Studium Physiotherapie - Studenten machen Übungen auf einem Massagetisch

Physiotherapy bachelor degree programme

Would you like to help improve people’s quality of life? Our Physiotherapy bachelor programme provides you with the tools you need.

Physiotherapy is a growing profession – especially in industrialised countries, due to the increasing rate of chronic conditions affecting the cardiovascular system, metabolism and the biliary system, for example. In this three-year, German-language programme, you will acquire the knowledge and skills you need to work as a physiotherapy professional.

The degree programme

During your degree you’ll learn about many different clinical fields, with a special focus on internal medicine, neurology, trauma surgery and orthopaedics.

You’ll have the opportunity to apply what you learn in the course of practice placements at a variety of locations. You will dedicate the 5th and 6th semesters to special groups of people, (gender-specific) health promotion, sports for the disabled and research in physiotherapy. By choosing elective subjects in your final study year, you have the opportunity to shape your studies according to your own ideas.

The programme will equip you for high-grade physiotherapy positions in the Austrian system or to work as an independent practitioner.

Get the full programme details in German

The physiotherapy profession

What is physiotherapy exactly? Physiotherapists deal with improvement and maintenance of as well as restoration after functional disorders of the human body. They are responsible for examination and physiotherapeutic diagnosis and derive therapeutic measures for the musculoskeletal system. The implementation of therapeutic measures is worked out individually with the patient and evaluated for success at certain intervals.

Overview of therapy options

The tools you will learn to use include: exercise therapy, respiratory therapy, massage, manual therapy, training therapy, lymphatic drainage and electrotherapy.

By optimising physical functions, physiotherapists provide personalised treatment designed to bring about long-term improvements in people’s mobility, degree of independence and quality of life.

Degree programme physiotherapy - students look at a skeleton
Degree programme Physiotherapy - Sitting balance exercise on a ball
Degree programme study program - help with crutches

" To provide successful therapy you need to be able to build up a complete picture of the patient’s situation. You’ll work towards this with our help. Our case studies, which simulate treatment situations and develop your skills in a controlled environment, are an extremely valuable part of this. "

Programme director Reinhard Beikircher

A formula for success: theoretical knowledge + practical experience

The programme is built on three pillars.

  1. 1

    1. The basics

    Semesters 1-3

    You will acquire the theoretical foundations required for your practice placements, which take place later in the programme.

    Our primary aim is to tie together the contents of the various courses you take. This means that from the very beginning you’ll learn how to adopt a holistic approach to physiotherapy diagnosis – a skill that will enable you to provide your patients with personalised treatment.

    A special feature of the study programme at IMC Krems is the analysis of the so-called red flag screening. Here you will learn how to recognise warning signs in physiotherapy that indicate serious medical conditions and how to react appropriately using a flag system.

  2. 2

    2. Practical experience

    Semesters 4-6

    In semester 4 you can apply what you’ve learned – at established practice placement providers in Austria and abroad.

    During your placements you’ll gain experience in various specialist areas, such as internal medicine, neurology, trauma surgery and sports medicine, and orthopaedics. During the internship, the focus is on the care and treatment of patients in need of intensive care.

    We provide you with support before and during your practice placements: we help you to select the healthcare institutions where you want gain experience and offer you special coaching sessions. During your placements you’ll attend accompanying seminars where you will complete patient records which you then discuss with your lecturers.

  3. 3

    3. Advanced courses

    Semesters 5-6

    At the end of the programme, you’ll study familiar topics in more depth and choose specialisms.

    In the field of health promotion, you choose either corporate health care or gender-specific health promotion in the 5th semester, where you deal with topics such as postnatal regression, training of the pelvic floor or activity-based training after childbirth.

    In the 6th semester, you also have a choice: either you dive deeper into the topic of sports for the disabled or deal in depth with research or practice guidance in physiotherapy.

    There is also a major focus on interdisciplinary teamwork involving other areas of health science such as occupational therapy, nursing and midwifery, as well as doctors in training.

Our team

Get to know the core team of our bachelor degree programme Physiotherapy.

  • Prof.(FH) Reinhard Beikircher, MAS | Programme Director Physiotherapy - IMC Fachhochschule Krems
    Prof.(FH) Reinhard Beikircher, MAS
    Programme Director Physiotherapy

    Programme Director Physiotherapy

    Prof.(FH) Reinhard Beikircher, MAS

    Core Competencies
    • physiotherapist
  • Prof.(FH) Jessica Janssen, PhD, MSc, BH
    Professor (FH) Institute Therapeutic and Midwifery Sciences
  • Christian Keip, MSc, PT
    Lecturer Institute Therapeutic and Midwifery Sciences
  • Assoz.-Prof.(FH) Dr. Wolfgang Lackenbauer, MManip Th
    Associate Professor (FH) Institute Therapeutic and Midwifery Sciences
  • Prof.(FH) Dr. Andreas Lichtenwörther, MSc, BSc
    Programme Director Applied Health Sciences
  • Karin Lotter, MSc
    Lecturer Institute Therapeutic and Midwifery Sciences
  • Tanja Miksch, MHPE
    Lecturer Institute Therapeutic and Midwifery Sciences
  • Prof.(FH) Claudia Oblasser, PhD, MA
    Professor (FH) Institute Therapeutic and Midwifery Sciences
  • Christian Paumann, MSPhT
    Lecturer Institute Therapeutic and Midwifery Sciences
  • Assoz.-Prof.(FH) Agnes Wilhelm, MSc
    Associate Professor (FH) Institute Therapeutic and Midwifery Sciences

Questions about the degree programme?

Prospective Student Advisory Service


Do you have questions regarding the entry requirements, the admission procedure and more? Our Prospective Student Advisory Service is happy to help.

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Ask Hanna

Ask Hanna


Would you like first-hand information about the Physiotherapie degree programme? Contact Hanna directly, she will be happy to answer all your questions about the study programme.

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