Bachelor of Science (Osteopathy)/Master of Health Science (Osteopathy)

VU course code: HCOP | CRICOS: 103517C | Level of study: Undergraduate

Duration

4.5 years

Delivery mode

In person

Fees

Tuition fee per semester : AU$17,900

Location

City Campus

Next start date

24 February 2025

Bachelor/Masters of Oseteopathy student gets work experience

Overview

Take a holistic approach to clinical care with a Bachelor of Science (Osteopathy)/Master of Health Science (Osteopathy) at Victoria University (VU).

Get qualified for a rewarding career building ongoing relationships with clients, alleviating pain, optimising mobility and function, emphasising preventative care and promoting healthy lifestyle changes.

VU’s unique degree is the only course in Victoria that allows you to become an osteopath accredited with the Australiasian Osteopathic Accreditation Council (AOAC) in just 4.5 years and at a masters level.

During your degree, which covers both undergraduate and postgraduate subjects, you’ll study:

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

*Anatomy includes studying cadaver specimens at our St Albans Campus anatomy lab.

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

Once you graduate, you’ll be eligible for accreditation to practise as an osteopath, with the skills to:

assess and diagnose a range of conditions
develop safe treatment programs
perform soft-tissue techniques
perform joint mobilisation and manipulative techniques
provide exercise rehabilitation programs.

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

Justify their professional, ethical and legal position as an osteopath within the scope of practice of an osteopath and the broader Australian healthcare system;

Critically appraise scholarly healthcare literature to integrate the best available evidence into practice to continually improve practice;

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;

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;

Implement inclusive, culturally safe, patient-centred care for a diverse range of patient populations across the lifespan, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples;

Advocate for patients and the community by promoting health through effective communication, collaborative practice, inter-professional practice, health education and evidence-based management;

Evaluate patient progress using standardised outcome measures, and document and appropriately communicate information about patient care;

Design and undertake a scholarly piece of work related to the osteopathic profession; and

Critically reflect on theoretical concepts, professional capabilities, self-care, personal and clinical experiences, and embrace lifelong learning to inform and continually improve practice.
: During your Master of Health Science (Osteopathy), you’ll get extensive hands-on experience treating real patients in VU’s Osteopathy Clinic at our state-of-the-art City Tower at our City Campus, as well as in a range of community-based clinics.

Working on a rotational basis both during and in-between semesters, you’ll gain real-world experience working with paying clients under the supervision of expert accredited osteopaths. Treatments you may assist with include:

soft tissue techniques

joint manipulation

joint mobilisation

exercise rehabilitation

general health care advice.
Your clinical work may also involve assisting with ergonomics, general health advice, rehabilitation, referral and resources.
: With this dual qualification in osteopathy, you’ll have the qualifications needed for registration as an osteopath with the Osteopathy Board of Australia and membership with Osteopathy Australia.

You’ll be able to register and practise as an osteopath in all Australian states and in New Zealand.

Entry requirements

Applicants for this course will need to meet the entry criteria outlined below. If you don’t meet the entry criteria, you may be able to gain entry by first completing a related course or unit(s). We call this a ‘pathway’.

If you've completed a qualification where English was the primary language of instruction, you may be eligible for an exemption of English-language requirements.

In some cases, there may be additional entry requirements.

Learn more about entry requirements for international students.

Entry criteria

Meeting the minimum entry criteria does not guarantee entry into this course.

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 (or equivalent).
PLUS:
A study score of at least 20 in one of Biology, Chemistry, any Mathematics or Physics.
OR:
Completion of an Australian Advanced Diploma or Diploma (or equivalent).
PLUS:
IELTS (or equivalent): Overall score of 7.0 (with no band less than 7.0 in Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking).

Special entry programs

If you are from a disadvantaged or underrepresented social, economic or cultural background, you may be eligible for one of our special admission programs. These programs are designed to help you access education more easily.

Learn more about special admission programs

Inherent requirements

Inherent requirements are the abilities, attributes, skills and behaviours needed to meet the learning outcomes of the course.

You should carefully consider the inherent requirement statement as a:

guide for your learning during the course
way for you to identify challenges you may have in studying this course.

Learn more about inherent requirements

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.

Credit & Entry pathways into this course

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

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

Units

Fees & Scholarships

As an international student at Victoria University, you will be required to pay your tuition fees up front each semester.

There may be additional materials fees throughout your studies, depending on your chosen course, as well as an administrative fee as part of your course.

Victoria University is proud to support our international scholarship recipients and sponsored students.

Fees

Scholarships

CAREERS

As a highly-skilled osteopath, you can enjoy the independence of running your own private practice, or choose to provide healthcare in settings such as: