• Experience problem-based learning designed to be practical and close to real-life issues faced by occupational therapists.

• Benefit from accreditation by the College of Occupational Therapists.

• Experience practice placements to develop a range of core skills required for professional practice.

• 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

  • OCT114 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.

  • OCT117 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.

  • OCT113 Functional Anatomy and Physiology for Occupation

    A knowledge and understanding of the structure and function of the human body is an important foundation for Occupational Therapists. This module is designed to introduce students to the fundamentals of human anatomy and physiology relevant to professional practice.

  • OCT116 Occupational Studies: Humans as Occupational Beings across the Life Span

    This module will examine occupational science and occupational therapy perspectives of occupation across the life span including transitions. The dynamic relationship between engagement in occupation, health and well-being for individuals, groups and communities will be explored.

  • OCT118 Psycho-social Concepts for Occupation

    This module addresses themes in health and social care from a psychosocial perspective relevant to occupational therapists and understanding occupation. Students are introduced to behavioural science issues including psychology and sociology to consider contexts influencing understanding of occupation.

  • OCT115 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.

  • SOHP101 Preparation for Practice

    This inter-professional module will introduce you to professional practice and the inherent standards expected of you. The characteristics and identity of allied health professionals, as evidence based practitioners, will underpin learning ‘with’ and ‘from’ one another. Working together you will develop your understanding of professional standards for conduct and ethics, and knowledge of the key principles to support practice grounded in evidence. You will explore communication and interpersonal skills to support shared decision making, and learn the skills of reflective practice. As a student you will actively engage in debate, discussion, small group presentations, self- guided study and other group-led activities.

• 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

  • OCT211 Occupational Studies: Occupational Therapy Toolbox

    Students will apply the core skills of occupational therapy and occupational science to individuals, groups and communities. Assessing and applying appropriate occupational therapy skills and practice tools including the therapeutic use of self to sustain occupational engagement.

  • SOHP201 Project Studies 1

    This module enables the student to develop a sound understanding of research terminology, methods, and principles. It 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.

  • OCT212 Occupational Studies: Occupational Challenges Across the Life Cycle

    Using PBL, students will analyse the occupational challenges faced by individuals, groups and communities with multi-faceted complex needs across the life span. Students will critically evaluate interruption and its impact on occupational performance, identifying and recommending ways of sustaining engagement.

  • OCT214 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.

  • OCT213 Occupational Studies: Occupational Presence

    This module explores the engagement with and application of volunteering as an occupation linked to a relevant organisation or group. It leads to discussion of the meaning and purpose of volunteering and potential for this in understanding service provision, occupation and occupational science in an organisational or group setting.

• 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

  • SOHP301 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

  • SOHP302 Preparation for Professional Practice

    This module provides students with the opportunity to apply management and leadership theory and underpinning principles of practice to identified areas of their chosen field which may benefit from quality enhancement.

  • OCT309 Occupational Studies: Exploration into Practice

    This module provides the opportunity to explore, select and evaluate a specialist area of occupational therapy to examine in greater depth than elsewhere in the curriculum. Specialist areas chosen will reflect current trends and developments in practice for occupational therapists across a broad range of settings.

  • OCT310 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.

  • OCT311 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.

  • OCT312 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.

Every undergraduate taught course has a detailed programme specification document describing the course aims, the course structure, the teaching and learning methods, the learning outcomes and the rules of assessment.

The following programme specification represents the latest course structure and may be subject to change:

BSc Hons Occupational Therapy 3845