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Please note: this course is now closed for 2024 entry. 

Becoming an occupational therapist.

By studying on the BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy at Northumbria University, you will be taking your first steps towards a profession described as ‘the best kept secret in healthcare.’ Occupational therapy is a varied, creative, and engaging career, designed to make a meaningful difference to people’s everyday lives. As an occupational therapist you can have a real impact on health and social care outcomes and enjoy excellent prospects and opportunities.

Your learning journey.

You will learn about the value of occupation to health and wellbeing – understanding yourself as an ‘occupational being’ and understanding the underpinning theory and philosophy of the profession. You will explore the sciences that support our work and develop essential skills – things like communication and teamwork.

Through the years you build your understanding of the person, their environment, and their occupational performance, all the time developing skills to help meet their needs.

You will grow your academic skills and develop skills in finding and using research to support your practice. In your final year you will be supported to produce a systematic review of a topic of interest to you.

You undertake a series of practice placements where you can grow your skills in the workplace. You will complete 1000 hours of practice within a mixture of NHS Trusts, Local Authority Services as well as possible opportunities within emerging areas of practice.

Education is delivered in a range of ways to create a varied, engaging course. There will be lectures, workshops, and real-life simulation which help develop your understanding of both theory and practice.

 

What is Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapy focusses on helping people to live their best lives. We promote health and well-being through occupation by enabling people to participate in the everyday things that matter to them. The word occupation is often associated with work. However, occupational therapists using in much more widely to describe:

‘The everyday activities that people do as individuals, in families and with communities to occupy time and bring meaning and purpose to life. Occupations include things people need to, want to and are expected to do’ (World Federation of Occupational Therapists, 2021).

Imagine being unable to do something that really matters to you – dress yourself, read to your children, drive a car.  If it is something that matters to you, it matters to occupational therapists. We work with people who face a wide range of issues that affect their ability to do the things they want, need or ought to do. These can include physical or mental illness, disability, and challenging life circumstances. We also work with people at every stage of the lifespan. We help in three main ways:

  • Helping people to develop the skills they need: for example, helping a child to develop handwriting skills, supporting their success in school.
  • Adapting an activity to make it more doable: such as adapting a game of football to ‘walking football’ or ‘frame football’ – making it available to different ages and abilities
  • Adapting the environment to make tasks possible: Working with employers and workers to ensure their workplace is accessible for everyone

Why choose Northumbria to study Occupational Therapy?

  • Top University – Occupational Therapy at Northumbria is ranked 7th in the UK by the Complete University Guide for 2025.
  • Excellent Connections – We have excellent partnerships with local health and social care organisations, experts by experience and voluntary agencies. These connections help support the vital practical elements of the course and give diverse, real world experiences.
  • Over 1000 Hours of Placement – At Northumbria we know the value of real-world practice which is why each student undertakes a minimum of 1000 clinical hours.
  • A Research Powerhouse – Northumbria’s research in Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy is ranked 8th in the UK for research power (REF, 2021), out of 91 submissions.
  • Accredited Degree – The course is approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and is accredited by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists. This means that it is  designed to reach industry standards and prepare you the world of work.

  • Student Rated – 100% of students studying Health Sciences at Northumbria thought staff made their subject engaging and believed that their course enabled them to develop knowledge and skills needed for their future (NSS, 2024).

How does this course prepare me for work?

Our courses are designed to prepare you for a career in occupational therapy - a global, client-centred, science-based, healthcare profession. Occupational therapy continues to grow in popularity and provide exciting career opportunities in the UK and overseas.  Therapists are working in more sectors than ever.

The course’s contemporary curriculum prepares you for work in multiple areas, and successful completion makes you eligible for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council.Health & Care Professions Council

 

 

Please note: this course is now closed for 2024 entry. 

Becoming an occupational therapist.

By studying on the BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy at Northumbria University, you will be taking your first steps towards a profession described as ‘the best kept secret in healthcare.’ Occupational therapy is a varied, creative, and engaging career, designed to make a meaningful difference to people’s everyday lives. As an occupational therapist you can have a real impact on health and social care outcomes and enjoy excellent prospects and opportunities.

Your learning journey.

You will learn about the value of occupation to health and wellbeing – understanding yourself as an ‘occupational being’ and understanding the underpinning theory and philosophy of the profession. You will explore the sciences that support our work and develop essential skills – things like communication and teamwork.

Through the years you build your understanding of the person, their environment, and their occupational performance, all the time developing skills to help meet their needs.

You will grow your academic skills and develop skills in finding and using research to support your practice. In your final year you will be supported to produce a systematic review of a topic of interest to you.

You undertake a series of practice placements where you can grow your skills in the workplace. You will complete 1000 hours of practice within a mixture of NHS Trusts, Local Authority Services as well as possible opportunities within emerging areas of practice.

Education is delivered in a range of ways to create a varied, engaging course. There will be lectures, workshops, and real-life simulation which help develop your understanding of both theory and practice.

 

What is Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapy focusses on helping people to live their best lives. We promote health and well-being through occupation by enabling people to participate in the everyday things that matter to them. The word occupation is often associated with work. However, occupational therapists using in much more widely to describe:

‘The everyday activities that people do as individuals, in families and with communities to occupy time and bring meaning and purpose to life. Occupations include things people need to, want to and are expected to do’ (World Federation of Occupational Therapists, 2021).

Imagine being unable to do something that really matters to you – dress yourself, read to your children, drive a car.  If it is something that matters to you, it matters to occupational therapists. We work with people who face a wide range of issues that affect their ability to do the things they want, need or ought to do. These can include physical or mental illness, disability, and challenging life circumstances. We also work with people at every stage of the lifespan. We help in three main ways:

  • Helping people to develop the skills they need: for example, helping a child to develop handwriting skills, supporting their success in school.
  • Adapting an activity to make it more doable: such as adapting a game of football to ‘walking football’ or ‘frame football’ – making it available to different ages and abilities
  • Adapting the environment to make tasks possible: Working with employers and workers to ensure their workplace is accessible for everyone

Why choose Northumbria to study Occupational Therapy?

  • Top University – Occupational Therapy at Northumbria is ranked 7th in the UK by the Complete University Guide for 2025.
  • Excellent Connections – We have excellent partnerships with local health and social care organisations, experts by experience and voluntary agencies. These connections help support the vital practical elements of the course and give diverse, real world experiences.
  • Over 1000 Hours of Placement – At Northumbria we know the value of real-world practice which is why each student undertakes a minimum of 1000 clinical hours.
  • A Research Powerhouse – Northumbria’s research in Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy is ranked 8th in the UK for research power (REF, 2021), out of 91 submissions.
  • Accredited Degree – The course is approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and is accredited by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists. This means that it is  designed to reach industry standards and prepare you the world of work.

  • Student Rated – 100% of students studying Health Sciences at Northumbria thought staff made their subject engaging and believed that their course enabled them to develop knowledge and skills needed for their future (NSS, 2024).

How does this course prepare me for work?

Our courses are designed to prepare you for a career in occupational therapy - a global, client-centred, science-based, healthcare profession. Occupational therapy continues to grow in popularity and provide exciting career opportunities in the UK and overseas.  Therapists are working in more sectors than ever.

The course’s contemporary curriculum prepares you for work in multiple areas, and successful completion makes you eligible for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council.Health & Care Professions Council

 

 

Course Information

UCAS Code
B925

Level of Study
Undergraduate

Mode of Study
3 years Full Time

Department
Social Work, Education and Community Wellbeing

Location
Coach Lane Campus, Northumbria University

City
Newcastle

Start
September 2025

Fees
Fee Information

Modules
Module Information

Department / Social Work, Education & Community Wellbeing

Within this department, over half of our research in Social Work and Social Policy has been rated as world leading or internationally excellent.

Discover NU World / A virtual journey through everything Northumbria has to offer.

Explore our immersive 360 tours, informative subject videos, inspirational student profiles, ground-breaking research, and a range of life at university videos and articles.

Delve Deeper / Discover more about life at Northumbria

Book an Open Day / BSc Occupational Therapy (Hons)

Visit an Open Day to get an insight into what it's like to study Occupational Therapy. Speak to staff and students from the course and get a tour of the facilities.

Entry Requirements 2024/25

Standard Entry

112 UCAS Tariff points

From a combination of acceptable Level 3 qualifications which may include: A-level, T Level, BTEC Diplomas/Extended Diplomas, Scottish and Irish Highers, Access to HE Diplomas, or the International Baccalaureate.

Find out how many points your qualifications are worth by using the UCAS Tariff calculator: www.ucas.com/ucas/tariff-calculator

Northumbria University is committed to supporting all individuals to achieve their ambitions. We have a range of schemes and alternative offers to make sure as many individuals as possible are given an opportunity to study at our University regardless of personal circumstances or background. To find out more, review our Northumbria Entry Requirement Essential Information page for further details www.northumbria.ac.uk/entryrequirementsinfo

Subject Requirements:

There are no specific subject requirements for this course.

GCSE Requirements:

Applicants will need Maths, English Language and a Science at minimum grade 4/C, or an equivalent.

Additional Requirements:

Applicants will be required to attend an interview. Admission is subject to a suitable DBS Enhanced Certificate and a satisfactory health check. Applicants must meet the Health and Care Professions Council's suitability for registration requirements.

International Qualifications:

We welcome applicants with a range of qualifications which may not match those shown above.

If you have qualifications from outside the UK, find out what you need by visiting www.northumbria.ac.uk/yourcountry

English Language Requirements:

International applicants should have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 7.0 with 6.5 in each component (or an approved equivalent*).

*The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS. You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades in our English Language section: www.northumbria.ac.uk/englishqualifications

For further admissions guidance and requirements, please visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/admissionsguidance Please review this information before submitting your application.

Entry Requirements 2025/26

Standard Entry

112 UCAS Tariff points

From a combination of acceptable Level 3 qualifications which may include: A-level, T Level, BTEC Diplomas/Extended Diplomas, Scottish and Irish Highers, Access to HE Diplomas, or the International Baccalaureate.

Find out how many points your qualifications are worth by using the UCAS Tariff calculator: www.ucas.com/ucas/tariff-calculator

Northumbria University is committed to supporting all individuals to achieve their ambitions. We have a range of schemes and alternative offers to make sure as many individuals as possible are given an opportunity to study at our University regardless of personal circumstances or background. To find out more, review our Northumbria Entry Requirement Essential Information page for further details www.northumbria.ac.uk/entryrequirementsinfo

Subject Requirements:

There are no specific subject requirements for this course.

GCSE Requirements:

Applicants will need Maths, English Language and a Science at minimum grade 4/C, or an equivalent.

Additional Requirements:

Applicants will be required to attend an interview. Admission is subject to a suitable DBS Enhanced Certificate and a satisfactory health check. Applicants must meet the Health and Care Professions Council's suitability for registration requirements.

International Qualifications:

We welcome applicants with a range of qualifications which may not match those shown above.

If you have qualifications from outside the UK, find out what you need by visiting www.northumbria.ac.uk/yourcountry

English Language Requirements:

International applicants should have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 7.0 with 6.5 in each component (or an approved equivalent*).

*The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS. You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades in our English Language section: www.northumbria.ac.uk/englishqualifications

For further admissions guidance and requirements, please visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/admissionsguidance Please review this information before submitting your application.

Fees and Funding 2024/25 Entry

UK Fee in Year 1: £9,250

* The maximum tuition fee that we are permitted to charge for UK students is set by government. Tuition fees may increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, these are subject to government regulations and in line with inflation.


International Fee in Year 1: £18,250


Please see the main Funding Pages for 24/25 scholarship information.

 


ADDITIONAL COSTS

You may be required to purchase a fob watch and suitable footwear for use in placement, which will cost approximately £80. You will need to pay for your own travel costs, which may be approximately £800 per year depending on your placement location. You may be eligible to claim reimbursement of travel costs from the NHS Business Authority. Up to date information relating to this can be found at: https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/student-services. If using a car to attend placement, you may also need to pay parking charges of approximately £200 per year.

Fees and Funding 2025/26 Entry

UK Fee in Year 1*: TBC

* Government has yet to announce 25/26 tuition fee levels. As a guide, 24/25 fees were £9,250 per year. 



International Fee in Year 1: £19,350


Please see the main Funding Pages for 25/26 scholarship information.

 


ADDITIONAL COSTS

You may be required to purchase a fob watch and suitable footwear for use in placement, which will cost approximately £80. You will need to pay for your own travel costs, which may be approximately £800 per year depending on your placement location. You may be eligible to claim reimbursement of travel costs from the NHS Business Authority. Up to date information relating to this can be found at: https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/student-services. If using a car to attend placement, you may also need to pay parking charges of approximately £200 per year.

If you’d like to receive the latest updates from Northumbria about our courses, events, finance & funding then enter your details below.

* At Northumbria we are strongly committed to protecting the privacy of personal data. To view the University’s Privacy Notice please click here

Modules

Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.

OT4000 -

Becoming a Professional Occupational Therapist (20 Credits)

By the end of this module, you will demonstrate awareness of the origins and development of occupational therapy (including the evolution of the profession towards the current emphasis on autonomy and empowerment of individuals, groups and communities), the contribution of Occupational Science and also the attributes, values and behaviours required as a professional and as part of registration with HCPC, including the standards expected from the RCOT Professional body. Within this learning you will also begin to develop and utilise the academic study skills which will help you in your transition into higher education and your professional development as an occupational therapist. With a focus on topics pertinent to a career as an occupational therapist, you will have the opportunity to explore professional standards, codes of conduct, principles of reflective practice and the importance of evidence informed practice. You will begin your development as a professional lifelong learner using the RCOT Career Development Framework and reviewing the expectations of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) by HCPC. Knowledge and skills that you develop in this module will be transferable to all other level 4 modules and will be the foundation to support your development as a professional and your practice as an occupational therapist.

More information

OT4001 -

Practice Placement 1 (20 Credits)

By the end of this module, you will have experienced Occupational Therapy practice, developing an understanding of the value of collaboration and team-working in health and care contexts and making a contribution to person-centred care. The module will help you to understand and demonstrate the professional conduct required as set out by the Professional standards for occupational therapy practice, conduct and ethics (RCOT, 2021) and HCPC Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics (2016).

Through supervised practice, you will explore and experience human occupation and the benefits of therapeutic activity to health and wellbeing. You will also learn about, and demonstrate at a foundation level, the values, skills and professional requirements of a student Occupational Therapist.

Experts by experience have helped to identify the following core values as the most important elements of building relationships with service users and carers: respect, trust, compassion, empathy, listening and collaboration. Through a range of learning experiences students will be supported to examine these values and to think about how they demonstrate them in their professional practice.

In semester 1, this module will include a simulated placement – an approach to practice learning which recreates elements of scenarios, environments or practice conditions to enable you to deliberately practice, develop skills and reflect on your learning. In semester 2, you will then spend time in a practice context to complete your first period of practice placement. Hours from both the simulated placement, and the Placement 1 period will contribute to the 1000 hours of supervised practice required to be eligible to register to practice on completion of the programme.

Practice placement involves working in lots of different environments, including people’s homes, hospitals, clinic environments and also working in virtual environments. A particular theme of this module is ‘being a professional in practice environments’ to raise awareness of safety of self and others within practice environments and begin to consider your own impact within the environment.

More information

OT4002 -

Fundamentals of Occupational Science (20 Credits)

Upon the completion of this module you will be able to demonstrate your understanding of the the relationship between occupation (everyday activities that people find meaningful and purposeful), and health and wellbeing. You will develop knowledge from occupational science to develop your understanding of how engaging in occupation impacts on the health and wellbeing of individuals. You will also learn about health promotion and community engagement from an occupational perspective. You will also explore how health and environmental factors impact on an individual’s motivation and ability to engage with everyday activities in order to develop your knowledge and understanding of the fundamental concepts of occupational science that underpins the practice of occupational therapy.

More information

OT4003 -

Introduction to Occupational Disruption (20 Credits)

By the end of this module, you will have a clear understanding of the term occupational disruption and the range of social and individual factors which impact on a person’s ability to engage in occupations linked to health and wellbeing. You will build on existing knowledge from occupational, physical, behavioural and social sciences to inform your understanding of a range of acute and chronic disease processes and the impact these may have on an individual’s capacity to engage in self-care, productivity and leisure pursuits. You will develop a foundation understanding of how social, cultural and political factors external to an individual may also impact on the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities and the subsequent impact on occupational engagement. Building on your understanding of human developmental theory you will explore occupational disruption and potential impact on health and wellbeing associated with each life stage.

More information

OT4004 -

Occupations Across the Lifespan (40 Credits)

By the end of this module, you will have a foundation understanding of the meaning occupational roles that humans undertake across their lifespan and how they undertake important activities associated with these roles.

You will develop knowledge from physical, behavioural and social sciences to inform your understanding of how humans develop the ability to carry out occupations – for example how humans move, think and emotionally respond.

You will also consider how human development is influenced by engagement in occupations, and how, simultaneously, choice and engagement in activities and roles is influenced by the skills that are developed throughout the human lifespan.

More information

RV5001 -

Academic Language Skills for Nursing, Midwifery and Health; Social Work, Education and Community Wellbeing (Core – for International and EU students only,0 Credits)

Academic skills when studying away from your home country can differ due to cultural and language differences in teaching and assessment practices. This module is designed to support your transition in the use and practice of technical language and subject specific skills around assessments and teaching provision in your chosen subject. The overall aim of this module is to develop your abilities to read and study effectively for academic purposes; to develop your skills in analysing and using source material in seminars and academic writing and to develop your use and application of language and communications skills to a higher level.

The topics you will cover on the module include:

• Understanding assignment briefs and exam questions.
• Developing academic writing skills, including citation, paraphrasing, and summarising.
• Practising ‘critical reading’ and ‘critical writing’
• Planning and structuring academic assignments (e.g. essays, reports and presentations).
• Avoiding academic misconduct and gaining credit by using academic sources and referencing effectively.
• Listening skills for lectures.
• Speaking in seminar presentations.
• Presenting your ideas
• Giving discipline-related academic presentations, experiencing peer observation, and receiving formative feedback.
• Speed reading techniques.
• Developing self-reflection skills.

More information

OT5000 -

Practice Placement 2 (20 Credits)

By the end of this module, you will have further developed your Occupational Therapy knowledge and skills by completing your second Occupational Therapy practice placement. This will build on the skills and experience gained during placement 1.

Through supervised practice, you will actively participate in the Occupational Therapy process, learning to apply knowledge drawn from your work in modules completed so far, as well as developing core practice skills. You will reflect on the core values important to service users and carers and consider their application to practice. You will learn about, and experience, the importance of cultural intelligence, collaborative working and utilise opportunities to develop your professional and organisational skills and consider the role of the environment in creating an enabling/ disabling experience. You will apply this knowledge to taking a more active role within the delivery of safe and effective occupational therapy practice.

The placement will continue to encourage your learning of the reflective process and support your development as a reflective and evidence-based practitioner and will make links to theoretical concepts from other Y1 and Y2 modules. Part of being a professional in practice is managing workload and your own emotional responses and there will be opportunities to reflect on this both in University and on placement in order to develop physical and mental health self-care strategies.

As you will be guided by professional and regulatory body requirements for student occupational therapists, practice placement is a fundamental part of preparing you for your own future professional employment. Hours completed on this module contribute to the 1000 hours of supervised practice required to be eligible to register to practice on completion of the programme. Some of the pre and post placement university learning can be verified as placement hours.

The preparatory period in university prior to placement will revisit the professional conduct required in practice as set out by the Professional standards for occupational therapy practice, conduct and ethics (RCOT, 2021) and HCPC Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics (2016).

More information

OT5001 -

Occupation and Public Health (20 Credits)

This module will bring an occupational science perspective to local and global health and wellbeing issues. Drawing on concepts such as occupational justice, occupational marginalisation and occupational apartheid, you will explore how human activities and behaviours are influencing contemporary population health challenges (for example obesity, food insecurity and climate change), but also how occupation can be a solution for communities to move towards sustainable health and wellbeing.

You will be supported and encouraged to engage with local, national and global debates on health in order to develop and apply your own understanding of occupational perspectives of populations and public health concerns.

The development of knowledge and skills on this module will increase an appreciation of the political, sociocultural and environmental factors of human occupation and relationship to health and wellbeing.

More information

OT5002 -

Evidence and Research underpinning Occupational Therapy Practice (20 Credits)

This module will help you to develop your critical reading skills so that you will be in a position to make wise decisions about the selection and use of evidence to support your occupational therapy practice and continuing professional development. In this module you will be reading and critically appraising published research and other forms of evidence that inform health and social care practices, with a particular focus on occupational therapy. You will develop your understanding of the meaning of knowledge and how knowledge is generated within ethical parameters. Particular attention will be paid to current service user and carer involvement in healthcare research and how this can be facilitated in future knowledge generation. Service users recognised as equal partners and valued contributors will be considered as the key to the development and enhancement of service provision. You will develop knowledge and understanding of research terminology, methodologies and research methods by exploring relevant terminology, concepts and research processes. You will develop your critical appraisal skills to enable you to appreciate the value and limitations of a variety of approaches used in health and social care research. By the end of the module you will be familiar with the value of published literature reviews and will be starting to think of your topic for your own literature review to be undertaken in the final year of your programme of studies.

More information

OT5003 -

Innovations in Occupational Therapy (20 Credits)

By the end of this module, you will gain an understanding of the benefit of occupational therapy in a variety of contexts. You will develop your knowledge of occupational science to inform your understanding of how the professional philosophy of occupational therapy and occupational justice can be applied in emerging and innovative settings to enhance and facilitate occupational opportunities for individuals, groups and communities.

You will also explore and critique current health, social care, economic and political drivers which are key in the development of occupational therapy services and debate the opportunities and barriers to occupational justice and professional practice.

More information

OT5004 -

Occupational Therapy Practice Skills (40 Credits)

Occupational Therapists use a wide range of practice skills to identify and assess occupational needs and to facilitate occupational engagement for those they work alongside. By the end of this module, you will have developed practice skills which enable Occupational Therapists to work with people with a range of needs and in a range of practice settings.

The core skills of an Occupational Therapist link to how they select, analyse, adapt and utilise occupations to promote occupational engagement, health and wellbeing. This module will focus on the occupational therapy process and the development of professional clinical reasoning skills. You will be provided with opportunities to learn and practice these skills and apply them to a range of authentic case studies and practice contexts. This will include consideration of listening and interviewing skills in order to understand occupational needs and priorities; practical skills in planning and facilitating individual and group activities in a range of practice contexts while considering a range of variables including risk management that impact on safe and effective practice . Alongside these practical skills, professional reasoning and decision-making skills will also be developed throughout the module. In addition, you will also have the opportunity to develop wider professional skills including skills in risk assessment, record keeping and collaborative working.

More information

RV5001 -

Academic Language Skills for Nursing, Midwifery and Health; Social Work, Education and Community Wellbeing (Core – for International and EU students only,0 Credits)

Academic skills when studying away from your home country can differ due to cultural and language differences in teaching and assessment practices. This module is designed to support your transition in the use and practice of technical language and subject specific skills around assessments and teaching provision in your chosen subject. The overall aim of this module is to develop your abilities to read and study effectively for academic purposes; to develop your skills in analysing and using source material in seminars and academic writing and to develop your use and application of language and communications skills to a higher level.

The topics you will cover on the module include:

• Understanding assignment briefs and exam questions.
• Developing academic writing skills, including citation, paraphrasing, and summarising.
• Practising ‘critical reading’ and ‘critical writing’
• Planning and structuring academic assignments (e.g. essays, reports and presentations).
• Avoiding academic misconduct and gaining credit by using academic sources and referencing effectively.
• Listening skills for lectures.
• Speaking in seminar presentations.
• Presenting your ideas
• Giving discipline-related academic presentations, experiencing peer observation, and receiving formative feedback.
• Speed reading techniques.
• Developing self-reflection skills.

More information

OT6000 -

Occupational therapy centred community practice (30 Credits)

This module will build on your existing knowledge of public health issues. It will enable you to explore the use of occupation to develop and promote health and wellbeing in groups and communities in a practical and applied way. You will focus on an identified community and collaborate with that community to understand their occupational needs and assets. You will further your understanding of engaging with groups and communities and develop skills in presenting your ideas and facilitating dialogue with others by adopting a co-production approach. Through a practical experience you will further develop core professional skills in collaborative goal setting, risk assessment and project planning. You will revisit the sustainability agenda in occupational therapy practice and work with stakeholders to develop a plan linked to sustainable occupations. Links will be made throughout the module to concepts of occupational science. Practical hours on this module will contribute to practice placement hours.

More information

OT6001 -

Practice Placement 3 (20 Credits)

By the end of this module, you will have consolidated your Occupational Therapy knowledge and skills by achieving a minimum of 1000 hours of assessed Occupational Therapy practice. This will build on the skills and experience gained during placement 1 and 2. Through supervised practice, you will actively participate in the delivery of Occupational Therapy services, learning to apply knowledge drawn from your work in modules completed so far, as well as integrating core practice skills. You will reflect on the core values important to service users and carers and consider their application to practice. You will learn about, and experience, the importance of cultural intelligence, collaborative working and utilise opportunities to develop your professional and organisational skills and consider the role of the environment in creating an enabling/ disabling experience. You will apply this knowledge to taking an active and increasingly autonomous role within the delivery of safe and effective occupational therapy practice.

The placement will continue to encourage your learning of the reflective process and support your development as a reflective and evidence-based practitioner and will make links to theoretical concepts from other Y1, Y2 and Y3 modules. Part of being a professional in practice is managing workload and your own emotional responses and there will be opportunities to reflect on this both in University and on placement in order to develop physical and mental health self-care strategies during lectures, seminars and small group work as well as formal and informal clinical supervision during placement.

As you will be guided by professional and regulatory body requirements for student occupational therapists, practice placement is a fundamental part of preparing you for your own future professional employment. Hours completed on this module contribute to the 1000 hours of supervised practice required to be eligible to register to practice on completion of the programme. Some of the pre and post placement university learning can be verified as placement hours.

The preparatory period in university prior to placement will revisit the professional conduct required in practice as set out by the Professional standards for occupational therapy practice, conduct and ethics (RCOT, 2021) and HCPC Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics (2016).

More information

OT6002 -

Professional development and lifelong learning (30 Credits)

You will draw on your learning from previous modules and placement experiences to continue to develop and consolidate your knowledge skills and values in preparation for practice and meeting the requirements for registration with HCPC as an Occupational Therapist. You will continue to develop your reflective skills and identify your own areas for development to focus your learning and support your transition to Professional Occupational Therapist; learning to assess your own skills, take responsibility for own learning and continual professional development. This will be in line with the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) Career development Framework (RCOT 2021 ). This module also considers employability and enables you to identify the next step in terms of applying for posts, professional use of social media and interview preparation. Engagement with this module will provide you with mentoring skills to support learners in practice as preparation for supervising students as a qualified practitioner.

More information

OT6003 -

Occupational Therapy Dissertation (40 Credits)

In this module you will have the opportunity to conduct a literature review, research proposal or service improvement proposal on a self-selected topic, of personal and professional interest, in an area relevant to your occupational therapy practice. You will engage in the process of addressing real practice topics/issues through critical engagement with published literature. You will have the opportunity to access and apply research and other sources of evidence to a practice-based topic under the guidance of dissertation tutors. You will have the opportunity to further enhance your knowledge and skills of information retrieval, and critical appraisal developed previously in your programme of studies. In addition you will synthesise a body of evidence and consider in detail how the application of evidence can impact on the quality of service provision and your own professional development as a life-long learner.

More information

Modules

Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.

OT4000 -

Becoming a Professional Occupational Therapist (20 Credits)

By the end of this module, you will demonstrate awareness of the origins and development of occupational therapy (including the evolution of the profession towards the current emphasis on autonomy and empowerment of individuals, groups and communities), the contribution of Occupational Science and also the attributes, values and behaviours required as a professional and as part of registration with HCPC, including the standards expected from the RCOT Professional body. Within this learning you will also begin to develop and utilise the academic study skills which will help you in your transition into higher education and your professional development as an occupational therapist. With a focus on topics pertinent to a career as an occupational therapist, you will have the opportunity to explore professional standards, codes of conduct, principles of reflective practice and the importance of evidence informed practice. You will begin your development as a professional lifelong learner using the RCOT Career Development Framework and reviewing the expectations of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) by HCPC. Knowledge and skills that you develop in this module will be transferable to all other level 4 modules and will be the foundation to support your development as a professional and your practice as an occupational therapist.

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OT4001 -

Practice Placement 1 (20 Credits)

By the end of this module, you will have experienced Occupational Therapy practice, developing an understanding of the value of collaboration and team-working in health and care contexts and making a contribution to person-centred care. The module will help you to understand and demonstrate the professional conduct required as set out by the Professional standards for occupational therapy practice, conduct and ethics (RCOT, 2021) and HCPC Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics (2016).

Through supervised practice, you will explore and experience human occupation and the benefits of therapeutic activity to health and wellbeing. You will also learn about, and demonstrate at a foundation level, the values, skills and professional requirements of a student Occupational Therapist.

Experts by experience have helped to identify the following core values as the most important elements of building relationships with service users and carers: respect, trust, compassion, empathy, listening and collaboration. Through a range of learning experiences students will be supported to examine these values and to think about how they demonstrate them in their professional practice.

In semester 1, this module will include a simulated placement – an approach to practice learning which recreates elements of scenarios, environments or practice conditions to enable you to deliberately practice, develop skills and reflect on your learning. In semester 2, you will then spend time in a practice context to complete your first period of practice placement. Hours from both the simulated placement, and the Placement 1 period will contribute to the 1000 hours of supervised practice required to be eligible to register to practice on completion of the programme.

Practice placement involves working in lots of different environments, including people’s homes, hospitals, clinic environments and also working in virtual environments. A particular theme of this module is ‘being a professional in practice environments’ to raise awareness of safety of self and others within practice environments and begin to consider your own impact within the environment.

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OT4002 -

Fundamentals of Occupational Science (20 Credits)

Upon the completion of this module you will be able to demonstrate your understanding of the the relationship between occupation (everyday activities that people find meaningful and purposeful), and health and wellbeing. You will develop knowledge from occupational science to develop your understanding of how engaging in occupation impacts on the health and wellbeing of individuals. You will also learn about health promotion and community engagement from an occupational perspective. You will also explore how health and environmental factors impact on an individual’s motivation and ability to engage with everyday activities in order to develop your knowledge and understanding of the fundamental concepts of occupational science that underpins the practice of occupational therapy.

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OT4003 -

Introduction to Occupational Disruption (20 Credits)

By the end of this module, you will have a clear understanding of the term occupational disruption and the range of social and individual factors which impact on a person’s ability to engage in occupations linked to health and wellbeing. You will build on existing knowledge from occupational, physical, behavioural and social sciences to inform your understanding of a range of acute and chronic disease processes and the impact these may have on an individual’s capacity to engage in self-care, productivity and leisure pursuits. You will develop a foundation understanding of how social, cultural and political factors external to an individual may also impact on the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities and the subsequent impact on occupational engagement. Building on your understanding of human developmental theory you will explore occupational disruption and potential impact on health and wellbeing associated with each life stage.

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OT4004 -

Occupations Across the Lifespan (40 Credits)

By the end of this module, you will have a foundation understanding of the meaning occupational roles that humans undertake across their lifespan and how they undertake important activities associated with these roles.

You will develop knowledge from physical, behavioural and social sciences to inform your understanding of how humans develop the ability to carry out occupations – for example how humans move, think and emotionally respond.

You will also consider how human development is influenced by engagement in occupations, and how, simultaneously, choice and engagement in activities and roles is influenced by the skills that are developed throughout the human lifespan.

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RV5001 -

Academic Language Skills for Nursing, Midwifery and Health; Social Work, Education and Community Wellbeing (Core – for International and EU students only,0 Credits)

Academic skills when studying away from your home country can differ due to cultural and language differences in teaching and assessment practices. This module is designed to support your transition in the use and practice of technical language and subject specific skills around assessments and teaching provision in your chosen subject. The overall aim of this module is to develop your abilities to read and study effectively for academic purposes; to develop your skills in analysing and using source material in seminars and academic writing and to develop your use and application of language and communications skills to a higher level.

The topics you will cover on the module include:

• Understanding assignment briefs and exam questions.
• Developing academic writing skills, including citation, paraphrasing, and summarising.
• Practising ‘critical reading’ and ‘critical writing’
• Planning and structuring academic assignments (e.g. essays, reports and presentations).
• Avoiding academic misconduct and gaining credit by using academic sources and referencing effectively.
• Listening skills for lectures.
• Speaking in seminar presentations.
• Presenting your ideas
• Giving discipline-related academic presentations, experiencing peer observation, and receiving formative feedback.
• Speed reading techniques.
• Developing self-reflection skills.

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OT5000 -

Practice Placement 2 (20 Credits)

By the end of this module, you will have further developed your Occupational Therapy knowledge and skills by completing your second Occupational Therapy practice placement. This will build on the skills and experience gained during placement 1.

Through supervised practice, you will actively participate in the Occupational Therapy process, learning to apply knowledge drawn from your work in modules completed so far, as well as developing core practice skills. You will reflect on the core values important to service users and carers and consider their application to practice. You will learn about, and experience, the importance of cultural intelligence, collaborative working and utilise opportunities to develop your professional and organisational skills and consider the role of the environment in creating an enabling/ disabling experience. You will apply this knowledge to taking a more active role within the delivery of safe and effective occupational therapy practice.

The placement will continue to encourage your learning of the reflective process and support your development as a reflective and evidence-based practitioner and will make links to theoretical concepts from other Y1 and Y2 modules. Part of being a professional in practice is managing workload and your own emotional responses and there will be opportunities to reflect on this both in University and on placement in order to develop physical and mental health self-care strategies.

As you will be guided by professional and regulatory body requirements for student occupational therapists, practice placement is a fundamental part of preparing you for your own future professional employment. Hours completed on this module contribute to the 1000 hours of supervised practice required to be eligible to register to practice on completion of the programme. Some of the pre and post placement university learning can be verified as placement hours.

The preparatory period in university prior to placement will revisit the professional conduct required in practice as set out by the Professional standards for occupational therapy practice, conduct and ethics (RCOT, 2021) and HCPC Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics (2016).

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OT5001 -

Occupation and Public Health (20 Credits)

This module will bring an occupational science perspective to local and global health and wellbeing issues. Drawing on concepts such as occupational justice, occupational marginalisation and occupational apartheid, you will explore how human activities and behaviours are influencing contemporary population health challenges (for example obesity, food insecurity and climate change), but also how occupation can be a solution for communities to move towards sustainable health and wellbeing.

You will be supported and encouraged to engage with local, national and global debates on health in order to develop and apply your own understanding of occupational perspectives of populations and public health concerns.

The development of knowledge and skills on this module will increase an appreciation of the political, sociocultural and environmental factors of human occupation and relationship to health and wellbeing.

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OT5002 -

Evidence and Research underpinning Occupational Therapy Practice (20 Credits)

This module will help you to develop your critical reading skills so that you will be in a position to make wise decisions about the selection and use of evidence to support your occupational therapy practice and continuing professional development. In this module you will be reading and critically appraising published research and other forms of evidence that inform health and social care practices, with a particular focus on occupational therapy. You will develop your understanding of the meaning of knowledge and how knowledge is generated within ethical parameters. Particular attention will be paid to current service user and carer involvement in healthcare research and how this can be facilitated in future knowledge generation. Service users recognised as equal partners and valued contributors will be considered as the key to the development and enhancement of service provision. You will develop knowledge and understanding of research terminology, methodologies and research methods by exploring relevant terminology, concepts and research processes. You will develop your critical appraisal skills to enable you to appreciate the value and limitations of a variety of approaches used in health and social care research. By the end of the module you will be familiar with the value of published literature reviews and will be starting to think of your topic for your own literature review to be undertaken in the final year of your programme of studies.

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OT5003 -

Innovations in Occupational Therapy (20 Credits)

By the end of this module, you will gain an understanding of the benefit of occupational therapy in a variety of contexts. You will develop your knowledge of occupational science to inform your understanding of how the professional philosophy of occupational therapy and occupational justice can be applied in emerging and innovative settings to enhance and facilitate occupational opportunities for individuals, groups and communities.

You will also explore and critique current health, social care, economic and political drivers which are key in the development of occupational therapy services and debate the opportunities and barriers to occupational justice and professional practice.

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OT5004 -

Occupational Therapy Practice Skills (40 Credits)

Occupational Therapists use a wide range of practice skills to identify and assess occupational needs and to facilitate occupational engagement for those they work alongside. By the end of this module, you will have developed practice skills which enable Occupational Therapists to work with people with a range of needs and in a range of practice settings.

The core skills of an Occupational Therapist link to how they select, analyse, adapt and utilise occupations to promote occupational engagement, health and wellbeing. This module will focus on the occupational therapy process and the development of professional clinical reasoning skills. You will be provided with opportunities to learn and practice these skills and apply them to a range of authentic case studies and practice contexts. This will include consideration of listening and interviewing skills in order to understand occupational needs and priorities; practical skills in planning and facilitating individual and group activities in a range of practice contexts while considering a range of variables including risk management that impact on safe and effective practice . Alongside these practical skills, professional reasoning and decision-making skills will also be developed throughout the module. In addition, you will also have the opportunity to develop wider professional skills including skills in risk assessment, record keeping and collaborative working.

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RV5001 -

Academic Language Skills for Nursing, Midwifery and Health; Social Work, Education and Community Wellbeing (Core – for International and EU students only,0 Credits)

Academic skills when studying away from your home country can differ due to cultural and language differences in teaching and assessment practices. This module is designed to support your transition in the use and practice of technical language and subject specific skills around assessments and teaching provision in your chosen subject. The overall aim of this module is to develop your abilities to read and study effectively for academic purposes; to develop your skills in analysing and using source material in seminars and academic writing and to develop your use and application of language and communications skills to a higher level.

The topics you will cover on the module include:

• Understanding assignment briefs and exam questions.
• Developing academic writing skills, including citation, paraphrasing, and summarising.
• Practising ‘critical reading’ and ‘critical writing’
• Planning and structuring academic assignments (e.g. essays, reports and presentations).
• Avoiding academic misconduct and gaining credit by using academic sources and referencing effectively.
• Listening skills for lectures.
• Speaking in seminar presentations.
• Presenting your ideas
• Giving discipline-related academic presentations, experiencing peer observation, and receiving formative feedback.
• Speed reading techniques.
• Developing self-reflection skills.

More information

OT6000 -

Occupational therapy centred community practice (30 Credits)

This module will build on your existing knowledge of public health issues. It will enable you to explore the use of occupation to develop and promote health and wellbeing in groups and communities in a practical and applied way. You will focus on an identified community and collaborate with that community to understand their occupational needs and assets. You will further your understanding of engaging with groups and communities and develop skills in presenting your ideas and facilitating dialogue with others by adopting a co-production approach. Through a practical experience you will further develop core professional skills in collaborative goal setting, risk assessment and project planning. You will revisit the sustainability agenda in occupational therapy practice and work with stakeholders to develop a plan linked to sustainable occupations. Links will be made throughout the module to concepts of occupational science. Practical hours on this module will contribute to practice placement hours.

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OT6001 -

Practice Placement 3 (20 Credits)

By the end of this module, you will have consolidated your Occupational Therapy knowledge and skills by achieving a minimum of 1000 hours of assessed Occupational Therapy practice. This will build on the skills and experience gained during placement 1 and 2. Through supervised practice, you will actively participate in the delivery of Occupational Therapy services, learning to apply knowledge drawn from your work in modules completed so far, as well as integrating core practice skills. You will reflect on the core values important to service users and carers and consider their application to practice. You will learn about, and experience, the importance of cultural intelligence, collaborative working and utilise opportunities to develop your professional and organisational skills and consider the role of the environment in creating an enabling/ disabling experience. You will apply this knowledge to taking an active and increasingly autonomous role within the delivery of safe and effective occupational therapy practice.

The placement will continue to encourage your learning of the reflective process and support your development as a reflective and evidence-based practitioner and will make links to theoretical concepts from other Y1, Y2 and Y3 modules. Part of being a professional in practice is managing workload and your own emotional responses and there will be opportunities to reflect on this both in University and on placement in order to develop physical and mental health self-care strategies during lectures, seminars and small group work as well as formal and informal clinical supervision during placement.

As you will be guided by professional and regulatory body requirements for student occupational therapists, practice placement is a fundamental part of preparing you for your own future professional employment. Hours completed on this module contribute to the 1000 hours of supervised practice required to be eligible to register to practice on completion of the programme. Some of the pre and post placement university learning can be verified as placement hours.

The preparatory period in university prior to placement will revisit the professional conduct required in practice as set out by the Professional standards for occupational therapy practice, conduct and ethics (RCOT, 2021) and HCPC Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics (2016).

More information

OT6002 -

Professional development and lifelong learning (30 Credits)

You will draw on your learning from previous modules and placement experiences to continue to develop and consolidate your knowledge skills and values in preparation for practice and meeting the requirements for registration with HCPC as an Occupational Therapist. You will continue to develop your reflective skills and identify your own areas for development to focus your learning and support your transition to Professional Occupational Therapist; learning to assess your own skills, take responsibility for own learning and continual professional development. This will be in line with the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) Career development Framework (RCOT 2021 ). This module also considers employability and enables you to identify the next step in terms of applying for posts, professional use of social media and interview preparation. Engagement with this module will provide you with mentoring skills to support learners in practice as preparation for supervising students as a qualified practitioner.

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OT6003 -

Occupational Therapy Dissertation (40 Credits)

In this module you will have the opportunity to conduct a literature review, research proposal or service improvement proposal on a self-selected topic, of personal and professional interest, in an area relevant to your occupational therapy practice. You will engage in the process of addressing real practice topics/issues through critical engagement with published literature. You will have the opportunity to access and apply research and other sources of evidence to a practice-based topic under the guidance of dissertation tutors. You will have the opportunity to further enhance your knowledge and skills of information retrieval, and critical appraisal developed previously in your programme of studies. In addition you will synthesise a body of evidence and consider in detail how the application of evidence can impact on the quality of service provision and your own professional development as a life-long learner.

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Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.  

Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.

 

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