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Bachelor in Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation Sciences

Are you fascinated by the human body and want to work with people? Do you want to learn all about how that fascinating musculoskeletal system works? Then a study in physical therapy is for you. As a physiotherapist you are qualified to independently provide care and support to people with health problems related to the musculoskeletal system and moving (dis)functioning.

SOMT topopleiding fysiotherapie

Training in Brief

Name: Bachelor of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Sciences
Target group: vwo graduates
Duration: 3 years
Variant: full-time
Degree: Bachelor of Science (BSc)
Admission: vwo profile with biology and mathematics or pre-university diploma equivalent to vwo
Location: Amersfoort (Utrecht)

Why this Bachelor in Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation Sciences?

Healthcare delivery is increasingly complex and requires a high level of expertise. University-trained physical therapists are uniquely qualified to meet the challenges of a complex and changing healthcare landscape. They serve as full partners in integrated and multidisciplinary healthcare teams. This program prepares you through a dual role: both as a practicing physical therapist and scientific researcher. This opens doors to broader career prospects.

From the beginning of the program, we challenge you to think critically and delve into the background of both professional and academic issues. You will be trained not only in the “what,” but also the “how” and “why. As a result, you will develop a deeper understanding and be able to apply both practical and academic approaches.

The benefits of this undergraduate program

You will receive a top-level education with a strong curriculum taught by passionate faculty who are experts in their fields

  • You don’t just study theory, you actually get a lot of practical skills;
  • You’ll get the most out of your vwo degree (or international equivalent) as we challenge you to deepen your knowledge;
  • You will be taught in small work and practice groups, with personal attention. Lectures are occasional;
  • You have plenty of promising high-level career opportunities thanks to your professional and academic competencies.

After completing the 3-year full-time Bachelor in Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation Sciences at SOMT in Amersfoort:

  • May allow students to move directly into affiliated master’s programs;
  • Can students attend Maastricht University (UM) for the linked 1-year Master of Human Movement Sciences, specialization in Physiotherapy, at the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences (guaranteed admission);
  • After obtaining the bachelor’s degree and the linked 1-year master’s degree at Maastricht University, Dutch and Dutch-speaking students (minimum B2 level Dutch language proficiency) can apply for the Dutch BIG register.

Program overview

Program structure

The Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Sciences program is a 3-year full-time curriculum totaling 180 ECTS credits. Each year is divided into four periods, with modules and connected trajectories containing separate courses. These modules and trajectories incorporate a variety of practical training and workgroups tasks designed to foster an active problem-solving attitude. Throughout the program, the complexity of tasks and the level of independence required will increase.

The didactical approach utilizes problem-based learning, grounded in the principle of social learning. This approach encourages collaborative learning among students, fostering a deeper understanding of acquired knowledge through tutor guidance. Tasks are designed to promote active participation in the learning process and to cultivate a lifelong-learning attitude.

Practical skills are trained in small groups under the guidance of a tutor, while self-directed learning tasks promote active participation in self-practice groups. Critical evaluation is emphasized throughout the various trajectories.

Course overview

In your first year, you will develop the basic competencies (knowledge, skills, attitude) required for a physiotherapist. Foundational knowledge will be provided through four main modules, preceded by a short introductory module. After the initial four-week module, following 8-10 week modules will cover the extremities (arms and legs), the pulmonary system, the cardiovascular system, and exercise physiology.

In your second year, you will engage in four 10-week modules that explore topics related to the spine, pain and neurology. This will culminate in a final module where you will synthesize your knowledge and skills, increasing the complexity of the patient cases.

In the first module of your final year of the bachelor program, the complexity of knowledge will intensify further. You will also complete modules leading to the two concluding exams: the bachelor thesis and clinical rotations (internships).

All of these modules are connected to trajectories that span three years. For instance, the clinical skills and reasoning trajectory focuses on developing competencies in screening, diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, and patient evaluation. You will have the opportunity to learn anatomy in an innovative way through our digital dissection table, Annatomage. The combination of anatomy in vivo lessons and the digital dissection table provides engaging and interactive learning experiences.

The evidence-based practice trajectory aims to integrate the best available evidence, clinical expertise, and patient preferences to inform clinical decisions. In the epidemiology and statistics trajectory, you will learn about the principles and methodologies for designing, conducting, and evaluating scientific research. Lastly, the academic skills and reasoning trajectory helps cultivate an academic mindset and develop your academic skills, preparing you for your bachelor thesis.

The normalization of study progress

Each academic year, the educational program comprises 60 ECTS credits. Every module and course within a trajectory is assigned a specific number of credits, which are earned by successfully passing respective tests and assignments. The grading scale ranges from 1 to 10, 1 being the lowest and 10 the highest grade. A final mark of 5.5 or higher is required to pass a module or course.

The affiliated 1-year master's program

Graduates of the bachelor program are accepted directly into this affiliated master program Human Movement Sciences with a specialization in physiotherapy. This master year, you will engage in 8-week modules that explore topics as growth and aging, the entrepreneurial health care professional, movement disorders and rehabilitation, pharmacology for physiotherapists, and designing intervention research. The final modules include Clinical placement (internship) and Thesis research placement.

Admission Requirements

Vwo diploma

  • A vwo diploma with biology and mathematics (A or B) or pre-university equivalent is required;
  • A matching interview is part of the admission process. We strongly recommend that you attend an open house and attend a study day.

Bachelor's degree

  • With a completed college propaedeutic, you are eligible for a content review by our examination board;
  • Partial certificates or preliminary exams at the vwo level are required for content assessment. We require vwo level math, biology, Dutch and English.

International Diploma

  • European students with an international diploma equivalent to the vwo diploma (NLQF 4+, EQF 4), including biology, mathematics and English, are eligible *;
  • A matching interview is part of the admission process. We strongly encourage you to attend an open day (online).

* or English Language Certificate: IELTS overall score minimum 6.0; TOEFL iBT minimum score of 80; TOEIC: Listening and Reading 670 & Speaking and Writing 290; Cambridge English Assessment: First (FCE) – Grade B (scale 173-175), First (FCE) – Grade C (scale 169-172)

You can find information about equivalent diplomas on the Nuffic website. If you are unclear, you can request a diploma evaluation through IDW.

Practical information

Study load: 40 hours per week
Contact hours: 18 hours per week
Credits: 180 ECTS
Level: EKK 6
Accreditation: NVAO
BIG and professional registration: Yes, after paired 1-year master
Language: Dutch, material English
Start of study: September

Calendarium 2024-2025
Programme 2025-2026
Price List 2024-2025
Price List 2025-2026

Career Opportunities

A physiotherapist treats a wide range of complaints: for example, athletes with injuries or people with back pain, shoulder pain or osteoarthritis. Other examples include rehabilitation after surgery or stroke, or exercising people with COPD, Parkinson’s, MS. With this training you will have several career prospects and benefit from a higher average starting salary. In addition to being an independent physical therapist, there are also opportunities as a healthcare researcher, doctoral student, teacher in healthcare education, and positions within healthcare policy or healthcare management.

Study costs and funding

Your investment through institutional tuition is €13,325 per year. Your return is a top-notch education with promising high-level career opportunities and a higher entry-level salary.

As a Dutch student at SOMT University of Physiotherapy, you are entitled to study financing through DUO, including the basic grant, supplementary grant, college credit and student travel product. You can find more information about funding on the DUO website. You can also find more details about the student travel product there. International students are not entitled to funding through DUO.

For international students, it is possible to apply for a grant to be supported in an international apprenticeship or as a volunteer. More information can be found on the Erasmus-plus website. Another grant opportunity is the Erasmus Fund through the European Solidarity Corps.

Useful to know

Medical connection

Are you a Dutch student not selected for medicine? Then the Bachelor in Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation Sciences is an excellent alternative. For Dutch driven students with a continued interest in medicine, we offer, partly in cooperation with other universities, six additional curricular modules. With this undergraduate program and these additional modules, you will be on par with a bachelor of medicine. This enables you to take part in the selection procedure for the Master of Arts Clinical Researcher or the lateral entry for the Master of Medicine program. This transfer is not possible for non-Dutch speaking students.

International student housing

Amersfoort is a nice city near Utrecht and not too far from Amsterdam. Housing in the Netherlands is very limited and expensive. We therefore advise you to start looking for housing as soon as possible.

International office

As an international student, you can direct all your questions about living and studying in the Netherlands to our International Office Manager: International Officer

You must have health insurance when you come to the Netherlands. Find out what applies to you and whether you need to get local Dutch insurance. After your arrival in the Netherlands, it is very convenient to start the process of opening a Dutch bank account. When you open such an account, you will receive a debit card that allows you to make easy and free transactions at supermarkets, cafes and restaurants. All residents of the Netherlands who stay in the Netherlands for more than four months must register with the municipality. This simple process, carried out at your local municipal office in the place of residence, does not involve any additional costs. Registration must be completed in person and can only take place on or after the start date of your lease, not before.

Welcome to Utrecht

Are you new to the Netherlands and Utrecht or have you been living here for a while? The Utrecht International Center is here to help you. Visit the center to arrange your residence permit or registration with the municipality. Get information about living, working and studying in the Utrecht region.

Do you want to know more? Check out the Utrecht International Centre website.

Do you still have questions?

Would you like to learn more about the Bachelor of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences? Then come to one of our open days or walk-in days. You can also always contact us using the form below.

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