires both deeper manual therapy skills and the capacity to critically evaluate and apply research evidence to real clinical decisions. This micro-credential was designed to address exactly that — providing a structured, part-time postgraduate pathway for AHPC-registered physiotherapists to deepen region-specific assessment and treatment expertise, develop holistic clinical reasoning, and build competency in evidence-based quality improvement.
This micro-credential is part of SIT’s Competency-based Stackable Micro-credential (CSM) Pathway leading to the Master of Health Sciences (MHSc). It comprises three modules that progress from foundational evidence-based practice through to advanced hands-on clinical application across the upper and lower body quadrants. Upon completing all three modules and fulfilling the requirements, learners will be awarded a Graduate Certificate in Advanced Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Practice (18 credits):
| Module Code | Module Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HSC6002C | Evidence Based Practice and Ethics | 6 |
| PTY6201C | Advanced Musculoskeletal Practice 1 | 6 |
| PTY6202C | Advanced Musculoskeletal Practice 2 | 6 |
| Total | 18 | |
Skills you’ll gain
Competency-based Education
Health Sciences
Physiotherapy
Who Should Attend
This micro-credential is suitable for AHPC-registered physiotherapists with musculoskeletal practice experience who wish to advance their clinical assessment and manual therapy skills, and progress towards a postgraduate qualification in physiotherapy.
Minimum Entry Requirements
AHPC-registered physiotherapist with at least 2 years of musculoskeletal practice experience, or individuals actively managing persons with musculoskeletal conditions
Recognised Bachelor’s degree in physiotherapy registrable with local regulatory bodies
Mandatory Supporting Documents
- Employment support letter (including applicant’s area of work)
- Degree transcript of highest relevant qualification
- Professional certification
Written Responses (100–150 words each)
- Your reasons for pursuing the module
- Why you selected SIT over other academic institutions
- What you hope to achieve upon completion of the module
Learning Outcomes
This micro-credential is predominantly delivered through a competency-based education (CBE) approach where learners acquire and demonstrate mastery of knowledge and skills that are directly relevant to job functions. This prepares them to be industry-ready where they can apply their newly acquired competencies to their work.
Upon successful completion of this micro-credential, learners will be able to:
- Develop a comprehensive clinical assessment and management approach for upper and lower quadrant musculoskeletal conditions by applying advanced clinical reasoning and using appropriate manual therapy and therapeutic exercise, demonstrating safe and effective intervention planning.
- Justify upper and lower quadrant musculoskeletal treatment decisions by achieving patient-centred outcomes, applying current evidence and biopsychosocial principles, and using assessment findings, demonstrating ethical and evidence-informed treatment decision-making.
- Justify upper and lower quadrant clinical management plans to stakeholders through clear, effective, and professional dialogue, demonstrating collaborative and ethical clinical practice.
- Appraise and apply research evidence to inform ethical, context-sensitive clinical or service decisions by critically evaluating validity and relevance, and designing quality improvement initiatives grounded in implementation science and organisational considerations.
Coaching for Success
During the course, you will have access to a team of qualified success coaches who can work with you on learning strategies or to develop a personalised learning plan. Through the success coaches, you can gain access to a wide range of resources and support services, and be empowered with the necessary tools to navigate your learning journey successfully.
Teaching Team
Benjamin Soon Tze Chin
Associate Professor/Prog Leader, Health and Social Sciences, Singapore Institute of Technology
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Jiaying Ho
Lead Professional Officer, Singapore Institute of Technology
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Course Details
Modules
This micro-credential comprises three modules totalling 18 credits. Completion of each module awards a Certificate of Attainment.
| Module Code | Module Title | ABOUT MODULE | Credits | Annual Intake |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HSC6002C | Evidence Based Practice and Ethics | Develops competencies in research design, statistical interpretation, critical appraisal, and ethical reasoning in clinical practice. Learners engage in the full evidence-based practice process — from identifying a clinical area of interest to evaluating barriers, facilitators, and gaps in the literature — and design quality improvement initiatives grounded in implementation science and organisational considerations. | 6 | Trimester 2 (January) |
| PTY6201C | Advanced Musculoskeletal Practice 1 | Explores the application of manual therapy within a holistic treatment framework for the upper quadrant, addressing the complex and multidimensional nature of pain and dysfunction. Learners develop advanced practical skills, engage in clinical practice education in a healthcare institution, and build clinical reasoning and communication through a reflective clinical portfolio and peer-based learning. | 6 | Trimester 1 (September) |
| PTY6202C | Advanced Musculoskeletal Practice 2 | Extends advanced musculoskeletal physiotherapy skills to the lower quadrant through practical and reasoning exercises, focusing on holistic, evidence-based assessment and treatment in diverse clinical settings. Learners further deepen their capacity to manage complex presentations and justify clinical decisions to patients and stakeholders. | 6
| Trimester 2 (January) |
Total | 18 | |||
Certificate and Assessment
A Certificate of Attainment for each module will be issued to learners who:
- Attend at least 75% of the module
- Undertake and pass the credit-bearing assessment for that module
Participants who meet the attendance requirement but do not pass the assessment will receive a Certificate of Participation.
Upon completing all three modules and fulfilling the requirements, learners will be awarded the Graduate Certificate in Advanced Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Practice.
Assessment Plan
Learners will undertake a combination of assignments and practical examinations across the micro-credential. Please refer to individual module pages for details on assessment components per module.
Fees, Subsidies & Course Applications
SkillsFuture funding of up to 90% is available for eligible Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents for each module taken individually.
For learners stacking micro-credentials towards the full Master of Health Sciences, SkillsFuture funding is available for up to 30 credits (equivalent to 5 modules) across the degree programme.
Please refer to individual module pages for details on fees, applicable subsidies, course run and to proceed with applications:
HSC6002C Evidence Based Practice and Ethics (coming soon)
PTY6201C Advanced Musculoskeletal Practice 1 (coming soon)
PTY6202C Advanced Musculoskeletal Practice 2 (coming soon)
For Organisations
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