uniselectImage
uniselectLogo

The shortcut to your shortlist

Make your university search faster and less stressful.
Get a personalised shortlist by selecting what matters to you.

GET STARTED

Study Complementary Medicine, why & how to study

Complementary Medicine is a fascinating and fulfilling area. Read on to see why it could be the subject for you.

Doctor Holding and Showing Vertebrae on Skeleton

CONTENTS

  1. What’s Complementary Medicine?

  2. What Complementary Medicine degrees can you study?

  3. What do you need to get onto a Complementary Medicine degree?

  4. What topics does a Complementary Medicine degree cover?

  5. How will you be assessed?

  6. Why study Complementary Medicine?

  7. Are scholarships and bursaries available to students studying a Complementary Medicine degree?
  8. What do Complementary Medicine graduates earn?

  9. What jobs can you get as a Complementary Medicine graduate?

  10. What are the postgraduate opportunities?

  11. Similar subjects to Complementary Medicine

  12. Have any questions?

What’s Complementary Medicine?

Complementary Medicine and alternative medicine are treatments that fall outside mainstream healthcare. Complementary Medicine is usually used alongside conventional mainstream medical treatment and alternative medicine is given instead of mainstream medicine.  

Often complementary and alternative medicines are used as a single term and include a range of treatments such as herbal medicine and homeopathy, acupuncture, reflexology and hypnosis. At degree level, courses mainly focus on manipulation therapies like osteopathy and chiropractic. 

Take a look at the university league table for Complementary Medicine.

What Complementary Medicine degrees can you study?

There are a wide range of undergraduate courses in this area including Alternative Medicine, Beauty Therapies, Chiropractic and Osteopathy. Some examples include:

Chiropractic MSci/MChiro

Chiropractic is a healthcare profession concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the effects of these disorders on the function of the nervous system and general health. You’ll develop your knowledge, skills and behaviours on this integrated Master’s which will enable you to deliver high levels of patient care in a safe and competent manner.

Search Chiropractic courses.

Osteopathy BOst/MOst

This qualification will give you the knowledge, skills, and experience you need to become a registered osteopath, qualified to diagnose and treat a wide range of health issues through manual therapy, tailored exercises, rehabilitation, and advice. You will gain a thorough understanding of anatomy, physiology, pathology and the psychology of pain, together with excellent clinical examination techniques, combining in-depth academic work with extensive practical clinical skills. A BOst (Hons) takes three and a half years to complete full time and a MOst (Hons) usually takes four years.

Find Osteopathy courses.

Herbal Medicinal Science (Top-Up) BSc

This one year specialist programme is a partnership between London Metropolitan University and Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (SUTCM). To participate in this course, you must first complete the SUTCM programme, with additional London Met modules. Provided you achieve the necessary grades, you’ll then progress onto this course – which you can choose to study either at SUTCM in Shanghai, or at London Metropolitan University in the UK.Herbal medicine takes a holistic approach to wellness, and uses natural products to treat patients. On the top-up course, you’ll expand on your knowledge of traditional medicines and learn about the ways they are developing with the aid of technology. 

Read more about this specialist course.

Cosmetic Science BSc/MSc

Gain the skills and knowledge for a rewarding and successful specialist career in the cosmetic and toiletry industry. This applied science course focuses on the needs of the cosmetic industry and its consumers, at the same time as providing students with the critical and evaluative skills to be able to function as professional scientists.

See all Cosmetic Science courses.

Other options

Providers may offer a foundation year or integrated master’s. Professional practice is an essential part of these disciplines and occasionally involves studying abroad.

What do you need to get onto a Complementary Medicine degree?

Must have

Entry requirements will depend on the university, typically ranging from 112–128 UCAS tariff points. Qualifications may include:

  • A Levels: ABB–BCC
  • BTECs: DDD–DMM
  • Scottish Highers: BBCCC
  • International Baccalaureate: 32–28
  • Universities will usually ask that you have studied: biology or human biology at A Level (or equivalent)
  • Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) checks (PVG scheme in Scotland) will be required because you may be working with children or vulnerable adults 

Good to have 

  • Studied chemistry, psychology, physics, mathematics, PE or sport at A Level (or equivalent)
  • Work experience or shadowing related occupations such as an osteopath or chiropractor, and/or experience of receiving a treatment yourself
  • Volunteered in a healthcare setting to build and evidence your interpersonal skills
  • Furthered your knowledge through books or the websites of professional bodies such as the Institute of Osteopathy or the British Chiropractic Association

What topics does a Complementary Medicine degree cover?

Typical modules for courses in osteopathy or chiropractic medicine include:

  • Introduction to osteopathic concepts and principles
  • Anatomy and physiology
  • Clinical biomechanics and imaging
  • Pathophysiology and therapeutics
  • Manual handling
  • Developing business management skills
  • Chronic pain management
  • Autonomous osteopathic practice
  • Clinical imaging
  • Clinical anatomy
  • Neuroanatomy and clinical neurology
  • Public health for chiropractors
  • Clinical physiology for chiropractic practice
  • Evidence-based concepts for contemporary chiropractic practice
  • Functional movement and exercise in chiropractic practice

How will you be assessed?

Courses are assessed in a variety of ways, depending on the module:

  • Case studies
  • Exams
  • Observed clinical practice
  • Oral and poster presentations
  • Written assignments

Why study Complementary Medicine?

Career-specific skills:

  • Skills and competences required as a registered osteopath or chiropractic
  • Knowledge of human physiology, anatomy and systems and their abnormalities
  • Skills in the physical treatment and rehabilitation of patients with musculoskeletal disorders
  • Understanding of evidence-based practice

Transferable skills:

  • Business and management skills
  • Communication
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Problem solving
  • Reflective and analytical reasoning
  • Research

Professional accreditation:

  • Degrees in osteopathy must be approved by the General Osteopathic Council (GOC), graduates will be able to register with the GOC and work as an osteopath in the UK
  • Degrees in chiropractic must be approved by the General Chiropractic Council (GCC) and may also be accredited by the European Council on Chiropractic Education (ECCE), enabling graduates to register with these bodies to practice in the UK and Europe

Some universities offer students specific scholarships, bursaries, or grants. It’s worth checking if you are eligible for any help, how to apply and what it covers such as materials, tuition fees and/or living costs.

What do Complementary Medicine graduates earn?

Complementary Medicine graduates may start their careers with a salary of £20,000–£28,000.

An osteopath can practice within the NHS or in a private clinic. In the NHS, an oesteopath usually starts on Band 5, currently £28,407 with opportunities to earn more with experience. In private practice, an average income for established osteopaths is around £45,000. Most chiropractors work privately, although some do provide services via the NHS.

If you are a self-employed Complementary Medicine practitioner, your incomes will depend on your business acumen, the geographical area and whether you are able to grow your reputation and clientele.

What jobs can you get as a Complementary Medicine graduate?

A degree in Complementary Medicine is highly vocational, usually leading to work directly in the field you qualify in. However, your transferable skills could lead to work in a range of other careers:

  • Animal osteopath
  • Chiropractor
  • Health journalist
  • Lecturer
  • Life coach
  • Musculoskeletal (MSK) first contact practitioner in the NHS
  • Osteopath
  • Researcher

What are the postgraduate opportunities?

Postgraduate study offers the opportunity for specialism in areas such as sports or paediatric treatment. Examples of taught master’s and research degrees at postgraduate level include:

  • Advanced Professional Practice Clinical Sciences MSc
  • Advanced Professional Practice Paediatric Musculoskeletal Health MSc
  • Chiropractic MSc

Similar subjects to Complementary Medicine

Other subject areas that might appeal to you include:

Search for Complementary Medicine courses now!

Have any questions?

Ask our experts! You can email ask@thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk with your question about studying Complementary Medicine – we’ll be happy to hear from you.

Related articles

Belfast City Hall Northern Ireland

University tuition fees and financial support in...

An overview of undergraduate university tuition fees and student finance for students...

08 Nov 2024
Cardiff Bay Pier Head Building

University tuition fees and financial support in...

A guide to student finance and university tuition fees for undergraduates from Wales...

08 Nov 2024
Royal Mile, Edinburgh, Scotland

University tuition fees and financial support in...

An overview of undergraduate university tuition fees and student loans for students from...

08 Nov 2024

Is this page useful?

Yes No

Sorry about that...

HOW CAN WE IMPROVE IT?

SUBMIT

Thanks for your feedback!