Bachelor of Health Care, Physiotherapist

Please notice, this content is based on 2024 curriculum and will be updated to 2025 curriculum by the time of the joint application.

A physiotherapist is a multi-skilled professional who promotes people's functional capacity, health, well-being and movement. The competence of a physiotherapist is needed especially when ageing, injury, pain, illness, dysfunction or a factor in an individual's everyday life limits the functional capacity of the individual or population. The physiotherapist's contribution to promoting the health of an individual or groups is significant.

The work of a physiotherapist is inspiring, independent and responsible. The physiotherapist plans physiotherapy based on the individual's needs and goals together with the client, with people close to them, and other experts. The competence areas of physiotherapists include functional capacity assessment, guidance and instruction skills, rehabilitation and therapy skills, accessibility competence, accessibility skills, technological competence, ethical competence and social competence. Physiotherapists act as experts in their own field in multidisciplinary working groups and regional, national and international networks based on multi-expertise.

Metropolia’s Physiotherapy degree programme aims to train skilled and innovative physiotherapists in a manner in which they develop their own work for the diverse and unpredicted needs of the changing society. The topical themes challenge professionals to continuously learn and reform their operating methods. In accordance with the needs of the social, health and rehabilitation services, the studies emphasise holistic learning and skills for multidisciplinary collaboration, which is based on client understanding and the active inclusion of clients.

During the education, a physiotherapist acquire the skills to aim at research approach, developmental approach and evidence-based approach and to promote their professional skills and continuous development in their field.

Language

Studies will begin in English without the Finnish language proficiency requirement, and will form a foundation for self-study and on-the-job learning in terms of Finnish language skills as the studies progress.

The content of Physiotherapy programme

During the initial stages of the physiotherapy studies, students delve into the basics of physiotherapy:

• cooperation and interaction with the client’
• instructing the client
• functional ability and its assessment
• structure and functioning of the human body
• biomechanics
• motor learning
• therapeutic exercise

As the studies progress, the theoretical skills are deepened, and the students learn to assess and promote functional ability and the clients’ agency in different customer groups. At the end of the degree programme, the studies focus on research, development and innovation skills. In addition, students gain readiness in the management and entrepreneurship of physiotherapy operations.

Individual implementation of studies and studying in diverse learning environments and in projects enable the building of expertise to look like one's own and deepening according to one's own interests.

In addition to theory studies, the degree programme involves practice that promote professional skills, which can be carried out as e.g. workshops, exercise lessons, projects and work placements in working life partners’ various learning environments.

The extent of the bachelor´s thesis is 15 ECTS and it can be carried out either alone or in a group of 2-3 people.

The personal study plan (PSP) is supported by the recognition of prior competence (eRPL) and flexible individual implementation of studies.

Read more about physiotherapy studies in the curriculum.

Implementation method of physiotherapist studies

The studies in the Degree Programme in Physiotherapy take place on the Myllypuro campus, where diverse learning environments and working with working life partners and customers offer opportunities for joint multidisciplinary learning of different degrees during the studies. The studies are also carried out in the multidisciplinary projects of Metropolia's innovation hubs.

You can study to become a physiotherapist in multiform studies.

Becoming a physiotherapist in multiform studies

Multiform learning alternates with contact teaching, distance and online learning, and working life internships. The workload of education corresponds to full-time studies and credits are completed per semester of 30 credits (60 credits per year). The study period is 3.5 years.

To some extent, multi-form implementation makes it possible to work alongside studying. Working while studying requires flexibility from both the student and the employer to succeed. Multiform studies require the student to be self-reliant and responsible for their learning, because there is less contact teaching than in the day-to-day implementation.

There are usually 2-3 contact teaching days per week. In addition to contact teaching days, the studies include work-life training. Between contact teaching days, study independently and in groups using e.g. the educational university's digital learning environments.

Recognition of prior learning

Recognition of prior learning (eRPL) is applied. This enables, among other things, the acceptance of competence corresponding to the learning objectives of the curriculum of a physiotherapist born through previous education and work experience as part of studies.

Recognition of prior learning is assessed individually together with the student when drawing up a personal study plan.

The field of work of a physiotherapist

The education produces the qualification of a physiotherapist (professional qualification). A physiotherapist is a licensed health care professional.

Only a licensed professional with a degree can work in the profession of physiotherapist. After completing your degree, you can apply for professional rights from the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health Valvira.

The education offers diverse employment and career opportunities in rehabilitation, sports and social and health care tasks.

Physiotherapists work in client work and other expert tasks in hospitals, health centres, private welfare and rehabilitation companies, as entrepreneurs or in the third sector (such as organisations or sports clubs).

Postgraduate study opportunities

After graduation, expertise develops in working life and in the diverse continuing education offered by the field. Applying to domestic or international master's programmes strengthens career opportunities in research and development.

Scholarships and tuition fees

Annual tuition fee 11 000 €. This fee applies only to non-EU/EEA degree students.

Read more on tuition fees and scholarships

Ask Head of Degree Programme about studies

Senior lectorer Titta Komssi
titta.komssi [at] metropolia.fi (titta[dot]komssi[at]metropolia[dot]fi)