Osteopathy

Osteopathy offers an exciting career where you’ll be able to use a variety of therapeutic approaches and interventions to meet the needs of patients. Become a skilled, autonomous practitioner with our four-year degree course at The London School of Osteopathy. It's accessible whether you're new to healthcare, or you wish to extend and enhance your current career.

The primary aim of the course is to provide structured learning opportunities to enable you to become a safe, capable, reflective osteopathic practitioner who is committed to ethical, evidence-based practice and lifelong learning.

The LSO courses are well established and are constantly updated to reflect advances in the profession. They contain exactly what you need to become an independent practicing osteopath. Your journey will incorporate basic and applied sciences, including anatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology, philosophy, psychology and sociology. Your osteopathic learning starts from day one, and a wide range of theories, models and approaches are taught throughout the course. Clinical relevance is always paramount, and is enhanced by integration in the clinic from the first year. Research is an integral part of any degree, and is particularly relevant to an emerging health profession. You’re encouraged to select a topic of personal interest which you’ll develop into a dissertation in the final stages of the course. Underpinning the academic learning are personal and professional skills such as communication, problem solving, analysis, critical reflection, and self-awareness. Business skills are also a core part of the curriculum.

Year one, core modules

Osteopathy 1 - Acquisition
Osteopathy 2 - Understanding
Anatomy and Physiology - Neuromusculoskeletal
Anatomy and Physiology - Visceral
Anatomy and Physiology - Head and Neck

Year two, core modules

Osteopathy 3 - Analysis
Professional Studies - Yr 3
Anatomy and Physiology - Neurology
Clinical Pathology

Year three, core modules

Osteopathy 4 - Evaluation
Professional Studies - Yr 4
Differential Diagnosis
Research and Criticality

Year four, core modules

Osteopathy 5 - Autonomy
Professional Studies - Yr 5
Portfolio - Yr 5
Major Project

Assessment requirements drive student motivation, effort and commitment in any course but especially those with a professional focus. The LSO assessment programme provides a balance between formative and summative assessment items reflecting the need to provide students with feedback about their grasp and eventual mastery of necessary theoretical knowledge, attitudinal aspects of professionalism and practical skills.

A wide range of forms of assessment are used throughout the programme to support the variety of learning outcomes to be measured (and also reflecting different strengths & learning styles within the student community). Continuous assessment in practical classes is used both formatively and summatively in the early stages of the course. Practical exams and vivas are held every year, with real patients involved in the final exams (as required by the GOsC). Video assignments, critiques, case studies, presentations, and portfolio activities all add to the body of evidence for student progression & achievement.

A research project is planned, conducted, written up and submitted in the final stages of the course.

A total of 1,200 hours of clinic exposure enable experiential learning to bring the theoretical class based sessions to life. Competence based tasks are embedded throughout this journey.