Master in Physiotherapy

• You extend your knowledge, clinical expertise and the application of research methods.
• You network through clinical placements with (future) professional fields.
• You are taught new approaches and perspectives from renowned lecturers from home and abroad.
• As part of the “Musculoskeletal” specialisation, students are eligible for the Certificate in Orthopaedic Manual Therapy OMT.
• Students reflect on their learning process through a learning portfolio and personal mentoring.

The master degree programme is a modular course with a clinical focus, research methods, transfer and master thesis.

In these modules (with particular reference to current evidence, patient education and interprofessional cooperation), knowledge and practical skills in diagnostics, therapy and prevention of physiotherapeutically relevant and disease-related problems are deepened.

The clinical specialisation is offered in two-year cycles. ZHAW focuses on specialisation in musculoskeletal, sports and paediatrics. Bern University of Applied Sciences prioritises internal organs and vessels, neurology as well as the musculoskeletal system (in planning). Together, the two universities also offer a specialisation in Professional Development.

Registration for the MSc is possible at both universities, regardless of the chosen clinical specialisation. Once all applicants have completed the admission procedures, the heads of the study programme at ZHAW and BFH decide where candidates have to enrol (known as pooling). In doing so, the wishes of candidates are taken into consideration as far as possible.

The modules provide in-depth clinical research methods in a physiotherapy-related, medical as well as interdisciplinary and professional context.

The modules aim at transferring competencies acquired in the clinical specialisation as well as research methods into practice. Students get to know different fields of activity and acquire practical skills for clinical, research and professional development.

The master thesis is an academic project in which students demonstrate the application of acquired knowledge and work on a research topic relevant to physiotherapy. Students choose the topic for their master thesis within an ongoing project at ZHAW and BHF or their research partners. In particular cases, and after consultation with the programme director, students can select a project from their own field of work. Students working on their Master thesis are under the guidance of expert researchers from home and abroad.

An MSc in combination with a clinical specialisation paves the way to fulfilling the role of Advanced Practice Physiotherapist (APP). All specialisations open up various perspectives for new activities. Graduates are able to:

• independently assess and treat and continue to work with complex clinical problems in a needs-oriented way within a broad theoretical context in their capacity as experts in physiotherapy (APP).
• transfer clinically relevant knowledge – for example through the development and implementation of evidence-based clinical treatment concepts – in their capacity as line manager
• teach in the undergraduate and continuing education programmes
• work in research and assist in the planning, acquisition, implementation and publication of research projects
• do a PhD

Students graduating in the MSc degree programme in Physiotherapy at Zurich University of Applied Sciences receive the federally recognised title “Master of Sciences in Physiotherapy UAS Zurich” **. Thanks to the Bologna system, the MSc in Physiotherapy UAS is also recognised in Europe and hence facilitates international mobility on the job market.

* ZFH = Zürcher Fachhochschule / ** UAS Zurich = University of Applied Sciences Zurich