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Musculoskeletal disorders generally lead to pain and restricted mobility. They are the leading cause for functional disabilities and physiotherapy treatment.
Scientific research on musculoskeletal health and clinical treatment has increased exponentially over the last 15 years. By learning to conduct clinical research yourself, as a clinician or therapist you will better understand and value the possibilities, limitations, and results of scientific evidence from clinical research as well as its translation into clinical practice.
This one-year Master’s programme, gives you theoretical education within the context of clinical challenges on musculoskeletal disorders and physiotherapy, as well as skills in clinical experimental data collection, data analyses and research methodology. It is unique in its multidisciplinary focus on both fundamental and clinically applied scientific research which gives you insight into underlying mechanisms like pain and interventions and how to treat patients. We use recent innovations, such as virtual reality and eHealth.
This master is in English and is scheduled in such a way that the programme can also be combined (part-time) with work as a therapist or clinician (then you opt for a longer training course). Experience with clinical reasoning is important and no pre-master is required for this master.
Summer School
Apply to VU Amsterdam Summer School and develop your academic skills in a focused and inspiring study abroad experience.
Programme overview
Main Subject
Anatomy and Physiology
Degree
MSc
Study Level
Masters
Study Mode
On Campus
Musculoskeletal disorders generally lead to pain and restricted mobility. They are the leading cause for functional disabilities and physiotherapy treatment.
Scientific research on musculoskeletal health and clinical treatment has increased exponentially over the last 15 years. By learning to conduct clinical research yourself, as a clinician or therapist you will better understand and value the possibilities, limitations, and results of scientific evidence from clinical research as well as its translation into clinical practice.
This one-year Master’s programme, gives you theoretical education within the context of clinical challenges on musculoskeletal disorders and physiotherapy, as well as skills in clinical experimental data collection, data analyses and research methodology. It is unique in its multidisciplinary focus on both fundamental and clinically applied scientific research which gives you insight into underlying mechanisms like pain and interventions and how to treat patients. We use recent innovations, such as virtual reality and eHealth.
This master is in English and is scheduled in such a way that the programme can also be combined (part-time) with work as a therapist or clinician (then you opt for a longer training course). Experience with clinical reasoning is important and no pre-master is required for this master.
Summer School
Apply to VU Amsterdam Summer School and develop your academic skills in a focused and inspiring study abroad experience.
Admission Requirements
6.5+
300+
92+
Students must meet the following admission requirements:
1. Academic requirements
Your previous education needs to be deemed equivalent to at least a Dutch academic Bachelor’s degree ( wetenschappelijk onderwijs, WO ) obtained at a research university (nominal duration 3 years).
In case your previous education is not equivalent to at least a Dutch academic Bachelor’s degree (WO), the Admission board may decide that you are admissible after you have eliminated your deficiency by completion of a GMAT Focus Edition test. For more information see below.
2. Programme specific requirements
First, to gain admission to the programme we require sufficient knowledge and insight on clinical reasoning. Applicants have successfully completed one of the following Bachelor of Science programmes meet this requirement:
Physiotherapy
Occupational or exercise therapy (Cesar Mensendieck)
Medicine
Secondly, to gain admission you should have obtained sufficient analytical skills and basic knowledge of Mathematics. This requirement can be met in either of the following ways:
By successfully completing an academic Bachelor of Science programme, equivalent to the academic level in the Netherlands.
By successfully completing courses on mathematical and analytical skills at an academic level. The Admission Board will determine whether the courses taken are of a sufficient level.
By completing a GMAT Focus Edition test (scroll down for more information). A minimum score of 355 is required to be eligible for admission. Note that successful students of the master’s programme Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Sciences will have a GMAT Focus Edition score of at least 455. If your score is between 355-455, we therefore advise you to follow an additional educational programme to meet the required mathematical and analytical standards. Please note that it takes time to take a GMAT test and to receive the results! On average the process will take you three months. The cost of this test is approximately 350 US Dollar.
3. English-language proficiency requirements
You will have to demonstrate sufficient English language proficiency. You can find an overview of relevant information to demonstrate your English language proficiency on the language requirement page .
1 Year
Sep
Tuition fees
Domestic
2,694 EUR
International
34,440 EUR
Scholarships
VU Fellowship Programme (VUFP) – Merit-based tuition waiver for outstanding non-EU/EEA students
VU Fellowship Programme (VUFP) – Merit-based tuition waiver for outstanding non-EU/EEA students
Start at the programme page of the degree you are interested in. Read the admission requirements and application steps carefully. Then apply through Studielink, complete your application on your VU dashboard, pay the application fee (if required), and wait for the admission decision, which is usually communicated within 4–6 weeks.
Check the specific ‘Admissions’ section on your programme’s page for required documents. General requirements include your diploma, transcripts and other supporting documents. Documents should be in English, German, Dutch, French, Italian, or Spanish; others must be translated into English.
Yes, for Master’s, you can apply without a diploma copy; if conditionally admitted, you must send a certified diploma copy before the deadline.
The International Office checks your application for completeness. If there’s missing or incorrect information, they will contact you. Otherwise, your application is reviewed and you typically receive a decision within 4–8 weeks. Check your email (including spam) regularly for updates.
Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Sciences
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
# 51-100QS Subject Rankings
12 monthsProgramme duration
34,440 EURTuition Fee/year
1Scholarships
Programme overview
Main Subject
Anatomy and Physiology
Degree
MSc
Study Level
Masters
Study Mode
On Campus
Musculoskeletal disorders generally lead to pain and restricted mobility. They are the leading cause for functional disabilities and physiotherapy treatment.
Scientific research on musculoskeletal health and clinical treatment has increased exponentially over the last 15 years. By learning to conduct clinical research yourself, as a clinician or therapist you will better understand and value the possibilities, limitations, and results of scientific evidence from clinical research as well as its translation into clinical practice.
This one-year Master’s programme, gives you theoretical education within the context of clinical challenges on musculoskeletal disorders and physiotherapy, as well as skills in clinical experimental data collection, data analyses and research methodology. It is unique in its multidisciplinary focus on both fundamental and clinically applied scientific research which gives you insight into underlying mechanisms like pain and interventions and how to treat patients. We use recent innovations, such as virtual reality and eHealth.
This master is in English and is scheduled in such a way that the programme can also be combined (part-time) with work as a therapist or clinician (then you opt for a longer training course). Experience with clinical reasoning is important and no pre-master is required for this master.
Summer School
Apply to VU Amsterdam Summer School and develop your academic skills in a focused and inspiring study abroad experience.
Programme overview
Main Subject
Anatomy and Physiology
Degree
MSc
Study Level
Masters
Study Mode
On Campus
Musculoskeletal disorders generally lead to pain and restricted mobility. They are the leading cause for functional disabilities and physiotherapy treatment.
Scientific research on musculoskeletal health and clinical treatment has increased exponentially over the last 15 years. By learning to conduct clinical research yourself, as a clinician or therapist you will better understand and value the possibilities, limitations, and results of scientific evidence from clinical research as well as its translation into clinical practice.
This one-year Master’s programme, gives you theoretical education within the context of clinical challenges on musculoskeletal disorders and physiotherapy, as well as skills in clinical experimental data collection, data analyses and research methodology. It is unique in its multidisciplinary focus on both fundamental and clinically applied scientific research which gives you insight into underlying mechanisms like pain and interventions and how to treat patients. We use recent innovations, such as virtual reality and eHealth.
This master is in English and is scheduled in such a way that the programme can also be combined (part-time) with work as a therapist or clinician (then you opt for a longer training course). Experience with clinical reasoning is important and no pre-master is required for this master.
Summer School
Apply to VU Amsterdam Summer School and develop your academic skills in a focused and inspiring study abroad experience.
Admission Requirements
Students must meet the following admission requirements:
1. Academic requirements
Your previous education needs to be deemed equivalent to at least a Dutch academic Bachelor’s degree ( wetenschappelijk onderwijs, WO ) obtained at a research university (nominal duration 3 years).
In case your previous education is not equivalent to at least a Dutch academic Bachelor’s degree (WO), the Admission board may decide that you are admissible after you have eliminated your deficiency by completion of a GMAT Focus Edition test. For more information see below.
2. Programme specific requirements
First, to gain admission to the programme we require sufficient knowledge and insight on clinical reasoning. Applicants have successfully completed one of the following Bachelor of Science programmes meet this requirement:
Physiotherapy
Occupational or exercise therapy (Cesar Mensendieck)
Medicine
Secondly, to gain admission you should have obtained sufficient analytical skills and basic knowledge of Mathematics. This requirement can be met in either of the following ways:
By successfully completing an academic Bachelor of Science programme, equivalent to the academic level in the Netherlands.
By successfully completing courses on mathematical and analytical skills at an academic level. The Admission Board will determine whether the courses taken are of a sufficient level.
By completing a GMAT Focus Edition test (scroll down for more information). A minimum score of 355 is required to be eligible for admission. Note that successful students of the master’s programme Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Sciences will have a GMAT Focus Edition score of at least 455. If your score is between 355-455, we therefore advise you to follow an additional educational programme to meet the required mathematical and analytical standards. Please note that it takes time to take a GMAT test and to receive the results! On average the process will take you three months. The cost of this test is approximately 350 US Dollar.
3. English-language proficiency requirements
You will have to demonstrate sufficient English language proficiency. You can find an overview of relevant information to demonstrate your English language proficiency on the language requirement page .
Tuition fees
Domestic
International
Scholarships
VU Fellowship Programme (VUFP) – Merit-based tuition waiver for outstanding non-EU/EEA students
Value
100% tuition fee waiver
Deadline
1 Feb 2026
Application requirements
QS Event Attendance is NOT required
Entry requirements
You must be admitted to this school to be awarded
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