Study Therapies in Germany

In this field of study, you will learn about therapies to help people restore their physical or mental health. You will gain an overview of different approaches and learn how to apply and communicate them. The approaches you will work with depend on your chosen field of study.

• Occupational therapy: You will learn about work and occupational therapies to support the development of children and adults.
• Speech therapy: You support people in learning or using language.
• Art therapy: You guide people to illustrate their problems with the help of art to better access them for successful treatment. You should have artistic talent.
• Music therapy: You will learn how to reach people with music and thus support them in addressing their problems. You should have musical talent.
• Physiotherapy: Physiotherapy, or physical therapy, helps people with limitations in the musculoskeletal system.
• Sports therapy: You will learn how to use sports as a preventive and therapeutic measure for diseases of all kinds.

Across the different fields of study, an interest in psychology will make it easier for you to get to know people during your therapeutic work. Knowledge of English is also an advantage, as some of the specialist literature is often only available in English.

Depending on the higher education institution, you can complete the degree programmes in therapies with a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree. The courses of study are offered at various universities and universities of applied sciences.

As a rule, you need a higher education entrance qualification or equivalent to be eligible to apply for these degree programmes. Depending on the subject and higher education institution, further admission criteria may be added, for example in the form of proof of aptitude, entrance examinations, letters of motivation or a numerus clausus (NC). Often, a medical certificate or a police certificate of good conduct is also required for admission. By the way: As an alternative to a higher education entrance qualification, a completed apprenticeship with relevant work experience can sometimes also be accepted.

The standard duration of studying in programmes in the field of therapy differs significantly; the duration depends not only on your higher education institution but also on the planned practical units and the form of study you have chosen. As a rule, however, you can expect six to eight semesters for a Bachelor’s degree and four semesters for a Master’s degree.

What are the possible forms of study, you ask? You can study a so-called dual programme, for example. In this case, for admission, you usually need a training contract with a partner company of your chosen higher education institution. Because of the more intense practical component, you should be prepared to study for a longer period of time. However, other options such as part-time or distance learning studies are also possible in some cases. It is best to enquire about your options at the higher education institution of your choice! Many private institutions also offer degree programmes in the therapy field.

One constant across all courses of study is practice: at most higher education institutions, several internships of up to three months are to be completed. This means that the degree programmes are very practice-oriented and you can complete part of your studies at a potential later place of employment.

What’s important to know: Do you already have a preference in which therapeutic direction you would like to go? Perfect! Many higher education institutions offer their degree programmes separately in the above-mentioned fields of study. Rarely do you have the opportunity to study several fields of study in one programme. With degree programmes such as Applied Therapeutic Sciences, you have a greater focus on science.

It’s not easy to estimate standardised costs for these degree programmes. In general, the degree programmes offered at public higher education institutions do not have tuition fees. However, you usually have to pay a semester contribution, which, depending on the higher education institution, amounts to between 100 and 400 euros per semester. Sometimes your semester contribution covers a ticket for local public transport or you can purchase a discounted ticket. Depending on where you study, this may be valid for the city, the region or even for all of Germany. Ask your higher education institution whether such an offer is currently available.

Private higher education institutions often charge tuition fees of several hundred euros per month. Over many semesters, this can add up to many thousands of euros.

However, you can count on receiving a salary for dual courses of study.

If you are studying at a place without tuition fees, rent will probably be your biggest expense. The amount of rent depends on the city you live in. In large cities, housing is often scarce and expensive, while in smaller cities it is comparatively affordable. In any case, student halls of residence are usually your cheapest option. As soon as you have decided on where you want to study, you should start looking, as halls of residence can fill up quickly. Here, you can find information on local halls of residence and the respective application process for most cities.

To finance your studies in Germany, you should also find out about scholarships. There are many different scholarship programmes and excellent grades are not the only deciding factor. You can learn more about scholarships here and find suitable programmes directly on My GUIDE.

With a degree in non-medical therapy, you can work in different areas depending on your specialisation. Examples are:

• Clinics
• Rehab centres
• Health counselling and assistance
• Adult education
• Art and music education
• Journalism and editorial work

After graduating, you can work in a health centre or a sports studio, for example, or even start your own practice.

If you see yourself in a management position, then you should study for a Master’s degree. With this, you can then also work in scientific and/or business management areas.