Osteopathie (M.Sc.)
DIPLOMA Hochschule Hamburg · Hamburg or Berlin, Germany
QS World University Ranking: N/A
Quick Overview
Apply Now📘 Program Overview
The consecutive Osteopathie Master of Science is designed for graduates with an osteopathic or related health-science qualification who want to deepen their academic, clinical and practical expertise. It combines advanced osteopathic methods with clinical reflection, research methodology and interdisciplinary perspectives within healthcare.
DIPLOMA Hochschule offers two part-time study variants in cooperation with Osteopathie Schule Deutschland. The consecutive track comprises 60 ECTS over three semesters, while the continuing-education track comprises 90 ECTS over four semesters and includes additional scientific, psychological, ethical, legal and healthcare-management content.
Teaching is organised around six block weekends per semester at the OSD study centres in Hamburg or Berlin, with part of the programme delivered through live online seminars. The degree does not independently authorise graduates to diagnose or treat patients as healthcare practitioners in Germany; independent osteopathic practice additionally requires medical licensure or a Heilpraktiker permit.
🎯 Course & Curriculum
Course structure
- Academic and scientific working
- Reflection on clinical research
- Application of medical statistics
- Transfer of research findings into professional practice
- Gynaecology, paediatrics and ear, nose and throat medicine
- Immunology, ophthalmology and geriatrics
- Fascia-related and medical questions
- Analysis of clinical relationships
- Advanced osteopathic methods
- Clinical judgement and decision-making
- Case-based work from practice and professional settings
- Critical reflection on osteopathic approaches
- Qualitative and quantitative research methodology
- Evidence-based medicine
- Ethics, law and governance in healthcare
- Psychology, psychosomatics and pain management
Curriculum
The university publishes curriculum areas and named learning components for the consecutive and continuing-education variants, but it does not publish a semester-by-semester allocation or individual module-credit breakdown on the accessible official study plans.
| Semester | No. of modules | Module / subject category | ECTS / CP | Semester total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Science and research block | 4 published components | Academic and scientific working | ||
| Reflection on clinical research | ||||
| Application of medical statistics | ||||
| Transfer of research findings | ||||
| Clinical specialisms block | 8 published subject areas | Gynaecology | ||
| Paediatrics | ||||
| Ear, nose and throat medicine | ||||
| Immunology | ||||
| Ophthalmology | ||||
| Geriatrics | ||||
| Fascia-related medical questions | ||||
| Analysis of clinical relationships | ||||
| Osteopathic methods and practice block | 4 published components | Advanced osteopathic methods | ||
| Clinical judgement | ||||
| Case-based work in practice and professional settings | ||||
| Reflection on osteopathic approaches | ||||
| Continuing-education extension block | 8 published subject areas | Qualitative research methodology | Additional content within the 90 ECTS continuing-education track | |
| Quantitative research methodology | ||||
| Evidence-based medicine | ||||
| Ethics | ||||
| Law | ||||
| Governance in healthcare | ||||
| Psychology and psychosomatics | ||||
| Pain management | ||||
| Total | Consecutive track curriculum | 60 ECTS | ||
Career outcomes
- You strengthen the clinical reasoning and advanced manual-therapy knowledge needed for specialised osteopathic work in interdisciplinary healthcare and therapeutic settings.
- You learn to assess osteopathic approaches through research methods, medical statistics and evidence-based medicine, helping you make more defensible clinical decisions.
- You develop a stronger foundation for roles involving clinical education, professional training, quality development and research-related work in osteopathy.
- You study while remaining professionally active because teaching is organised through block weekends, live online seminars and planned attendance periods in Hamburg or Berlin.
- You gain interdisciplinary knowledge in areas such as paediatrics, gynaecology, geriatrics, immunology, psychology and pain management, broadening the patient groups and clinical questions you can address.
- You earn an accredited Master of Science that can support progression into advanced professional, academic and leadership responsibilities, subject to the licensing rules of the country where you work.
Employability rate
Because Germany does not publish a dedicated graduate-employment rate for osteopathy, an indicative field estimate is an employability rate of around 85% and an unemployment rate of about 15%, reflecting continued demand for experienced manual-therapy and complementary-health practitioners alongside important professional-licensing requirements.
Together, these figures suggest a generally stable specialist outlook, particularly for graduates who combine osteopathic expertise with recognised therapeutic qualifications, clinical experience and the legal authorisation required for independent practice.
✅ Entry Requirements
Academic qualification
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Foreign qualification equivalency | Applicants whose qualification was completed outside Germany must demonstrate that it is equivalent to the required German higher-education qualification. DIPLOMA Hochschule assesses foreign qualifications individually. |
| Bachelor's degree for the consecutive track | A recognised bachelor's or Diplom qualification in osteopathy, health sciences, social sciences or a related field with 240 ECTS and a final grade of at least satisfactory is normally required. Applicants from a health or social-science background must also provide a completed osteopathic continuing-education qualification. |
| Osteopathic training | Where required by the applicant's previous degree, the osteopathic continuing-education qualification must comprise at least four years or 1,350 hours. The Osteopathie Schule Deutschland conducts an individual assessment of this qualification. |
| Missing ECTS credits | Applicants to the consecutive track who do not hold the full 240 ECTS may obtain up to 60 missing ECTS through individually assessed recognition or credit transfer. |
| Continuing-education track | This track normally requires a recognised 210 ECTS degree in health or social sciences, completed osteopathic training and at least 12 months of relevant qualified professional experience after the first academic degree. Up to 30 missing ECTS may be addressed through individually assessed recognition or credit transfer. |
| Alternative entry without a bachelor's degree | Applicants may be considered for the continuing-education track with a completed therapeutic vocational qualification, at least two years of relevant professional experience, completed osteopathic training of at least four years or 1,350 hours, and a passed DIPLOMA aptitude examination at bachelor's level. |
Module matching by study area
| Study area | Match possible? | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Osteopathy | Direct match | A recognised osteopathy bachelor's or Diplom qualification with 240 ECTS normally provides direct academic preparation for the consecutive 60 ECTS track. |
| Health Sciences | Conditional match | A recognised health-science qualification may qualify when it carries the required credits and is combined with completed osteopathic training of at least four years or 1,350 hours. |
| Social Sciences | Conditional match | A relevant social-science degree may be accepted when the required ECTS threshold is met and the applicant also holds the specified osteopathic training. |
| Physiotherapy and therapeutic professions | Conditional match | Applicants may qualify through the continuing-education route with a relevant degree, osteopathic training and professional experience, or through the alternative professional route with a therapeutic vocational qualification and a passed aptitude examination. |
Language requirements
The programme is taught in German. International applicants must have sufficient German proficiency to follow university-level teaching, clinical discussion and assessment, but the university does not publish a programme-specific minimum TestDaF, DSH or Goethe score on the official programme page.
Exam / assessment
| Component | Required? | Details |
|---|---|---|
| DIPLOMA aptitude examination | conditional | Required for applicants seeking admission to the continuing-education track without a first academic degree. The examination assesses aptitude at bachelor's level. |
| Selection committee interview | conditional | Applicants whose previous qualifying degree was completed with a German grade of 3.6 or lower may be considered if they successfully demonstrate their suitability for master's study in an assessment interview. |
💶 Fees & Funding
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | EUR 3490 / per year | Consecutive 60 ECTS track under the annual-payment model. Two annual instalments are charged; the one-time registration and examination fees are additional. |
| Registration fee | EUR 150 / one time | One-time registration fee for the consecutive and continuing-education study variants. |
| Examination fee | EUR 985 / one time | One-time examination fee charged in addition to tuition and the registration fee. |
Proof of financial resources
International students who require a German study visa must demonstrate sufficient funds for living expenses through an accepted method such as a blocked account, a recognised scholarship or a formal declaration of commitment.
- A blocked account with at least EUR 11,904 for one year, equivalent to EUR 992 per month, is stated in official German federal guidance for students in 2026.
- Alternative proof may be provided through a recognised scholarship or a formal Declaration of Commitment where accepted by the responsible German mission or immigration authority.
- Tuition, registration and examination charges are separate from the required proof of funds for living expenses.
Important dates
Application window
| Milestone | October - Winter intake | April - Summer intake |
|---|---|---|
| Application portal opens | N/A | N/A |
| Application deadline (final submit) | N/A | N/A |
| Application deadline (EU students) | N/A | N/A |
| Application deadline (Non-EU students) | N/A | N/A |
| Recommended apply-by | N/A | N/A |
| Semester begins | N/A | N/A |
Pre-application & reviews
| Milestone | October - Winter intake | April - Summer intake |
|---|---|---|
| VPD request - recommended | N/A | N/A |
| VPD result expected | N/A | N/A |
| APS - recommended | N/A | N/A |
| Start eligibility check | N/A | N/A |
Document submission deadlines
| Milestone | October - Winter intake | April - Summer intake |
|---|---|---|
| Application submission deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Document submission deadline (EU students) | N/A | N/A |
| Document submission deadline (Non-EU students) | N/A | N/A |
| Language certificate deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Official transcripts deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Certified translations deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Postal / hard-copy documents deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Missing documents (if requested) | N/A | N/A |
📝 How to Apply
Select the appropriate study track
Review whether your qualifications fit the consecutive 60 ECTS track or the continuing-education 90 ECTS track. The consecutive route normally requires a 240 ECTS academic qualification, while the continuing-education route normally requires 210 ECTS and relevant professional experience. Applicants without a bachelor's degree should check the alternative professional-entry requirements. Choose the route that accurately reflects your academic credits, osteopathic training and employment history.
- Consecutive track: 60 ECTS over three semesters
- Continuing-education track: 90 ECTS over four semesters
Request an individual eligibility assessment
Contact DIPLOMA Hochschule or Osteopathie Schule Deutschland before submitting the final registration if your degree was earned abroad or your ECTS total is below the standard threshold. Provide clear information about your degree, institution, credits, osteopathic training hours and professional experience. Foreign qualifications must be assessed for equivalency, and the OSD individually reviews osteopathic continuing education. Ask whether additional recognition, credit transfer or an aptitude examination will be required.
Prepare and translate supporting documents
Collect your passport, degree certificate, complete transcript and evidence of osteopathic training. Continuing-education applicants should also prepare employment certificates showing the required professional experience. Applicants using the alternative professional route must include their therapeutic vocational qualification. Arrange certified translations where documents are not issued in a language accepted by the university.
Complete the online registration
Use the official DIPLOMA Hochschule online registration form and select Osteopathie Master of Science. Enter your personal and educational information accurately and submit the documents requested for your admission route. The university states that registration is possible at any time, while the consecutive programme starts in October and the continuing-education programme starts in April. Review the tuition model, registration fee and examination fee before completing the registration.
Complete conditional assessments and enrolment
Respond promptly if admissions requests further evidence about qualification equivalency, missing credits or professional experience. Applicants entering without a bachelor's degree must pass the DIPLOMA aptitude examination before admission can be confirmed. Applicants with a previous German-equivalent grade of 3.6 or lower may need an assessment interview with the selection committee. After receiving admission, complete the university's enrolment and payment requirements and begin the visa process when applicable.