ESSA is the pioneer institution in Portugal for higher education in Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy. Since it was the first of its kind in the country, most of the current best physiotherapists in Portugal studied there, and most of the other schools that came afterward were founded by ESSA alumni.
Although the school’s age shows a bit in its building, you are given all the necessary conditions for the entirety of your studies, and never have I once felt that I was missing out due to lack of a specific material. Moreover, ESSA is integrated into the CMRA (Alcoitão’s Rehabilitation Center), one of the best, if not the best rehabilitation center in Portugal, which is a real privilege to us students, since we can have many practical and real-world classes integrated within the center.
Of course, the second main reason for ESSA being #1 is its school faculty. The quality of all professors is top-notch, as most of them are still working in a clinical context, besides teaching. The student-professor relationship is amazing and allows for a closer way of learning, as they are truly there to help you achieve your goals. Moreover, another deciding factor as to why ESSA is worth your consideration is the ability to participate in several internships since the very beginning of your studies. By the time you finish your degree, you will have accumulated approximately 35 weeks’ worth of internships within all three areas of physiotherapy (musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, and respiratory).
Location wise, for students who enjoy the beach, it’s amazing, since you’re 10 minutes away (by bus) from Estoril’s beaches. However, if you’re living in Lisbon, depending on where exactly you live, you should take into consideration a one-way 30-minute car trip on average. The student life is decent, although ESSA suffers for not being closer to the rest of Lisbon’s universities nearby the city center. For that reason, don’t expect the best university parties in the country. Accommodation-wise, I believe there are plenty of options around the school’s area, even though ESSA does not have its own student residence. Finally, in terms of internationality, ESSA encourages its students to study abroad and offers the possibility the participate in an exchange semester during the 2nd semester of the 4th year.
All things considered, ESSA is definitely one of the best choices, if not the best, if you want to become a Physiotherapist in Portugal!