prospectus
CONTACT US
The British School of Osteopathy
275 Borough High Street
London SE1 1JE
Tel: +44 (0)20 7407 0222
Fax: +44 (0)20 7089 5300
Email: info@bso.ac.uk
Web: www.bso.ac.uk
Student admissions
Tel: +44 (0)20 7089 5316
Email: admissions@bso.ac.uk
Postgraduate courses
and CPD enquiries
Tel: +44 (0)20 7089 5315
Email: g.arnold@bso.ac.uk
Clinic
98 –118 Southwark Bridge Road
London SE1 0BQ
Tel: +44 (0)20 7089 5360
Email: clinicappointments@bso.ac.uk
Research team contacts
Steven Vogel, Vice Principal
(Research and Quality)
Tel: +44 (0)7089 5331
Email: s.vogel@bso.ac.uk
For more information about
the University of Bedfordshire
Tel: +44 (0)1234 400 400
Web: www.beds.ac.uk
THE BSO: YOUR FIRST STEP TO A CAREER IN OSTEOPATHY

Osteopathy is an exciting and rewarding career choice.

Osteopaths work in all walks of life – with sportspeople, dancers and performers, with
children, working people, older people, expectant mothers and many other groups. They
make important health care contributions to the communities where they work, helping
to alleviate a wide range of conditions.

The British School of Osteopathy (BSO) is Europe’s largest and oldest school of osteopathy,
based in the centre of London.

We are respected worldwide for the development and provision of first-class osteopathic
education, research and resources. We equip growing numbers of osteopaths from an
ever-widening variety of backgrounds to offer their patients top-quality health care and “The BSO seemed to tick all the boxes for me. Every
to lead their profession.
osteopath I spoke to praised the BSO and told me
At the BSO, we support student osteopaths from the moment they join us. We offer about its great reputation.”
mentoring and guidance to our graduates as they take their first steps into their new career
and we provide qualified osteopaths with the continuing professional development training Hannah Lewis, BSO student
they need to succeed in today’s dynamic health care arena.
CONTENTS

02 WELCOME
04 WHAT IS OSTEOPATHY?
05 OSTEOPATHY AS A CAREER
09 THE BRITISH SCHOOL OF OSTEOPATHY
12 UNDERGRADUATE STUDY AT THE BSO
21 TEACHING AND LEARNING
25 STUDENT SUPPORT
27 THE BSO’S CLINICS
35 TAKING A BREAK FROM YOUR STUDIES
39 ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
40 HOW TO APPLY
41 OPEN DAYS, FEES AND BURSARIES
42 SUPPORT FOR GRADUATES
46 POSTGRADUATE COURSES
48 CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
49 BSO RESEARCH
51 HOW TO FIND US
BACK COVER CONTACT DETAILS
 The British School of Osteopathy’s commitment to its students and its patients
has always been second to none.
BSO graduates are soundly prepared for their professional lives, bringing relief from pain and
disability to tens of thousands of patients each year throughout the United Kingdom and,
increasingly, across the world. Research carried out at the School is making an important
contribution to the knowledge base of osteopathy.

As Patron of the BSO, I would like to congratulate it for continuing to develop and deliver
innovative osteopathic educational programmes to meet changing health care needs, and
to advance osteopathy as an internationally recognised primary health care profession.

HRH The Princess Royal Patron of the British School of Osteopathy

2
WELCOME FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Since 1917 the British School of Osteopathy (BSO) has led the way in creating
the best possible programmes to help you as a student prepare for the rewards,
challenges and demands of practice life, equipping you to offer first-class
osteopathic care to your future patients.
We pride ourselves on being innovative. In April 2008 the BSO opened a new £5 million
state-of-the-art clinic. It is the finest of its kind in Europe and will be at the cutting edge of
modern osteopathic clinical education. It is where you will undertake your clinical training while
studying on our new integrated Master of Osteopathy (M.Ost) degree programme. This course
has been developed to reflect the latest research and best practice in clinical care and technique.

At the BSO we believe that the best possible testimonials for what we do come from our
students, whom we are proud to see joining us from an ever-widening variety of backgrounds.
Throughout this prospectus you will be hearing from BSO students and graduates first-hand.

Our prospectus gives details of foundation, undergraduate, postgraduate and continuing

professional development courses. It also gives the latest news from the BSO’s pioneering
research department. This underlines our commitment to providing an excellent learning
environment for our students and first-class training and support to osteopathy as a profession,
which now has practitioners in 50 countries worldwide.

I look forward to welcoming you to the BSO as a student.

Charles Hunt BSO Principal & Chief Executive

3
 WHAT IS OSTEOPATHY?

Osteopathy is a primary healthcare system, complementary to other

medical practices.
It is suitable for almost anyone and can contribute to the treatment and management of
a wide range of conditions. Osteopaths primarily work through the neuro-musculo-skeletal
system, mostly on muscles and joints, using holistic and patient-centred approaches.

A core principle behind osteopathy is the idea that the body is an integrated and indivisible
whole, and contains self-healing mechanisms that can be utilised as part of the treatment.
No part of the body works, or can be considered, in isolation. Relevant psychological and
social factors also form part of the process of patient diagnosis.

The key tools for osteopathic diagnosis include listening to the patient’s history, examining
muscles and joints and observing movements. X-rays, scans and other clinical investigations
are also used if required. A wide range of gentle, non-invasive manual techniques such as
deep tissue massage, joint articulation and manipulation are applied therapeutically.

4
OSTEOPATHY AS A CAREER

BSO-trained osteopaths are highly-respected in osteopathy, the wider health

care community and by the general public. Although most BSO graduates work
in private practice, there are now opportunities to work within the NHS and
other areas of health care. Many BSO graduates go on to set up practices of
their own.
In the United Kingdom, only graduates from a degree course that has Recognised
Qualification (RQ) status are permitted by law to practise as osteopaths. RQ status is
awarded by UK osteopathy’s regulatory body, the General Osteopathic Council.

The majority of BSO graduates are employed as osteopaths within six months of graduation.

“I chose osteopathy because it is a

profession that allows me to help
other people who are in pain.”

STEPHEN HUDSON had a very successful first career as a director of an international

telecommunications company. However, he found himself enjoying his chosen career
path less and less.

“I jumped at the opportunity to take redundancy,” explains Stephen, who is from Birkenhead. “I chose
osteopathy because it is a profession that allows me to help other people who are in pain.”
Stephen graduated recently from the BSO, and has started his own practice four days a week. He is
also working part-time as an associate in another practice.
“By setting up in practice myself, it gives me control over my own destiny,” says Stephen. “This wasn’t
possible in my previous career.”
“I hope you have as fantastic a time at the BSO as I did. The course is tough, but nothing worth doing is
easy – you will be responsible for your patients’ health and wellbeing, so it is important that you know
your stuff. The rewards are incredible. When your patients return and say things like: ‘I don't know what
you did, but my pain is much less and I can do so much more’ you will feel on top of the world”.

5
 THE BSO: WIDENING PARTICIPATION IN OSTEOPATHY

The BSO is proud of its work to enable students from a wide variety of
backgrounds to study osteopathy.

Entry to BSO study is on merit. Working as an osteopath will require a variety of skills
including academic ability in science, good communication skills, the ability to problem-
solve, dexterity and stamina. We are looking for tomorrow’s high achievers, but we know
that some students need specific support to unlock their full potential.
● Our one-year, part-time Access course allows students without ‘traditional’ qualifications
such as GCSEs or A levels to gain a recognised entry qualification for our Master of
Osteopathy (M.Ost) degree course. (See page 13)
● We offer bursaries for students with limited financial means. (See page 41)
● Roughly a quarter of all BSO students choose our Mixed Mode Pathway, which offers you
the opportunity to begin your M.Ost studies on a part time basis. It is particularly suitable
for people looking for a change of career or needing to balance home, work and study in
any combination, as it combines attendance on weekends throughout the year with clinic
visits and self study. (See page 16)
● The BSO’s M.Ost degree course is validated by the University of Bedfordshire (shortlisted
for the Times Higher Education University of the Year 2007 award), which has allowed
students access to Government-funded osteopathic education. (See page 41)
● For potential M.Ost students who have proven academic achievement but who lack a
solid grounding in the sciences, we now offer an Introduction to Osteopathic Sciences
course. (See page 14)

6
 THE BSO: HELPING YOU SUCCEED

“I had no academic confidence before I came

to study at the BSO. They drew the best out
of me and I exceeded all my expectations.”

DONNA CLIFT-WILLIAMS, an ex-professional dancer and a mother of two young children,

was working as a fitness instructor when she first considered osteopathy as a career.

“I wanted to do something that involved the body and health,” she explains. “I also wanted an academic
qualification. My own osteopath recommended that I study at the BSO – it’s the most recognised
osteopathy teaching school.”
Donna began by taking the BSO’s one-year Access course, designed for students who want a career in
osteopathy but who may not have all the necessary qualifications to study immediately for the
degree. Many Access students work during the week so the course is delivered at the BSO on Friday
evenings and Saturdays during term time.
She then took her degree via the BSO’s Mixed Mode pathway: three years of mixed part-time and
on-site learning followed by two years of full-time study.
“The BSO offered me flexible study, which was very important,” says Donna. “The teaching staff were
approachable and always ready to give me individual time and help when I needed it.”
Donna was thrilled to graduate with distinction, and to win an award for her individual enquiry
presentation, now due to be published. She has since gone from strength to strength, setting up
her own private osteopathy clinic. She now works as a BSO Practical Osteopathic Skills Lecturer,
is a member of the BSO’s research ethics committee, and is planning to start a BSO professional
doctorate in osteopathy.
“I hadn’t realised I was capable of that level of achievement,” she says. “The BSO has encouraged and
supported me throughout.”

7
8
THE BSO: A PROUD HISTORY

The British School of Osteopathy (BSO) was founded in 1917 by Dr. John Martin
Littlejohn who was a student of Andrew Taylor Still, the founder of osteopathy.
The first BSO graduates emerged in 1925.

After the General Council and Register of Osteopaths was formed in 1936, the BSO
became, in 1938, the first osteopathic educational establishment to gain accreditation.

In 1963 the BSO became a registered charity, educating osteopaths, treating patients and
promoting osteopathic research.

Moving closer to the present day, in 1984 the BSO was delighted that HRH The Princess Royal
became Patron of the BSO. She has given the School her highly-valued support ever since.

In 2000, the BSO became one of the first schools to gain accreditation from the newly-
formed regulatory body for the profession, the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC), and
in the same year it began teaching a Bachelor of Osteopathy degree, the first in the UK.

Clockwise from top left: The Children’s Clinic in the 1950s; John Martin Littlejohn, founder of
the BSO; Shilton Webster-Jones, former Principal, teaching; students undertaking practical
work in basic sciences; in the classroom; student entertainment 1950s style.

9
 THE BSO: A WORLD-LEADING FUTURE

The BSO maintains its international reputation for academic excellence and
postgraduate study, and is regularly asked to advise overseas osteopathy
schools as they devise their own teaching programmes.

In February 2008 the BSO and the Osteopathic International Alliance welcomed 310
delegates from over 20 countries to the Osteopathic learning and practice – a global future
conference in central London. This was the second international conference on osteopathic
education organised by the BSO, and brought together osteopaths, educators and health
professionals to advance osteopathic education and practice. It was part of a celebration
of osteopathic practice hosted by the GOsC to mark the tenth anniversary of statutory
recognition of osteopathy in the UK.

The clinical centre of the British School of Osteopathy (BSO) moved on 1 April 2008 to
a state-of-the-art new home in Southwark. This is Europe’s largest osteopathic clinic,
where treatment is available to the public in 34 modern, climate-controlled treatment
rooms. It is just a few minutes’ walk from the BSO’s existing premises on Borough High
Street, where teaching and research will continue to be centred. The move was part of the
BSO’s planned growth to accommodate the growing numbers of osteopaths gaining their
education with the BSO.

10
 UNDERGRADUATE STUDY AT THE BSO

The following pages give information about our:

● Access course
● Introduction to Osteopathic Sciences course
● Master of Osteopathy (M.Ost) degree
If you need any further information, our admissions team will be pleased to help you with
all aspects of BSO study and the BSO’s application process. They can be contacted on:
+44 (0)20 7089 5316 or admissions@bso.ac.uk You may also wish to visit the BSO website:
www.bso.ac.uk

“What I value most about the BSO is its dedicated teaching staff, its friendly students and its
excellent learning environment. The support offered to students, and the BSO’s library are also
both really good.” Patrick Morgan, BSO student

12
ACCESS COURSE

The BSO’s Access to Higher Education diploma (Osteopathic Sciences and

Health Care) course is designed for students who would like to take up a career
in osteopathy but may not have all the necessary qualifications to study for the
degree.
This one year course leads to a nationally-recognised award. Successful students may join
the BSO’s M.Ost degree programme directly, without any further top-up study. This course
prepares you for the M.Ost, but you will also be eligible for other first degrees.

Many Access students work during the week so the course is delivered at the BSO on Friday
evenings and Saturdays during term time. You will also spend several hours each week on
assignments in private study, with full access to all the BSO’s facilities, including the library.

There is strong emphasis on the biological and physical sciences, plus an introduction
to sociology and psychology. A professional studies unit looks at life as a professional
osteopath. Units on mathematics, IT, communication and study skills ensure you have a
sound basis for further study. You will also spend time observing in the BSO’s clinical centre.

“The BSO degree is a very tough and focused

course but it is incredibly rewarding.”

MANMOHAN BIRDI had always been interested in a career in osteopathy, but had been working
in very different fields – IT and retail. He didn’t have an A level in biology, so he took
the BSO’s Access course.

“It really helped me get to grips with what the degree course was really about,” explains Manmohan,
who then went straight into studying his degree full time. He is planning to become an associate
osteopath, and then start his own practice.
“The BSO degree is a very tough and focused course but it is incredibly rewarding,” he says.

13
 INTRODUCTION TO OSTEOPATHIC SCIENCES

This three month course is designed for potential M.Ost students who have
proven academic achievement but who lack a solid grounding in the sciences.
If you would like a career in osteopathy and you already have a non-science
degree or equivalent, this course is designed to support you.

The Introduction to Osteopathic Sciences course provides a programme of intensive science

study, including work on the nervous system, cells, body systems (such as the digestive and
cardiovascular system) and musculo-skeletal studies. It includes a unit on mathematics and
statistics. There will be a mid-point assessment to provide you with feedback on your
progress, and then a final written assessment at the end.

It will be taught primarily through the BSO’s BONE online electronic learning environment,
although some tutorials will be held at the BSO. For course starting dates throughout the
academic year please visit our website: www.bso.ac.uk

14
15
 MASTER OF OSTEOPATHY (M.OST) DEGREE

The path to qualification at the BSO is through our new Master of Osteopathy
(M.Ost) degree.
The content and methodology of our M.Ost delivers a dynamic, modern programme of
study. This provides you with an excellent and innovative clinical training.
● Practical training with practising osteopaths
● A student-centred approach to academic and clinical training
● Opportunities to work with patients in a wide variety of clinical settings
● Elective options for final year students to focus on specialist areas of personal interest
● Excellent student guidance and support
● Teaching and learning to help develop your own learning style
● Flexible learning option
● Research and evidence-based practice integrated and applied to osteopathic practice
throughout the course
● Ongoing mentoring for new graduates

“I was finishing A levels and panicking about what to do next when I did
work experience at an osteopathic clinic. I enjoyed it, and decided to apply
for an osteopathy degree. I chose the BSO because of its reputation as
Europe’s largest and oldest school, and because I liked the friendly
atmosphere when I visited.

“The best thing about the BSO is the people. I really like the enthusiasm, broad-mindedness and
compassion you get from fellow students and from tutors. Plus, the BSO is located in a great city
and has good facilities, which are continually being improved. The BSO teaches using a holistic
curriculum – you get everything from the opportunity to be in clinic from your first year, to the
opportunity for active participation in the Student Union.

“Come and study at the BSO! It’s a fantastic opportunity to develop personally and professionally.”
Kiran Ul-Haq, BSO student

16
M.OST: INTEGRATED MASTERS PROGRAMME

The (M.Ost) degree is an Integrated Masters programme. Studying for the M.Ost
takes four years full-time (Standard Pathway), or five years if you follow the
Mixed Mode Pathway, where you study the first half of the course part-time for
three years, followed by a final two years of full-time attendance.

The qualification is awarded at Masters level because by the end of the course (which is
longer than a normal Bachelors degree) you will be working at a level beyond most first
degrees, taking responsibility for patients in clinic, and undertaking a demanding research
project. It is, nonetheless, an undergraduate degree, and there is no expectation that you will
have a degree already, although a number of mature students do come to us with high level
qualifications. The degree is validated by the University of Bedfordshire, which was
shortlisted in 2007 for the Times Higher Education University of the Year award.

17
 M.OST: COURSE CONTENT

The M.Ost programme is an innovative and up-to-date preparation for becoming

an osteopath. Part of its distinctive strength lies in the fact that it recognises
that clinical practice, rather than classroom theory, is the heart of osteopathy.
There is therefore a very strong clinical emphasis throughout the course.

In your first two years you will be introduced to the key disciplines of physiology, anatomy,
psychology, sociology, research strategies, study skills and professional practice skills. These form
the bedrock of knowledge and skill upon which your clinical practice and future professional
development can be built. To help you integrate your theoretical learning with clinical work, you
will study a unit entitled ‘Developing Osteopathic Thinking’. Through the use of clinical examples
you will begin to integrate a wide range of knowledge with common clinical situations. This will
prepare you for the patients you will see as a student in the BSO clinic.

The later stages of the course are mainly clinically focused, and you will also undertake a
research project. In addition, you will be prepared for professional practice life through a unit
called ‘Learning for Professional Autonomy’. This will give you an opportunity to pursue one
of a number of specialist options.

Throughout the course you will be taught and tutored by experienced practising osteopaths.
Clinic tutors will demonstrate the practical application and clinical implications of
theoretical teaching, but gradually you will develop your own clinical experience and style
by observing, participating in and finally taking responsibility for patient care.

The M.Ost will provide you with a rewarding and challenging learning experience in both
classroom and clinic that is responsive to your individual needs and appropriate to your prior
learning experience. In addition, the programme provides a range of resources that you can
use to support your individual learning.

18
M.OST: PATIENT CONTACT

Clinical work and contact with patients are fundamental to the M.Ost. From
your first year you will have contact with patients; this gradually expands until,
in your final two years, you spend a large part of your time in the clinic. This
practical work is essential if you are to become a competent and confident
osteopath. The only way to become proficient as an osteopath is to do it –
you can’t learn to drive a car, for example, by sitting in a classroom.
Clinical work entails a wide range of skills and abilities, consisting of finding out what the
problem is, explaining it to the patient and then carrying out the best possible treatment
plan. To achieve this, you will need to have good practical skills, enabling you to examine
and treat a patient, but also good communication skills to enable you to gather information
and reassure the patient.

All of these skills are underpinned by a secure knowledge base, guided by a questioning
curiosity and tempered by a desire to care for your patient. In clinic you will be tutored by
experienced practising osteopaths.

Your level of responsibility for patients builds throughout the course. Many students pursue
their own interests in our range of specialist clinics. These are run both in-house and on an
outreach basis as part of the BSO’s commitment to making osteopathy accessible to the
general public. They provide treatment for children, people with HIV/AIDS, homeless people,
expectant mothers, people with sports injuries and older people. (See page 27)
The quality and variety of the clinical experience on this course are unrivalled. From the
earliest stage you will have every opportunity to put theory into practice.

“It is intellectually stimulating and allows you to combine your knowledge with a practical
aspect; realising you can successfully apply your knowledge feels exhilarating.”
Kimberly Chan, BSO student

19
 M.OST: STRUCTURE AND ASSESSMENT

The M.Ost’s teaching and learning, though incorporating a rigorous theoretical

core, never loses sight of the fact that most graduates move into clinical practice
and therefore require knowledge, skills and attitudes that are of practical value.

The course programme is divided into four phases:

● Orientation: you begin to orientate yourself towards being an osteopath and primary

care practitioner, acquiring basic knowledge and skills and starting to appreciate the
challenges involved
● Development and Integration: your knowledge and those skills are further developed,

consolidated and integrated to provide a secure foundation for your developing clinical work
● Integration and Synthesis: you focus on bringing a range of new and previously

acquired knowledge and skills together in order to understand how the human body
functions holistically
● Pre-professional: takes your clinical skills to a much deeper level, to prepare you

for the challenges of working independently.

You will experience a range of assessment methods including traditional timed, written
examinations; open book exams – where you have access to resources to help solve a
problem – and in-course essays.

There are a range of practical examinations including Objective Structured Practical

Examinations (OSPEs) where a series of short tasks, mostly practical, are tackled in sequence;
essays reflecting what you have learned from your clinical experiences; patient case studies
and patient management problems. Your clinical work will undergo ongoing assessment
by tutors and you will have Clinical Competence Assessments as the culmination of your
studies. You will also pursue a topic of personal interest in your Individual Enquiry project.

A range of assignments at various stages provide you with useful knowledge of your
achievements and capability, plus feedback to guide your future development. We are
moving towards offering online assessments within a range of virtual learning environments.
These will provide you with instant feedback, available at any time.

“BSO staff are very approachable, happy to help and share their knowledge and experience,
and the Research Team have been excellent at helping me to organise ideas, to keep my
area of individual enquiry focused and to develop my research skills.”
Oliver Lasham, BSO student

20
M.OST: TEACHING AND LEARNING

We support our students from the very start. Before they enrol on the M.Ost
degree programme, all successful BSO applicants receive a full set of pre-course
reading. Our teaching and learning methodology is student-centred and active.
You will receive practical training with practising osteopaths.

Osteopaths work in a variety of styles. Our objective is to give you the tools to practise in
your own way, while fulfilling the criteria for professional status.

Our approach to teaching is personal and detailed. The tutor/student ratio in technique
classes is around 1:8, with 1:1 tutoring in our clinics. We continuously assess all aspects of
the teaching and learning experience and exploit the best modern teaching methodologies.

“I really like the mixture of lectures and tutors I’ve had so far. There are so many teaching styles
and angles, and it gives you a good, broad perspective.” John Singleton, BSO student

21
 ACTIVE LEARNING

We use a variety of teaching and learning methods at the BSO. You will experience
traditional lectures in some subjects and innovative learning methods in others.

Course delivery methods include:

● Clinical supervision – intensive one-to-one tuition in the clinic, with real patients. You will

gain experience of managing particular problems, diagnosis and evaluation, how to select
particular treatments to correct specific problems and develop interpersonal skills
● Practical sessions – where you practise technique rather than simply hearing or reading

about it
● Tutorials and seminars – for in-depth discussions

● Self-managed learning – where you reflect on your work, pursue areas of special interest

and gain a deeper, more natural familiarity with the subjects. Your use of the professional
development portfolio will enable you to set your own goals and evaluate your progress
and learning needs in a professional manner.

The BSO’s excellent learning resources make active learning a pleasure. You will be able
to log onto to BONE, the BSO’s own online virtual learning environment, view videos and
demonstrations made by faculty especially to support the M.Ost, and assess your own
progress online.

You will be encouraged to attend regional conferences and meetings so you can experience
different approaches to osteopathy.

“I like the fact that we have small group tutorials as well as lectures in most academic subjects.
It helps immensely because the tutors can help you with any difficulties you are having, and are
willing to repeat information covered previously.” Fatema Contractor, BSO student

22
LEARNING RESOURCES

THE BSO LIBRARY

Our library is one of the best osteopathic libraries in the world. Our librarians are consulted
by health care practitioners from around the globe. In addition to books and journals it has
state-of-the-art computerised search facilities, WP and statistical packages, and flagged
access to medical databases and other useful websites. We maintain a wide range of learning
resource materials including anatomical models, specimens, videos – including film of expert
practitioners in action – slides and imaging records such as X-rays.

Our librarians refine the collection to ensure you have a plentiful supply of key texts and they
work to grow the holding in areas of special interest. They operate an enquiry service for
students and arrange inter-library loans from collections such as the BMA Library, the British
Library and NHS libraries in London.

“The BSO library as a resource is excellent.” Claire Bailey, BSO student

ONLINE RESOURCES
An essential element of our active learning approach is the use of online resources. The BSO
has its own online virtual learning environment called BONE. This features learning resource
packs, workbooks, copies of PowerPoint presentations from lectures, online assignments and
assessments. You can download information from specialised sites and communicate with
administrative, clinical and academic staff. BONE can be accessed from all over the world.

A MAKE-OVER FOR OUR TEACHING CENTRE

As well as opening our new clinical centre, in 2008 the BSO began work to update its
teaching premises on Borough High Street. To match the quality of education that the BSO
delivers, we are investing in new teaching and study spaces, lecture theatres, practical skills
teaching rooms and a new ICT centre.

23
 BSO TEACHING AND LEARNING IN PRACTICE

“I valued the academic rigour of the course

and the sense of achievement it provided,
together with the diversity of approaches.”

DIANA ROWLANDS was 36 when she began her return to work, having been a full time mother
to two children after a first career in occupational therapy (mental health).

“I wanted to move into the physical side of occupational therapy, and I began to think about retraining,”
she explains. “I was interested in osteopathy as I used to visit an osteopath.”

“I called to enquire about the BSO course and was invited to attend an Interview and Evaluation day,” she
explains. (See page 41) Diana was subsequently offered a place at the BSO. “I’m pleased it worked out
that way, as I believe a BSO degree is a ‘weighty’ qualification in the osteopathic realm.”

Diana chose to study her degree via the BSO’s Mixed Mode pathway: three years of mixed part-time
and on-site learning followed by two years of full-time study.

“I valued the academic rigour of the course and the sense of achievement it provided, together with the
diversity of approaches, opinions and ideas,” she says. “We also worked with a range of different patients
through the BSO’s specialist osteopathy clinics – one of the advantages of the BSO’s central location.
But most of all I valued the people – the friendships I’ve made will continue to be invaluable.”

Diana, who is from Surrey, graduated recently and now works in two local clinics.

“There was good academic support. Tutors would make themselves available for queries or problems, and
the BSO’s library team was great at seeking out obscure books and articles!” she says. “There was also
help from other staff members – the BSO has a friendly, welcoming feel. In clinic, a framework of support
was developed to help struggling students, which I think is essential. Especially important to me was the
number of tutors who ‘went the extra mile’ with the dedication and enthusiasm they showed. That really
helped me through the hard times.

“If you want a well-respected degree; if you want to study in London and if you want to meet some
amazing people, then study at the BSO!”

24
STUDENT SUPPORT

Our Student Support team assist students in all aspects of their lives both inside
and outside school. They are available at any time during your studies.

Our Student Welfare Advisor offers advice and support on issues such as higher education
student finance, other sources of funding, accommodation, childcare issues, benefits and debt.

We also offer free, confidential counselling for our students with a professionally trained and
qualified counsellor.

The BSO’s Student Learning Advisor supports students with their academic skills. Workshops
and one-to-one support are available and the service can be tailored to suit individual needs.
Our Student Learning Advisor also manages students’ Professional Development Portfolios.

For prospective students with disabilities, the BSO’s Interview and Evaluation Days provide
opportunities to see if the course is right for them and whether they will be able to meet
the course requirements. (See page 41) Prospective students can also read the BSO Disability
Statement, which is viewable at: www.bso.ac.uk. Our Student Welfare Advisor is also available
to discuss your needs further before you apply. If appropriate, the Advisor will support you
through applying for the Disabled Students Allowance.

The BSO’s Student Support team also works to actively support any BSO students for whom
disability or health issues arise during the course of their studies. The team also provides
support for dyslexic students where needed.

“I got help from the BSO Student Support office when I had difficulties with studying because of
my dyslexia. I also received great support from the BSO Student Welfare team when I got into
financial difficulties. I’d say ‘Go for it!’ to anyone considering studying osteopathy at the BSO.
I’ve met some of the nicest people ever.” Zuzka Janakova, BSO student

25
26
 THE BSO’S CLINICS

The BSO’s state-of-the-art, fully accessible clinical centre is based in Southwark

in central London and is the largest in Europe. From here we run our busy
General Clinic, and our in-house clinics for expectant mothers, children, people
with HIV/AIDS and for people with sports-related injuries.

We also run a range of outreach clinics. These offer osteopathy to groups in the community
including homeless people, older people in their home setting, children with emotional and
behavioural difficulties and patients of a local GP surgery.

In 2008 the BSO won a Southwark Civic Award for services of excellence provided, and for
its provision of outreach clinics.

Overall, the BSO provides approximately 40,000 patient appointments each year to people
from all walks of life. This extensive patient contact is fundamental to our students’ learning
experience: from the earliest stage our M.Ost students have every opportunity to put theory
into practice in our clinics, supervised by supportive tutors who are fully qualified osteopaths.

“The range and number of patients we get to see in the general clinic is, I believe, unsurpassed
and the outreach clinics are a bonus.” Claire Lisboa, BSO student

27
 THE GENERAL CLINIC

Since the BSO moved to Southwark in 1997 it has been committed to offering
affordable and accessible osteopathic treatment to the local community
and beyond.
Most of our patients would would have to wait for treatment on the NHS. Nearly half
the appointments we offer are taken up by patients who qualify for the concessionary
rates that the BSO offers, and a number of appointments are provided free of charge.

The General Clinic at the BSO is open all year round, providing excellent standards of
patient care, and receiving regular media coverage. Student osteopaths are supervised
as they investigate and evaluate the underlying causes as well as the symptoms of the
huge variety of conditions that patients present with. Plenty of time is given to in-depth
consultations.

The BSO is proud that many patients come to our General Clinic for the first time
following recommendations from previous patients.

“The standard of treatment we have received has always been excellent. As we are both
pensioners, that value for money is really important – we could not afford to keep seeing
an osteopath privately, and we would face long waits for treatment via the NHS.”
Himat and Nalini Shah, BSO patients

“The British School of Osteopathy has cheap appointments available – you’re seen by a
third or fourth year student with a tutor supervising. I’ve had excellent treatment there.”
BSO patient recommendation, The London Paper, 9 February 2007

“This is one of the most reasonably-priced complementary health places in London.”

Time Out magazine, 27 March 2008

28
“I’ve valued the exposure my BSO studies have
given me to a wide range of internal and external
clinics, and to a wide variety of tutors and their
differing approaches to osteopathy.”
Miranda Redfern, BSO student

29
 EXPECTANT MOTHERS’ CLINIC

In 1982 the BSO opened the UK’s first Expectant Mothers (EMC) Clinic. Since
then it has treated over 3,000 women.
Working in the EMC Clinic offers BSO students experience in treating pregnancy-related
conditions. Many women experience back pain during pregnancy. Osteopathy can provide
relief from structural pain, tension and other difficulties. Analysis of 800 BSO EMC patients
showed that more than 70% of them were reporting improvement in their condition, within
three treatments, ranging from some relief to being symptom-free.

As a testament to the first-class treatment available from the BSO’s EMC Clinic, one of its
former patients has gone on to become an osteopath. Helen Robinson attended the clinic
for regular osteopathy whilst pregnant with her first son: she had previously had a bad back
and was concerned about it recurring during pregnancy. She returned for treatment whilst
expecting her other two children.

Helen found out about osteopathy as a profession from the osteopath and tutor who led
her treatment, who encouraged her to enrol as a BSO student. She qualified in 2000, and
now has her own private practice in south east London. Four years ago Helen came back
to the BSO as a part-time clinical tutor.

CHILDREN’S CLINIC

The BSO has had a Children’s Clinic for over 50 years. It is run by experienced
osteopaths with a specialist interest in treating children, and offers the chance
to work with children as young as six weeks old. Students learn to help children
with a range of physical problems.
As in other BSO clinics, at each child’s first consultation a detailed medical history is
compiled. This involves talking to parents and guardians or older children, followed by
a physical examination of the child patient.

“I would definitely recommend the BSO to anyone looking for osteopathic treatment.”
Andrea Milbrant, who brought her children Adam and Emily to the BSO Children’s Clinic.

30
SPORTS CLINIC

The BSO’s Sports Clinic helps physically active people at all levels of involvement.
Patients include professional athletes, committed amateurs, gym and fitness
enthusiasts plus dancers and actors.
Osteopathy is effective for the treatment and management of sport- and fitness-related
injuries. It can help to alleviate the immediate symptoms of the injury, and it can help the
patient manage their recovery and return back to active participation in sport. Osteopaths
can work with the athlete in relation to their performance and long-term training goals.
Osteopaths look at the relationship between muscle, limb and spine function, the potential
underlying cause of symptoms and your lifestyle. By appreciating how these factors may
interact they can make adjustments and recommendations to help prevent injury and to
help you achieve your goals safely.

“They took me from being stressed and in pain into good physical and mental condition in no
time at all – a fantastic service.” Morgan White, BSO Sports Clinic patient

CHAPMAN CLINIC FOR PEOPLE WITH HIV/AIDS

The Chapman Clinic opened in 2001 and is dedicated to providing specialist

osteopathy for patients diagnosed with HIV/AIDS.
Osteopathy can bring improvements in quality of life for people with HIV/AIDS by
addressing the particular musculo-skeletal pain and dysfunction they often experience.
It also complements the drug therapies used to manage HIV/AIDS and may also help in
coping with the side effects they can bring.

Chapman Clinic treatment is provided by student osteopaths supervised and supported by

tutors who are qualified osteopaths, and who have a specialist interest in HIV/AIDS, drug
therapies, associated pathologies and the musculo-skeletal presentation of HIV/AIDS.

“The BSO Chapman Clinic is a vital element of my care and is essential to my health and well
being. The problems for which I need osteopathy were not caused by, but have been greatly
impacted by HIV. Chapman Clinic treatment gives me a range of mobility I would not otherwise
have and allows me to cope much better with a complex chronic illness. The standard of care
and understanding achieved in the process throughout is second to none.”
Robin, BSO Chapman Clinic patient

31
 OUTREACH CLINICS

The BSO is committed to supporting people who might not otherwise have
access to osteopathic care. Supervised BSO students contribute to the important
work of our outreach clinics, gaining responsibility and maturity from interacting
with patients and other stakeholders in providing health care.

Manna Centre Osteopathic Clinic

The Manna Centre is a day centre offering a range of services for homeless people. The BSO
has a long tradition of providing osteopathy to homeless people in London and has run this
clinic since 1998. Erratic and rough sleeping lifestyles have an enormous impact on the body
which osteopathy seeks to address. Psychological and social interaction benefits may also
be obtained.

Lucy Brown House Clinic

Through this BSO clinic, tenants receive high-quality osteopathic care in their own homes.
Qualified tutors work with BSO students to address musculo-skeletal conditions associated
with the ageing process, predominately wear and tear, osteoarthritis, rheumatic pains and
osteoporosis.

Royal Free Hospital Clinic for people with HIV/AIDS

Opened in January 2004, this clinic at the Royal Free Hospital’s Ian Charleson Day Centre
was born out of the success of the BSO’s in-house Chapman Clinic for patients diagnosed
with HIV/AIDS. It gives BSO students experience of inter-professional communications
between consultants and other health care staff, whilst improving their knowledge and
perception of HIV/AIDS.

East Street Clinic

The BSO has a NHS contract with the East Street GP surgery in Southwark to provide
free osteopathic care to its registered patients. BSO students are supervised by a qualified
osteopath and a General Practitioner, and patients are referred by the GP or practice nurse.
This clinic allows BSO undergraduates to develop their clinical training in an NHS setting.

Beormund School Clinic

The Beormund School is a special school for children with social, emotional and behavioural
difficulties. This clinic encourages children to express their emotions through positive
interactions, and gentle manual therapeutic techniques are used.

32
 1st Place Children’s and Parents’ Centre Clinic
In Summer 2007 the BSO opened an osteopathic clinic for children from birth to four years
old at the 1st Place Centre, which is located on a housing estate off the Walworth Road and
which serves local families. This clinic aims to provide relief from a range of conditions for
the children of vulnerable local families.

“No other osteopathy school can give you that much patient contact and variety of external
clinics.” Samantha Fennell, BSO student

33
 LONDON LIFE

The BSO is located near the South Bank of the Thames and at the centre of London
life. West End shops, fringe and mainstream theatre, comedy shows, music venues,
restaurants, clubs, museums, galleries and much more are all within walking distance.
Our clinic and teaching premises are in a fascinating part of London. Southwark, and
especially the Borough area, is exploding with history, life and character.

The BSO is very close to major London rail links (London Bridge and Waterloo). It is just a
minute’s walk from Borough tube station and is on several bus routes.

Nearby are clubs, sport and fitness centres, yoga centres, delicatessens and plenty of small
cafes and wine bars to meet in, plus lots of pubs. Another major attraction is the now world-
famous Borough Market, which is open to the public selling fresh produce and artisan food.

By the river is the Globe Theatre, a replica of the original Shakespearean playhouse where
you can watch some of the capital’s finest theatrical productions for as little as £5. The Tate
Modern art gallery and the Millennium Bridge make a walk along the river front a delightful
way to relax.

Whatever your interests, there’s something for you near the BSO.

“The BSO’s central London location was the main deciding factor in my study choices, but also its
reputation as the most renowned and best in terms of resources.”
Ludmilla Anchugova, BSO student

34
TAKING A BREAK FROM YOUR STUDIES

I’m Annik Dufour, a BSO student. I would like to welcome

you to the BSO, and tell you a bit about the very friendly,
fun and active BSO Student Union (SU) team, and about
social life at the BSO:
The British School of Osteopathy has a very friendly, open-door policy towards its students.
You get to know staff and students from all walks of life.

Everyone needs to take a break from their studies. Students and staff can relax in the BSO’s
bar area, which offers a musical atmosphere in the evenings. There are pool and table-tennis
tables.

The SU is formed by a group of students from different years and backgrounds. Throughout
the year we plan and organise events, sports activities and represent students’ interests.
Other students are always welcome to help and contribute. The SU team always looks
forward to meeting new BSO students.

As well as running the bar, the SU also organises regular parties, entertainments (such as
quiz nights, DJ/bands) and sporting events.

Clubs and societies Annual events

Film club Halloween, Christmas and Easter parties
Yoga End-of-academic year celebrations
Football Sports Day (new for 2008)
Cricket practice Summer Ball
Netball
Dance
Whisky and wine clubs
Manus Sinistra (visiting guest lecturer club)

“The BSO’s central London location was an important factor for me, but I also found that it has
a very close-knit, friendly student community.” Trishul Vadi, BSO graduate

35
 THE BSO: WELCOMING STUDENTS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE

“I planned out my A levels and life around trying to get

into the BSO.”
HANNAH LEWIS was a top-level gymnast as a child, representing England in competitions.
Then one day in national training, aged 13, Hannah injured both her knees and was initially told
by an on-site physiotherapist that she would never be able to compete again. After a year of
physiotherapy she then began to suffer from lower back pain, and sought help from an
osteopath who had been treating her mother.

“I’m not exactly sure what she did but the treatment was amazing and I felt such relief,” enthuses Hannah.
“Ever since that day I have always wanted to be an osteopath!”

Hannah began researching places where she could train. This led to a two-week work experience
placement at the BSO.

“I loved every minute of it! Everyone was so friendly,” she says. “After that I planned out my A levels and
life around trying to get into the BSO.”

Hannah, from Surrey, got a place to study a BSO osteopathy degree. Now 22 years old and
completing her studies, she has valued the BSO’s talented teaching staff and its extensive library as
she begins to plan her future after graduation.

“I hope to gain experience by working in a couple of clinics a few days a week, and then eventually open
my own clinic and also travel and work as an osteopath.”

36
THE BSO: WELCOMING INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

“I was looking for a more global and holistic approach, as

I was not happy with the local and anti-symptomatic
physiotherapy that I was practising.”
FERNANDO DEL RIO is a physiotherapy graduate from Spain, who has come to study an
osteopathy degree at the BSO.

“I was looking for a more global and holistic approach, as I was not happy with the local and anti-
symptomatic physiotherapy that I was practising,” explains Fernando.

“The BSO is the oldest osteopathy school in the UK and probably the most prestigious in Europe,” he says
of his decision to become one of the many international students the BSO welcomes each year.
Because of his previous qualifications and experience, Fernando, 35, joined the BSO degree course as
a third year student. To help him to integrate fully, the BSO informally ‘paired’ him with another
international student already on the course.

“It’s hard work but I’m really enjoying my studies,” says Fernando. “The educational standards are very
high, the learning resources are great and it’s a really friendly environment.”

37
 NECESSARY SKILLS

To be a good osteopath requires a variety of skills. You will need to be:

● able to draw on a range of learning experiences: clinical, classroom-based and
self-managed
● in possession of in-depth health-related knowledge from a variety of fields
● committed to providing first-class care to each of your patients
● able to communicate effectively with people from all walks of life
● self-motivated to learn throughout your professional life and to develop your professional
skills autonomously
● able to work effectively in groups with colleagues and other professionals from different
health care traditions
● good at problem-solving, synthesising knowledge and helping others to learn
● committed to continually refining the manual skills central to osteopathy
● good at managing your own practice environment and professional life
● keen to be an ambassador for osteopathy to your patients, other health care professionals
and the general public

38
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

The BSO welcomes students with a wide variety of educational experience. We

encourage applications from mature candidates and/or those with a non-standard
educational background and we can credit work and life experience.
The normal requirements for our integrated undergraduate masters (M.Ost) degree are:
● 5 GCSEs at grades A–C including mathematics and English language
● 3 A levels to include biology and one other science, which can include chemistry, physics,
psychology, PE or a sports A level with a high scientific content. A typical offer is: BBC

The M.Ost is an integrated degree and there is no expectation that you will have a degree
already, although mature students do come to us with high level qualifications.

We welcome certificated evidence of Key Skills.

We also recognise AVCE, BTEC National Diplomas, VCEs, Access Certificates, Scottish
Highers, Irish Leaving Certificates (higher level), International Baccalaureates and a large
number of equivalent home and international qualifications.

Equal opportunities: The BSO is committed to an equal opportunities policy for the whole
student population. All persons of the required academic standard and practical ability are
eligible for admission as registered students to the School. The BSO does not discriminate
against any persons on the grounds of race, colour, ethnic origin, nationality, national origin,
religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, age or disability.

The BSO’s admissions team will be pleased to discuss your qualifications and
circumstances in relation to studying at the BSO. They can be contacted on:
+44 (0)20 7089 5316 or admissions@bso.ac.uk

39
 HOW TO APPLY

Master of Osteopathy
Applications for the M.Ost. Standard Pathway (full time study) are made online via UCAS
who will forward your application to us. Please contact them for further information, or
speak to your school or college.

UCAS telephone: + 44 (0)870 1122211 UCAS website: www.ucas.com

M.Ost course code: B110 BSO UCAS institution code: B87

Applications for the Mixed Mode (flexible learning) pathway can be made direct to us.
You can request an application form from the BSO’s admissions team (see contact details
below), or you can download application forms from the BSO website at:
http://www.bso.ac.uk/sm1apps.htm

Access to Higher Education Diploma

You can request an application form from the BSO’s admissions team (see contact details
below), or download an application form from the BSO website at:
http://www.bso.ac.uk/sm1apps.htm

What happens next?

We want you to make the career choice that is right for you. On applying to the BSO you
may be invited to take part in a number of activities to help you, and us, evaluate your
potential. You may be advised to undertake preparatory courses.

Regional Osteopathic Careers Officers

Once we receive your application for the M.Ost our Admissions Department may arrange,
via your Regional Osteopathic Careers Officer (ROCO), for you to visit a practising
osteopath in your area. This is not compulsory, but it gives you the opportunity for an
informal discussion about life as an osteopath, osteopathy as a profession and the BSO.
Your ROCO may feed back to us about your visit, but their report will not play a part
in our decision about your application. Please contact the BSO admissions team for
more information.

Our admissions team will be pleased to help you with all aspects of the BSO’s
application process. They can be contacted on: +44 (0)20 7089 5316 or email
admissions@bso.ac.uk

40
OPEN AFTERNOONS
The BSO holds regular Open Afternoon sessions where anyone can come and find out about
osteopathy and studying at the BSO. These sessions give you the chance to meet practising
osteopaths, watch them demonstrating osteopathic technique, and ask them about
osteopathy as a profession. You can also find out more about how studying at the BSO
would fit in with you own particular circumstances.

INTERVIEW AND EVALUATION DAYS

When we receive your application you will be invited to an Interview and Evaluation (I&E)
day. This gives you an in-depth opportunity to assess osteopathy as a career and find out
more about the BSO, allowing you to make an informed choice about your study options.
You will meet members of staff and BSO students, hear presentations on osteopathy and
the M.Ost degree, and watch a demonstration of osteopathic technique. There will be plenty
of time for you to ask questions.

I&E days are part of the BSO’s selection process. You will be interviewed, and you will also
be invited to take part in a number of challenges, such as practical aptitude tests. These help
you and us to evaluate your potential to benefit from the degree course, helping to ensure
that osteopathy is the right career choice for you.

FEES
The M.Ost is an Integrated Masters degree course and is subject to the same undergraduate
fee regulations as most universities and other higher education institutions. The Department
for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) sets undergraduate fees for full-time courses
payable by UK and EU students each year. The BSO decides all other fees annually. The
fee contributes towards the cost of your tuition, including exams, assessment and access
to learning facilities. For eligible UK and EU students, the Government also makes a
contribution to the overall cost of your tuition which is distributed through the Higher
Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) via the University of Bedfordshire.

BURSARIES
The BSO offers bursaries for students with limited financial means. Our admissions team
will be pleased to discuss them with you.

The BSO’s admissions team will be pleased to give you more information about all
our courses, and to answer your questions about all aspects of BSO study. They can
be contacted on: +44 (0)20 7089 5316 or admissions@bso.ac.uk You can also visit:
www.bso.ac.uk

41
 ONGOING SUPPORT FOR GRADUATES

Going into practice for the first time can be a nerve-racking transition.
The BSO offers a free mentoring programme for new graduates. You are not on your own
once you gain your degree – you will have a mentor and access to advice and support by
phone and email.

You will also be invited back to the BSO for workshops and other events as you move into
your professional life. For example, we offer refresher classes in osteopathic technique, as
well as a full programme of postgraduate and continuing professional development courses.

“I saw osteopathy as a vocation, not a job – a chance to find out why people became ill, what
influences illness and how I could influence a change for the better”, says BSO graduate
Suzanne Beirne. She wanted a career that was ‘portable’, allowing her to work part-time
and to travel.

Suzanne initially worked for a practice in the Cotswolds and then recently set up her own
practice, allowing her flexible maternity leave to spend with her baby daughter.

“It’s good to know that the BSO gives ongoing support once you’ve got your degree. I’m planning
to use it more once I’m back at work,” she says.

“The BSO has a reputation for producing some of the best osteopaths in the world.”
Louise Evans, BSO graduate

42
43
44
“I enjoy the more difficult and unusual cases, because once you begin to make sense of the
patterns involved, there is so much scope to help with a great variety of health problems.”
Kuno van der Post, BSO graduate

“I didn’t find osteopathy, it found me”, explains Kuno, who is from Oxford and who had a really
exciting first career as a professional skydiving instructor. “In 1995 I broke my back in a bad
landing, and although I recovered well initially, my health slowly began to deteriorate in subtle
ways. I found help from several fields, but most particularly an osteopath and a homoeopath,
who showed me a completely different way to see things. At around the same time a close
relative fell seriously ill, and I became very aware of the limitations of the medical approach
to problems. It was then a natural progression to study osteopathy.”

Since graduating from the BSO, Kuno has trained in Classical Osteopathy.

Kuno welcomes the support that the BSO offers graduates. As well as using the BSO
intranet system to keep in touch with fellow students, and occasionally refer patients to
each other, he has also made use of postgraduate technique guidance.

“Knowing that these resources are available and that I can call on them if I need to is very
reassuring,” he says. “Two years after qualifying, I still find osteopathy as exciting as I did in the
beginning, and I am at last finding some of the answers I have been seeking for many years.”

45
 POSTGRADUATE COURSES

A career in osteopathy may take different directions at different times,

especially in today’s ever-changing health care environment.
The BSO is currently developing a portfolio of postgraduate programmes designed to
enable osteopaths and other health care practitioners to develop their competence
in the areas of research, teaching and specialist clinical practice. Examples of these new
postgraduate programmes include a Professional Doctorate in Osteopathy, a MSc in
Osteopathy and a Postgraduate Certificate in Research Methods.

Postgraduate students are supported by a team of experts in the fields of osteopathic and
health care practice, teaching and research. Students have access to the full range of BSO
student facilities, including our outstanding library and learning resources and the First
Class online learning support system.

For more information about any of these courses, please contact Gayda Arnold on
g.arnold@bso.ac.uk or +44 (0)20 7089 5315.

46
47
 CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

The BSO is committed to reflective, lifelong learning and has provided

continuing professional development (CPD) courses for many years. Now that
CPD is mandatory for osteopaths, the BSO is developing a range of courses to
help you meet the new requirements, a key element of which is your portfolio
of learning. The BSO has extensive experience helping people to prepare and
maintain learning portfolios, for example in our work with undergraduates and
postgraduates. We are using this expertise to develop training in line with the
new regulations.
CPD courses on offer recently at the BSO have included:
● introduction to psychological management of people in pain
● osteopathy in the cranial field – preliminary course
● strain and counter-strain
● ergonomics and osteopathy
● osteopathy and obstetrics
● BSO summer school

For more details of currently-available CPD courses, please visit www.bso.ac.uk

or contact Gayda Arnold on g.arnold@bso.ac.uk or +44 (0)20 7089 5315.BSO: A

48
WORLD LEADER IN OSTEOPATHIC RESEARCH
The BSO has an international reputation for the quality of its osteopathic
research, its design and delivery of osteopathic curricula and its work to expand
evidence-based practice within osteopathy.
The BSO Research Team also works to promote and develop scholarship within the School,
and to build successful collaborations with other institutions.

In February 2008, in partnership with the Osteopathic International Alliance, the BSO
welcomed 310 delegates from over 20 countries at the Osteopathic learning and practice –
a global future conference in central London. This conference brought together osteopaths,
educators and health professionals to debate and advance osteopathic education and practice.

The conference was held as part of a celebration of osteopathy hosted by the General
Osteopathic Council to coincide with the tenth anniversary of statutory recognition of
osteopathy in the UK. It allowed attendees to share examples of good and bad practice; look
at different educational models within their frameworks and take away useful ideas and
information in order to contribute to keeping quality foremost as osteopathy moves towards
a globalised community. Key papers from the conference were published in the International
Journal of Osteopathic Medicine.

The Research Team has also collaborated on five multidisciplinary conferences: Chiropractic,
osteopathy and physiotherapy: moving forward through research and practice, acting as host in
2007 and 2008. These annual conferences facilitate presentation of student-based work and
the chance to hear keynote speakers.

49
 RESEARCH TEAM NEWS

The research element of the BSO’s undergraduate programme is supported by

the Research Team. This programme now regularly produces work of sufficient
quality to publish: in 2007 six manuscripts were submitted for publication. The
BSO Research Team also provides support to postgraduate students.
The BSO participates actively as co-applicants on funded research grants. Recent grants have
been funded by bodies such as the Arthritis Research Campaign and The Economic and
Social Research Council.

BSO faculty members have been awarded funding for research grants held at the School. In
a national call for research, the National Council for Osteopathic Research awarded the BSO
a grant to explore adverse events in osteopathy.

The BSO has also been awarded £10,000 to carry out a project looking at work-related
attitudes and behaviours in faculty clinicians treating back pain.

An ongoing collaborative research project includes a study examining the effect of fear of
pain in back pain patients which is near completion. In partnership with Royal Holloway,
University of London, we are using functional brain imaging to examine patients’ responses
to a range of stimuli.

Individual faculty members are actively engaged in ongoing research programmes, writing
textbooks, doctoral studies, publishing articles in peer-reviewed academic journals and
presenting their work at national and international conferences. Recently-published papers
have covered topics including:
● analysis of exercise content in undergraduate osteopathic education
● attitudes to back pain amongst musculo-skeletal practitioners
● the role of exercise in the prevention of low back pain in clinical evidence-based
sports medicine

50
THE BSO: YOUR FIRST STEP TO A CAREER IN OSTEOPATHY

Osteopathy is an exciting and rewarding career choice.

Osteopaths work in all walks of life – with sportspeople, dancers and performers, with
children, working people, older people, expectant mothers and many other groups. They
make important health care contributions to the communities where they work, helping
to alleviate a wide range of conditions.

The British School of Osteopathy (BSO) is Europe’s largest and oldest school of osteopathy,
based in the centre of London.

We are respected worldwide for the development and provision of first-class osteopathic
education, research and resources. We equip growing numbers of osteopaths from an
ever-widening variety of backgrounds to offer their patients top-quality health care and “The BSO seemed to tick all the boxes for me. Every
to lead their profession.
osteopath I spoke to praised the BSO and told me
At the BSO, we support student osteopaths from the moment they join us. We offer about its great reputation.”
mentoring and guidance to our graduates as they take their first steps into their new career
and we provide qualified osteopaths with the continuing professional development training Hannah Lewis, BSO student
they need to succeed in today’s dynamic health care arena.
HOW TO FIND US

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& CASTLE
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The BSO has made every effort to ensure that the information in this prospectus is accurate
at the time of publication. However we do not accept liability for any inaccuracies. The BSO
reserves the right to change or cancel its courses and services at any time without liability
even after students have registered with us.

The BSO is a registered charity (no. 312873) which educates osteopaths, provides
treatments for patients and promotes osteopathic research.

The British School of Osteopathy is accredited by the General Osteopathic Council. The Master of Osteopathy degree is validated by the
University of Bedfordshire. The BSO is a registered charity (No 312873) that educates osteopaths, provides treatments for patients and promotes
osteopathic research.

Photographers’ credits:
• Photograph of HRH The Princess Royal’s BSO clinic visit (p. 2): Simon Brooke-Webb, sbw-photo.
• Photographs from the Advancing Osteopathy and Osteopathic Learning and Practice conferences (pages 3, 10, 53 and 54): Simon Clark, Eyebox.
• Osteopathic treatment photograph (p.29): Mark Anderson, BSO.

Designed and produced by Calverts 020 7739 1474 www.calverts.coop

Printed on EMAS certified paper from sustainable forests, with vegetable oil based inks.

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CONTACT US
The British School of Osteopathy
275 Borough High Street
London SE1 1JE
Tel: +44 (0)20 7407 0222
Fax: +44 (0)20 7089 5300
Email: info@bso.ac.uk
Web: www.bso.ac.uk
Student admissions
Tel: +44 (0)20 7089 5316
Email: admissions@bso.ac.uk
Postgraduate courses
and CPD enquiries
Tel: +44 (0)20 7089 5315
Email: g.arnold@bso.ac.uk
prospectus
Clinic
98 –118 Southwark Bridge Road
London SE1 0BQ
Tel: +44 (0)20 7089 5360
Email: clinicappointments@bso.ac.uk
Research team contacts
Steven Vogel, Vice Principal
(Research and Quality)
Tel: +44 (0)7089 5331
Email: s.vogel@bso.ac.uk
For more information about
the University of Bedfordshire
Tel: +44 (0)1234 400 400
Web: www.beds.ac.uk