British School of Osteopathy

The largest alternative medicine training centre in Europe, on Borough High Street just south of London Bridge. It’s in a large 1960s-style building; inside it is spacious and light, providing a good atmosphere for both students and patients. An extensive library containing a large collection of osteopathic as well as conventional medical literature. It’s virtually next door to Borough tube station, 10 minutes’ walk to London Bridge station (tube and rail) and around 30 minutes’ walk to the West End (less by tube); there is storage for bicycles. Small union, not politically active but channels its resources into welfare, sports, entertainments and staff relations. The course involves a good deal of physical contact between students whilst learning and practising osteopathic technique – doesn’t mean it is a four year orgy but does mean that the prospect of stripping down to underwear becomes almost an everyday occurrence and physical intimacy becomes demystified. A demanding course: a part-time counsellor provides confidential support for students (even the most resilient can feel vulnerable sometimes). Workload is phenomenal; the course is much the same as medical school (one year less to do it in!) but training is holistic, ie health and illness are looked at in terms of the patient rather than the disease. Much less emphasis on biochemistry and pharmacology than at med school, since osteopathy is a drug-free system of medicine. Anatomy vitally important: students learn the entire body at a level of detail doctors only approach during postgraduate surgical training. Much of the course is osteopathic technique. Clinical training starts with observation in first year and gradually increases, under supervision, until fourth year students see patients right through from taking their case histories to providing final treatment. Work assessed by combination of written exams, viva voces, essays and Objective Structured Practical Examinations (OSPEs). There is inevitably some attrition, mostly first year. Some 40% of students are 18–22-year-olds, mostly straight from sixth form; another 40% are between 25–35, many of them graduates; the remainder are in their late 30s, even into their 40s, doing what they have always wanted to do before it is too late!

Housing: No School halls, but some available for BSO students in local unis. Eats: Small canteen with sandwiches and limited hot food. Very good value. Drink: SU has cheapest drinks locally. Stella is main beer. Nightlife: Lots of SU social events; good connections with nearby bars. Locals: Very friendly in bars and sandwich shops. Sports: Weight-training room. Off campus access to any sport you can think of if enough people interested. Financial help: Osteopathic Education Foundation help some students from 2nd year. Jobs: A heavyweight course and students do clinical work during the so-called holidays. Good time-management and masses of energy enable some students to earn some money. Informal name: BSO. Best features: Good atmosphere – close knit.

Enquiries to any SU member via the school.