Saxion Digital Discovery Days

Digital Discovery Days: Physiotherapy

The Digital Discovery Days provide you with all the info you need about your preferred study programme, from the comfort of your home! Join the online session about Physiotherapy: meet lecturers, talk to current students and ask all your questions. You can get ready by watching the videos below and consulting the FAQ.

Frequently asked questions about Physiotherapy

There are on average 250 applicants each year of which 90 students are initially accepted. Eventually, an average of 60 students come and join the programme.

For a standard week of 40 hours, there are roughly 7.5 hours of theoretical classes, 7.5 hours of hands-on classes, and 3 hours of clinical reasoning classes with a small group of students. So for the hours of contact with teachers, around 40% is theoretical and 60% is practical. The rest of the 40-week is devoted to self-study. Each year of the study equals to 60 ECTS so after 4 years of study, a student would have earned 240 ECTS.

The first year is devoted to learning about the human bodyā€™s normal structure, function, and development. Already in the first year, students undergo 3 weeks of clinical internship in their country of origin to get acquainted with the profession by shadowing a licensed physiotherapist.

The second year is subdivided into the pathological themes of Orthopaedics, Neurology, and Cardiovascular-Pulmonary. Competencies acquired during the first year are further developed in relation to clinical conditions under each theme. Students undergo two periods of clinical internship in their country of origin, each for 3 weeks. Each clinical internship should expose the students to one of the pathological themes.

The third year is subdivided into advanced physiotherapy competencies in the first semester and a minor in the second semester. Saxion offers a range of minor courses wherein the students can learn more specialised competencies (such as manual therapy under the Musculoskeletal Minor) or broaden their competencies into business and entrepreneurship or psychology.

The fourth year is devoted to gaining clinical skills as preparation for entry into the profession. Students undergo three clinical internships, which can be anywhere in the world and affiliated with Saxion. Each internship lasts 3 months. During the first internship, students are expected to perform a bachelor research project.

It is possible to get your previous education and credits earned counted towards the 240 ECTS requirement for the Bachelor of Science in Physiotherapy programme. Once accepted into the programme, an application can be made to the Examination Commission which will consider the evidence (transcripts, diplomas, etc.) and give a ruling.

Although the programme has the same scope of competencies as in the Dutch programme for physiotherapy, all classes are conducted in English which means that students cannot directly register as a physiotherapist in the Netherlands. To be registered, the student has to show proof of Dutch language competency at the B2 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. This proof is officially known as the Staatsexamens Nederlands als tweede taal Programma II (NT2; State examination of Dutch as second language Programme 2). Get more information about learning Dutch at Saxion.

Videos: studying at Saxion

Do you need help?

We will try to answer your question immediately or bring you in contact with somebody at Saxion who will be able to help you out.

Rewatch livestream?

Not able to join the Digital Discovery Day Q&A live stream sessions? Watch the recorded Q&A session with Saxion students and lecturers from the Online Open Days in April 2020. Or visit one of the other Digital Discovery Days.