Physical Therapy Internships in Thessaloniki
Learn modern physical therapy techniques by interning alongside experienced local therapists in general hospitals and clinics. Physical Therapy interns can shadow and assist in a wide range of departments, learning about different specialties and treatments and experiencing real life therapies in action.
Internship Highlights:
- Gain sought-after practical skills and experience from local practitioners.
- Learn about modern physiotherapy practices and specialties.
- Develop confidence interacting with patients and clinical colleagues.
- Experience the popular attractions and lifestyle in Thessaloniki and wider Greece.
Type of host organizations:
- General hospitals
- Specialist private clinics
Internship details
This is a fantastic internship opportunity for physical therapy students wanting to add to their theoretical understanding by experiencing the application of therapy treatments in real life. Physical Therapy internships are available in hospitals and private clinics, where interns shadow and assist qualified physiotherapists in their daily duties.
In addition to these Physical Therapy internships in Thessaloniki, Intern Abroad HQ also offers Physical Therapy internships in Athens. Spaces are limited on both programs, so applicants are strongly encouraged to confirm participation in advance for their preferred internship location.
This is an in-country internship, with accommodation provided.
Interns can gain experience in a wide range of treatments and specialties, including physiotherapy in cardiovascular, clinical, electrophysiology, geriatric, kinesiology, neurological, orthopedic, pulmonary and rehabilitative disciplines. Interns can request placements focusing on specific areas within physical therapy. However, requested preferences are always subject to availability.
This internship is conducted in English, though some therapies may be conducted in the Greek language. In these instances, your supervisor will be able to debrief sessions afterwards, ensuring interns have full understanding of how treatments address patient needs.
In all cases, interns should expect that the first week of your experience will focus on settling in and gaining some introductory knowledge, as you will not “hit the ground running”. Rather, you should start with learning about the placement to gain an understanding of what you can build upon, develop, learn, and contribute. Ensure that you ask questions and provide feedback during the introductory period, so that your supervisor understands how you’re progressing. This will help them to better understand important details, such as how quickly you learn, what you find challenging, what you find interesting, etc.
Understand and expect that individual internship experiences vary, as the specific placement that you’re assigned will depend on review of your resume and your current level of studies and experience. Therefore, if you’re at a more introductory level, you should reasonably expect a more introductory internship. Likewise, if you’re interning for a shorter duration, you will have a different experience from someone who is interning for a longer duration. Placement preferences are considered but always subject to availability.
Typical Schedule
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8am-5pm, five days per week. Occasionally your supervisor may invite you to optionally observe a procedure during a weekend, should it be relevant to your interests and internship experience.
Career Benefits
Physical Therapy interns learn from a qualified and experienced supervisor, and can be involved in:
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Observing and assisting a range of physiotherapies.
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Contributing to treatment research being conducted by local professionals.
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Support and mentorship related to debriefing and reflecting on patient care plans.
Professional development opportunities:
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Build practical therapy skills to build on theoretical knowledge.
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Gain insight and experience related to physiotherapy practice operations.
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Observe physical therapy treatments being conducted by an experienced clinician.
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Gain practical skills and boost your employability, with guidance from Intern Abroad HQ’s Experiential Learning Curriculum to support your learning and cultural intelligence.
Greece photo gallery
Academic credit available for all internships
Gain course credit from your college or university and meet your academic requirements when completing an internship abroad or remote internship program with Intern Abroad HQ.
Learn about course creditProgram fees
It’s free to apply for this internship. Once we have reviewed your suitability and accepted you onto this program, you’ll need to pay a deposit of US$499 to confirm your place. The remaining balance of your Program Fee (less your initial US$499 deposit payment) will be due no less than 60 days before your internship start date.
Duration |
Program Fee (USD) |
|---|---|
| 2 weeks | $2,229 Equivalent to $159 /day |
| 3 weeks | $2,699 Equivalent to $128 /day |
| 4 weeks | $3,219 Equivalent to $114 /day |
| 5 weeks | $3,689 Equivalent to $105 /day |
| 6 weeks | $4,174 Equivalent to $99 /day |
| 8 weeks | $5,034 Equivalent to $89 /day |
| 10 weeks | $5,869 Equivalent to $83 /day |
| 12 weeks | $6,649 Equivalent to $79 /day |
- Airport pick-up
- Accommodation
- 24/7 in-country support
- Program orientation
- Dedicated support before, during, and after your internship
- In-country guidance for social and tourist activities
- Sourcing and securing your internship placement
- Personalization of your internship plan
- Coaching from your supervisor
- Documented portfolio of your experiential learnings
- Academic credit facilitation
- International reference letter
- Certificate of Internship Completion
- All meals
- All in-country transportation
- Visa (if required), flights, travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check
- Transfer back to the airport at the end of your internship program
- Personal spending money for snacks, drinks, public transport, laundry, and leisure activities during your free time.
- A deposit of $499 (approximately 499) is required to secure your internship
- Balance of your Program Fee is due 60 days before your internship start date.
- All payments attract a 5% transaction fee to cover international banking fees and currency charges.
- Terms and Conditions apply.
Activities and tourism
Hosted within Greek’s cultural center of Thessaloniki, you’ll experience a vibrant cultural and touristic city during your internship. National Geographic Magazine has previously named Thessaloniki as one of the top tourist destinations worldwide. As the second largest city in Greece, you can find that Thessaloniki has it all - a rich history, amazing food, shopping and an entertaining cultural scene. During free time, interns will have ample opportunity to explore local cafes, bakeries, restaurants and the bustling metropolis that is the port.
Thessaloniki was once an important metropolis and seaport during the Roman period, so there is no shortage of archeological sites. You’ll marvel over the Roman Agora, found in the center of town, as well as the Rotunda and Arch of Galerius. Grab yourself a strong Greek coffee and a famous custard filled bougatsa before exploring on foot with map in hand, or with one of many walking tours available around town. The history of the beautiful preserved Agios Demetrios church and the Byzantine Baths, both protected Unesco sites and not to be missed, while the herbs, spices and sweets of the Bezesteni Market are every food conisors dream!
Want to explore a little further afield? Thessaloniki’s ideal placement on the shore of the Aegean means that the Sporades, or Northern Aegean Islands are just a ferry ride away. Here interns can continue on with their exploration of the Greek island on conclusion of their internship.
Local coordinators are on hand to assist with the booking of safe and reliable activities at discounted prices, so be sure to ask them for advice about how to make the best arrangements to maximize your time and budget (you can do so once registered for your internship or during the orientation). Note that some excursions require a minimum participation of between two or four other people, so it’s wise to enquire in advance.
Arrival and Orientation
Internships in Thessaloniki begin every Monday. Exceptions may be made to this when start dates are shifted to avoid public holiday disruptions or closed when the program has already reached capacity. Note that there are typically less placements available during August, due to the summer vacation period in Greece. Interns may choose to spend a minimum of 2 weeks, up to a maximum of 12 weeks.
Airport pick up and accommodation are included in the Program Fee. The accommodation is covered from the Sunday night before the Monday start date - interns are required to arrive no later than the Sunday before their Monday start date, as all orientations are held on Mondays.
In order to receive the airport pick up service which is included in the Program Fee, interns are required to arrive on the Sunday before their Monday start date, between 9am and 6pm. An extra charge applies to any airport pickups outside this timeframe. The port of entry is the Thessaloniki Airport Makedonia (SKG). Upon arrival, interns will be met, greeted, and transferred to the accommodation.
If you are planning to spend time independently in Greece prior to your internship and will not require an international airport pick up, we can discuss alternative arrival logistics with you.
The last night of the accommodation is the Friday night of the final week, leaving interns free to depart on Saturday. Extra nights of accommodation can be arranged in advance, if requested, and are subject to availability.
Orientation covers important details for your internship, including introductions, information about culture, customs, rules, expectations, safety, language lessons, cultural excursions, and more. Your specific internship placement orientation will follow the general orientation, as you’ll be shown how to travel to and from your internship and be introduced to the team you’ll be joining.
Please note that all participants are advised not to book flights until they have first registered to confirm their internship placement.
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Accommodation and WiFi
Interns in Thessaloniki are accommodated in clean and comfortable, fully furnished apartments or selected hotel / hostel rooms. Bedding and furnishings are provided, as well as common areas such as lounge, kitchen and laundry facilities. Standard amenities include whiteware (i.e. washing machine, stovetop, fridge, microwave) and clean linen (i.e. bed sheets, pillows, towels). Accommodation includes 24Mbps internet / WiFi access.
In most cases, between two to six guests can be accommodated per apartment so interns should be prepared to share living arrangements. Each guest will have a single or double bed. Rooming arrangements are same-sex, unless specific requests are made to share mixed-gender accommodation. For private accommodation, alternative living arrangements can be requested and arranged in advance, for an additional “upgrade” fee.
Please note that Wildlife Conservation interns may have alternative accommodation logistics, which are outlined here.
Upon the confirmation of specific internship details for each participant, accommodation arrangements are made, taking into consideration the location of internship placements, to ensure that any commute time is as convenient as possible.
Please note that the accommodation pictured in the photo gallery of this webpage is provided as an example. The exact accommodation that you’re assigned may differ from the photos.
Meals
Internships on this program do not include meals, as affordable supermarkets are easily accessible. Greece has a thriving coffee culture which is delightful to partake in (there is also WiFi in almost all coffee shops and restaurants). Try Ellinikos (a favorite style of coffee) along with Freddo Espresso / Cappucino and Frappe.
For eating out, interns may budget approximately 3 - 5 Euro for a light breakfast (about US$5 - 7) and 5 - 10 Euro for a simple lunch (about US$5 - 12). There are ample dining options ranging from budget to high end. Greek cuisine offers a range of incredible dishes to experience, including well known classics such as Moussaka and Souvlaki. The Mediterranean diet features meat (cow, chicken, lamb), pasta, rice, pulses, vegetables, and a variety of fish and seafood. When in doubt, skip straight to dessert and order Galaktoboureko (with ice cream)!
Essential country information
| Capital | Athens |
| Population | 10.75 million |
| Languages | Greek |
| Currency | Euro (€ - EUR) |
| Time zone | UTC+02:00 |
Weather and climate:
With its Mediterranean climate, the summers in Greece are long, hot and dry and the winters are mild. The best time to visit Thessaloniki for the hot weather is from mid June to mid September. The hottest month is July, in which the temperature may peak around 92°F / 33°C. Heatwaves in Greece may occur but they are usually not prolonged (that coast moderates temperatures with coastal breezes). The cooler months are November through March. During this period, it rarely gets any colder than 32°F / 0°C. In Thessaloniki, February is the coldest month. Rainfall in Greece varies throughout the year, although the summer months are drier in comparison. December is usually the wettest month of the year. Outside of Thessaloniki, the climate of Greece remains primarily Mediterranean. However, due to its mountainous regions, there is a range of microclimates and local variations. Snow regularly falls in the high mountains.
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