IntroductionEmpathy is an important concept in the interaction between the physiotherapist and the patient, and contributes to a better care of the patient. Empathy training in physiotherapy students must be taught by the universities from the first year of study because of the complex character of this attribute. However, any intervention must be preceded by a comprehensive empathy diagnosis. ObjectiveTo determine the levels of empathy and its components in physiotherapy students according to course and gender factors. Material and methodsExploratory and cross-sectional study conducted on a sample of 191 students. The empathy data was collected by applying the Jefferson Empathy Scale. The median, 1st and 3rd quartile, interquartile difference and confidence interval of the median were estimated. The possible differences in Empathy and its components were analysed using of non-parametric tests (Mood's median). ResultsThere were differences in empathy and in the compassionate care component in the course factor. The empathy decline in the compassionate component was observed. Empathy and its components did not differ by gender. ConclusionsThe differences found in empathy and in the compassionate care component, the absence of empathy differences in empathy between the genders, and observation of a decline in empathy only in the compassionate care component, were specific characteristics in the students examined. These represent a specific empathy diagnosis, and are the basis for developing an intervention strategy consistent with these results.