BCNO Group

BSc (Hons) Osteopathy

UCAS course code B200
Institution code B81
Duration

4 years

(with placements)
Course type

Full-time

Study location British College of Osteopathic Medicine, London (part of the BCNO Group)
The British College of Osteopathic Medicine (BCOM), part of the BCNO Group, is a higher education institution in London, with an international reputation for academic and research excellence in Osteopathy. BCOM is the perfect place to train to be an Osteopath, with its on-site teaching clinic and its fantastic location, making student life an incredible experience. BCOM is known for its educational excellence, friendliness and the approachability of staff who provide a high level of support, both pastoral and academic for their students. BCOM ensures graduates finish their degree as confident allied healthcare professionals, ready to embark on an exciting and rewarding career as an Osteopath.

Key features

  • Combining online learning and face to face teaching for those students who want to combine studying osteopathy with working or family commitments.
  • The BSc (Hons) programme is undergoing formal review by the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC) in order to achieve ‘recognised qualification’ status.
  • The course will run two evenings a week (6-9pm) and one Saturday a month (9am- 5.30pm), with additional hours needed for time in the teaching clinic, tutorials and self-directed study.
  • Graduates can register with the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC) and the General Council and Register of Naturopaths (GCRN) and launch straight into a career as a practising osteopath.

Course details

  • Year 1

  • The programme utilises a range of assessments. The assessments are designed to be stimulating and challenging, stretching the students' knowledge and practical skills. Assessments include essays, presentations, group work, reflective accounts, ISCE and clinical assessments either as individual students or group work.

    Core modules

    BCNO4001
    Technique Practice - Fundamentals and Biomechanics

    Introduces the principles, concepts, philosophy, and models of osteopathy from an evidence-informed perspective. Enables the development of skills needed for an osteopathic evaluation of body structure and function. Fundamental osteopathic manual technique skills and the underlying mechanisms of technique are established. Includes the concepts of biomechanics and its role in musculoskeletal health and disease.

    BCNO4002
    Professionalism and Clinical Integration 1

    An introduction to clinic through observation and practical skills. Students are familarised to GOsC fitness to practise requirements, professional standards and competencies within the UK. An introduction to sociology related to healthcare provides further context for patient and practitioner values and related expectations. Students are introduced to research methods, reflective practice and critical thinking.

    BCNO4004
    Anatomy 1

    The nature and structure of the connective tissues and the muscular system form the foundation of the module. The classification, names, markings, and position of each bone and the classification and structure of each joint in the human body are covered in detail.

    BCNO4005
    Anatomy 2

    The module covers the structures and features that comprise the nervous system in the human body. The module studies the nerves and how they integrate with other structures and cause pain.

    BCNO4006
    Physiology

    This module introduces students to the physiological organisation at the molecular, cellular, and tissue levels. Homeostasis and the genetic, physical, and biological factors underpinning disease are reviewed, including introducing the pathological principle of cellular adaptation to disease, autoimmunity reproduction, and infection.

  • Year 2

  • Core modules

    BCNO4003
    Nutrition, Health and Wellbeing

    Examines the utilisation of food on a cellular, tissue, and whole-body level. How chemical energy from food in the form of macro and micro-nutrients is converted via metabolic pathways. The requirement and use of macro and micro-nutrients in the maintenance of health. It also includes lifestyle changes in the maintenance of health and wellbeing. Role of other therapies promotion and prevention in health and wellbeing.

    BCNO5002
    Clinical Diagnosis, Pathology and Pharmacology

    The module covers the cellular basis of disease and injury, body defence, repair, and regeneration. The content overlaps with normal physiology to integrate structure, function, control, pathology, and clinical presentation of the major physiological systems. To understand the role of differential diagnosis of common presentations. Provide a general overview of common use drugs and potential adverse events

    BCNO5003
    Technique Practice II- Functional Applications

    Aims to critically align osteopathic concepts and models with established osteopathic evaluation skills to enable students to integrate core knowledge and develop responsible practices The student will build on their soft-tissue techniques. Self-awareness of practitioner and patient handling and communication skills will be elaborated, developing the process of autonomy in practice and working within defined parameters.

    BCNO5004
    Clinical Methods

    Practical knowledge of clinical methods and osteopathic tests and examinations required for osteopathic practice and diagnosis. Problem-based series of practically focused clinical case scenarios supported by clinical observations to enable students to integrate their knowledge, understanding, and technical skills to aid in diagnosing and clinical reasoning

    BCNO5005
    Musculoskeletal Diagnosis

    The module provides an understanding of orthopaedic and rheumatological conditions and introduces the basic concepts of medical imaging techniques such as X-ray, MRI, CT, and ultrasound.

  • Year 3

  • Core modules

    BCNO5006
    Clinical Practice 1

    This is a clinical practice module, the students manage patients under close supervision from tutors and develop their skills in case-history taking, examination, clinical reasoning, and treatment/management plans in partnership with patients.

    BCNO6004
    Technique Practice III - Applied Treatment

    Emphasis will be placed upon monitoring, critically evaluating, and integrating theoretical and practical applications within techniques for delivering safe and flexible patient care and management. Students will be assuming more responsibility for their actions as they progress towards autonomy. Aims to enhance established technical and clinical reasoning relating to patient evaluation, diagnosis, and techniques.

    BCNO5001
    Functional Nutrition

    Review of functional medicine matrix and revision of clinical imbalance pathways. Clinical nutrition topics, covering the major physiological systems and the nutritional aspects of these systems, along with common nutritional disorders and dietary treatment. How to undertake clinical case history for nutrition, patient compliance, and case histories

    BCNO6002
    Paediatrics

    The module covers paediatric osteopathy, including child safeguarding, emergency signs and symptoms and their management, pregnancy, labour and birth, premature babies, infant feeding, colic, and the unsettled infant, child development, examination of children, common childhood conditions, children’s oncology, paediatric medication, and osteopathic treatment.

  • Final year

  • Core modules

    BCNO6001
    Research Project

    The analytical and integrative skills required to produce a paper equal the standard for a BSc (Hons). The project will involve the formulation and testing of an experimental hypothesis and can be either quantitative or qualitative in nature it follows on from earlier modules at Level 4.

    BCNO6003
    Clinical Practice 2

    Students autonomously integrate knowledge, understanding, practical skills, and professional attributes within a real patient context. Students will demonstrate full responsibility for the care and management of patients within the clinic. This environment of clinical uncertainty enables students to critically apply multi-dimensional attributes to a range of patient presentations coupled with possible co-morbidities.

    BCNO6005
    Advanced Skills in Practice

    This module aims to provide practical leadership skills (mentorship, appraisal, feedback) for learners relevant to an osteopathic/healthcare setting. The module aims to also provide the practical skills of business management (marketing, résumé writing, HMRC, as examples)

    BCNO6006
    Psychology

    Introduction to behaviourism, cognitive and humanistic approaches. Students gain an understanding of personality, abnormal psychology, aspects of developmental and social psychology. Provides an overview of the main conditions and the relationship between psychological factors and disease. Taught from a clinical viewpoint to understand emotional, psychological problems and reactions experienced by patients.

The modules shown for this course are those currently being studied by our students, or are proposed new modules. Please note that programme structures and individual modules are subject to amendment from time to time as part of the University’s curriculum enrichment programme and in line with changes in the University’s policies and requirements.

Entry requirements

Contextual offers: Typically, the contextual offer for this course is 8 points below the advertised tariff. A contextual offer is an offer to study at university that takes into account individual circumstances that are beyond your control, and that can potentially impact your learning and your exam results, or your confidence in applying to university.

Check your eligibility for a contextual offer

Standard entry
Three A levels, including a science, with the grades B, B, C (112 UCAS Tariff points). In addition, we require five GCSEs passes including mathematics and English (at grades A-C). Other UK qualifications/ pathways that enable entry to the course include a recognised equivalent qualification e.g. BTEC, HND, science foundation course, science access course and Scottish Highers.
DBS and health statements
In addition to the above criteria, you will be required to complete Student Medical Disclosure (supported by a medical letter from the GP) as well as undertake the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS; formerly CRB) clearance prior to enrolling onto the Masters in Osteopathy course.
Interview
The interview forms an integral part of the selection process. Applicants who are unable to attend in person will be offered Skype interviews. Where possible, applicants are informed at the time of their interview if they have achieved a place on the course. Offers are subject to applicants providing a completed Confidential Criminal Record Self Declaration form and DBS clearance.
For further information please contact admissions at admissions.bcom@bcnogroup.ac.uk or call 020 7435 6464.

Fees, costs and funding

As this course is delivered by one of our partner colleges, please contact the college directly for information on fees and funding.

* UK Government announcement on tuition fees

On Monday 4 November 2024, the UK Government announced a proposal to increase tuition fees for home undergraduate students from £9,250 to £9,535 per annum from September 2025 onwards. The University of Plymouth intends to apply this new fee from September 2025. However, implementation of this increase will be subject to parliamentary procedure. This change applies to new students starting their studies in September 2025. For current and returning students, the University is reviewing fees and will update you as soon as possible.

How to apply

All applications for undergraduate courses are made through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service).
UCAS will ask for the information contained in the box at the top of this course page including the UCAS course code and the institution code.
To apply for this course and for more information about submitting an application including application deadline dates, please visit the UCAS website.

Our partnership with BCNO Group

The University of Plymouth has developed partnerships with institutions around the world with the sole purpose of making higher education more accessible to those people who need something just a little different.

Our Academic Partnerships enable students to enrol for a degree at a partnership institution closer to home, or engage in distance learning – even when they’re in the middle of the ocean. They are there for those people looking to return to education, or enhance their professional development. Full- or part-time; foundation degree to masters-level – we cater for a huge variety of needs and aspirations.

Many of our partners offer specialist degrees, unique facilities, and smaller class sizes at a competitive price. And as a student of two institutions, you get the best of both worlds; a supportive learning environment as part of a close-knit community, and a university-level qualification awarded by the University of Plymouth. You’ll enjoy not only the facilities and services your partnership institution provides, but also all of the additional support and resources you need from us, and you’ll automatically become a member of our Students’ Union, too.

We are continuing to grow the number of partner institutions and expand our academic community to new locations around the UK and overseas. Why not visit the Academic Partnerships page on our website for a full list of partners and for more details on studying with us?

One of our partners delivers this particular course – so please visit their website for full course details, entry requirements, tuition fees and information on what student life is like there. 

Open days

Partner college open days

This course is run at one of our partner colleges. Open days are held at the college and more details of these can be found on the college website. You'll find contact details below, on this page.

University of Plymouth open days

You are also very welcome to attend a University of Plymouth open day, to get a flavour of the courses you can progress to from a partner college. There will however be limited information on this specific course and college.