Bachelor of Physiotherapy Course, BPT

Physiotherapy is the treatment of an illness or injury through different methods like exercise and massages. The professionals who perform this treatment are called physiotherapists.

These individuals can become experts in the field through various training programs. A Bachelor of Physiotherapy or BPT course is one such degree introduced to produce individuals who can work as physiotherapists. 

Overview

The Bachelor of Physiotherapy course is an undergraduate degree that mainly focuses on the production of capable physiotherapists. It provides comprehensive knowledge and skills in human anatomy, physiology, therapy techniques, and many more.

BPT Course in Nepal

Bachelor of Physiotherapy or BPT course in Nepal was initially started as a Diploma course. Certificate/Diploma of Physiotherapy (CPT) was started at Tribhuvan University in 1983 AD.  Later Kathmandu University also started providing it in 2003.

Before this, students from Nepal went outside the country especially India to study physiotherapy. Later in the 1980s health personnel received training in government hospitals.

Kathmandu University (KU) later upgraded its diploma in physiotherapy to the undergraduate level of education as a BPT course. Pokhara University(PoU) is another institution to provide the same degree.

Currently, there are 6 colleges, 5 affiliated with KU and 1 with PoU. There are a total of 140 seats allocated for BPT courses in Nepal, 120 to KU, and the remaining 20 for PoU.

General Information

BPT course is a higher level of education in the field of medical science that helps in the production of capable therapists who can cure diseases and heal patients through physical movements rather than medicines.

The table below provides general information regarding BPT courses in Nepal. It includes the total duration of the program, seats available for it, and the number of colleges offering it in affiliation with respective universities.

Universities	No. of Colleges	No. of Seats	Duration (in years)
KU	5	120	4.5
PoU	1	20	4

The table provides an insight into the condition of the BPT course in Nepal. We can see that the number of institutions providing the program is just 6. However, besides a Bachelor in Physiotherapy, other vocational courses help in the production of physiotherapists. 

Course Structure

The BPT course syllabus is designed to provide a detailed education of the human anatomy and physiology as it is most important. Therapists have to understand these two aspects to be a capable expert.

Besides this, they also get knowledge about different techniques used in the therapies for different body parts and illnesses. Here are some of the areas the course covers;

• Electrotherapy
• Biomechanics and Kinesiology
• Gerontology and geriatric physiotherapy
• Musculoskeletal sciences

Objective of BPT

The objectives of the Bachelor of Physiotherapy course are listed below:-

• To help students understand the role of physiotherapy in the context of society and the nation's health demands.
• To impart professional and ethical knowledge among the pupils which will be required in the profession in the future.
• To provide them with the skills to perform safe therapy techniques for different conditions.

To help them understand the importance of collaboration among various health experts. 

Eligibility for BPT

Anyone who wants to pursue a higher level of education in physiotherapy course must meet the following criteria to study it :-

• Should have completed their 10+2 level of education or equivalent level in the stream of science by taking Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.
• Should have secured at least 50% or 2.4 CGPA or C+ grade in aggregate.

Should have cleared the admission test conducted by the university by securing at least 50%.

Scope of BPT

The physiotherapy course provides a skilled and educated therapist. These individuals are highly sought after in multiple areas like:-

•  Hospitals
• Therapy centers
• Clinics
• Sports club
• Gyms
• Rehabilitation centers
• Army and police
• Old age homes

Now let us look at some of the job prospects for the BPT course graduates. They can work as Clinical, Musculoskeletal, Neurological, Cardio-respiratory, Pediatric physiotherapist and many more. Besides these, here are some other job prospects for the degree;

• Fitness experts
• Public health officer in Physiotherapy
• Researcher
• Instructor/Trainer

Fee Structure of BPT

The interested candidate for the BPT course should fill up the form for the entrance examination administered by the university and pass it with the threshold score. They can find the form on the official website of the institutions.

Here are some of the key details regarding the entrance exam that might be useful to the applicants:-

• Question type- Objective
• The threshold percent is 50%. Meaning they have to secure at least that much to secure the seat.
• The examination marks will go into evaluation for the merit list for scholarships.

Once you clear the entrance examination and are eligible to move forward for admission, the students might have to submit the following documents;

• Marksheet, character, and proof certificate of SEE/ SLC
• Transcript, mark sheet and migration, and character certificate of 10+2 or any equivalent course
• Copy of citizenship
• Admit card for the entrance exam

Fee Structure

The fee structure of the BPT course depends upon various factors. One of which is the type of the institution providing the program. The private colleges are expensive when compared with the public campuses.

Besides this, the BPT course fees are almost similar in all the colleges. The estimated range is NPR 6,00,00 to NPR 8,00,000.

Note: The fee structure provided above is not an actual cost but an estimation only. Students are advised to contact the concerned administration to find out the correct price.

Scholarships

The Government of Nepal allocated a total of 140 seats for the BPT course. Among these 28 are separated for scholarships in which 55%(15) is allocated in the general category while the remaining 45% (13) is provided as per reservation system.

The table below provides the names of the institutions and the total and scholarship seats allocated in them for the Bachelor of Physiotherapy or BPT Course in Nepal. (Updated in 2023)

S.N	COLLEGE NAME	TOTAL SEATS	FOREIGN SEATS	PAYING SEATS	TOTAL SCHOLARSHIP	GENERAL SCHOLARSHIP	QUOTA SCHOLARSHIP
1	BIRAT MEDICAL COLLEGE, KU, PRIVATE	15	5	9	1	0	1
2	COLLEGE OF MEDICAL SCIENCES TEACHING HOSPITAL, KU, PRIVATE	20	10	6	4	2	2
3	KATHMANDU MEDICAL COLLEGE P. LTD, KU, PRIVATE	30	10	17	3	2	1
4	KU SCHOOL OF MEDICAL SCIENCES, KU, PRIVATE	40	13	23	4	2	2
5	NOBEL MEDICAL COLLEGE TEACHING HOSPITAL, KU, PRIVATE	15	5	9	1	1
6	SCHOOL OF HEALTH AND ALLIED SCIENCES (SHAS), POKHARA UNIVERSITY, PUBLIC	20	2	3	15	8	7
TOTAL		140	45	67	28	15	13