In the first year, your study weeks are divided as follows:

In the first year you will learn how your body functions by studying subjects such anatomy, physiology and neurology. Furthermore, you will learn about physiotherapeutic treatments: how you deal with people and how you implement this when you're treating. During the practical lessons, you practice these skills on real patients and on your fellow students.

Study advice

At the latest at the end of the first year (propaedeutic phase), all the first-year students receive study advice: a decision about the continuation of their studies. Students who do not achieve the required number of study points may get a dismissal notification from the university. This dismissal is binding. In the second year, during the practical lessons, you apply the knowledge you acquired. Halfway the second year, you chose a speciality theme; that means that starting from the third year, you approach your studies in a more specific way. The speciality themes are:

Internship

First year internship is mainly about orientation on the future profession and self-reflection.

You gain your practical experience by working in various institutions, such as in independent clinics, in a general hospital or in other institutions (such as a nursing home, a rehabilitation centre or psychiatric hospital).

Going abroad

The physiotherapy programme also enables you to do your internship abroad. Fontys has excellent contact with a large number of clinics/institutions in the Netherlands and abroad and can help you find a suitable internship or workplace. And that is to your benefit, because nowadays employers consider it increasingly important to see international experience on your CV.

Starting from the third year, you start working within your speciality theme, which you have selected halfway your second year.

You do an internship of 10 weeks and choose a minor, for example, a speciality minor within the speciality theme you have selected. That way you focus on a single speciality in healthcare and you become a specialist in that area. This enables you to develop into a healthcare professional in the future and you also build a wide network in the field.

The speciality minors are:

Of course, you can also choose to do your minor at another university, abroad or in another study programme of Fontys. You can also do your internship abroad.

In the fourth year you do an internship of 20 weeks. Furthermore, this year is focused on graduating. You choose a final thesis within the speciality theme that you selected. After successfully completing your studies, you are ready to start working as a professional in your professional field.

Most graduates find a job within one year.

During the second year, you’ll need to incorporate more independence into your studies. However, you’ll be provided with advice 
and recommendations when it comes to making your choices. You’ll also choose one of the three focus programmes and a Minor, which you’ll follow in the third year.

During the third and fourth year, you’ll become increasingly independent in relation to your work. You’ll follow a Minor and choose one of the three focus programmes: Healthcare, Self-Management, or Interprofessional Collaboration. You’ll also engage in an extensive internship during these final years. 

It is possible to do internships abroad. Fontys has excellent partnerships with a large number of practical institutions both within the Netherlands and abroad, so we can assist you in finding a suitable internship and/or work placement. 

Year 1 and 2:
Short internship as an introduction to physiotherapy and part of the module “personal and professional development”.

Year 3:
Track A: First semester a 10 week internship combined with the 10 week module “specialisms within physiotherapy”. Second semester minor.
Track B: First semester minor. Second semester a 10 week internship combined with the 10 week module “specialisms within physiotherapy”.

Year 4:
Graduation phase, combination of graduation internship and research project.