Master of Osteopathy (M.Ost) 4 year undergraduate full-time degree

The Master of Osteopathy (M.Ost) degree is validated by our partner university, University of Plymouth, and is fully accredited by the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC) with ‘recognised qualification’ status in accordance with the Osteopaths Act 1993.

The course is divided into Pre-Clinical and Clinical years.

Pre Clinical (Years 1 and 2)

The pre-clinical modules provide basic science knowledge and practical skills for clinical practice. Emphasis is on anatomy, physiology, pathology, medical diagnosis, nutrition, philosophy of osteopathy and naturopathy and basic osteopathic and soft tissue techniques.

Clinical years (Years 3 and 4)

Years 3 and 4 incorporate a more problem based approach using clinical based situations and patients. BCOM has a busy teaching clinic which allows BCOM students to see in excess of the 50 new patients currently recommended by the QAA Benchmark statement on Osteopathy.

Students attend three practical lectures per week throughout the four years and start attending BCOM’s out-patient teaching clinic from Year 2.

BCOM, due to the clinical component operates over 51 weeks per year. Students are assessed via a variety of methods: coursework, examinations, presentations, vivas, OSCE, practical and clinical assessments.

In Year 4 students submit their research project as a journal ready research paper.

The Master of Osteopathy programme specification can be found here

The Master of Osteopathy (M.Ost) degree is validated by our partner university, University of Plymouth, and is fully accredited by the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC) with ‘recognised qualification’ status in accordance with the Osteopaths Act 1993.

For more detailed information about the content of the modules, assessment information and the delivery of this content click here.

The Master of Osteopathy programme specification can be found here

The standard academic profile is:

112 UCAS Tariff points 

UCAS Tariff Calculator

Mature Students
Mature students with previous degrees (2.1 or above) or other educational pathways will be considered on an individual basis depending on previous qualifications.

International Students
International students who possess A level equivalent qualifications are eligible to apply. Where necessary the applicant must possess a ‘Use of English Qualification’ at an IELTS level >6.5 or equivalent.
Exceptions for International Students

DBS & Health Statement
Due to the nature of the course all applicants will be required to complete a Medical Disclosure (supported by a medical letter from their GP) and undertake a Disclosure and barring Service (formerly CRB) clearance prior to enrolling onto the M.Ost course. Further information

Step 1:

Apply through UCAS– an electronic online application system available at www.ucas.com.  The application fee is £22 for a single choice, or £26.50 for more than one choice. ​This will enable you to apply to up to 5 institutions simultaneously. If you apply only to the BCOM (i.e. a single application) the fee is reduced to £22.

BCOM Institution code: B81

Masters in Osteopathy (M.Ost) course code: B312

UCAS will electronically send your application to us for consideration.

Applicants are encouraged to submit their application by 26th January although we will accept applications until 30th June (subject to availability). After that date, please contact Admissions

Step 2: Application Review

All applications are considered individually and with flexibility. When considering your application, we look at the content of your personal statement, as well as your academic profile and reference. Decisions are based on grades (achieved or predicted), personal statements and references. For UCAS guidance on your personal statement please follow this link, and for UCAS guidance on your references, please follow this link.

Successful applicants will be invited to attend an interview via Microsoft Teams (interview times are flexible and can be arranged to fit in with you).

For full details of our selection criteria read our Admissions Policy.

Step 3: Interview

The interview will last approximately 30 minutes and is fairly informal. Normally, there will be 2 people interviewing you. Interviews are also an opportunity for you to ask us questions.

At interview, we will want to know why you want to be an osteopath and what skills you think you have that may be relevant. We may also ask about any work experience you have gained. We may ask you questions about the content of your personal statement.

We may ask you to provide documentary evidence of the qualifications you have listed on your UCAS form – either prior or following the interview.

Step 4: Decisions and Offers

Usually, interview outcomes are conveyed to you via UCAS within 5 working days of your interview.

Successful applicants will receive a formal offer letter by email following their interview from BCOM, detailing either a conditional offer or an unconditional offer of acceptance. An unconditional offer means you do not have to do anything before you start the course. If you receive a conditional offer then the offer conditions have to be met before the end of August. Offer conditions are usually linked to qualification, so we may ask that you obtain specific grades in qualifications such as A-Levels, BTEC qualification or the Baccalaureate. You can either accept or decline the BCOM offer. UCAS will give you a date by which you have to make your decision.

Step 5: Offer accepted

If you accept our offer – Welcome to BCOM! You have made a great decision! Congratulations – you have just taken the first step towards your exciting career as an osteopath.

From around May you will be given further information about accommodation and starting the course.

International Students

International students coming to the UK with a Student visa must be able to support themselves for the entire length of their stay in the UK; this includes fees and living expenses. To check how to apply for a Student visa click here.

If you are interested in studying the Masters in Osteopathy at BCOM and need a Student visa, you are strongly advised to read the information in the links below.

• Information for prospective students
• Applying for a Student Visa 
• Guidance for studying in the UK (UKCISA)
• Check if you need a UK visa
• Knowledge of English
• Tuberculosis tests for visa applicants
• Immigration health surcharge

All nationals from outside of Europe coming to live in the UK for longer than six months will be required to pay a health surcharge.

If you have an UNCONDITIONAL place with us and you have decided to accept the offer, please email the Admissions Team with your full name and UCAS ID number to request your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). A CAS is a very important electronic document that you will need to request before you can apply for your student visa.  

Please note the BCNO Group is committed to ensuring that courses run as advertised; however, if a minimum number of students is not reached, courses may be changed, rescheduled, or cancelled. Students will be notified of any changes as soon as possible. In most cases, the approval of courses usually lasts for five years, from the point of validation until the point of periodic review of the course. During this period, a course may be modified to enhance provision and ensure that it is compliant with accreditation bodies or partners to meet quality standards. As part of this process current students will be consulted on any proposed change and current and prospective students will be notified of any change.

Tuition Fees*

Masters in Osteopathy
2023/24 Academic Year
Home students £9,250 per annum
EU/International students £11,000 per annum

*Please note that fees are reviewed on an annual basis. Continuing students may receive an annual increase in line with an appropriate inflationary measure (within the appropriate maximum fee cap). A small increase linked to inflation may be added each subsequent year of your studies.

BCOM’s M.Ost degree is validated by the Plymouth University, through this partnership students can apply for tuition fee funding for the course.

Duration: 4 Years
Attendance: Full-time*

Students have lectures/practial classes from 9am - 5/6pm,  Monday to Friday with extended evening clinic hours in Years 3 and 4. Students are generally timetabled to attend online/in person lectures, practical classes or clinic up to five days each week. An example timetable for the first year can be found here.

*Please note that in the Year 3, students spend approximately nine hours a week in Clinic for six weeks of the holiday period (one week in December, two weeks in April and three weeks in the summer holidays). Please note that in Year 4, students spend approximately 24 hours each week in Clinic for six weeks of the holiday period (one week in December, two weeks in April and three weeks in the summer holidays).

In addition to the annual course tuition fees, there are further requirements and costs for students on the Masters in Osteopathy course.

Additional Costs

• Enhanced DBS check
  £51.60 (From 1 July 2021)
• Clinic coat (approx. £25)
• Clinic equipment (approx. £200 for complete kit)
• Massage oil (approx. £10)
• Flexible spine (£40 deposit, refunded in Year 2)
• Graduation ceremony (approx. £60)
  Guest tickets £10 each

All costs are indicative.

BCOM runs a bridging course prior to the start of each academic year.

The course covers the basic chemistry and biology to aid the new student in their studies at BCOM.

The bridging course runs over two weeks and is open to all students who have accepted BCOM’s offer of a place on the Masters in Osteopathy (M.Ost). For some students their offer is conditional to attending and passing the course.

The course consists of one week of chemistry covering topics such as:

• Chemical bonds
• Molecular forces
• Macromolecules

The second week covers biology including topics such as:

• DNA
• RNA
• Proteins
• Metabolic pathways

The course is free to students who have accepted BCOM's offer of a place on the M.Ost course.