Osteopathy M.Ost/ B.Ost

• Delivered by a collaborative partner The College of Osteopaths – an osteopathic education institution that has been involved in the training of osteopaths since 1948.

• Intended to lead to professional registration with the General Osteopathic Council

• Subject to validation by Staffordshire University and RQ accreditation (Recognised Qualification) by the General Osteopathic Council.

• Fully part-time in all years of the programme to enable students to maintain a job, and income, throughout.

• 5 or 5.5 years duration, 18 weekends per academic year plus home study and a total of 1200 hours of supervised clinical experience.

• Clinic-based learning, with genuine patients, right from the start of Year 1.

• Modular content with a strong business/professional practice strand, and the opportunity to include specialist modules such as cranial and visceral osteopathy

• Ideal for mature learners who are seeking a complete change of career, or a development in an existing health-related job: as part of the College’s commitment to widening access to the profession, there is no upper age limit, and formal academic qualifications are not always essential if an applicant has a strong track record of relevant work and study experience

• Strong appeal to the school or college leaver who would like the chance to start a job whilst studying to offset course fees and prepare for full employment: you will need 2 ‘A’ Levels, a mature approach to learning and a high standard of personal conduct 

Read Osteopathy course information (PDF, file size: 322.47KB)

Osteopaths are professional, autonomous, independent, primary health care practitioners.  Osteopaths use their diagnostic skills and hands-on techniques to find and redress imbalances and restrictions in the structure of the body. In particular, the osteopath uses a highly developed sense of touch, called palpation, to determine conditions and identify the body's points of weakness or excessive strain.

It is based on a particular philosophy and a series of principles that recognise the capacity of the body to heal itself given the right conditions. The osteopath tries to promote these conditions by their own interventions reinforced by guidance on diet, exercise, lifestyle and other factors.

The General Osteopathic Council regulates the practice of osteopathy in the United Kingdom.  By law osteopaths must be registered in order to use the title ‘osteopath’.

Samuel Morris Graduate 2010 - "I would never have been able to train in osteopathy without the part-time option. The programme in Staffordshire is very flexible and allowed me to work around my previous career in television production, and my family commitments. As soon as I qualified I walked straight into a job as an osteopath, and I’m involved in lecturing too."

Emmanuel Gadoud Graduate 2010 - "One of the features of the College's programme that I really like is that first year students are introduced to clinic-based learning right from the start of year one. I don't think this happens at any other osteopathic institution in the UK, and it really helped me to be exposed to osteopathic practice so early in my training.  In addition to the teaching clinic in Stoke-on-Trent, students have the option to spend some time with a local osteopath too, which can help with job opportunities later."

Diana Blagoeva 5th Year Student - "As a student in my final year with the College of Osteopaths, I feel as though I have come a long way since my days as a business analyst. From an early stage the course actively encourages interaction with patients within a clinical setting, and the stimulating syllabus promotes a close relationship between tutors and students alike. I would highly recommend the course to any would-be osteopaths out there!"

This is a complex and challenging undergraduate Masters degree programme that involves academic studies, research work, practical lectures, self-directed learning, clinic-based experience and peer-led sessions. There are a variety of assessment formats designed to allow students with different capabilities to shine, for example, model-making, portfolio work, presentations, practical demonstrations of techniques on real and mock patients, essays and exam papers.  Each module must be passed before the student can proceed fully to the next level.

Teaching takes place on the University’s Stoke-on-Trent campus on 18 weekends spread throughout each year.  In addition the clinic-based learning is accrued at the teaching clinic at the North Staffordshire Medical Institute, Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent.  Students have flexibility as to when they book to attend the clinic which is open 4 days per week including two evenings.  The College of Osteopaths runs other teaching clinics in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire and in Marylebone, central London – both of which the Staffordshire students are welcome to attend. The number of compulsory clinic hours increases in each year of the programme, starting at 100 in Year 1 and growing to 350 in the final year.  The clinic offers osteopathic assessment and treatment to paying members of the public, and students learn under the close supervision of experienced osteopath tutors.

Once qualified and registered with the General Osteopathic Council there are a number of different options for the practising osteopath.  Some wish to provide a specialist service to professional sports teams or elite athletes, others find work in multidisciplinary practices or within the NHS or within corporate organisations; most prefer to remain self-employed, running their own business and working flexible hours to fit in around family life.

The curriculum moves from Level 4 learning in the first year, to Level 6 & 7 (Masters) in Year 4/5 via modules carrying 15 to 30 credits each.  There are four threads that run through the whole programme: Clinical Osteopathy; Osteopathic Theory and Practice; Health Function and Dysfunction; Reflection, Evidence and Professional Skills.

The curriculum is carefully designed to make sure that all students are competent in all of the professional capabilities set out by the General Osteopathic Council in its document Standards 2000.

You will learn all about the human body, how it moves, the anatomy and physiology of all the body systems, how to identify dysfunction and disease, simple and advanced techniques to articulate and manipulate soft tissues and joints, case-history taking, differential diagnosis, patient management plans, critical thinking, research skills and ethical considerations.  In additional you will learn how to set up and maintain a safe and successful osteopathic practice, and how to relate to other healthcare professionals.

For more information about Osteopathy please contact: