Course details

Degree objectives

This Masters' Degree aims to provide Physiotherapists with advanced professional skills, necessary to intervene with the population that practices sports in general, and athletes in particular.
The program was developed considering the IFSPT competencies and standards that are available at https://ifspt.org/competencies/. The course promotes advanced skills for the promotion of safe physical activity, counseling and adaptation of rehabilitation programs, with the aim of preventing injuries, restoring function and contributing to the improvement of sports performance, in athletes of all ages and with different abilities, based on high standards of professional practice and ethical conduct.
The program was designed to develop knowledge, clinical reasoning, specialized technical and clinical skills, as well as skills to investigate the mechanisms of action and effectiveness of physiotherapy in clinical conditions associated with sports practice.

School

ESS - Escola Superior de Saúde

Study mode

presencial - DayTime

Learning objectives and skills to be developed

At the end of the programme, the student must demonstrate: a) In-depth and systematic knowledge of the mechanisms that support the practice of physiotherapy in sports;
b) Ability to perform advanced clinical reasoning in order to implement specialized practice in collaboration with the wider sports community;
c) Ability to critically analyze one's practice, taking into account published evidence, and considering the effectiveness and benefit perceived by the sports community in general;
d) Ability to critically reflect on one's practice in order to identify professional objectives for continuous professional development;
e) Relational skills to work effectively and collaboratively with the athlete and the sports community in general;
f) Ability to design, plan and conduct research projects, as well as disseminate their results, contributing to innovating research processes and professional practice in Sports Physiotherapy.

Career opportunities

Master's level training is an essential component for a specialised level practice in the field of physiotherapy in sport, which can be developed in different contexts, namely specialised clinics in the area, sports clubs and sports federations, or in local community entities associated with the general practice of exercise/physical activity. In addition to the expansion of clinical skills and areas of practice, the course promotes professional and academic development, opening up other career opportunities such as teaching in higher education institutions, scientific research as well as new perspectives for academic progression.

Course coordinator

Rita Noélia Silva Fernandes

Recognition of prior learning

Recognition of prior learning is carried out in accordance with the Academic Regulations of the Polytechnic Institute of Setúbal

Admission requirements

According to the access conditions defined in paragraph 1 of article 17 of Decree-Law n. 74, of March 24, 2006, the following candidates may apply for this course:
- candidates with a degree or legal equivalent in Physiotherapy;
- candidates with a foreign academic degree in Physiotherapy, conferred following a 1st cycle of studies organized according to the principles of the Bologna Process;
- candidates with a foreign higher academic degree that is recognized as meeting the objectives of the degree in Physiotherapy by the jury appointed by the President of the Polytechnic Institute of Setúbal (IPS) and the Dean of the University of Aveiro, in accordance with the provisions of Decree-Law No. 66 / 2018, August 16;
- candidates with an academic, scientific or professional curriculum, which is recognized as attesting the capacity to carry out this cycle of studies by IPS and UA

The information provided does not replace consultation of the Directorate-General for Higher Education (DGES) website and/or the application page.

Qualification requirements

12 course units successfully completed

Legal framework and accreditation

R/A-Cr 45/2025