Geriatrics is one of the most clinically important subjects in physiotherapy degree programs across Europe. It covers the assessment and rehabilitation of older adults affected by age-related conditions, functional decline and complex comorbidities. The European Commission’s mapping of physiotherapy education shows that geriatrics appears in the minimum entry-level curriculum of 27 out of 28 surveyed countries — with Bulgaria as the only exception.
Where Geriatrics Is Taught Within Physiotherapy Degree Programs Across Europe
Geriatrics features in almost all European physiotherapy curricula. However, its depth, clinical integration and credit allocation vary across countries. Program length and national regulation both influence how this subject is structured and delivered.
- Italy: The three-year Laurea Triennale (180 ECTS) integrates geriatrics within the clinical sciences block. It connects closely with internal medicine and rehabilitation. Furthermore, Italy recognises geriatric physiotherapist as a distinct regulated professional profile.
- Ireland: Within 240 ECTS programs, geriatrics integrates with neurological and musculoskeletal rehabilitation. Students encounter older adult patients during supervised clinical placements in hospitals, eldercare facilities and community healthcare centres.
- Latvia and Czech Republic: These 180 ECTS programs deliver geriatrics alongside paediatrics and neurology. Together, they cover the full lifespan within the clinical sciences block.
- France, Belgium and Poland: At master’s level (300 ECTS), geriatrics reaches considerably greater depth. Programs cover advanced topics such as frailty assessment, falls prevention and complex multimorbidity management in older adults.
- Bulgaria: Bulgaria is the only surveyed country that does not include geriatrics in its minimum entry-level curriculum. However, geriatric conditions remain a significant part of clinical physiotherapy practice in Bulgaria.
What Geriatrics Training Covers
This subject builds on musculoskeletal sciences, neurology and internal medicine. It applies this knowledge directly to the assessment and treatment of older adults. Most European programs cover the following core areas:
- Age-related physiological changes and their clinical implications
- Assessment and management of falls and balance disorders
- Rehabilitation of frailty, sarcopenia and functional decline
- Physiotherapy for dementia and cognitive impairment
- Exercise prescription for older adults with complex comorbidities
Clinical Placements and Competence in This Field
Europe has an ageing population. Therefore, geriatric physiotherapy is one of the fastest growing areas of clinical practice across the continent. All surveyed countries except Bulgaria require graduates to manage older adult patients as part of their entry-level competence. In addition, the capacity to design therapeutic exercise programs for older people is a near-universal competence across physiotherapy degree programs in EU/EEA countries. Clinical placements in eldercare facilities, nursing homes and geriatric hospital wards are standard practice in most European countries. To learn more about how clinical training is structured, see our articles on rehabilitation and exercise therapy.
Countries Where This Subject Is Included in the Physiotherapy Curriculum
Geriatrics forms part of the minimum entry-level curriculum in every surveyed country except Bulgaria.
If you are exploring where to study, browse our country guides to compare access requirements, ECTS credits and clinical placement structures for each physiotherapy degree program in Europe.
