British School of Osteopathy

Formerly the British School of Osteopathy, the University College of Osteopathy has come a long way in its first 100 years, and has played a significant role in championing osteopathy and furthering the profession both in the UK and internationally.

We’re the largest osteopathic educational institution in the UK, and our evidence-informed approach, high-quality teaching and excellent clinical opportunities attracts students from around the world and produces graduates who go on to leading roles within the profession.

Our team of staff are experienced and passionate about what they do, and students often comment on their dedication to helping their students succeed. In fact, many of our staff, are former students who, having developed careers in professional practice, now want to play their own role in training the future osteopaths of tomorrow.

We support an evidence-informed approach to our teaching, learning and patient care, and have an active research department who are regularly published in journals and invited to speak at conferences around the world.

Our clinic, based in nearby Southwark Bridge Road, delivers nearly 40,000 appointments per year, and, in the spirit of our belief that osteopathic healthcare should be accessible to all, much of it is delivered free of charge.

We’ve achieved some significant milestones in recent years, most notably Taught Degree Awarding Powers. As part of this process our academic standards and management processes underwent an intense period of scrutiny, and we are exceptionally proud to now be the only osteopathic institution in Europe granted the power to award our own degrees, and with University College title.The University College of Osteopathy’s purpose and mission is to:

“Continually provide the highest quality education and research for all and the very best care, for each patient, on every occasion". “By 2027, the University College of Osteopathy will be an internationally recognised university for both education and research in osteopathy and associated health care subjects; a vibrant community of staff and students keen to explore and exploit new ideas and challenge existing views, whose work will positively influence the quality of health care and shape future clinical practice locally, nationally and internationally.”

Over the past century the UCO has relocated several times to accommodate its growth, settling in its current location on Borough High Street in London in 1998, and has continuously developed its academic provision to reflect the latest evidence and research and to adapt to osteopathy’s evolving role in the healthcare arena.

Our Chancellor, HRH The Princess Royal, has been an advocate for the UCO since 1984, and continues to attend every student graduation to this day.

Today, our graduates make up approximately 40% of practicing osteopaths in the UK and occupy significant positions within the osteopathic and wider healthcare community, including leadership roles at the General Osteopathic Council, the Institute of Osteopathy and internationally.

In 2016, after an intensive period of review by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA), we became the only osteopathic education provider in Europe to be granted the power to award our own degrees and apply for University College title, which is protected by law. This then led to a change of name to the University College of Osteopathy in 2017.