"I did not find it difficult to settle because of the support and helping hand from the staff and students."
Experiences of a student from Zimbabwe
Hallo!! My name is Taka (23). I am from Zimbabwe and I am currently in my second year of the English Stream Physiotherapy Programme. My experience in health matters was broadened mainly because of my mother, suffering from osteoarthritis, whom I used to take to and from medical examinations and treatments. It is as such that I have slowly but surely decided that my future lies in the field of physiotherapy.
Physiotherapists deal with people from different backgrounds, cultures, traditions, races and religions and the English Stream Programme at Fontys gives me a serving of these characteristics. I did not find it difficult to settle because of the support and helping hand from the staff and students. Besides being at school, Eindhoven is a nice, lively and peaceful city which is optimal for student life, and I really like studying in this environment. There are shops of all types and sizes, pubs and restaurants, cinemas, beautiful parks, art galleries, sporting activities and of course the PSV football stadium which is almost in the middle of town. Our class has students from various nationalities. We do a lot of group work and that alone gives us a taste of what it is to work with people from different cultures and this helps to mulch us into health care professionalism.
The programme is offered in a well rounded education system which delivers theory, skills and other vital aspects like quality, research and interpersonal skills. Another key part of our programme is that we have clinical affiliations starting in the first year. This is a key feature as it gives you an insight and an opportunity to apply the data and skills you have assimilated in a clinical situation. I have fortunately blended with this learning system and I certainly believe it’s the best for me as I wish to be a health care professional performing at a level offering the best help to my future patients.
This would guarantee great demand of my services, not only in my country but all over the world.
"While studying at Fontys, you will meet dedicated teachers, motivated students and a physiotherapy course that only
gets more interesting year by year"
Experiences of a south African student
My name is Stuart and am currently at the end of my second year. In the beginning studying in a different country many thousands of miles away from home is difficult. A new country, environment, and people, which is where Fontys have played such a big role in. Fontys does not just offer a great international physiotherapy course but also gives you an opportunity to build friendships with students and teachers. From day one the teachers start molding you into a physiotherapist and really keep track of your progress and participation in the course. With your fellow students you work and practice in small groups completing many enjoyable projects and gradually building your knowledge in order to gain a greater insight into the physiotherapy field we see today.
The facilities at Fontys are really up-to-date and practicing skills with good equipment has only brought out the best of my abilities. The relationship with the teachers I enjoy the most, unlike south African schools which are really strict and discipline is top priority, the teachers at Fontys are so friendly and always eager to give you a helping hand, which motivates any student to do his best. The clinical affiliations are brilliant as they enable you at an early stage in the course to get a taste of what a real physiotherapy practice feels like and at the end of every affiliation I most definitely have more motivation than before.
Coming from a subtropical country it was definitely a shock when I got here, as it can get extremely cold. The best solution I found was to eat traditional Dutch food and put on a few layers of clothing on in order to stay warm.
On the other hand when the summer eventually breaks through an astonishing amount of tulips blossom and really brightens everything up along with the Dutch people that certainly do enjoy their warm weather. Apart from the weather I feel that Holland is a fantastic place to study with Fontys providing good facilities, a recommended international physiotherapy course and dedicated teachers that really do provide support.
