Frequently Asked Questions: Bachelor’s in Physiotherapy

Alma Mater Europaea is based in Slovenia, with its main headquarters in Maribor and an additional campus in Koper.

At the Maribor campus, classes for the Physiotherapy degree program are conducted in English. This campus was established specifically for international and Slovenian students and has an administrative office that provides support in Slovenian and English throughout the entire educational period, from enrollment to licensure, handling bureaucratic matters as well.

Physiotherapy is one of the most in-demand study programs in Slovenia. Numerous studies conducted across Europe and in Slovenia indicate a significant shortage of physiotherapy graduates and numerous job opportunities in Slovenia and neighboring countries. The study program aligns with the needs of the European population, aiming to reduce healthcare and rehabilitation costs while ensuring a solid foundation for effective and high-quality physiotherapy work.

The primary goal of the program is to train candidates to obtain a degree in physiotherapy. The training focuses on acquiring the theoretical and practical knowledge necessary to provide high-quality professional services in the prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of adults and children. Graduates will be able to practice their profession in public and private healthcare institutions at both primary and secondary levels, as well as in community settings.

The Physiotherapy study program is fully accredited for the education and training of highly qualified professionals in the field of physiotherapy. The accreditation is available on the website.

Degrees from all Alma Mater study programs are recognized both in EU member states and worldwide. The Bachelor's degree in Physiotherapy at Alma Mater Europaea follows the European directive 2005/36/CE.

The Physiotherapy study program lasts 3 years, awarding 180 ECTS credits. At the end of the program 6 months internship (in your country) must be attended before the state exam. The qualifying state exam is held every month, so as soon as the internship is completed, it is possible to take the said exam.

All classes at Alma Mater begin at beginning of October.

Yes. Attendance at lectures and exercises is mandatory for Alma Mater Europaea students, including online theoretical classes and the required internship hours each year (internship will be attended in your country).

All the program is in English Language. Theoretical classes and exams are conducted online. Practical classes are conducted in person from Thursday to Sunday at the Maribor campus (Slovenia), with 100% mandatory attendance (4 times per year). Practical exams are also held in person at the Maribor campus. Internship is organized in your country.

Classes are conducted in English language.

Alma Mater Europaea University offers part-time study programs, which are condensed in terms of time and content compared to full-time programs. The university utilizes advanced IT technology (e-student record book, email, SMS messaging), and all lectures are recorded for later review.

Yes, Alma Mater students have student status.

Alma Mater Europaea University uses modern ICT (e-student record book, online classrooms, email, SMS) combining live lectures, video conferencing, recorded lessons, electronic communication, and electronic study materials.

Yes, Alma Mater has a tutoring system to support new students in their transition from learning to studying.

Students gain competencies to practice physiotherapy independently, document patient conditions, select and apply physiotherapy methods, and contribute to the profession’s development.

Clinical teaching involves active student participation in study groups, integrating theoretical knowledge into practical experience.

Physiotherapy students complete 920 hours of internship in accredited European healthcare institutions. At the end of the 3 years students will attend an additional 6 months internship before the state exams. In total the students will have at least 1.500 hours of internship before to get the professional qualification.

Bachelor's Degree in Physiotherapy (180 ECTS Credits). Upon completion of your Bachelor's degree and state exam, you will obtain a professional qualification as a physiotherapist, valid in Slovenia and the rest of Europe. With Alma Mater Europaea University, you will have the opportunity to continue your studies with a Master's degree and then a PhD. This also ensures that your physiotherapist qualification is equivalent in case 240 or 300 ECTS credits are required to work as a physiotherapist in your country.

No, there is no entrance exam. However, it is advisable to complete the enrollment process as soon as possible to secure a place within the maximum number of students allowed each academic year.

To enroll at Alma Mater, you need to:

1. Complete the online pre-registration form on the eVŠ portal of the Slovenian Ministry, which is non-binding and completely free. Pre-registrations open each year in February.
2. Wait for a confirmation email from Alma Mater's administration office.
3. Proceed with the actual enrollment following the instructions contained in the email from Alma Mater with all the details for finalizing the registration.

The tuition fee schedule is 8.000€/year. AT the end of the 3 years for the degree thesis and latest activities there will be additional 2.000€ fees (1 time fee). Application free is 150/€ per year. Internship booklet is 50€ (on time fee).

Yes. The tuition fee can be paid in one, two, or five installments. In the case of installment payments, an administrative fee of €20 is added to each installment. No interests are applied.

In addition to the tuition fee, students must pay an admission fee of €150 for each academic year and a one-time fee of €50 for the issuance of the Record Book of Knowledge and Competences.

Yes. Tuition fees can also be paid by a legal entity.

After graduation, according to the law of the Republic of Slovenia, the professional qualification is acquired after completing a postgraduate internship lasting six months, followed by passing the State Exam with the assistance of an interpreter.

The requirement for a postgraduate internship is regulated by Slovenian law. The healthcare facility where the student will complete the internship submits a request to the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Slovenia, along with the internship program. Once approved, the six-month postgraduate internship begins, after which the student can register for the State Exam at the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Slovenia.

The staff and faculty of Alma Mater assist students throughout the application and preparation process for the exam.

Yes, Alma Mater offers a Preparation Course for the Licensing Exam to support graduate physiotherapists in preparing for the exam and submitting the necessary documentation.

The course is not mandatory, and students can prepare for the exam independently (many have done so and passed successfully).

The cost of the course and that of the interpreter for the exam are the responsibility of each student.

The new Article 63.a of May 28, 2020, states:
"Graduates who complete their studies in the Republic of Slovenia in a language other than Slovenian may take the State Exam with the assistance of an interpreter."

The costs of the interpreter are covered by the candidate.

After passing the State Exam in Slovenia, the student must apply for recognition of their qualification in their country.

For specific information regarding the recognition of qualifications in European Union, students must contact the local authorities. Keep in mind that Alma Mater Europaea and Slovenia is operating under the European Directive 2005/36/EC. 

You can find more information about European regulations at this website: https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/work/professional-qualifications/european-professional-card/index_en.htm

Yes, students must request the recognition of the Slovenian qualification at the other country local authorities.

In countries where the profession of physiotherapist is regulated by law, such as Slovenia, graduates must obtain a professional qualification (not just a degree) to practice. This is in accordance with Directive 2005/36/EC.

This link can help you understand the process: https://www.erwcpt.eu/eu-mobility

Yes. Students enrolled in the Bachelor’s Programme in Physiotherapy may participate in Erasmus mobility programmes, subject to the availability of agreements and the applicable academic and administrative requirements at the time of application.

The tuition fee of the program in English language is €8,000 per academic year, for a total of €24,000 over the three years of the programme. This is in addition to the admission fee (€150 per academic year) and the one-time fee of €50 for the Record Book of Knowledge and Competences. At the end of the three years, an additional €2,000 is paid for tutoring of thesis development.

Tuition does not cover personal costs such as travel and accommodation for the in-person sessions in Maribor, internship-related costs, or the interpreter for the final State Exam.

Practical classes take place at the Maribor campus four times per year, in blocks of approximately four consecutive days (Thursday to Sunday), with 100% mandatory attendance. Theoretical lectures and their exams are online; only the practical classes and practical exams are in person. The calendar is published around September, before the academic year begins, so that students can plan their travel in advance.

To enrol you need: a high school diploma; an English level of at least B2 (an official test such as Cambridge, TOEFL or Duolingo is strongly recommended); a medical certificate attesting to good health (commonly a sports-type certificate, required only at the start of the programme); and your academic transcripts from the last two years of high school. The administration office will send you the complete list of required documents when you contact us about enrolment.

Free, non-binding pre-registration on the eVŠ portal opens on 18 February each year and closes on 30 September. Official enrolment begins on 1 July. Places are limited, so we recommend pre-registering as early as possible after 18 February.

The clinical internship (920 hours, distributed across the three years) is most commonly completed in your country of residence, at a facility affiliated with the national health system; we help you select the facility and arrange the agreement. It can also be completed in Slovenia, Italy or Austria, where we already have a network of affiliated centres, or in another European country, where we will set up the agreement with the chosen facility.

Yes. As physiotherapy is a regulated profession (EU Directive 2005/36/EC), you apply to the competent authority of your destination country for recognition of your Slovenian qualification. Some countries have a longer programme and may ask you to make up the missing credits: in that case you can complete the Master's in Physiotherapy (300 ECTS) or continue to the PhD (480 ECTS), or take the specific courses that country requires. We recommend contacting the local authorities well in advance — you have time before the programme starts to verify the exact requirements and plan your studies accordingly.

A European degree is recognised according to European standards. Recognition outside the EU (for example in the USA or China) depends on the specific country, and the university cannot guarantee it. If you intend to work outside Europe, we recommend verifying in advance whether the European physiotherapy qualification is recognised there.

Practical classes are taught in very small groups — around 15 students per professor — in four-hour sessions with frequent breaks. Each session moves from a theoretical explanation to hands-on practice in pairs or small groups, and you can ask questions at any time. Professors are very available and supportive, offering detailed explanations and personal advice, and the atmosphere is friendly: everyone knows each other and lasting friendships are common.

A cohort in the Bachelor's in Physiotherapy has around 60 students. Not everyone joins every live lecture, due to work or time-zone differences, so usually 40–50 students attend live; anyone who cannot attend can watch the recording afterwards.

Communication is excellent. If you watch a recorded lecture and have questions, you can email the professor, who normally replies within two to three working days (at most five). A few professors who also work clinically may reply a little more slowly, but still within a week.

It varies by course, from mandatory weekly assignments to courses with no assignments and only exams. Professors are accommodating with deadlines where personal or work circumstances require it - in one case a student who travelled for work submitted assignments and sat exams later - while the course content and standards remain the same for everyone.

For theoretical subjects there are typically four exam sittings per subject across the year. You have at least one month to prepare before the first sitting, and a further two to three months before the others if you need it. For practical exams, you are given sufficient time to prepare.

Yes — many of our students do. Theoretical lectures are online and can be watched after hours or as recordings if you cannot attend live; the four exam sittings per subject give you flexibility; and the internship is organised around your commitments in your own country. As one first-year student put it, the Alma Mater Europaea programme offers a good balance of intensive study that still leaves time for work, family and personal life.

Yes, with flexibility. We try to adapt to your schedule as far as possible: you can attend practical classes with another cohort when needed, watch recordings of theoretical lectures around competitions, and choose among the four exam sittings if any clash with your events. The content, teaching quality and exams remain identical for everyone — only the timing is adjusted.

Students highlight the balance the Alma Mater Europaea programme allows between work, study and family, and the freedom to choose the country and clinic for their internship — which keeps their future options open if they wish to move or work abroad. Many also value meeting classmates from all over the world, both academically and personally. First impressions are typically very positive: the online lectures are described as engaging, and the first in-person days in Maribor as a welcoming, hands-on start to the Bachelor's in Physiotherapy.