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Occupational Therapy (Pre-Registration)

MSc

Key facts

Start dates

September 2023 / September 2024

Course length

Full time: 24 months

Accreditation(s)

HCPC approved and RCOT/WFOT accredited

  • Royal College of Occupational Therapists

Overview

Our MSc Occupational Therapy (pre-registration) course enables you to graduate with a master’s degree. And be eligible to apply for registration as an occupational therapist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) in the UK.

The course will develop your understanding of the potential for occupational therapy to promote the health and wellbeing of the population.

As an occupational therapist you will work people of all ages from all walks of life, in hospital, the community, their place of employment or in their home. Your clients will have a broad range of physical, mental health or social needs. You will work to improve function and enable them to fulfil the demands of their daily lives.

Our teaching staff are experienced in their specialist practice areas. They have reputations for excellence. As well as established links with colleagues, organisations and institutions at national and international level.

The degree does not provide eligibility to practice in any other country but it is WFOT recognised. This degree is NOT NHS Funded.

Students practicing using a hoist lift

How to apply

Entry requirements

Specific entry requirements

GCSE: Five GCSE passes to include grade C in English Language, Maths and Science.

  • BA or BSc (Hons) minimum of a 2:2 or above, in a subject relevant to Occupational Therapy. For example: Sociology, Psychology, Biological Sciences, Sport Sciences, Kinesiology, Anthropology. Please note, this is not an exhaustive list. Please contact our admissions team if you are unsure of whether your first degree is relevant. All applicants must have taken and passed a module or course on research methods, addressing both qualitative and quantitative study designs and statistics.

and

  • An ability to communicate clearly in English; both the spoken word and in writing. Applicants whose first language is not English must have the following or an equivalent qualification acceptable by the University and the HCPC:

In addition to these, you will be expected to demonstrate a range of specific qualities and aptitudes appropriate to occupational therapy within the specific recruitment process which may include an individual and/or group interview and a written test.

Please also see the University's general entry requirements.

Screening

All applicants will be screened for fitness to practise and a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be made.

Selection process

All Oxford Brookes University Health and Social Care Programmes conduct Value Based Recruitment (VBR). We recognise that values and attitudes have the greatest impact on the quality of people’s care and their experiences.

VBR is a way of helping our Programme recruitment teams to assess the values, motives and attitudes of those who wish to work with people in health and social care settings. When we refer to values we mean, for example, the values included in the NHS constitution.

VBR focuses on ‘how’ and ‘why’ an applicant makes choices in how they act and seeks to explore reasons for their behaviour. Further details about the VBR framework can be found here.

English language requirements

For applicants whose first language is not English, an Academic IELTS score of 7.0 (with a minimum of 6.5 in each component) is required.

Please also see the University's standard English language requirements.

International qualifications and equivalences

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English requirements for visas

If you need a student visa to enter the UK you will need to meet the UK Visas and Immigration minimum language requirements as well as the University's requirements. Find out more about English language requirements.

International applications

All offers are conditional on successful completion of medical and enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks. 

We are pleased to offer a number of places to international applicants. For more details, please contact us.

International applicants will:

  • need to apply early to allow enough time for obtaining visas if offered a place
  • be asked to pay a deposit of £3,000 to secure a place on the course.

Applications are dealt with on a first come, first served basis, so please act early to avoid disappointment.

Pathways courses for international and EU students

We offer a range of courses to help you meet the entry requirements for your postgraduate course and also familiarise you with university life in the UK.

Take a Pre-Master's course to develop your subject knowledge, study skills and academic language level in preparation for your master's course.

If you need to improve your English language, we offer pre-sessional English language courses to help you meet the English language requirements of your chosen master’s course.

Terms and Conditions of Enrolment

When you accept our offer, you agree to the Terms and Conditions of Enrolment. You should therefore read those conditions before accepting the offer.

Application process

International applicants will need to apply early to allow enough time for obtaining visas.

If you are offered a place you may be asked to pay a deposit of £3,000 to secure a place on the course.

Applications are dealt with on a first come, first served basis, so please act early to avoid disappointment.

All Oxford Brookes University Health and Social Care Programmes conduct Value Based Recruitment (VBR).

We recognise that values and attitudes have the greatest impact on the quality of people’s care and their experiences.

VBR is a way of helping our Programme recruitment teams to assess the values, motives and attitudes of those who wish to work with people in health and social care settings. When we refer to values we mean, for example, the values included in the NHS constitution.

Apply now

Tuition fees

Please see the fees note
Home (UK) full time
£10,400

International full time
£16,200

Home (UK) full time
£10,400

International full time
£16,300

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

Tuition fees

2022 / 23
Home (UK) full time
£10,400

International full time
£16,200

2023 / 24
Home (UK) full time
£10,400

International full time
£16,300

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

+44 (0)1865 483088

financefees@brookes.ac.uk

Fees quoted are for the first year only. If you are studying a course that lasts longer than one year your fees will increase each year.

Financial support and scholarships

All eligible Occupational Therapy students on courses from September 2020 (new and continuing) will receive a payment of at least £5,000 a year which they will not need to pay back.  For more information please visit  https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/nhs-learning-support-fund

For general sources of financial support, see our Fees and funding pages.

 

For general sources of financial support, see our Fees and funding pages.

Additional costs

Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course are detailed below.

In addition to the tuition fees, there are costs that need to be paid for by students in travelling to and from practice placement and potential accommodation costs.

These could be as much as £3,000 per placement depending on the location and type of placement. However currently the average accommodation cost per month is £550 and average travel cost is £250 per month. Students will spend up to 30 weeks on placement.

Other costs

  • books and electronic resources - approx £100
  • deposit for anatomy resources - £10
  • shoes for practice to be worn with uniform - approx £50
  • suitable clothing for the Labs - approx £30.

Learning and assessment

The curriculum and structure of our course uses the spiral model of education as a framework. You will use enquiry based learning approaches to meet the demands of the format of the course.

You will be able to capitalise on your pre-existing study skills as a graduate student with high levels of self-motivation who is practiced in independent learning.

Students using a can opening aid

Study modules

Taught modules

Compulsory modules

Applied Research Methods

You will use the fundamental conceptual models of occupational therapy practice, alongside the therapeutic use of self, in order to develop the procedural and interactive reasoning skills needed to apply the occupational paradigm. You will examine human performance and function within the context of Occupational Therapy and apply your understanding of anatomy and physiology to medical conditions that have an impact on the skills and abilities of clients. You will use their investigation skills to examine the evidence base for occupational therapy and prepare your ideas for an occupational therapy focused dissertation.

Optional modules

Advancing occupational therapy practice

This module runs in Year 2, Semester 2

“Advancing occupational therapy practice” focuses on  emerging or specialist areas of occupational therapy practice, both at an individual and population levels. 

 

Enabling occupational participation 1

This module runs in Year 1, Semester 1 

“Enabling occupational participation 1” students build on and apply their occupational therapy  knowledge to enabling occupational participation in older people.

 

Enabling occupational participation 2

This module runs in Year 2 

“Enabling occupational participation 2” focuses on occupational therapy in the context of people with long term physical or mental health conditions, and learning disability.

 

Enabling occupational participation 3

This module runs in Year 2

“Enabling occupational participation 3” focuses on occupational therapy in the context of children, young people with learning disability, physical disability or mental health condition. 

 

Evidence base for Occupational therapy

This module runs in Year 1, Semester 1 

In “Evidence base for Occupational therapy” students engage critically with the evidence base supporting occupational therapy and learn to be critical consumers of research evidence in preparation for practice placement and the dissertation project.

Leadership in health and social care

This module runs in Year 2, Semester 2

“Leadership in health and social care” shifts the focus to preparing students  for professional practice by considering inter-professional practice and leadership.

 

Occupational Therapy dissertation

This project runs in Year 2

“Occupational Therapy dissertation” is a year long dissertation project where students develop their own project, either research, service evaluation or service improvement. This may be literature based or involve primary or secondary data analysis.

Perspectives on occupation, health and well being

Ths module runs in Year 1, Semester 1 

“Perspectives on occupation, health and well being” module is designed to support students to critically evaluate concepts and theory underpinning occupational therapy.

 

Professional Development 2b

Professional Development 3

Partnerships 3

Structure and function of the human body

This module runs in Year 1, Semester 1 

“Structure and function of the human body” enable students to synthesise knowledge of structure (Anatomy) and function (Physiology) of the human body as it relates to functioning, health and disability across the lifespan. 

 

Therapeutic processes

This module runs in Year 1, Semester 1 

In “Therapeutic processes”,students will also synthesise knowledge necessary to engage people therapeutically as well as understand and analyse occupational performance and engagement. 

 

Work placement

Compulsory modules

Practice Placements

In semester 2 students continue with their academic modules but start a 6 week practice placement in springtime. They then start a 10 week placement in the following autumn and the final placement (12 weeks long) usually occurs in the summer of Year 2.

Practice placements  are an integral part of your course. For each placement you will be supervised in a selected health or social care workplace setting. You will become increasingly involved in the treatment of clients of different ages and with a diversity of needs. 

We offer a range of support mechanisms, both within the University and in the placement area, to support you through your programme of study. While on placement, you will be supported by a named member of staff known as a practice educator. We have a dedicated Practice Education Unit that provides administrative and academic support for placement learning/practice education for all pre-qualifying courses.

 

Please note: As our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, the modules you can choose from may vary from that shown here. The structure of the course may also mean some modules are not available to you.

Learning and teaching

You will have online and experience-based learning opportunities.

You will also learn through:  

  • lectures 

  • seminars

  • group work 

  • self-directed study

  • Simulation based learning

You will have access to an extensive range of learning resources through our online learning platform. 

On campus, you will share some of your learning with physiotherapy students. This is essential to develop your teamwork skills and your understanding of other roles you will encounter in practice.

You will be taught both alongside and separately to the BSc(Hons) Occupational Therapy programme.

Assessment

Assessment methods used on this course

Throughout the degree, you will experience a range of assessments, including: 

  • skill-based assessments

  • presentations

  • coursework

  • In-class test

  • work placement assessment. Each of your three practice placements are assessed. You must pass each placement but they do not count towards your final degree award.

Throughout the programme you have opportunities to practice assessment tasks and to receive feedback before your final submission. This feedback helps you to make modifications to your coursework before the final hand-in.

Research

The Centre for Movement, Occupational and Rehabilitation Sciences (MOReS) brings together research, education and care. It is underpinned by a strong, well-published research group, the movement science group. This supports the clinical expertise, rehabilitation, knowledge and care of adults and children with neurological conditions.

Within the Centre, staff, students and alumni across the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences are engaged in a number of research projects, including:

  • driving rehabilitation
  • fatigue management dual task control in Stroke
  • efficacy of intensive motor learning programmes
  • arts in health research
  • virtual Reality (VR) technologies
  • early identification of motor and sensory processing impairments in children
  • sensory processing disorders and impact on function and behaviour in children with autism
  • measurement and monitoring of rehabilitation participation - Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
  • therapy for handwriting in people with Parkinson’s disease (PD).
Researcher working on laptop

After you graduate

Career prospects

The majority of graduates from the occupational therapy degrees work as qualified and registered occupational therapists, but there are increasing opportunities to work in non-specified professional roles in mental health and community settings.

There are also increasing numbers of employment roles that are not explicitly described or advertised as an ‘occupational therapist’ but match the skills specification of an occupational therapist. This is due to the changing nature of health and social care practice and the new and emerging roles and opportunities for occupational therapy.

Our Staff

Dr Leisle Ezekiel

"My teaching revolves around management of complex disability and neurological conditions, occupational therapy theory and practice, research methods and design."

Read more about Leisle

Programme Changes:

On rare occasions we may need to make changes to our course programmes after they have been published on the website.

For more information, please visit our Changes to programmes page.