Course description
Do you want to help people to live their best life? Using specialist skills, knowledge and behaviours Occupational Therapists support people of all ages to do the things they want to do whether that be at home, at school, at work or anywhere else!
The BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy* will prepare you to practice confidently, competently and safely, making a difference to peoples lives across a variety of settings. Equipping you with the skills and knowledge required to rise to the diverse challenges faced by Occupational Therapists you will be encouraged to show initiative, demonstrate critical thinking and work flexibly.
Studying alongside other student health professionals within the School of Nursing and Allied Health, you will develop vital communication and interprofessional skills to enhance your practice and enrich person centred care.
The programme will develop your theoretical knowledge and practical skills within both the university, via state of the art simulation facilities and through a variety of practice environments.
On successful completion of the course*, you are eligible to apply for registration as an Occupational Therapist with the Health and Care Professions Council and apply for membership of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists.
Suitability - Who should attend?
Standard 3-year entry requirements
UCAS Tariff: 112 points
A Level: Grade profile of BBC
BTEC: Grade profile of DMM. This can be achieved from either an Extended National Diploma or a combination of smaller BTEC qualifications.
T-levels: A T-level in Health or Science preferably with an overall Merit grade.
Other Level 3 qualifications are also accepted for entry. Please contact the admissions team for further information.
Graduate Entry: A 2:2 or above in a related area will also be considered.
Plus:
GCSE/IGCSE English Language and Maths grades 9-4/A*-C or equivalent
If English is not your first language, you must have an IELTS score of 7.0, with no element below 6.5. (Other English language qualifications are also accepted. Please contact admissions for further information).
Applicants must have achieved these before commencing on the three year programme.
Applicants will also be required to be successful at a values based in-person interview.
All applicants for professional health programmes must undergo additional screening to ensure their suitability. Screening includes assessment of disclosure and barring service (DBS) status; as well as occupational health checks. Occupational health assessments ensure that applicants are fit to fulfil the demands of placements
Course delivery details
To support you to develop the skills, knowledge, behaviours and values required to be eligible for registration as an Occupational Therapist, you will study a wide variety of content both academically and practically. This will include:
- An Introduction to Professional Healthcare Practice
- Person Centred Care through the Lifespan
- Human Functioning in Health and Disease
- Population Health
- Empowering Self and Others
- Challenges in Rehabilitation
- Collaborative Care
- Leading Change
- Using Evidence to Transform Practice
- Transitioning to Professional Life
Practice placements are introduced in year 1 and continue throughout the programme. These placements provide a range of experiences in various settings and sectors facilitating a strong understanding of the value and contribution of Occupational Therapy.
Consent to participate in practical sessions
The development of practical and clinical skills is integral to your development as an Occupational Therapist. Participation in interactive practical sessions is therefore essential to your education. During these teaching sessions, you may be asked to act as a ‘model’ for others. Acting as a model may, by necessity, involve the removal of clothing that enables adequate observation and/or examination of movements or body parts. Therefore, before commencing practical classes, all students are given detailed information regarding this issue and are required to sign the relevant section of a consent form. The issue of consent will be explained in more detail during the induction week and revisited throughout the programme.
If you feel that there is an issue which may have an impact on your ability or willingness to act as a model, please contact the programme leader to discuss this. We will make every effort to put mechanisms in place to address your concerns. We want everyone to feel valued and included whilst ensuring that everyone gains the practical and clinical skills needed to successfully complete the programme of study.
Expenses
The full-time course fee for September 2024 will be updated in due course, subsequent to UK Government decisions regarding fees for the 2024 academic cycle start.
The University will review tuition fees and increase fees in line with any inflationary uplift as determined by the UK Government, if permitted by law or government policy, in subsequent years of your course. It is anticipated that such increases would be linked to RPI (the Retail Price Index excluding mortgage interest payments).
Additional Funding
From September 2020 students studying Nursing BSc, Midwifery BSc, Physiotherapy BSc, Occupational Therapy BSc and Paramedic Science BSc will receive a non-repayable and non-means-tested payment of at least £5,000 a year, in addition to existing mainstream student support.
There will also be additional funding available on some prioritised courses. Additional funding will also be available for childcare and to support regional recruitment difficulties. Total additional funding could come to as much as £3,000 per year for some students.
The new funding will be offered to continuing students as well as new course entrants.
The new financial support is intended to provide additional funding and not to replace the maintenance loan.
This funding is made available by the government. Students are advised to check the latest information from the government to confirm their eligibility.
Continuing Studies
On successful completion of this course you will be eligible to apply for registration with the HCPC as an Occupational Therapist*. Within the profession, there are a wide range of job opportunities and new occupational therapy graduates generally have the advantage of a structured career path with good long term prospects.
Opportunities exist within the NHS such as hospitals, community clinics or GP surgeries or within the public sector such as schools or Government agencies or within the private sector such as within Industry. Many occupational therapists practice independently too. There are significant opportunities to work in partnership with different agencies to help people to live their best life.
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