Professional Bachelor in Physiotherapy

42 Months On Campus Bachelors Program

VIA University College

Program Overview

The Professional Bachelor’s Degree in Physiotherapy at VIA University College is a 3.5-year programme for students who are interested in the human body, movement, health and helping people recover from injuries or illness. Students combine subjects such as anatomy, physiology, movement analysis and psychology with hands-on physiotherapy training, learning how to assess patients, identify functional problems and plan suitable treatment and rehabilitation.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1:
The first year introduces students to Physiotherapy, Profession, Science and Learning and Basic Physiotherapeutic Examination and Clinical Reasoning. Students then begin studying Movement Analysis and Adaptation of Physical Activity, learning how to examine movement, understand physical function and start making basic physiotherapy assessments; short clinical placements are already included during the first two semesters.

Year 2:
The second year moves into more clinical decision-making through areas such as Physiotherapeutic Examination, Clinical Reasoning and Diagnosis, Treatment and Rehabilitation, and Physiotherapy in Health Promotion and Prevention. Students learn how to connect assessment findings with treatment decisions and complete an eight-week clinical placement during Semester 4, giving them much greater exposure to real patients and rehabilitation settings.

Year 3:
The third year develops students' ability to manage increasingly complex cases through Physiotherapy in Health Promotion and Prevention, Clinical Reasoning and Decision-Making in Treatment and Rehabilitation, and Advanced Physiotherapeutic Reasoning and Interventions. Practical learning becomes especially important, with seven weeks of placement in Semester 5 followed by ten weeks in Semester 6, helping students become more independent and confident in clinical practice.

Final Semester:
Semester 7 gives students more freedom to explore an area of personal or professional interest through an Elective Educational Element before completing their Bachelor Project. This allows students to bring together their clinical experience, research skills and physiotherapy knowledge in a final academic project.

Focus areas: Clinical reasoning, movement analysis, anatomy and physiology, rehabilitation, musculoskeletal physiotherapy, neurological physiotherapy, health promotion, prevention, physical activity, professional communication and evidence-based physiotherapy.

Learning outcomes: Students learn to examine and assess functional limitations, understand the biological, psychological and social factors affecting patients, plan physiotherapy interventions, evaluate treatment outcomes and use research evidence to support clinical decisions.

Professional alignment: The programme leads to a Professional Bachelor’s Degree in Physiotherapy and prepares graduates for professional physiotherapy practice. VIA also notes that the qualification can support work in many countries, although graduates who want to practise abroad must obtain the required professional authorisation in that country.

Reputation: VIA does not publish a QS or Guardian subject ranking for Physiotherapy. However, the programme has strong links with hospitals, municipalities, rehabilitation centres and private clinics, and VIA reported that first-priority applications across its health programmes, including Physiotherapy, increased by 2.2% in 2026.

Official programme link:
https://www.via.dk/uddannelser/fysioterapeut

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Physiotherapy at VIA is strongly hands-on, so students do much more than study the body from textbooks. Practical exercises are built into campus teaching, where students practise techniques on one another before moving into supervised clinical settings with real patients. Around 20% of the programme is clinical education, giving students a total of 28 weeks of placement across five periods, and VIA guarantees students an approved placement with clinical supervision.

Students develop their practical skills through a wide range of programme-specific opportunities:

Practical physiotherapy rooms: Teaching takes place in exercise rooms equipped with treatment plinths, theory rooms and gym/training halls where students practise movement analysis, strength training, joint mobilisation, manual treatment and massage.
Clinical placements: Students complete 28 weeks of clinical education in settings such as hospitals, rehabilitation centres, private physiotherapy clinics, health centres, specialist children's facilities and psychiatric treatment services.
Guaranteed clinical supervision: Every placement includes a qualified physiotherapist acting as the student's clinical educator, helping students gradually connect academic theory with patient assessment and treatment.
Major healthcare partners: Aarhus students may train at organisations including Aarhus University Hospital, Hammel Neurocenter, Sclerosehospitalet in Ry, Randers Sundhedscenter, SANO Aarhus and regional hospitals in Horsens, Silkeborg and Randers.
Sports and specialist placements: Holstebro placement opportunities include Regionshospitalet Gødstrup, Vestdansk Center for Rygmarvsskade and FC Midtjylland, alongside municipalities and private physiotherapy clinics.
Group projects: Students are placed in study groups from the first semester and regularly use them to practise clinical techniques, discuss theory and work on projects together.
Real-world projects: Students may work with companies and organisations on genuine health challenges, such as developing workplace health initiatives or tailored exercise programmes. Larger projects and bachelor projects can also be completed in collaboration with clinics, municipalities and hospitals.
Interprofessional learning: Students work with learners from programmes such as occupational therapy, nursing, engineering, social work and education, preparing them for the multidisciplinary teamwork common in healthcare.
Research opportunities: Aarhus students can join VIA's voluntary research talent track. Previous students have contributed to projects involving children with knee injuries and carried out balance and fitness testing with neurological patients, with collected data sometimes feeding into bachelor projects.
Digital learning: Students are introduced to MitVIA and itslearning, which support access to programme information and digital learning activities.
Campus facilities: Campus Aarhus N provides a library, laboratories, sports facilities, training rooms, specialist teaching rooms and group-study spaces. Students can also access VIA Makerspaces with technologies including 3D printers, laser cutters and robotics for innovation and prototype development.
International experience: Students can undertake study or clinical placements with VIA partners across Europe, the Nordic countries and Australia, with Norway highlighted as a particularly compatible physiotherapy exchange destination.
International study trip: Physiotherapy students in Holstebro normally take part in an international study trip during Semester 5; VIA gives Avans University in the Netherlands as an example destination.

Facilities:
Campus Aarhus N – Facilities

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates leave VIA with substantial clinical experience and the skills needed to assess movement problems, plan treatment and support prevention, rehabilitation and recovery. Physiotherapists can build careers in hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centres, sport, community healthcare or private organisations, with opportunities to specialise as their experience grows.

Typical career options include Physiotherapist, Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist, Neurological Physiotherapist and Sports Physiotherapist:

Wide range of workplaces: VIA highlights careers in public and private physiotherapy clinics, hospitals, rehabilitation and health centres, sports organisations, fitness centres, psychiatric services, elderly care, schools, NGOs and private companies.
Strong professional connections: Students gain exposure to employers through VIA's partnerships with hospitals, private clinics, municipalities and specialist rehabilitation centres, including Aarhus University Hospital, Hammel Neurocenter, Regionshospitalet Gødstrup and FC Midtjylland.
Career preparation within the programme: VIA's Physiotherapy education has previously incorporated activities around personal profiles, CV writing, job applications and preparation for job interviews, helping students think about the transition from university into professional work.
Clinical readiness: Students complete five placement periods totalling 28 weeks, working with real patients while supervised by qualified clinical educators.
International career value: VIA states that the Physiotherapy qualification can be used as a basis for working in a range of countries, although graduates must apply for the required local professional authorisation before practising abroad.
Employment and salary figures: VIA's current official Physiotherapy programme page does not publish a programme-specific graduate employment percentage or starting salary, so no unofficial estimate has been included.
Graduation outcomes: Graduates are prepared for roles focused on prevention, treatment and rehabilitation and can later specialise in fields such as musculoskeletal, neurological, sports, geriatric or paediatric physiotherapy.

Further Academic Progression:
After graduating, students have several options for building deeper clinical or research expertise. VIA specifically lists progression to programmes such as a Master's/Candidate Degree in Physiotherapy, Health Sciences, Sports Science/Sport and Health, Biomedical Technology, Health Technology, as well as master's programmes in Pain Science and Interdisciplinary Pain Treatment, Sport and Welfare, Health Promotion and Health Anthropology. After at least two years of professional experience, graduates can also pursue health-related diploma programmes or continue into specialist professional training in areas such as musculoskeletal, neurological, geriatric, sports and paediatric physiotherapy.

Official programme link:
https://www.via.dk/uddannelser/fysioterapeut