Physiotherapy

The Bachelor's degree programme takes place over 3 years (a minimum of 6 semesters and a maximum of 12), exclusively on a full-time basis, including 34 weeks of practical training.

Successful completion of the various modules (combining theory and practice) leads to the award of 180 ECTS credits (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System).

Upon completion of their studies, students are awarded the Bachelor of Science HES-SO in Physiotherapy.

This qualification, recognised at European level, enables graduates to enter the workforce directly or to pursue further education: Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS), Diploma of Advanced Studies (DAS), Master of Advanced Studies (MAS), Master of Science (MSc), Doctorate (PhD), in Switzerland or abroad.

Physiotherapists work in a wide and increasingly diverse range of fields:

• Clinical practice: hospital settings, medical care facilities, private practice in a clinic or at patients' homes
• Prevention and health promotion: schools, sports or health centres
• Scientific research and teaching
• International cooperation and humanitarian aid
• Management and project management: socio-health institutions, public administrations, etc.

Registration fee: CHF 150

Tuition fee: CHF 700 per semester for Swiss students and CHF 1,050 per semester for international students (according to the AHES definition, students without tax residence in Switzerland are considered international students).

Contribution to study costs: CHF 75 per semester

The training is structured as follows:

• Lectures and practical teaching
• Independent and supervised study
• Practical and simulation workshops
• Interprofessional weeks
• Professional practice in clinical placements

The Bachelor’s programme consists of:

• Modules combining theory and practice (116 ECTS credits)
• 4 practical training modules (45 ECTS credits)
• 3 elective modules (9 ECTS credits)
• A Bachelor’s thesis concluding the programme (10 ECTS credits)

The Bachelor’s in Physiotherapy aims to train generalist physiotherapists, competent in:

• The musculoskeletal system
• The neuro-muscular and sensory system
• Cross-disciplinary health
• Internal systems

The programme covers a variety of topics, including:

• Foundations and knowledge: anatomy, biomechanics, physiology, pathology
• Assessments
• Implementation of physiotherapy interventions
• Clinical reasoning
• Physiotherapy research and reflective practice
• Technological tools and innovation
• Secondary and tertiary prevention, as well as therapeutic education
• Public, digital and sustainable health: health promotion and prevention
• Communication and interpersonal skills

The topics are covered within theoretical and practical modules :

The alternating structure between the School and professional practice settings is a key component of the educational approach in the health field.

Guided by clinical trainers (experienced professionals with pedagogical training), students are quickly introduced to patient care and exposed to real-life professional situations.

In the Bachelor’s programme in Physiotherapy, practical training accounts for one-third of the curriculum, amounting to 34 weeks over three years.

The programme benefits from a vast network of partners, including socio-health institutions and independent clinics, providing students with access to diverse professional environments.