School of Health Professions

BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy

Do you want to help people to live the lives they want? This course will prepare you to help people deal with life challenges including ill-health, disability, and social problems. You’ll learn how everyday activities can be used and adapted creatively to promote health, wellbeing and a satisfying lifestyle, so that you graduate with the skills and knowledge needed to be an effective occupational therapist.

In the 2016 National Student Survey, 95 per cent of students agreed staff are enthusiastic about what they are teaching; 84 per cent agreed that staff are good at explaining things; 89 per cent agreed staff made the subject interesting; 84 percent of students were satisfied overall and 100 per cent were in work/study six months after finishing.*

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FIRST CHOICE FOR HEALTH

This programme is part of the largest range of healthcare study options in the South West.

Key features

  • A wide range of teaching and learning methods and assessments are used to suit all learning styles
  • Experience problem-based learning designed to be practical and close to real-life issues faced by occupational therapists.
  • Inter professional learning will prepare you for practice
  • You will study a broad range of cutting edge theory and research from Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy
  • You will benefit from accreditation by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists.
  • Experience practice placements to develop a range of core skills required for professional practice.
  • Our programme is delivered by a team of well published, Internationally recognised, research active Occupational Therapists.

Course details

  • Year 1

  • You’ll initially share teaching and learning with students from other health professions, allowing you to gain core generic knowledge and skills. We’ll introduce you to theoretical foundations and core skills, which will underpin practice. Gain practice skills through an eight-week supervised placement within a health, social or community setting in the South West. Develop problem-solving, reasoning skills and an embedded commitment to lifelong learning.

    Core modules

    • OCT401 Occupational Studies: Biological and Psychosocial Foundations for Occupation

      A knowledge and understanding of the structure and function of the human body, from both a biological and psychosocial perspective. are important foundations for understanding occupation and application to occupational therapy practice. This module is designed to introduce students to the fundamentals of human anatomy, physiology, psychology and sociology.

    • OCT402 Occupational Studies: Foundations for Occupational Therapy Practice 1

      This module introduces philosophical and theoretical foundations of occupational therapy, introducing the student to concepts of the person, environment, occupation and performance. Core skills underpinning the professional practice of occupational therapy will be introduced.

    • OCT403 Occupational Studies: Foundations for Occupational Therapy Practice 2

      Students will identify the intrinsic components of occupational engagement through exploring the range of components required to engage in occupational performance. Students will study the interaction between person, occupation and context to explore how occupational therapy theory and process promotes occupational engagement.

    • OCT404 Occupational Studies: Humans as Occupational Beings Through Community Engagement

      This module will examine occupational science perspectives of humans as occupational beings across the life span. The dynamic relationship between engagement in occupation, health and well-being for individuals, groups and communities will be explored. Reflection on personal experience of volunteering will provide a focus for study.

    • OCT405 Practice Placement 1

      This module enables students to experience occupational therapy within wider contexts of inter-professional or multi-agency practice. Students will experience collaborative working with colleagues from other disciplines. Through supervised practice, students will develop basic skills underpinning occupational therapy, relating this to campus based study.

    • SOHP401 Preparation for Practice

      This inter-professional module will introduce students to professional practice and the inherent standards expected of them. The characteristics and identity of allied health professionals, as evidence based practitioners, will underpin learning.

  • Year 2

  • Profession-specific modules take a lifespan approach and are designed to provide an integrated core of essential knowledge and skills for Occupational Therapy (OT) practice. Modules on inter-professional working and research will help you become confident in your role as a developing OT. You'll also take part in the OT intervention process during your placement.

    Core modules

    • OCT521 Occupational Studies: The Young Person; Interruptions and Transitions

      Students will apply the core skills of occupational therapy and occupational science to children and adolescents working with individuals, groups or communities. Assessing and applying appropriate skills and practice tools to sustain occupational engagement. Students will critically evaluate transitions and interruptions and their impact on performance of the central occupations relevant to this stage of the lifespan.

    • OCT522 Occupational Studies: Adults: Interruptions and Transitions

      Students will apply the core skills of occupational therapy and occupational science to adulthood working with individuals, groups or communities. Assessing and applying appropriate skills and practice tools to sustain occupational engagement. Students will critically evaluate transitions and interruptions and their impact on performance of the central occupations relevant to this stage of the lifespan.

    • OCT523 Occupational Studies: The Older Person, Interruptions and Transitions

      Students will apply the core skills of occupational therapy and occupational science to older adulthood working with individuals, groups or communities. Assessing and applying appropriate skills and practice tools to sustain occupational engagement. Students will critically evaluate transitions and interruptions and their impact on performance of the central occupations relevant to this stage of the lifespan.

    • OCT524 Practice Placement 2

      The module builds on occupational therapy knowledge, skills and experience gained. Students will actively participate in the occupational therapy intervention process, demonstrating increased autonomy whilst being supervised. Knowledge and skills underpinning inter professional working will be further developed.

    • OCT525 Occupational Studies: Exploration into Practice

      This module provides the opportunity to select and explore a particular area of occupational therapy practice of the students¿ choice. Enabling an examination in greater depth than elsewhere in the curriculum. Specific areas chosen will reflect current trends and developments in practice for occupational therapists as well as established practice specialisms, across a broad range of settings.

    • SOHP501 Project Studies

      This module develops knowledge and skills related to evidence-based practice and lifelong learning. The content is designed to enable the students to understand different research designs, to evaluate the research literature and to prepare them to undertake research at undergraduate level. Meets all or part of HPC Standards of Proficiency: 2b.1, 3a.

  • Final year

  • You’ll gain greater independence in your final placement and, with support, be able to demonstrate a range of core skills required for an entry level practitioner. Profession-specific modules prepare you for the responsibilities facing newly qualified graduates. Inter-professional modules help you develop and consolidate management and research skills, and lead you towards your imminent entry into the occupational therapy profession.

    Core modules

    • OCT601 Occupational Studies: The Innovative Practitioner

      This module provides students with the opportunity to critically explore the concept of innovation, change management, clinical leadership, entrepreneurism and intrapreneurship and their links with practice development.

    • OCT602 Occupational Studies: The Contemporary Practitioner

      This module provides students with the opportunity to critically explore current and emerging trends in practice. Enabling effective and confident transition to emerging areas of practice.

    • OCT603 Practice Placement 3

      This module will require the student to demonstrate a range of core skills that will be required of a competent entry level practitioner. The student will develop increasing autonomy, working at times independently demonstrating professional reasoning skills and decision making relevant to clients' needs and contexts of practice.

    • OCT604 Occupational Studies: Occupation for Promoting Health and Wellness of Communities

      This module evaluates the importance of applying health and wellness principles to contemporary occupational therapy practice. It critiques and syntheses current and emerging theory and research on the impact of occupation to promote health and wellness of communities.

    • SOHP601 Project

      Students will undertake and complete a short piece of research developed from the level 5 protocol which involves the collection and interpretation of a small amount of data. Findings will be presented in the format of a professional journal article and conference style presentation.

    • SOHP602 Inter-professional Working in Health and Social Care

      Students will explore, in depth, areas of inter-professional working to include quality enhancement of service provision and the patient experience.

The modules shown for this course are those currently being studied by our students, or are proposed new modules. Please note that programme structures and individual modules are subject to amendment from time to time as part of the University’s curriculum enrichment programme and in line with changes in the University’s policies and requirements.

Entry requirements

UCAS tariff

136

GCSE’S
5 GCSE’s grade C or above to include Mathematics, English and preferably a Science. Preference is given to applicants who have obtained these grades on application.

PLUS ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:

A levels
AAB @ A level to preferably include a grade B at biology, science or social science, e.g. psychology or sociology.

IB
30 points overall to include 6 Higher Levels subjects.(biology/human biology, psychology or sociology). English accepted within:
If Advanced Level = 4+ (A1) or 5 (A2/B)
If Standard Level = 5+ (A1) or 6 (A2/B)
If overseas and not studying English within IB – MUST have IELTS 7.0 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in all elements.

Access
Pass a named Access to HE Diploma (e.g. science, health, nursing, and combined science) with at least 45 credits at level 3, 30 at distinction level including 15 L3 credits biology, science or social science, psychology. A further 15 credits at L3 must be at merit level. Will need GCSE English and mathematics at grade C/4 if not already held.

BTEC
18 Unit BTEC National Diploma/QCF Extended Diploma: DDD must contain science, health or social science. BTECs will not be accepted unless offered in conjunction with an A level of B or above.

BTEC National Diploma modules
If you hold a BTEC qualification it is vital that you provide our Admissions team with details of the exact modules you have studied as part of the BTEC. Without this information we may be unable to process your application quickly and you could experience significant delays in the progress of your application to study with us. Please explicitly state the full list of modules within your qualification at the time of application.

Extended Science: 65 per cent at first attempt. Must apply direct to Plymouth University by 15 January.

Equivalent qualifications may be considered. Alternatively if you have any questions or concerns about meeting the entry requirements listed above we would encourage you to contact the Admissions Team on 01752 585858 or email ug-admissions@plymouth.ac.uk, where a member of the team can offer you further advice.

Extended entry requirements

  • In addition to the above, evidence of academic study within the last five years is required.
  • Please note we do not accept Key Skills Level 2 in place of GCSE English or mathematics.
  • You must pass disclosure and barring service and occupational health checks satisfactorily in order to be able to start this course.
  • If English is not your first language and you do not have GCSE English grade C or above you will have to achieve an IELTS or equivalent qualification at the grades stated below.
  • IELTS - Overall average score of at least 7.0, with a score of at least 6.5 in each element (if you need to improve your English language to get onto a degree course at Plymouth University, you can book a pre-sessional academic English course). 
  • Meeting the academic minimum is the first stage of an application being considered. Applicants must also submit a strong personal statement in order to be considered further.
Further information

Deferred entry

Due to the professional nature of this course we are unable to accept applications for deferred entry.

For a full list of all acceptable qualifications please refer to our tariff glossary.

Fees, costs and funding

2017-18

Home International
£9,250 £12,250
Full time fees shown are per annum. Part time fees shown are per a number of credits. Fees are correct at the time of publication and may be subject to change.

Please be aware that there may be additional costs to undertaking your studies relating to printing of course materials, parking charges if you are studying at PAHC, and requirement for an initial outlay for travel and accommodation in respect of practice placement. If you have any questions regarding these costs please contact admissions@plymouth.ac.uk.

How to apply

All applications for undergraduate courses are made through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). 

UCAS will ask for the information contained in the box at the top of this course page including the UCAS course code and the institution code. 

Apply for this course on the UCAS website.

For more information about submitting an application including application deadline dates, please visit the UCAS website.

As from 2014-15 academic year, all NHS funded professional courses are required to select and interview their applicants using a ‘values based’ approach. As part of this process, your UCAS personal statement will now also require this additional information, which will demonstrate insight into your understanding of the importance of NHS values in your chosen professional discipline.

Get an overview of our occupational therapy course

Watch our short video giving you a overview of what it's like to study occupational therapy at Plymouth.  Programme lead, Marnie Smith, talks you through the highlights of the course and what it's like to study in Plymouth.

Placements

Practice placements will take place generally in the South West of England, and are spread over the duration of your studies. You will complete a minimum of 1000 placement hours in total in a variety of settings. We have placements in health and social care settings, both acute and community as well as a growing number of non-traditional and third sector settings such as homeless hostels, refugee services and care farms.

While on placement you will work with a named educator and work alongside Occupational Therapists and other members of staff. Placements are assessed by achieving professional competencies while working in the practice setting and by oral presentations when you return to the University.


Professional accreditation

On successful completion of the course, you’ll be eligible to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council.

Professional Practice

If you are enrolling on this course, we prefer you to be a member of the British Association of Occupational Therapists and College of Occupational Therapists.

NHS Constitution

All our students are expected to adhere to the principles and values laid out in the NHS Constitution. 

Screening for health students

Additional checks are required for all health students. All offers are made subject to receipt of satisfactory screening in terms of your health, welfare and police checks. Read more about the required screening for health courses.

Semester dates

For details of the semester dates for the next academic session, please refer to the semester dates page. You will need to attend from 9am until 6pm, Monday to Friday.

Please note: In order to successfully complete your course and be eligible to apply for a professional registration you must complete a specified number of practice placement hours along with your theoretical study. This is a requirement of the HCPC. You will only be able to take personal holidays during the specified leave periods for your course. This includes induction week where it is vital you attend ALL sessions.

Additional costs

  • If you are a bursary recipient you can apply for support with travel and accommodation costs associated with placements across Devon and Cornwall – however you should budget for some additional costs. Please note all additional costs must be met in the first instance by the student and reclaimed via the bursary unit after the placement.
  • Student access to free E-book provision is continually expanding and all core texts are available in the library however most students find it necessary to have their own copy of some core text books. This is likely to amount to a cost of approximately £130.
  • All lecture and workshop materials are supplied electronically – students will need to print out lecture notes and other materials as needed. 
  • Uniforms are provided to all students – but suitable footwear may need to be purchased if you do not already own suitable flat shoes.

What could you do next? Let our graduates inspire you

Are you interested in furthering your studies?

We offer the MSc Advanced Professional Practice in Occupational Therapy, enabling you to develop your skills and knowledge in critical thinking and help you to improve people’s health and well-being by implementing innovative, evidence-based practice in a range of practice settings. 

Join an enthusiastic team of occupational therapists, undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD students who are pushing forward the boundaries of knowledge on occupational science and occupational therapy.

English Language Centre

We offer a range of courses to help you develop your academic English language skills.

These include pre-sessional academic English courses for undergraduates, taught postgraduates and research students along with insessional language classes, tutorials and activities to support students who have English as a second language.

Find out how we can help you reach your potential.

Our staff

*The results of the National Student Survey (NSS) and the Destination of Leavers from Higher Education survey (DLHE) are made available to prospective students and their advisors through the Unistats website.