Tartu Health Care College offers internationally recognized Master’s Degree in Physiotherapy

Estonian Minister of Education and Research, Kristina Kallas, has signed a decree granting Tartu Health Care College the right to train physiotherapists at the master’s level.

“By broadening opportunities for international master’s education, we, as an applied higher education institution in the healthcare field, are establishing new pathways for professional networking, the exchange of fresh knowledge and experiences, and the improvement of the efficiency and impact of research and development activities. Ensuring the quality of higher education is not merely important but a pivotal element of international cooperation,” stated Ulla Preeden, Rector of Tartu Health Care College.

“Tartu Health Care College has been offering education for physiotherapists at the applied higher education level for over 20 years, rendering the launch of a master’s program a logical progression in both the curriculum and the field’s development,” explained Kristi Vahur, Head of the Physiotherapy and Environmental Health Department at Tartu Health Care College. “The scope of responsibility for physiotherapists as autonomous specialists in healthcare has broadened. Consequently, the field and society as a whole demand competent professionals capable of delivering and advancing physiotherapy services based on needs. Considering that musculoskeletal problems currently constitute the primary causes of work-related issues, combined with challenges linked to the aging population, the health promotion role of physiotherapists in shaping individuals’ health behavior and bolstering functionality and quality of life is increasingly vital for the future. The formulation of the content for the physiotherapy master’s program has taken these challenges into careful consideration.”

Vahur added that, akin to the applied higher education program in physiotherapy, collaboration with employers and international experts is vital in the physiotherapy master’s program. As a result, the recently launched master’s program is conducted in English, aiming to deliver quality education infused with international knowledge to the students.

Admission to the physiotherapist master’s program will commence in March 2024, and the first cohort will begin their studies in January 2025. The program is two years in duration, conducted in English, and tuition based.

In addition to the international physiotherapy master’s program, Tartu Health Care College offers opportunities to study in an English-language Master’s program in Radiography and a Estonian-language Master’s program in Health Sciences. The college provides six applied higher education programs and six vocational education programs. For more information, please visit the website at nooruse.ee.