Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The MSPT program at the University of Pittsburgh is completed in one year: fall, spring and summer semesters. Students pay the per credit rate for the summer. Tuition rates change year to year.

Click here for more information regarding tuition rates

Not at this time. (Please check the curriculum or ask your advisor). We attempt to get interested students in the clinic as long as they have completed all the paperwork required by the University for safe access to patients.

Payment is made every semester after you are registered for classes.

The easiest way to process the fee payment is through a wire transfer; money will be transferred from your home country within three business days. There are other methods to process the payment. You can secure the wire transfer information and other payment information at Thackeray Hall, 140 Thackeray Street, once you are here.

You may contact the Student Payment Center regarding tuition and fee information at https://payments.pitt.edu or by calling (412) 624-7520.

For information regarding paying for classes, contact the Student Payment Center regarding tuition and fee information at https://payments.pitt.edu or by calling (412) 624-7520.

There are no scholarships or assistantships available at this time.

There is no financial assistantship or aid that is offered by the Department of Physical Therapy for students in the MSPT program. Any grant or aid money that does become available is typically reserved for the PhD students.

You are eligible to work up to 20 hours a week on campus. It is your responsibility to find one. The Office of International Services website (OIS) can give you additional information regarding part-employment regulations for international students.

You can get jobs at various places like the libraries, computer labs or recreation centers provided that they are on-campus. You can apply for these jobs once you are on campus. Some job applications will be available online through OIS.

As a foreign-trained physical therapist with a first-professional degree from your home country, you will need to have your professional credentials evaluated if you plan to apply for licensure in the United States. New international graduates are expected to have the same number of academic credits and have learned the same content as a U.S. Doctor of Physical Therapy graduate when your credentials are evaluated for equivalency. The coursework in the MSPT program, while not directly qualifying you for licensure, will apply towards the total number of credits needed to meet the criteria to take the licensure examination. The licensure process is run by various agencies and is not associated with any University setting.

If you are interested in licensure in the United States, we encourage you to begin the process early as it can take months to have your academic credentials reviewed. We recommend that you consult others from your country who have recently had their credentials evaluated for additional insight. The University of Pittsburgh offers reasonably priced College Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests which can also supplement your academic credits for licensure.

The OPT application is independent of securing a job as a physical therapist in the United States. It is a special kind of visa that grants permission for you to work for a year after coursework is completed. However,  to work specifically as a PT, a license will be required. We will not be able to provide you with a formal employment opportunity once your studies are completed. We've had students who've managed to participate in this program by getting their professional credentials evaluated VERY EARLY, or even prior to their arrival in the United States, securing their PT license here in the US (often taking CELP courses on-line as they complete their masters degree with us, or taking laboratory courses at the local community college in order to satisfy the credentialing board that they have met the criteria of a physical therapist licensee here in the United States), then finding a job opportunity with some employer. For further clarification of this option, we would suggest that you contact the Office of International Services here at the University of Pittsburgh. They would be your best resource on this matter for up-to-date information about this option.

The current plan of study is designed to be completed in 12 months.

You do not have to take any electives. They are provided for students who want to learn more. They are optional learning activities.

Pitt provides housing options to freshman and underclassmen. Please go to www.ocl.pitt.edu for additional alternatives for graduate students.

With your Pitt Student ID, you are able to ride any of the Port Authority Transit (PAT) buses and or trolleys free. The University of Pittsburgh also provides shuttles in and around the main campus in Oakland. Please visit www.pts.pitt.edu/parking for additional information.

You can get your ID badge after orientation at the Department of Physical Therapy. You will go to Litchfield Towers to Panther Central any time between 7:30am – 6:00pm Monday-Friday. You need to provide photo identification (driver's license or passport).

We do not recommend that you purchase any materials in advance due to the possibility of last minute requirement changes. All students will have time to purchase the necessary materials once here on campus.

The deadline is May 1st, 2025. (International students are encouraged to apply early to navigate the possible challenges of obtaining a visa and facilitating travel arrangements to Pittsburgh.)

We do not require the GRE for the Masters program.

A minimum score of 80 on the IBT (Internet-based test) or 550 on the PBT (Paper-based test) on the Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required. Official TOEFL results must be reported directly to the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences via ETS using institution code 2927.

Yes.

IELTS score: Band 6.5 minimum

If you would like to take English language courses while in Pittsburgh, please visit the www.eli.pitt.edu for more information on how to improve our English scores.