Two months in Alicante: Clara’s Erasmus+ physiotherapy internship
What if your next clinical placement was in the Spanish sunshine? Clara, a physiotherapy student at CEERRF, took the leap thanks to the Erasmus+ program. She tells us about two months in Alicante — clinical discoveries, cultural immersion, and connections that last.
A private practice, a different way of working
From mid-December to mid-February, Clara joined Clinica de Fisioterapia Vicente Toledo, a private paediatric physiotherapy practice located in San Vicente del Raspeig, just a few kilometres from Alicante. She was supervised by José Vicente Toledo, a physiotherapist with extensive clinical experience.
From the very first days, she noticed a real difference compared to what she learns at CEERRF.
« Over there, physiotherapy practice relies heavily on machines — electrical currents, magnetic waves… At CEERRF, we are taught a lot of manual techniques. They are genuinely two different approaches, and it is really interesting to experience both. »
Comparing systems, questioning your own clinical reflexes, opening up to other methods: that is exactly what an Erasmus+ mobility offers. And it is also what makes this kind of experience stand out on a CV.
Adaptability: the real skill you build abroad
What Clara takes away most from this experience? Her ability to adapt — and she put it to the test every single day.
« I had to adapt daily to communicating in a foreign language — one that is neither my mother tongue nor my father’s — and at the same time adapt to a completely different organisational system. »
Communicating in Spanish with practitioners, understanding local habits, finding your footing in a new work environment: these everyday challenges build skills that no classroom can fully replicate. Adaptability, resourcefulness, self-confidence — all qualities that future employers value highly.
Connections that cross borders
Beyond the internship itself, Clara built strong bonds with the team on site — and that may be what she remembers most.
« I got along really well with the whole team. José Vicente Toledo and I even invited each other to physiotherapy events in our respective countries. »
That is Erasmus+ at its best: building a European professional network from the very start of your career, sharing practices, and creating bridges between different healthcare cultures. The values of openness and cooperation at the heart of the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE) come fully to life in moments like these.
Clara’s tips for students who are still on the fence
Clara is honest: the experience requires real preparation. Here is what she recommends :
Feeling inspired by Clara’s story? CEERRF supports you at every step of your Erasmus+ mobility, from application to your return. Get in touch with the International Relations team to find out more.