Bachelor of Health Science (Naturopathy)
Naturopathy is a whole medical system combining theory (philosophy and principles) and practice that uses an array of natural therapies to support healing and maintain health.
Next Intake Monday 1st September
Campus Locations
Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Gold Coast, Perth
Course Length
4 years (full-time), Part-time options available
Payment Options
FEE-HELP available for domestic students, upfront payment
Contact Hours
From 6 hours per week (part-time)
"I found some inspirational women at Endeavour. They have such knowledge and life wisdom and amazing brains. We’re lucky to have these people who are willing to give back to the community of naturopaths and guide the next generation. They brought the slides to life during lectures, and you can’t put a price on that."
Learning Outcomes
Develop a deep understanding of social and biological sciences, nutrition, dietary planning, lifestyle education, botany and herbal medicine.
Identify and explain the various dietary philosophies and principles in the application of the therapeutic potentials of food categories from the perspectives of traditional knowledge, use, and research.
Refine your clinic management, decision-making and marketing skills that are instrumental to your future career – all within the on campus, practical, consumer environment of our Wellness Clinics.
Career Opportunities
Graduates will be skilled to pursue several career paths, including:
Clinical practise
Private practise
Content creation
Product development
Research, publishing, education, clinic management, sales or marketing.
Naturopathy graduates are qualified to provide specific and general advice to clients in a range of practitioner and non-practitioner settings.
Student and Alumni Profiles
Alumni Profile
Check out our interview with Naturopathy alumni Belinda Felstead and Vera Lukic
Course Structure
The Bachelor of Health Science (Naturopathy) is offered in mixed mode, with a combination of online, blended, live-streamed and on campus subjects.
Online – fully digital structured learning, supported by our expert academics. Asynchronous (not live) delivery; can study this subject at any time during the week within specified delivery periods. Specific due dates still apply to assessment items.
On campus – attend live classes on one of our 6 campuses at specific timetabled times throughout the week. Supported by online study materials.
Livestream – attend live classes virtually at specific timetabled times throughout the week. Supported by online study materials.
Blended – a mixture of online content delivery with an on campus intensive (typically 3 – 5 days) at the end of the trimester.
Contact our admissions team for additional details on the delivery mode for each subject or download the course structure here.
This program is an accredited AQF Level 7 Higher Education qualification.
This subject introduces students to human anatomy and physiology, chemistry and biochemistry starting with the cell, through the various levels of structural organisation of systems to the organism, as a whole. The integration of basic chemistry, cellular biochemistry, and metabolism into the cell function is discussed. Further, students are introduced to the structure and function of the skeletal, muscular, nervous, endocrine, immune, cardiac, respiratory, renal, reproductive, and integumentary systems.
Subject Brief Course Fees
This subject provides an overview of the historical and philosophical foundations of traditional whole medical systems, tracing their evolution from ancient times to the present. This subject will examine how social, cultural and political factors have shaped healing practices alongside advancements in anatomy, philosophy and other sciences, including contemporary naturopathy. By exploring the philosophy of health, students will gain essential insights into the principles guiding naturopathic practice, fostering a deeper understanding of this, the unique role of naturopathy within modern healthcare, and the philosophical commonalities and distinctions of naturopathy when compared with other health disciplines.
This subject establishes an essential bridge between health science and nutritional medicine. Students are introduced to the fundamentals of human nutritional science, including the biochemical and physiological functions of individual macro- and micro- nutrients, the importance of nutrients in normal cell function, energy balance and metabolism and the consequences of deficiencies or excesses on human health. This subject explores the role of scientific research and its application in nutritional medicine practice. Foundations of Human Nutrition is essential to the further study of nutritional medicine where students will develop a deeper understanding of the role of diet and nutrition in restoring, maintaining, and promoting optimum health and wellbeing.
This subject will develop students’ knowledge of counselling skills and cultural competence relevant to complementary medicine health care. Students will explore the concepts of 'cultural competence and safety’ and a holistic person-centered approach as essential for working with individuals in a complementary medicine, community-based setting, and within a broader healthcare system. This subject will increase awareness of Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islanders and Indigenous peoples’ culturally sensitive histories and their contemporary ways of living, relevant to developing and providing appropriate healthcare services.
This subject is designed to build on the knowledge gained in Introduction to Human Biology (BIOA111) by providing the student with the principles of physiology that underpin natural medicine. Students will explore physiology of the human skeletal, muscular, nervous, endocrine, immune, cardiac, respiratory, renal, and reproductive systems. This subject also explores how these body systems are integrated to maintain homeostasis within the body in a coordinated manner. The study of systems physiology is fundamental to the development of student’s understanding of the normal physiological function. Being able to integrate the normal physiology of the systems provides a strong foundation for ongoing studies where students will develop a deeper insight into diseases that affect these systems.
In Medicinal Food Science, students explore the therapeutic potentials of various whole foods through the examination of natural chemical constituents and the potential effects on health outcomes. This subject also introduces students to the theory and practice of food-based science. Students are encouraged to explore, present and analyse methods of food preparation and cooking, as well as cultivation and storage practices. Medicinal Food Science provides a foundation for later subjects where nutrition and diet therapy are discussed and applied in more depth.
This subject introduces students to reflective inquiry and research methodologies in complementary medicine and health sciences. It covers research terminology, designs, and data analysis, alongside traditional practitioner knowledge. Students will explore clinical research, ethical considerations, and research literature related to therapeutic modalities. Emphasising personal values and motivation in research, the course highlights the importance of selecting appropriate methodologies and understanding the evidence produced. This foundational subject prepares students for further studies by building a strong foundation in research processes and reflective inquiry.
This foundational herbal medicine subject introduces students to the study of plant medicine via an exploration of botany and herbal manufacturing. Through an understanding of basic plant morphology, botanical terminology, taxonomy, and nomenclature, students learn to recognise micro and macroscopic physical characteristics of plants, identify plant specimens, and describe relationships between plants and their environments. Students learn the theory and practice of herbal manufacturing and gain experience in the preparation of plants used in the practice of herbal medicine. Additionally, students are introduced to the legislative and regulatory frameworks that govern the manufacture and sale of botanical medicines in Australia. This subject serves as a foundation for the study of herbal pharmacy and pharmacology, materia medica and therapeutics.
This subject introduces the study of pathology and disease states, and their pharmacological treatment in conventional medicine. This subject also integrates the clinical examination techniques used in the assessment of specific signs and symptoms that are essential to clinical competence of health professionals. The pathological processes of inflammation, hypersensitivity, autoimmunity, and immunodeficiency are covered. The pathological mechanisms related to bacterial, viral and fungal infections and their pharmacological treatment are also explored. The remainder of the course examines the disease states of the musculoskeletal/neuromuscular system and gastrointestinal system. These systems are taught with respect to their pathophysiology, clinical presentation and diagnostic tests and pharmacological treatments. Upon successful completion of this subject, students should be able to demonstrate a thorough understanding of pathology and disease states, and their pharmacological treatments.
This subject builds on biochemistry knowledge to examine how nutrients affect metabolic processes in the human body. Students explore the clinical impact of macro and micronutrients on biochemical pathways to address physiological dysfunction. They integrate knowledge of food sources and nutrient imbalances with clinical signs and symptoms, contrasting normal and dysfunctional metabolic states. The course covers biological oxidation, microbiome dysbiosis, epigenetics, and their roles in disease. Students study liver detoxification, neurotransmitter synthesis, antioxidant mechanisms, inflammation, immune responses, and mitochondrial function. This subject enhances understanding of clinical nutrition and diet therapy, while developing research skills for future nutritional medicine and clinical practice.
In this subject, students will learn advanced counselling skills, and the theory and practice of the crisis intervention. Students will further develop their active listening, communication, engagement, and feedback skills, learning how and when to apply Solution Focused approach and Motivational Interviewing. The aim is to provide a formal accidental counselling training for students who are not trained to be counsellors with the opportunity for the students to: reflect on their own conditioned responses and further develop healthy professional and personal boundaries and a variety of self-care strategies while demonstrating compassionate, culturally safe, and effective accidental counselling techniques.
This subject introduces students to the study of herbal medicine pharmacology and pharmacognosy. Through investigation of the major chemical constituents found in plants and the biological influences of those constituents in the human body, students gain a deeper understanding of the properties, actions and therapeutic activities of herbs and their potential for managing different health conditions alongside consideration of toxicity and safety.
This subject builds on the knowledge gained in Clinical Pathophysiology and Pharmacology 1. It covers disorders related to the endocrine, reproductive, respiratory, cardiovascular and renal systems. The pathophysiological disease states are taught with respect to their aetiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic tests and pharmacology. Upon successful completion of this subject, the students should be able to demonstrate a thorough understanding of pathophysiology and disease states and their pharmacological treatments.
The first clinical skills subject introduces students to the principles and decision-making processes that will support effective professional and safe management of clients in clinical practice. Blending natural medicine philosophy and principles and evidence informed practice, students will develop a framework for decision-making, communication and client management preparing students for supervised clinical practicum.
This subject introduces the skills for assessing clients’ diets and determining appropriate plans for modifying diet and food choices in individuals at different life stages. Building on knowledge from previous nutritional medicine and bioscience subjects, students explore nutritional assessment tools such as anthropometric measurements and dietary analysis software and learn principles for working with clients to assist them with implementing changes to their diets. The changing nutritional needs across the human lifespan are examined with reference to common conditions. This subject prepares students for clinical practice for the nutritional management of clients’ health.
Herbal medicine materia medica explores herbs that are used in the practice of naturopathy and herbal medicine. The herbs are reviewed from the perspective of its taxonomy and morphology, natural chemical constituents, therapeutic actions and applications, administration and dosage. This investigation considers both the traditional and historical use of the herbs as well as relevant research-based evidence. The materia medica is explored in relation to physiological systems and the herbs that exert a primary influence on body systems to aid in the understanding of herbal medicine management of clinical cases.
This subject builds on the knowledge gained in Clinical Pathophysiology and Pharmacology 1 and 2. It covers disorders related to the nervous, integumentary, lymphatic, and haematological systems. This subject further considers neoplasia and disorders that affect the ear, nose, throat, and paediatric disorders as well as multisystem disorders. These systems are taught with respect to their pathophysiology, clinical presentation, medical red flag symptoms, diagnostic tests, clinical examination, and pharmacological treatments. Upon successful completion of this subject, the students should be able to demonstrate a thorough understanding of pathophysiology and disease states and their pharmacological treatments.
This subject equips students with the skills to effectively apply clinical examination and assessment techniques in the differential diagnostic process. By introducing, both in-office and external, diagnostic, and functional assessment techniques, students will learn to develop accurate working diagnoses. Emphasis is placed on the correct interpretation of clinical data within the appropriate clinical context to ensure appropriate holistic case analysis. Additionally, the subject fosters the development of communication skills and interprofessional collaboration, essential for enhancing patient safety and the quality-of-care delivery in clinical practice.
Naturopathic Clinical Skills 2 focuses on developing client-practitioner rapport, clinical case taking and the integration of clinical examination techniques to bridge the gap between classroom theory and clinical practice. This subject enhances students’ abilities to evaluate and manage clients through case taking, health assessment, and therapeutic planning in accordance with all relevant laws and legislation to this practice. Students will observe peers and lecturers taking cases and engage in clinical case discussions and will further emphasise the development of clinical analysis, case management skills, therapeutic strategies within the framework of naturopathic philosophy, theory and legislative requirements.
This subject integrates previous knowledge in herbal medicine materia medica and herbal pharmacology, with pathology, pharmacology and clinical science, to extend the understanding of the management of a range of health conditions. Herbal treatment strategies are presented, discussed and critically evaluated from the perspective of naturopathic and traditional herbal principles, combined with modern scientific evidence. The scope, limitations and opportunities for client-centred herbal care are explored through case studies featuring multiple comorbidities and concurrent pharmaceutical prescriptions with consideration to collaborative, ethical, and culturally safe professional practices.
The main objective of this first clinical practicum is to foster teamwork among junior and senior student practitioners, under the guidance of clinic supervisors. Junior student practitioners will be active participants in most of the facets of clinical practicum. This includes observing and undertaking consultations with the public, reception, and dispensary duties, gathering clinically relevant client data, and working though the research requirements for ongoing client management and treatment efficacy. Students will be required to reflect on their clinical practice skills and their experiences in clinic and to take active responsibility for continued learning and development and improving their clinical practice skills.
This subject introduces students to traditional naturopathic modalities, focussing on flower essences and naturopathic hydrotherapy. The subject provides historical background, philosophical, and theoretical frameworks for the inclusion of these treatment practices in contemporary naturopathy. Students will explore the application of Bach flower essences and Australian Bush Flower Essences in addressing common physical, emotional, and psychological conditions in both acute and chronic treatments. Students will investigate naturopathic hydrotherapy, its effects on physiological processes, and with this understanding, the application of treatment outcomes and timeframes for effect. Also, the necessary equipment and facilities to provide hydrotherapy practice as part of naturopathic practice is covered.
This subject integrates and consolidates knowledge gained from previous health science and clinical nutrition subjects through an exploration of the nutritional management of various health conditions and individual cases. Students learn to develop nutritional treatment plans that incorporate dietary and lifestyle behaviour modification and nutrient prescribing. They learn to critically evaluate these treatment plans from the perspectives of evidencebased practice and natural medicine principles. Clinical Nutritional Medicine is an essential foundation for clinical practice.
This subject deepens students’ grasp of evidence-based herbal medicine practice, incorporating life stage considerations and complex multi-system conditions for comprehensive client care. Using real-life cases, students blend traditional and modern knowledge to create holistic, personalised treatment plans, refining their understanding of herbal medicine delivery intricacies including herbal energetics, synergy, and optimised dosing. Students will also hone their skills in the justification of treatment decisions based on naturopathic principles, supported by both traditional and scientific rationalisation.
In this second Clinic Practicum subject, students continue to build and apply their Naturopathic clinical practice skills through the management of clients who present to the supervised college clinics, as primary student practitioners (interns). Clinical Practicum 2 incorporates a weekly naturopathic clinic workshop, which develops naturopathic case analyses for people with common health conditions that may present to naturopaths in clinical practice. In these workshops the focus is on integrated, evidence based naturopathic practice. This subject requires that students demonstrate competence in all aspects of clinical practice, including case-taking, health assessment, appropriate communication, therapeutic planning, dispensing treatments, and case management. As primary interns, Naturopathic Clinical Practicum 2 students are expected to demonstrate professional, evidence informed practice, identify the strengths and limitations of their practice, refer and collaborate with other professionals when appropriate and develop short and long term effective and safe treatments tailored to individual client needs.
Public health is the collective effort that aims to prevent illness and promote health and this foundational subject aims to deepen students’ appreciation of the potential contribution of Complementary Medicine to public health outcomes locally and globally. It introduces Complementary Medicine students to the scope of public health activity and the significant challenges it faces in the twenty-first century. The subject develops students’ understanding of the determinants of health and focuses their attention on the drivers of health outcomes and inequities. It also invites students to engage with the knowledge and practice of planning and evaluating health interventions and service provision, a fundamental aspect of public health practice.
In this subject, students will study the historical foundations that underlie the contemporary development of mindfulness as a method for achieving well-being as well as other wellness practices. Through the study of a multidimensional approach to wellness, students will be able to define wellness and wellbeing, and understand its application to quality of life. Students will also come to recognise the importance of understanding the full potential of mindfulness practices, and its application, in both self-care practices and the care of others.
Senior clinic students at Endeavour Teaching Clinics will enhance their naturopathic skills by leading primary consultations (including via Telehealth), conducting client assessments, and case analyses. They will support less advanced students while advancing their expertise in naturopathic case taking, ethical communication, and interdisciplinary teamwork. Key skills include interpreting pathology reports, understanding client conditions, and applying evidence-informed naturopathic treatments. Students will integrate naturopathic philosophy in managing diverse client cases, addressing both acute and chronic conditions.
In this final clinic practicum before graduation as practitioners, students will evidence autonomous client assessment and care to fully support the transition into post-graduation practice. Students will fine-tune their Telehealth consultation practice alongside their onsite consultations. Students will demonstrate a high level of professional practice in all facets of naturopathic clinical care, evidencing a strong understanding of long-term client management including relevant and realistic use of diagnostic tests and naturopathic assessment techniques, and produce well considered, individualised and efficacious treatment plans and prescriptions for a diverse clientele base. Students will self-direct their clinical exploration and research in preparation for all follow up client consultations, will maintain well-kept records and evidence inter-professional communication skills.
This subject provides students with the tools to manage and operate a clinical medicine practice by exploring business planning, marketing and finance as well as gaining an understanding of legal and regulatory issues. It also enables students to reflect upon their professional ethical responsibilities in relation to codes of conduct and / or ethical codes within their respective professional associations’ membership protocols. Students will also learn how to be prepared for starting their own clinical practice and get familiar with the processes they need to follow for setting up their practice in complementary medicine.
This subject equips students to apply homeopathy’s fundamental principles in the treatment of common acute and first aid conditions. It covers the homeopathic concepts of health and disease, the purpose of homeopathic human pathogenetic trials and the processes of collecting, preparing, storing, and dispensing medicines in a homeopathic pharmacy. Students learn about Occupational Health and Safety, Therapeutics Goods Administration (TGA) requirements, and case taking and analysis using simple reportorial matrices. The subject also emphasises the importance of recognising when to refer clients for chronic homeopathic treatment, and to other complementary and alternative medicines, allied health, and medical practitioners.
This subject brings together the disciplines of sociology and nutrition by drawing awareness to the complex influences upon food choices and dietary behaviours, examining the social determinants of health. Sociology of Food provides an understanding of the fundamental theories and sociological constructs to facilitate holistic practice within individual clients and associated communities. This subject builds on students’ knowledge and competency in understanding the barriers particular individuals and groups have regarding food choice. Students’ will explore and challenge their own personal experiences, attitudes, values, and beliefs related to food choices and behaviours. These learnings aim to enhance the students’ social and cultural competency to better meet diverse nutritional needs in client settings, as a clinical nutritional practitioner.
This subject introduces students to the specific nutritional requirements for athletes with emphasis placed on the practical application of sports nutrition guidelines and practices. Students will critically evaluate the science and practice of sports nutrition and review the principles and research underpinning current recommendations. Sports related nutritional deficiencies and eating behaviours will be discussed. Students will explore current and emerging sports nutrition dietary information and apply this learning to the development of dietary programs for optimal nutritional health in specific sports and populations of athletes.
Endeavour Clinic
Students gain significant clinical experience at Endeavour Wellness Clinics under the supervision of qualified practitioners. Book a Naturopathy appointment today or simply drop in for a first-hand look at where you'll complete your practical/clinical subjects.
Professional Registration
Bachelor of Health Science (Naturopathy) graduates may apply for membership with the following professional associations:
Additional Course Options
Diploma of Health Science
Gain foundational knowledge of biological and social sciences. Choose from electives available in Nutrition & Naturopathy.
Bachelor of Health Science (Clinical Nutrition)
Clinical nutritionists integrate traditional food wisdom and current scientific evidence to motivate individuals and communities to eat well and live healthier lives.
Naturopathy is all about finding the innate point of balance within each individual. Naturopaths trust in your body’s inherent wisdom to heal itself and acknowledge that all bodies are truly unique. They look beyond symptoms to identify and treat underlying causes of illness by considering you as a whole person – mind, body and spirit and treat each client using a variety of carefully selected natural health techniques.
Students experience a holistic learning environment, broadening their studies across biological sciences in order to understand the human body and its functions. Importance is also placed on social sciences including psychology and counselling, nutrition and dietary planning, botany and herbal medicine studies, diagnostic techniques and clinical skills and extensive clinical practice in Endeavour's Wellness Clinics.
It takes four years of full-time study to become a naturopath in Australia.
Undertaking higher education requires a high level of commitment and definitely comes with its own challenges along the way. However, we are here to support you in your learning journey! You can book individual consultations with academics to help you with course work and get the results you want out of your degree. You’ll also have a student success adviser you can reach out to as well as Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS) to support you as you study.
Instead of committing to at least four years of study, ease into your study journey with our one-year full-time (two-year part-time) online Diploma of Health Science – the perfect stepping stone into a Bachelor degree. Gain essential foundational knowledge of biological and social sciences and be exposed to an array of complementary medicine electives. On completion, you’ll receive up to 32 credits points towards Bachelor of Health Science (Clinical Nutrition) should you choose to continue your studies.
You can start your natural health journey by enrolling in a 100% online, Diploma of Health Science. Intakes available four times a year! Plus, you’ll receive credits into a Bachelor degree on successful completion of your course.
Select subjects can be completed online, fully supported by academic and support staff. As you move further into your degree and into clinical experience there will be an on-campus requirement.
Completion of high school or equivalent or alternative pathway.
New jobs are being created every day in naturopathy as the industry continues to grow and the general population becomes increasingly aware of the importance of their health for overall wellbeing. Naturopaths work in:
Clinical practice
Private practice
Multi-disciplinary clinics
Health food stores
Pharmacies
Day spas
Retreats
Product development
Education
Publishing
Research
Marketing
Working as a Clinical Practitioner offers you a level of flexibility that is unusual in other occupations. You can choose your own hours and be your own boss, all the while offering clinical support that transforms lives. We make sure you are as knowledgeable and equipped to take care of a client's wellbeing by delivering quality education and clinical experiences at Endeavour
Apart from being the largest private Higher Education provider of natural medicine courses in the Southern Hemisphere, there are a number of reasons to consider studying at Endeavour:
Six centrally located campuses across Australia
We have first-class digital learning experience with content specifically designed for online learning
Smaller class sizes
Access to 24/7 subject and assignment support
Fit study around work and personal commitments with flexible study options
Study alongside other students who share your holistic beliefs
Dedicated student success consultant to assist you along your education journey
Clinical experience built into our degrees
Talk to our Admissions team about studying at Endeavour today.
In our open-to-the-public Endeavour Wellness Clinic, Naturopathy students complete hundreds of clinical hours. Putting theory into practice is an essential component of a well-rounded educational experience at Endeavour. Enabling students to join the workforce equipped with the knowledge, expertise, contacts, and self-assurance required to succeed in their chosen fields.