Becoming a osteopath

Osteopathy Studies Program

The European School of Osteopathy (ESO), in partnership with Plymouth University, offers a flexible, part-time four-year study program that culminates in a Level 7 degree. This program also provides the opportunity to work on a Master of Science thesis (M.Sc.).

To be eligible for this osteopathy program, applicants typically need to hold a relevant healthcare or science-related qualification, or demonstrate appropriate prior academic and/or clinical experience as required by ESO and Plymouth University’s admission criteria.

The structure of the program consists of one weekend per month (Friday through Sunday) over ten months annually, supplemented by a week-long summer school in England, which includes annual exams and instruction. This design allows students and working professionals to balance their ongoing clinical or professional activities with their osteopathic studies.

An advantage of this part-time program lies in its practical integration. The knowledge gained during the weekend sessions can be immediately applied in the students’ work context the following week. This hands-on approach fast-tracks the learning process, enabling students to steadily develop confidence and proficiency in the skills acquired throughout their studies.

Defining you as an Osteopath

Osteopathy encompasses a comprehensive approach to health, focusing on supporting patients with body discomfort and pain through gentle, hands-on techniques and a holistic understanding of how the body functions as an interconnected system.

The training typically involves a flexible four-year, part-time program designed for individuals with relevant academic or professional backgrounds in healthcare or related fields. Throughout this educational journey, the knowledge acquired is directly integrated into students’ ongoing professional roles, allowing them to apply their learning in practice immediately after each teaching block. Upon completion, graduates seek professional registration as osteopaths.

Osteopaths adopt a holistic perspective, working much like detectives to understand the underlying contributors to a person’s discomfort rather than just addressing the symptoms.

The role of an osteopath extends beyond providing manual treatment. They are educators as much as they are practitioners, helping patients understand their bodies better. They explain the factors behind their discomfort and collaborate on a personalised, holistic treatment strategy. By empowering patients with this understanding, osteopaths enable them to take an active role in their own wellbeing.

Achieve Your Osteopath Accreditation

The European School of Osteopathy (ESO) is a distinguished and well-established institution in Europe, operating as a non-profit organisation. Our purpose is not commercially driven, but centred on advancing the osteopathic profession and strengthening its recognition and standards.

We maintain an uncompromising commitment to professionalism and quality. All faculty members hold at least a master’s degree and bring substantial clinical experience as registered osteopaths.

At ESO, we offer prospective students in Scandinavia the opportunity to study osteopathy through our four-year, part-time programme in partnership with Plymouth University. Upon completing the degree – which includes the option of earning a Master of Science (M.Sc.) – graduates are eligible to apply for professional registration as osteopaths in countries where this pathway is recognised.

This enables them to contribute meaningfully to health and wellbeing within their communities.

Becoming a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine

Choosing to become an osteopath means stepping into a healthcare profession that values the body’s natural ability to adapt and recover. Osteopathy is grounded in clinical understanding and hands-on practice, with a strong focus on how structure and function are interconnected. Osteopaths use gentle manual techniques and holistic reasoning to support patients’ comfort, mobility and overall wellbeing.

What sets osteopathic doctors apart?

• A comprehensive education focused on anatomy, physiology, neurology, biomechanics and clinical reasoning
• Training in a wide range of hands-on techniques, including gentle manual approaches
• Emphasis on whole-person care – looking beyond symptoms to understand contributing factors
• A regulated profession: UK osteopaths must meet the standards of the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC)

Osteopaths combine clinical knowledge with hands-on care to support the whole person – their comfort, their movement and their overall wellbeing..

Osteopathy career pathways

A common question is how osteopaths build their careers compared to other healthcare professionals. In the UK, osteopaths work in private clinics, integrated health settings, sports environments, corporate wellbeing and self-employed practice. Income varies depending on clinic setting, experience and patient base, similar to other manual healthcare professions.

A growing, respected path in modern healthcare

With international demand for holistic, patient-centred support increasing, the path to becoming an osteopath is more relevant than ever. It offers a deeply meaningful career for those who want to work with both scientific understanding and human connection, helping patients improve their quality of life through gentle, hands-on care