Physiotherapy Schools and Programs in Barcelona, Spain
About Physiotherapy Schools and Programs in Barcelona, Spain
Physiotherapy is the health discipline that assesses and treats problems of movement and body function through therapeutic exercise, manual therapy and other physical means. In Spain, physiotherapist is a regulated profession: practising requires an official bachelor's degree that meets the requirements set by the state in Order CIN/2135/2008. In Barcelona, that degree and several specialised official master's degrees are offered by private universities.
How the studies are organised
The bachelor's degree (grado) in Physiotherapy has 240 ECTS credits, which means four academic years, and includes supervised clinical placements and a final-year project. Qualified physiotherapists can then specialise with an official master's degree (máster universitario), which in Spain has 60, 90 or 120 credits, and go on to a doctorate, which requires 300 credits completed across the bachelor's and master's stages. All official degrees are listed in the Spanish Register of Universities, Centres and Degrees (RUCT).
Where to study Physiotherapy in Barcelona
- Blanquerna (Universitat Ramon Llull): the Blanquerna School of Health Sciences teaches the official bachelor's degree in Physiotherapy of the Universitat Ramon Llull. It has 240 credits over four years, is taught in Catalan and Spanish, has 150 places and morning and afternoon shifts, and classes take place at its sites on Carrer Padilla and Avinguda del Cardenal Vidal i Barraquer. According to the school, placements in external centres start in the first year. At postgraduate level it offers official master's degrees in Physiotherapy Applied to Team Sports (60 credits, in person, in Catalan, Spanish and English) and in Neurophysiotherapy (60 credits, hybrid, in Catalan and Spanish).
- Universitat Internacional de Catalunya (UIC Barcelona): a private university that teaches the official bachelor's degree in Physiotherapy on its Sant Cugat campus, next to Barcelona. The degree lasts eight semesters (240 ECTS credits), has 90 places and is taught in Catalan and Spanish, with some subjects in English. The faculty shares the campus with Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing at the Hospital General de Catalunya site. Its official master's degrees include Orthopaedic Manual Physiotherapy (OMPT), Paediatric Physiotherapy and Respiratory and Cardiac Physiotherapy.
At both universities Catalan is a language of instruction alongside Spanish. Students who do not speak Catalan should check the language of each subject in the study plan before enrolling.
Admission and recognition
To enter the bachelor's degree, students who completed secondary school outside Spain usually apply for accreditation through UNEDasiss, the UNED service that assesses the academic records of international students and runs specific subject tests. They then apply to each university, which sets its own requirements and deadlines. Places are limited: UIC states on its website that the degree is closed for the 2026-27 academic year and that applications are open for 2027-28.
The official master's degrees listed above are aimed at qualified physiotherapists. Anyone with a physiotherapy qualification from outside Spain who wants to practise in Spain needs homologation (homologación), the procedure that gives access to a regulated profession; a declaration of equivalence only certifies the academic level.
Careers
The degree prepares graduates for clinical care in hospitals, primary care centres, sports clubs, private practices and social care centres, as well as for managing physiotherapy services, teaching and research.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I study a bachelor's degree in Physiotherapy in Barcelona?
Among others, at Blanquerna, part of the Universitat Ramon Llull, and at the Universitat Internacional de Catalunya on its Sant Cugat campus. Both are official 240-credit degrees listed in the RUCT.
In which language is Physiotherapy taught in Barcelona?
Mainly in Catalan and Spanish. UIC also teaches some subjects in English, and Blanquerna's master's degree in Physiotherapy Applied to Team Sports also uses English.
Is there a sports physiotherapy master's degree in Barcelona?
Yes. Blanquerna teaches the official master's degree in Physiotherapy Applied to Team Sports, with 60 credits over one academic year, for physiotherapists interested in sports rehabilitation.
Can I work as a physiotherapist in Spain with a degree from my country?
To practise a regulated profession such as physiotherapy, a foreign qualification must be homologated by the Ministry. A declaration of equivalence is not enough, because it only certifies the academic level.