Enrollment is open for the new bachelor's program in Physical Therapy at UCU

Presentation of the New Bachelor's Program "Physical Therapy"

On August 14, the Ukrainian Catholic University hosted a presentation of the new bachelor's program in physical therapy. Since 2018, UCU has been training specialists through master's programs in occupational therapy and physical therapy. This year, the university is expanding opportunities for students by offering a full cycle of education—from bachelor's to master's degrees.

"The bachelor's program in physical therapy at UCU has been planned for a long time. We communicated with representatives of medical and rehabilitation centers, our master's graduates, and inquired about what the program should include. We are confident that we are ready. With the war and an aging population, there is a significant amount of work in Ukraine, and there is an understanding of how important this profession is. We will study real cases and apply new approaches in physical therapy. Our instructors primarily see the patient as a person, caring not only for physical well-being but also considering moral and psychological aspects. This is the great uniqueness of the program," said the first vice-rector of UCU Yaroslav Prytula.

The head of the program, Andriy Hertsik, spoke about the specifics of training specialists in physical therapy at UCU: "When you talk to those in need of rehabilitation, everyone will say that we really need specialists. We do everything to ensure our graduates achieve results and are satisfied with them. We teach students to love what they do. Over 90 percent of our master's program graduates work in their field. This means we are succeeding. In the bachelor's program, we will lay the foundation that will be the professional basis for the future specialist, their philosophy of working with the patient."

The bachelor's program in physical therapy will last 3 years and 10 months. Students who choose the physical therapy program will study using modern methods that correspond to the realities and challenges of the war in Ukraine. 

"Our students have access to patients even during their studies. This is very important so that they are not afraid of the patient, know how to approach a person, how to ask questions. We have educational disciplines focused on communication, studying protocols. Even before completing their bachelor's degree, students understand which area of rehabilitation they are most inclined towards. This is one of the main components of the program, which allows for career orientation during the study," said Svitlana Kohut, dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at UCU. 

Students will be taught by experienced instructors, and working in a multidisciplinary team will help them master a modern approach to restoring health and functional capabilities of a person.

"We have developed the bachelor's program based on Christian values. We have a unique combination of specialties: social work, psychology, physical therapy, and occupational therapy. This is how it works globally, and for Ukraine, this approach is new. The social direction is very important to us. We want the result of our work to be a conscious society that treats people well," added Svitlana Kohut.

For the Ukrainian Catholic University, it is important to reveal the best sides of the student to prepare a qualified and value-driven specialist. Therefore, a student-centered approach, individual work, and mentoring support are used throughout all years of study. Socially oriented learning and volunteering help young people understand the value of their work and future service.

"I have high expectations from the program team and future students. I urge applicants to look at this opportunity to become specialists who can solve a person's problem and help them. We will pay a lot of attention to this program so that it grows, develops, and is talked about not only in Ukraine but also worldwide," concluded Yaroslav Prytula.

There is an additional intake of applicants for the new bachelor's program outside the main competition.

"This year, UCU is ready to accept 25 freshmen into the bachelor's program in physical therapy. Applicants can submit an electronic application from September 1, and from the 10th, we will accept documents. The competitive score will play a major role in the selection. We will send invitations for interviews and provide decisions. Since this is the first intake for this program, all entrants, regardless of their NMT scores, can apply for financial support," said the head of the Admissions Center Hannusia Turchynovska. 

This year, special conditions for scholarship support are in place for students of the new program. Applicants can submit an application for the financial support competition until August 20.

Learn more about the program. 

For detailed information about the admission campaign, follow the website and social media of the UCU Admissions Center.