Australian residents
International students
ATAR:
Lowest selection rank*: 62.95
*Offers made in 2022. More about ATAR
Duration: 
4.5 years full time
Location: 
City Campus
Delivery mode: 
In person
Start date:
19 February 2024
Application due dates:
View How to apply
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Overview

Gain foundational skills in osteopathy, then progress to a masters to become eligible to practise and register as an osteopath, with a Bachelor of Science (Osteopathy)/Master of Health Science (Osteopathy) at Victoria University.

Our course is highly regarded in the industry, and designed to meet the standards of the Australasian Osteopathic Accreditation Council (our re-accreditation with this important organisation is currently pending). 

To prepare you to work in health care, you’ll study:

  • anatomy
  • osteopathic principles and techniques
  • physiology
  • pathology
  • population health
  • evidence-based practice.

You'll also benefit from extensive work experience, with hands-on practice at our professional clinics.

On graduation, you will be skilled in formulating suitable and safe treatment programs, including soft-tissue techniques, joint mobilisation and exercise rehabilitation. You’ll have the diagnostic skills and graduate capabilities for osteopathic practice required by primary healthcare practitioners.

Following the overwhelming success of the revolutionary VU Block Model with undergraduate students, we are now offering Block Model for our postgraduate courses.

This course is delivered in four-week mode, which means you study one unit (subject) at a time over four weeks, rather than juggling several units at once. And with its focused timetables and smaller, collaborative classes, VU’s Block Model gives you more time to connect with your peers, lecturers and industry partners, helping you to build strong professional networks.

The VU Block Model has improved our student results and engagement, and has won multiple international awards for innovation and excellence.

VU is held in high regard in the industry for our hands-on approach and extensive clinical placements.

Treating patients at our Osteopathy Clinic at the City Campus, as well as external community clinical engagements, ensures you have a diverse clinical experience.

Our osteopathy teaching clinics operates 47 weeks of the year. As part of our masters program, you’ll attend clinical sessions on a rotational basis. You’ll gain real-world experience working with paying patients.

These clinics also run outside of semester hours, to maintain a public service and provide continuity of patient care.

This course is accredited by the Australasian Osteopathic Accreditation Council (AOAC).

The AOAC is an independent organisation that assesses and accredits osteopathic education programs. Accreditation from the AOAC allows graduates to register as an osteopath in Australia.

Our course is designed to meet the AOAC accreditation standards. This ensures that the knowledge, skills and professional attributes we teach match best-practice national healthcare expectations.

With our dual-qualification in osteopathy, you can gain the following registrations and memberships:

  • registration with the Osteopathy Board of Australia
  • registration as an osteopath in all other Australian states and in New Zealand
  • membership with Osteopathy Australia.

For further information about registration requirements, visit the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.

Need some advice?

Request a call back from one of our experienced VUHQ course advisers to get your questions answered.

Request a call back

Careers

Our Bachelor of Science (Osteopathy)/Master of Health Science (Osteopathy) qualifies you to register as a practising osteopath.

Many osteopaths have their own private practice. Osteopaths can work in a variety of healthcare settings:

  • private clinics
  • multidisciplinary health clinics
  • sporting groups
  • community organisations.

Salaries & job prospects

See the average salary and job growth for osteopaths in Australia via Labour Market Insights.

Healing hands: The practical advantage in osteopathy

Healing hands: The practical advantage in osteopathy

Jason chose VU to study osteopathy because of the hands-on learning component, which gave him his industry advantage.

assets/arrow-long Created with Sketch.

Course structure

To attain the double award of Bachelor of Health Science (Osteopathy) / Master of Health Science (Osteopathy) students will be required to complete:

  • 432 credit points of core studies

Year 1, Semester 1

Year 1, Semester 2

Year 2, Semester 1

Year 2, Semester 2

Year 3, Semester 1

Year 3, Semester 2

Year 4, Semester 1

Year 4, Semester 2

Year 5, Semester 1

We are the first Australian university to use a 'block' model of learning, where you study one unit at a time rather than juggling several at once.

Introduced in 2018, the VU Block Model has improved our student results and achievements, and has won awards for innovation and excellence. Initially for first-year students, it now applies to all students studying at our Melbourne campuses.

You'll study in short bursts, called blocks, of three 2-3 hour face-to-face teaching sessions per week.

Each block focuses on one unit (subject) and is only four weeks long, with up to four days between. Our two semesters have four blocks each, and there are optional blocks over winter and summer where you can catch up on a missed unit.

Some courses have labs and pracs too, and these are generally scheduled on the same days as teaching sessions. There are also workshops where you'll develop your study skills and prepare for your future career.

Find out more about the VU Block Model.

On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  1. Justify their professional, ethical and legal position as an osteopath within the scope of practice of an osteopath and the broader Australian healthcare system;
  2. Critically appraise scholarly healthcare literature to integrate the best available evidence into practice to continually improve practice;
  3. Design a patient-centred, culturally safe and evidence-informed management plan based on sound clinical reasoning, appropriate use of medicine, scientific evidence and patient/client preferences to inform decision-making;
  4. Exemplify relevant leadership, ethical behaviour, prioritisation of resources, and appropriate communication on all aspects of the care process within a collaborative clinical setting including peers, inter-professional colleagues, supervisors, and a diverse range of patients;
  5. Implement inclusive, culturally safe, patient-centred care for a diverse range of patient populations across the lifespan, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples;
  6. Advocate for patients and the community by promoting health through effective communication, collaborative practice, inter-professional practice, health education and evidence-based management;
  7. Evaluate patient progress using standardised outcome measures, and document and appropriately communicate information about patient care;
  8. Design and undertake a scholarly piece of work related to the osteopathic profession; and
  9. Critically reflect on theoretical concepts, professional capabilities, self-care, personal and clinical experiences, and embrace lifelong learning to inform and continually improve practice.

What's a unit?

A unit or 'subject' is the actual class you'll attend in the process of completing a course.

Most courses have a mixture of compulsory 'core' units that you need to take and optional elective units that you can choose to take based on your area of interest, expertise or experience.

Credits

Each unit is worth a set amount of study credits based on the amount of time you study. Generally, 1 credit is equal to 1 hour of study per week.

Fees & scholarships

Fee type for this course: Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)

Fee type definitions

The amount you pay for your course depends on whether you’re offered a Commonwealth supported place (CSP) or a full fee-paying place.

Students who enrol in a:

In addition to your tuition fees, you may also be charged a Student Services & Amenities Fee (SSAF).

Scholarships & assistance

Apply for a scholarship to help with your study costs.

We can help with fee assistance and advice.

Admissions

Victoria University is committed to providing a transparent admissions process. Find out more about how to apply for our courses, and our commitment to admissions transparency.

Applicants for this course will need to have met the academic requirements and prerequisites for this course outlined below.

Meeting the minimum admission criteria does not guarantee entry into this course. Past academic performance may be considered.

Admission criteria

The minimum criteria for admission varies depending on your education background. If you’re not sure which criteria applies to you, use the help tool on this page or make an enquiry and we can assist.

Inherent Requirements

'Inherent requirements' are the abilities, attributes, skills and behaviours needed to meet the learning outcomes of a course. These should be met while preserving the academic integrity of the university’s learning, assessment and accreditation processes.

You need to be able to demonstrate that you hold, or can acquire, the inherent requirements for this degree.

We may be able to make reasonable adjustments to help you manage circumstances that impact your studies – provided these don't fundamentally change the academic integrity of the degree.

Read more about inherent requirements.

Applicants with recent secondary education (within the last 2 years)

  • Australian Senior Secondary Certificate (e.g. VCE) or
  • an Australian or overseas equivalent or
  • an International Baccalaureate (IB).

Importance of ATAR for this course

ATAR+

We consider both ATAR and other criteria

NA

ATAR is not a consideration. We use other criteria

Admission criteria

Completion of an Australian Senior Secondary Certificate (VCE or equivalent) including Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 25 in English (EAL) or 20 in any other English.
PLUS:
A study score of at least 20 in one of Biology, Chemistry, any Mathematics or Physics.

Subject adjustments

A study score of 30 in Chemistry, any English or any Mathematics equals 5 aggregate points per study. A study score of 25 in Biology equals 5 aggregate points. Overall maximum of 20 points.

ATAR profile

VU course code: HCOP

VTAC course code: 4300243051

Campus: City Flinders

ATAR profile of people who received an offer for the Bachelor of Science (Osteopathy)/Master of Health Science (Osteopathy).
  ATAR
(Excluding adjustment factors)		 Selection Rank
(ATAR plus any adjustment factors)
Highest rank to receive an offer 99.60 99.95
Median rank to receive an offer 75.37 83.72
Lowest rank to receive an offer 50.65 62.95

 

Special admission programs

Our special admission programs cover a range of access and equity schemes that allow applicants from participating schools or disadvantaged social, economic or cultural environments to receive additional consideration. These include:

Applicants with vocational education and training (VET/TAFE) study

This information is for people who have completed an accredited award at an Australian Registered Training Organisation.

Admission criteria

Completion of an Australian Advanced Diploma or Diploma (or equivalent) in Health Sciences or similar.

Special admission programs

Our special admission programs cover a range of access and equity schemes that allow applicants from participating schools or disadvantaged social, economic or cultural environments to receive additional consideration. These include:

Applicants with higher education study

This information is for people whose highest level of study since leaving secondary education is a higher education course.

Admission criteria

Completion of at least one semester of an Australian Higher Education award (or equivalent).

Special admission programs

Our special admission programs cover a range of access and equity schemes that allow applicants from participating schools or disadvantaged social, economic or cultural environments to receive additional consideration. These include:

Applicants with work & life experience

This information is for applicants who left secondary school more than two years ago and who have not undertaken VET or higher education study since then.

Admission criteria

Completion of an Australian Senior Secondary Certificate more than two years ago.
PLUS:
Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 25 in English (EAL) or 20 in any other English (or equivalent).
AND:
A study score of at least 20 in one of Biology, Chemistry, any Mathematics or Physics.

Special admission programs

Our special admission programs cover a range of access and equity schemes that allow applicants from participating schools or disadvantaged social, economic or cultural environments to receive additional consideration. These include:

Additional information

A current First Aid certificate (HLTAID011) or Level 11 First Aid Certificate must be obtained prior to HBS3004 and clinical placement. Students must maintain a current certificate until graduation.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON OSTEOPATHY BOARD AUSTRALIA (AHPRA) ENGLISH LANGUAGE SKILLS REGISTRATION STANDARDS

All applicants must be able to provide the information required by the AHPRA English Language Skills Registration Standard for admission to the course.

This requirement applies to both domestic and international students.

All applicants must be able to demonstrate to Victoria University that they meet the Osteopathy Board of Australia AHPRA English Language Skills Registration Standard. Applicants can obtain further information about how to demonstrate the Standard at: https://www.osteopathyboard.gov.au/registration-standards.aspx
As part of this standard, applicants must be able to demonstrate that they have evidence of completing:
• At least 6 years (full time equivalent) continuous education taught and assessed solely in English, in any of the recognised countries (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, United States of America, Canada, Republic of Ireland, United Kingdom). Education includes tertiary qualifications in the relevant professional discipline, which you are relying on to support your eligibility for registration under the National Law.
OR
• IELTS with a minimum IELTS (academic module) overall score of 7 and a minimum score of 7 in each of the four components (listening, reading, writing and speaking).
OR
• OET with a minimum score of B in each of the four components (listening, reading, writing and speaking).
OR
• PTE Academic with a minimum overall score of 65 and a minimum score of 65 in each of the four communicative skills (listening, reading, writing and speaking).
OR
• TOEFL iBT with a minimum total score of 94 and the following minimum score in each section of the test: 24 for listening, 24 for reading, 27 for writing, and 23 for speaking.

Selection criteria assistance

Let us know which qualifications you have studied and we will help you find the admission information that most applies to you.

Which of the following qualifications have you studied, or are currently studying?

Still not sure? Make an enquiry and one of our advisors can assist.

Student profile

Take a look at a student profile to get an overview of students who have previously enrolled in this course.

Pathways & credits

There are many ways you can start your education journey at VU. Pathways offer an easy transition between courses at different levels, so that you can start with a certificate and progress right through to postgraduate study.

Use our credit calculator to find out how much credit you could get towards your course, based on your previous study.

If you have completed study with another university or institution and believe you are eligible to receive credit for skills and past study, you can apply for advanced standing.

Applications for advanced standing can be made after a discussion with your course chair or academic adviser.

Credit Calculator

Find out how much credit you could get towards your course, based on your previous study.

CALCULATE YOUR CREDIT

How to apply

Available start dates:
  • 19 February 2024

Before you apply

Before applying, you should consider whether you also want to apply for:

  • Special admission programs: Depending on your life circumstances you may be eligible for special consideration of your application.
  • Advanced standing: If you have significant experience or studies elsewhere you may be eligible for credit for some units of your course and not have to undertake them.

Find out more about applying for our courses.

Apply through VTAC

Apply through VTAC if any of the following apply to you:

  • you are applying for more than one course
  • you are completing Year 12 in 2023
  • you have an existing VTAC application to study in 2024

VTAC course code: 4300243051

VTAC late applications are due 3 November 2023.

Apply via VTAC

Special Entry Access Scheme

You can apply for consideration of your life circumstances during the application process by submitting a VTAC Special Entry Access Scheme (SEAS) application.

Apply direct to VU

Apply directly to VU if any of the following apply to you:

  • you are a current VU student
  • you are only applying for this course and are not completing Year 12 in 2023

Direct applications are due on 11 February 2024 for our next intake which starts on 19 February 2024.

Apply direct to VU

Already a VU student?

If you are already a VU student, apply direct to VU using our Admissions centre to transfer into this course. Remember it’s best to be accepted into your new course before withdrawing from your current one.

After you apply

  • It’s important to check for emails from us (which may go to your spam/junk folder).
  • Complete any requests for information by the given dates, otherwise your application may not be considered

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Get help

At Victoria University, we aim to display accurate and complete course information online. However, we are unable to guarantee that every course change is currently displayed. You may contact the University directly on +61 3 9919 6100 to confirm the most up-to-date course fees, pathways and credit transfer, recognition of prior learning, admission and enrolment procedures, examinations and services available to our students.