Course summary

The University College of Osteopathy has been a leading provider of osteopathic education for over 100 years. We are currently the only Osteopathic Educational Institution in the UK to hold University College title and with the power to award our own degrees. Our integrated M.Ost degree is delivered over four years on a full-time basis, and equips students with the underpinning knowledge, practical skills and clinical experience to become highly competent patient-centred practitioners. On successful completion, students are able to register with the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC) and begin professional practice as an Osteopath. As part of the course, all students typically complete a minimum of 1,000 clinical hours at our central London teaching clinic which serves a diverse range of patients. The UCO Clinic offers our student osteopaths an opportunity to work with patients from all walks of life, including babies and children, expectant mothers, older patients, NHS patients, people living with HIV, and patients with sports injuries. Students are often taught in small groups to ensure they benefit from staff expertise – typically, practical classes have a ratio of one tutor to every twelve students, while in clinic there is one tutor to every four students. We support an evidence-informed approach to our teaching, learning and patient care, and have an active research department who are regularly published in journals and invited to speak at conferences around the world. Our graduates make up approximately 41% of registered and practicing osteopaths in the UK+, working at the forefront of the profession in a number of different fields. 90% of UCO graduates are in employment six months after graduating.++ UCO alumni work across a range of areas, including working with professional sports people such as the British Cycling and GB Olympic teams; collaborating with humanitarian organisations and providing osteopathy to new regions around the world; leading developments in osteopathic education and research; and occupying significant positions within the osteopathic and wider healthcare community. Based in London, the UCO combines the benefits of studying in a big city with a small and friendly learning community. Our student population is diverse, from college leavers to mature learners, and we attract students from across the UK, Europe and further afield. There is lots of interaction between year groups both in clinic and socially, and our more experienced students provide a fantastic informal support network for those new to the UCO. Our Student Support team are available to support students during their time with us, and our alumni network provides ongoing mentoring, advice and opportunities to our graduates as they embark on their professional careers. +General Osteopathic Council Register 2019 ++ HESA Graduate Outcomes Survey 2017-8 Open Data