Physiotherapy Schools and Programs in Sweden

Physiotherapy Studies in Sweden

In Sweden, physiotherapy is studied in a three-year university programme, the Fysioterapeutprogrammet, which leads to a professional degree and the right to apply for a licence. Teaching is in Swedish. SpainExchange lists one Swedish university for this subject: Lund University (Lunds universitet), founded in 1666, which has about 46,000 students across Lund, Helsingborg, Malmö and Ljungbyhed. Its physiotherapy programme is taught in Lund by the Faculty of Medicine.

How the physiotherapy degree is organised

Swedish higher education credits follow ECTS: 30 credits per semester and 60 per academic year. Health care is one of the fields in which Swedish universities award professional qualifications. At Lund, the programme covers 180 credits over three years and leads to the fysioterapeutexamen (degree in physiotherapy).

Students study physiotherapy as a scientific field, together with anatomy, physiology, medical subjects, biomechanics, pedagogy and behavioural medicine. Teaching combines lectures, seminars and practical sessions, in which students practise examination and treatment on each other. Clinical placements (verksamhetsförlagd utbildning, VFU) take place in health care under the supervision of licensed physiotherapists. Some placement providers require an extract from the Swedish police criminal record before students can start.

Physiotherapists work with people of all ages, assessing and treating patients with conditions of the respiratory, circulatory, nervous and musculoskeletal systems, as well as people with mental illness. Prevention and health promotion are a normal part of the job.

Admission and language

Applications go through the national admissions system. Beyond general entry requirements, Lund asks for Swedish upper secondary Physical Education and Health 1, Mathematics 2a, 2b or 2c, Science 2 and Social Studies 1b (or equivalents). Places are allocated 66% on grades and 34% on results in the Swedish Scholastic Aptitude Test (högskoleprovet). The next intake starts on 21 January 2027 and ends on 20 January 2030; the application deadline is 15 October 2026. Because the programme is taught in Swedish, international applicants need a strong command of the language.

Exchange students should note that Lund's Faculty of Medicine currently states that it cannot accept international exchange students in the physiotherapy programme.

Fees, residence permit and living costs

Citizens of the EU/EEA and Switzerland pay no application or tuition fees. Other students pay an application fee of SEK 900 through universityadmissions.se and tuition fees: at Lund, the full physiotherapy programme costs SEK 525,000, with a first payment of SEK 87,500. Fees are paid in advance, one semester at a time.

Students from outside the EU/EEA need a residence permit from the Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket), and count as finally admitted only once the tuition fee is paid. For permits granted since 11 June 2026, students may work up to 15 hours a week during term and must complete 37.5 credits in their first year to have the permit extended. Study in Sweden estimates living costs at around SEK 10,656 per month.

Licence and careers

Physiotherapist (fysioterapeut) is a protected title in Sweden. After completing the programme, graduates apply for a licence (legitimation) from the National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen). Besides hospitals and primary care, physiotherapists work in wellness, sports medicine, school health services, occupational health, product development and research. Graduates can continue with a one-year magister degree (60 credits) or a two-year master's degree (120 credits) in physiotherapy, and then with doctoral studies (240 credits).

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to become a physiotherapist in Sweden?

The physiotherapy programme takes three years (180 credits). Graduates then apply to Socialstyrelsen for a licence.

Can I study physiotherapy in Sweden in English?

Not at Lund University: the programme is taught in Swedish, and the Faculty of Medicine currently does not accept international exchange students in it.

How much does the physiotherapy programme cost for non-EU students?

At Lund University the full programme costs SEK 525,000 in tuition fees, plus a SEK 900 application fee. EU/EEA and Swiss citizens pay no fees.

Which universities teach physiotherapy in Sweden?

SpainExchange lists Lund University for this subject.