Occupational Therapy (Pre-registration)

Entry requirements

A degree at 2:2 or above with evidence of knowledge or experience in the research process and / or completion of an undergraduate dissertation or independent study.

Months of entry

July

Course content

Occupational therapists play a key role in helping people regain, maintain or improve their participation in life. Often they work with people whose ability to take part in life has been impacted by injury, disability or illness.

Occupational therapists also work with individuals and groups whose ability and freedom to take part in life is restricted by other circumstances. This includes those who are detained in prison, or in immigration centres, as well as people who are homeless, or are refugees.

Our MSc Occupational Therapy (Pre-registration) is an accelerated qualifying programme for graduates with a suitable and relevant first degree; it is not suitable for qualified Occupational Therapists.

Successful completion of the course gives you eligibility to apply for registration with Health and Care Professions Council and membership of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (subject to approvals).

The MSc Occupational Therapy will be underpinned with a School-wide commitment to interprofessional learning that aims to develop skilled and compassionate practitioners who have the confidence to engage with and promote professional, social, and political change in health and social care.

The course runs in parallel with the MSc Physiotherapy Therapy (Pre-registration) integrating collaborative working, and evidence-based person-centred practice.

You are supported to gain more than 1,000 hours of practice-based learning in a variety of practice settings.

Our Occupational Therapy BSc achieved 92% Student Satisfaction in the 2020 National Student Survey.

Key features

• You will develop occupational therapy practice skills through work-based learning and our excellent on-site facilities, including Ability House, a purpose designed home setting and simulation suites.
• You will develop critical knowledge and skills to become an evidence-based practitioner, able to develop, design and deliver sustainable occupational therapy services for clients, communities and populations.
• Your Practice Placement modules are an important aspect of the education of an Occupational Therapist and are continued throughout the two years of the programme.
• We work in partnership with service users and carers to inform the design of the programme as well as involving them in aspects of delivery, enabling you to directly interact with, and learn from, service users and carers.
• You will develop effective team working and communication skills through inter-professional learning, projects and placements enabling you to facilitate group education and to work within a multi-disciplinary team.

Teaching

This MSc Occupational Therapy (Pre-registration) course will be delivered full-time over two years, with each year comprising 45 weeks of learning; this is required to incorporate your practice based learning placements. There will be a minimum of 1,000 hours in practice placements, ensuring that you have enough opportunity to achieve a breadth of experience in a variety of settings, such that successful completion will ensure you can practice as an autonomous newly qualified practitioner.

You are taught through a combination of interactive lectures, practical skills sessions and small group seminars. Teaching will include both online and face-to-face teaching methods. Practical sessions are focused on developing Occupational Therapy specific and professional skills. Seminars enable discussion, developing your understanding of topics covered in lectures.

In addition, meetings with personal academic tutors are scheduled on at least 4 occasions in the first year and three occasions in the 2nd year of the course.

The University places emphasis on enabling students to develop the independent learning capabilities that will equip you for lifelong learning and future employment, as well as academic achievement. A mixture of independent study, teaching and academic support from Student Services and Library Services, and also the personal academic tutoring system enables you to reflect on progress and build up a profile of skills, achievements and experiences that will help you to flourish and be successful.