Master Manual Therapy

Advancing to a specialist within the musculoskeletal domain

The full-time Master Manual Therapy is taught in English and is intended for international students from the European Economic Area (EEA). The next intake is in January 2027.

The Master Manual Therapy at SOMT University of Physiotherapy is a postgraduate master’s programme for physiotherapists who want to develop into specialists in the treatment of complex spinal and extremity-related conditions.

In this programme, you combine clinical expertise, scientific evidence, and intensive skills training — always directly connected to your daily clinical practice.

The programme is designed for professionals who want to go beyond protocols and guidelines, deepen their clinical reasoning at master’s level, and apply manual therapy techniques in a well-considered manner based on current scientific insights.

Why choose this master’s programme?

Postgraduate Master’s programme in Manual Therapy (MSc)
Accredited by the NVAO
Programme at EQF level 7
Full-time programme: 1.5 years (90 ECTS), taught in English.
Strong focus on complex spine and extremity-related conditions
Intensive skills training with extensive practice time and targeted feedback
Small-scale education with personal guidance

The Master Manual Therapy prepares you for independent and responsible clinical practice in complex and less predictable situations. You will develop into a specialist who can make well-founded clinical decisions and take on a substantive role within the professional field.

Programme at a glance

Study format: Full-time
Duration: 1.5 years (90 ECTS)
Study load: Approximately 40 hours per week, including three contact days
Location: Amersfoort, the Netherlands
Next intake: January 2027
Language of instruction: English
Target group: International students from the European Economic Area (EEA)
Clinical placements: Integrated into the programme
Schedule and tuition fees: Contact our Student Administration for the timetable and current full-time tuition fees.
Funding: Student finance or Lifelong Learning Credit through DUO may be available, subject to eligibility.

The programme in practice

Curious what the Master Manual Therapy looks like in practice? Watch the video in which lecturers and participants share their experiences with the programme.

What will you learn

Analysis and treatment of complex musculoskeletal conditions
Clinical reasoning from a biopsychosocial perspective
Mobilisation and manipulation techniques for the spine and extremities
Evidence-based practice and scientific underpinning
Reflection on and justification of clinical decisions, applying manual therapy based on current scientific insights

Education, assessment and practice

The Master Manual Therapy is practice-oriented and designed to deepen your expertise. You learn through realistic case studies from daily clinical practice and develop advanced manual therapy skills, supported by knowledge of functional anatomy, pathology, and clinical biomechanics.

Skills training, intensive feedback, and workplace learning form the core of the programme. In addition, you develop academic competencies, including conducting and justifying practice-based research.

Assessment and clinical placements focus on professional performance in complex clinical situations, where you demonstrate not only what you do, but also how and why you make specific clinical decisions.

Faculty & practice

You will be taught by experienced manual therapists, researchers, and academically trained lecturers who are actively involved in clinical practice. They guide you in further developing your clinical expertise and bring current challenges from the professional field directly into the classroom.

Admission & enrolment

This English-taught, full-time programme is open only to international applicants from the European Economic Area (EEA).

Applicants must meet one of the following requirements:

A recognised Bachelor’s degree in Physiotherapy; or A degree in Medicine with BIG registration.

English language requirements

Applicants must demonstrate sufficient English language proficiency before the programme starts. The same English language requirements apply as for SOMT’s Bachelor of Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation Sciences.

Please refer to the bachelor’s admission information and the Language Test Appendix to the Code of Conduct for accepted language tests and minimum scores.

For questions about eligibility, required documents or enrolment, contact our Student Administration.

Funding options

Depending on your personal circumstances and the programme’s eligibility, you may qualify for financial support through DUO, the Dutch Education Executive Agency.

Lifelong Learning Credit

If you are not eligible for regular student finance, you may qualify for Lifelong Learning Credit: a loan to help pay tuition fees. Conditions apply, including requirements concerning age, nationality or residence status, and the programme.

Check the Lifelong Learning Credit requirements on the DUO website.

Student finance

Full-time students may be eligible for student finance. Eligibility depends on factors including nationality or residence status, age, previous funding and the programme. Being from an EEA country does not automatically entitle you to student finance.

Check the student finance requirements on the DUO website.

International student support & Code of Conduct

SOMT follows the Code of Conduct International Student in Dutch Higher Education. This sets standards for information, recruitment, admission and support for international students.

Visit our International Student Information page for practical guidance and information about the Code of Conduct.

If you believe SOMT has not complied with the Code, first follow SOMT’s internal complaints procedure. If your complaint has not been resolved satisfactorily, you can submit a complaint to the National Commission.

After the master’s programme

After completing the Master Manual Therapy, you will be prepared for a specialist role within physiotherapy, focusing on complex conditions, evidence-based clinical decision-making, and professional responsibility.

Explore or get acquainted

Would you like to get to know the programme better or receive personal advice? Visit an open day or get in touch.