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CONTENTS

1. What’s Osteopathy?

2. What Osteopathy degrees can you study?

3. What do you need to get onto an Osteopathy degree?

4. What topics does an Osteopathy degree cover?

5. How will you be assessed?

6. Why study Osteopathy?

7. Are scholarships and bursaries available to students studying Osteopathy?

8. What do Osteopathy graduates earn?

9. What jobs can you get as a Osteopathy graduate?

10. What are the postgraduate opportunities?

11. Similar subjects to Osteopathy

12. Have any questions?

What’s Osteopathy?

Osteopathy is a way of diagnosing, treating and preventing health issues through physical manipulation, stretching and massage.

People often consult an osteopath for problems affecting the bones, muscles and joints. It might be pain associated with an acute condition like back or neck pain caused by an accident or more chronic conditions such as arthritis. In some case osteopathy is available on the National Health Service (NHS). Alternatively, people can self-refer and pay for treatment privately.

What Osteopathy degrees can you study?

Undergraduate osteopathy degrees on offer in the UK include:

• Osteopathy MOst
• Osteopathy BOst
• Osteopathy BSc

Options may include a professional placement as part of the course.

What do you need to get onto an Osteopathy degree?

Must have

Entry requirements will depend on the university, typically ranging from 104–140 UCAS tariff points. Qualifications may include:

• A Levels: ABB–BCC
• BTECs: DDD–DMM
• Scottish Highers: AABBB–BBBC (Advanced Highers: BBB–CCC)
• IB: 32–27

Good to have

• Studied biology and one other science along with psychology, physical education or sports at A Level (or equivalent)
• Work experience or shadowed an osteopath and/or experienced a treatment yourself
• Researched the subject via books or online using the NHS-run Health Careers website or professional bodies such as the Institute of Osteopathy and the General Osteopathic Council (GOC)

What topics does an Osteopathy degree cover?

Typical modules for courses in this subject include:

• Anatomy
• Technical practice
• Physiology
• Professional standards and ethics
• Nutrition, health and wellbeing
• Clinical diagnosis
• Business skills
• Practice management
• Complex cases
• Research
• Musculoskeletal diagnosis

How will you be assessed?

Depending on your modules, you could be assessed through:

• Practical placements
• Written coursework
• Presentations
• Case studies
• Essays
• Group projects
• Exams

Why study Osteopathy?

Career-specific skills:

• Skills and competences required as a registered osteopath
• Knowledge of human physiology, anatomy and systems and their abnormalities
• Skills in the physical treatment and rehabilitation of patients with musculoskeletal disorders
• Understanding of evidence-based practice

Transferable skills:

• Business and management skills
• Communication
• Interpersonal skills
• Problem solving
• Reflective and analytical reasoning
• Research
• Empathy
• Management

Professional accreditations:

• Degrees in osteopathy must be approved by the General Osteopathic Council (GOC), graduates will then be able to register with the GOC and work as an osteopath in the UK

Are scholarships and bursaries available to students studying an Osteopathy degree?

Some universities offer students specific scholarships, bursaries, or grants to encourage diversity so it’s worth seeing if you are eligible, how to apply and what it covers e.g., materials, tuition fees and/or living costs.

What do Osteopathy graduates earn?

A graduate osteopath might decide to practice within the NHS or in a private clinic. In the NHS, the entry salary is usually on Band 5, which is currently £28,407–£34,581. This could increase to approx. £55,000 depending on experience and leadership level.

In private practice, income will vary depending on location and type of business. The average income for an established self-employed osteopath is around £43,000.

Read more on .

What jobs can you get as an Osteopathy graduate?

A degree in Osteopathy is highly specialised and most graduates go on to become osteopaths in a hospital or private clinic environment. Further postgraduate training could help you become an advanced clinical practitioner in an area of interest like sports injuries or working with a particular client group like children or older people.

Another option might be to go into research or you could use your experience to help train student osteopaths.

What are the postgraduate opportunities?

Examples of postgraduate courses available at universities in the UK:

• Exercise as Medicine MSc
• Paediatric Exercise and Health MSc
• Specialist Paediatric Osteopathic Practice PGCert

Similar subjects to Osteopathy

Other subject areas that might appeal to you include:

• Biomedical Science
• Dietetics
• Health Studies
• Physiotherapy
• Podiatry
• Prosthetics and Orthotics
• Sports Science

Have any questions?

Get in touch with our experts by emailing ask@thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk.

We’ll be happy to hear from you!