Osteopathic Medicine

UCAS code: B991

Here's what NESCOT says about its Osteopathic Medicine course.

The Bachelor of Osteopathic Medicine (BOst) is a dynamic programme taught by expert and enthusiastic staff, and provides students with the understanding and skill required for success as practicing osteopaths. The programme is recognised by the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC) and on successful completion students are eligible to register as an osteopath with the GOsC.

The course is designed to equip learners with the knowledge and skills required for professional osteopathic practice and life-long learning. Each cohort has a dedicated group tutor who is responsible for overseeing their teaching and learning experience and who is available for pastoral as well as academic support. Lectures typically run over three days with clinical training delivered onsite during the day and evening. Learners are also expected to complete approximately 20 hrs self-study over the teaching weeks. Year 1 Modules include: Human Anatomy and Physiology (40 credits) Introduction to Osteopathic Practice (40 credits) Introduction to Academic Skills and Professional Practice (40 credits) Year 2 Modules include: Human Disease and Dysfunction (40 credits) Foundation in Osteopathic Practice (40 credits) Foundation in Evidence Based and Professional Practice (40 credits) . Year 3 Modules include: Clinical Reasoning and Differential Diagnosis (40 credits) Developing Osteopathic Practice (40 credits) Developing Professional Practice (40 credits) Developing Evidenced Based Practice (40 credits) Level 6, Year 4 will prepare learners for professional osteopathic practice by developing business skills, clinical reasoning skills, refining technique and widening scope of practice. Additionally learners will be expected to produce a research proposal. Year 4 prepares learners for life as an osteopathic practitioner, encouraging and developing skills necessary for continuing professional development. A blended teaching approach continues with face-to-face lectures supported and enhanced by group work, supervised clinical practice and one-to-one tutorials. Teaching is further supported by digital resources available via the Virtual Learning Environment that include lecture presentations and handouts and module related online courses. Learners are expected to demonstrate more autonomy and this is reflected in the approach to teaching and clinical supervision where the emphasis is on mentorship and coaching rather than close supervision. Year 4 Modules include: Research Proposal (40 credits) Integrated Osteopathic Management (40 credits) Autonomous Clinical and Professional Practice (40 credits) Year 5 Modules include: Research Proposal (40 credits) Integrated Osteopathic Management (40 credits) Autonomous Clinical and Professional Practice (40 credits) In order to assist teaching and learning there are a number of additional support services available to learners. These include academic skills surgeries run by the learning support centre and subject librarian both face-to-face and online. Training on generic study skills is available on the virtual learning environment and includes advice on writing, oral communication, numeracy and problem-solving among others.

The assessment strategies of this course are varied to promote inclusivity and variety. They include formative approaches which provide opportunities for students to gain valuable ongoing feedback on academic, practical and professional ability. Assessments used include written exams, technique, exercise and clinical examination practical assessments, presentations and viva, reflective essays, literature reviews, case study presentations and essays, data interpretation exercises, research project, teaching tasks and clinical based assessment. Learners will be provided with module guides which will provide details of content, learning outcomes and modes of formative and summative assessments. Each individual assessment will have its own assignment brief’ to provide learners with details of the assessment rational, mode, related learning outcomes and guidelines for successful completion. Clinical Training A key aspect of the course is the clinical training which occurs in the teaching clinic. Learners begin their clinical training in Year 1 and accumulate a total of a 1000 hours by the end of the course. The teaching clinic is staffed by highly qualified and experienced tutor osteopaths who supervise learners in assessing and treating patients and also who facilitate the learner observation experience. The clinic provides a broad range of experience and learners encounter patients of all ages and lifestyles as well as opportunity to work in specialist clinics such as paediatrics and sports injuries. Learners gain experience in patient management, taking case histories, diagnosis and treatment. They receive a high level of support in the clinic and are allocated a personal clinic tutor and scheduled regular one-to-one tutorial sessions. Clinical training is also supported by the professional practice modules that run during each year of the course. As part of the assessment of these modules learners are required to submit a ‘Practice Based Learning Record’ which details their clinical experience in terms of critical reflections, clinical audit and action plans. In Year 1 learners are required to accumulate 56 clinical observation hours. One 2 hour session a week over 28 weeks. Clinic sessions are likely to run on one of the evenings of the three days attended for lectures. In Year 2 learners are required to accumulate 56 clinical observation hours. One 2 hour session a week over 28 weeks. Clinic sessions are likely to run on one of the evenings of the three days attended for lectures. During the summer learners are also required to complete a further block of 124 hours prior to starting Year 3. During this period they begin to treat patients. In Year 3 learners are required to accumulate 238 clinical hours. Two 3.5 hour sessions over 34 weeks. Clinic sessions are likely to run daytime and on at least one of the evenings of the three days attended for lectures. During the summer learners are also required to complete a further block of 106 hours prior to starting Year 4. In Year 4 learners are required to accumulate 420 clinical hours. Three 3.5 hour sessions over 16 weeks and four 3.5 hour sessions over 18 weeks. Clinic sessions are likely to run daytime and on at least one of the evenings of the two days attended for lectures and also on an additional non-teaching day.