M.Sc. Sport Physiotherapy (German programme)

In the Master of Science Sport Physiotherapy at the German Sport University Cologne you combine sports science, medicine and physiotherapy. You are already educated as a physiotherapist and would like to specialize further? Are you passionate about sports? Then join us and take a deep dive into the field of sports, qualify for leading positions and make even more effective therapy decisions in the future based on the latest scientific findings.

The master's degree in sport physiotherapy is a part-time programme with a standard duration of 4 semesters. Self-study phases alternate with attendance phases at the German Sport University Cologne. This way you can optimize your career opportunities without having to leave your job. The programme starts annually in April, the application deadline is the end of October of the previous year.

The subjects of the M.Sc. Sport Physiotherapy are taught in the following five modules in an application-oriented manner and with a high practical component:

• Sports science
• Sports medicine
• Sports physiotherapy treatment methods
• Supplementary fields
• Scientific competences

Previously certified physiotherapists with at least one year of relevant professional experience and completion of a scientific degree (at least 180 credit points) can apply for the programme.

The job opportunities after graduation are diverse: In addition to research and teaching at universities or the international doctorate, for example, the supervision of competitive athletes, a leading position in health care or the opening of your own physiotherapy clinic with a sports focus is possible.

The M.Sc. Sport Physiotherapy has been offered since 2011, so we can look back on many years of experience and numerous successful graduates. The profound expert knowledge of our lecturers, the excellent facilities on campus and the internationally recognized degree are only three of the 10 good reasons for studying at the German Sport University Cologne.

The tuition fee for the Master of Science Sport Physiotherapy programme is € 2,600 per semester. The fee has to be transferred by the students before the beginning of the respective semester. The total costs for the entire programme therefore are € 10,400. This includes the registration fee and all examination fees.

Below you will find all the important information about admission, application, deadlines and dates.

Admission - General requirements

The general admission requirements for the M.Sc. Sport Physiotherapy are regulated in the Examination and Admission Regulations (Prüfungs- und Zugangsordnung).

The following admission requirements apply for admission to the programme:

• Completion of a relevant scientific study programme with at least 180 credit points according to ECTS.

AND

• Training as a physiotherapist or recognition of the study of physiotherapy with work permit (permission to use the professional title "physiotherapist")

AND

• At least one year of professional experience in the field of physiotherapy.

In addition, the following prerequisites for completing the degree apply:

• Proof of externally achieved achievements with up to 60 credit points to register for the Master's thesis. You can provide these before or during the course of your studies (see Examination and Admission Regulations § 10).

Important: If you have already completed this type of work, please be sure to submit the relevant evidence with your application.

* To obtain a Master's degree, you need a total of 300 credit points (CP). In order to complete the M.Sc. Sport Physiotherapy programme, you must provide evidence of a total of 240 CP from your first degree programme and, if applicable, other externally completed achievements in order to register for the Master's thesis. Together with the study of the M.Sc. Sport Physiotherapy at the German Sport University Cologne, this results in 300 CP. I. e.:

• If you have completed a first degree programme with 180 CP, you must additionally prove 60 CP from externally provided achievements.
• If you have completed a first degree programme with 210 CP, you must also provide evidence of 30 CP from external work.
• If you have completed a first degree programme with 240 CP, you do not have to provide evidence of any additional externally earned credits.

These additional CP to be proven can be credited through achievements from the following areas:

a) physiotherapy education and training

b) scientific activity or

c) activities in competitive sport

Exemplary possibilities of thematically suitable further education, activities in competitive sports or in science are shown in the credit catalogue.

For clarification, you will find three examples here:

Example 1: Degree (PHYSIOTHERAPY DUAL) with 240 CP

With your application for the M.Sc. in Sport Physiotherapy, you submit the Bachelor's degree certificate and the Transcript of Records of a higher education institution for a dual degree in "Physiotherapy" (i.e. first degree programme with integrated physiotherapy training) with a total of 240 CP. With the successful completion of the M.Sc. Sport Physiotherapy programme, you acquire 60 CP and thus prove the 300 CP required for the Master's degree. The acquisition of further CP via additional achievements apart from the degree programme is not necessary.

Example 2: Degree (PHYSIOTHERAPY DUAL) with 180 or 210 CP

With your application for the M.Sc. in Sport Physiotherapy, you submit the Bachelor's degree certificate and the Transcript of Records of a higher education institution for a dual degree in "Physiotherapy" (i.e. first degree programme with integrated physiotherapy training) with a total of 180 CP or 210 CP. With the successful completion of the M.Sc. Sport Physiotherapy degree programme, you acquire 60 CP. You have thus acquired a total of 240 CP or 270 CP. The 30 CP (1st degree with 210 CP) or 60 CP (1st degree with 180 CP) that are still missing for the Master's title must be obtained at the latest when registering your Master's thesis by means of additional achievements apart from the programme. Examples of possible achievements to be recognised can be found in the credit catalogue (Anrechnungskatalog).

Example 3: Degree AND physiotherapy training (NOT DUAL)

You have completed training as a physiotherapist AND a first academic degree programme with at least 180 CP. Upon application to the examination board of the M.Sc. Sport Physiotherapy, up to 60 CP, which must be proven by the time of registration of the Master's thesis, can be recognised. The content-related fit of the first degree programme to the professional field of physiotherapy is examined. Based on this, a possible recognition of an individual number of up to 60 CP takes place. If necessary, further achievements must be provided. The examination board examines and decides for each participant individually the possibilities of recognition of submitted documents. As a rule of thumb, you will receive one CP for every 25 teaching units (45 minutes each) if the content fits.

Admission - Foreign applicants

Applicants with a degree obtained abroad can be admitted if the equivalence with a degree according to §4, paragraph 1 of the Examination and Admission Regulations is proven. The equivalence agreements approved by the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder in the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Rectors' Conference or corresponding legal regulations are to be taken into account when deciding on the equivalence of foreign degrees.

Admission - Language skills

The language of instruction in this degree programme is German. English texts are also used. Foreign applicants must provide proof of German language skills in order to study at a German university, i.e. they must have passed one of the two following university language examinations to prove their language level approximately at level C1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages:

• DSH: At least level 2 ("Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang ausländischer Studienbewerber").

OR

• TestDaF: At least level 4 (C1) (The "TestDaF" is a language test at an advanced level. It ranges from level B2 to C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages and is the language qualification recognised by all German universities as a prerequisite for admission).

Admission - Participation without an academic degree

Physiotherapists without an academic degree can participate in the module "Sports Science" of the M.Sc. Sport Physiotherapy and thus acquire the following certificate: "Sports Science in Theory and Practice".

The application documents must include in total:

• Relevant certificates (see "Admission - General requirements", as well as, if applicable, see "Admission - Language skills").
• Application form
• Tabular curriculum vitae
• Written explanation of the motivation to study (brief, sports and work-related)
• Proof of fitness for sport (certificate from family doctor sufficient)

The complete application documents must be submitted in digital form in a PDF file by the deadlines specified below to:

German Sport University Cologne
Department of Further Education
Maja Dirks
Am Sportpark Müngersdorf 6
50933 Cologne
Germany

m.dirks@­dshs-koeln.de

Studies begin every year in April. Application deadline is 31 October of the previous year.