BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapists work with people who are having difficulty in completing the everyday things that are important to them, which can vary. Their work is based on what their service users identify. They support individuals at home, in work and at leisure, by creating bespoke treatment programmes for people of all ages. Occupational therapists make a difference to people’s lives by enabling people to live with more confidence by promoting health and wellbeing.

Occupational therapists make a difference to people’s lives across a variety of settings. The type of illness or injury they work with varies, it is dependent upon the setting and whether the person is having difficulty doing the things that are important to them as a result of the illness or injury.

• Physical 
  Some of the conditions occupational therapists might see are service users who have experienced fractures or surgery, or may be suffering from long-term conditions such as fatigue or cancer.
  
  
• Neurological 
  Comprising of the anatomy, functions and disorders of the nerves and nervous system. Some of these conditions include Multiple Sclerosis, Stroke, Dementia and Parkinson’s disease.
  
  
• Learning disabilities 
  Occupational therapists work with a wide range of people with different types of disabilities. Some patient groups they might work with include people with dyslexia, autism, non-verbal disabilities or those with visual motor deficit.

• Mental health conditions 
  They help people who are struggling with adverse life circumstances such as grief, stress, anxiety, depression, bipolar and many more.

• Diverse patient groups 
  Occupational therapists work with people across the lifespan, from babies to older adults across a variety of settings.

Occupational therapy is a broad disciple. Some of these people you might work with include:

• people living with cerebral palsy
• refugees seeking asylum
• people who are homeless
• people who are in prison
• children with developmental delays or physical and/or psychological needs that are impact their ability to thrive in childhood and meet milestones
• older adults who need additional support to carry out day-to-day activities, OTs support their ability to remain an important part of their family and community
• working within the LGTBQIA+ community
• people with any physical and mental health needs that impact on their day-to-day life.

Within the occupational therapy profession there are a multitude of job opportunities. You could work in the NHS, within the public or private sector. For example:

• Public Health in NHS hospitals
• Community clinics
• In people’s homes
• At a school
• Government agencies
• GP surgeries
• Nursing homes
• Education and academia
• Research
• Leadership roles
• Voluntary roles

What can you do with an occupational therapy degree?

• 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.

• Interprofessional 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.

• From 2023, students in Plymouth can train and practice their professional healthcare skills in an inspiring purpose-built environment, InterCity Place.
  

• Our programme is delivered by a team of well-published, internationally recognised, research-active occupational therapists.

• 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 a seven-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

  • Occupational Studies: Biological and Psychological Foundations for Occupation (OCT406)

    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.

  • Occupational Studies: Foundations for Occupational Therapy Practice 1 (OCT407)

    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. 

  • Occupational Studies: Foundations for Occupational Therapy Practice 2 (OCT408)

    Students will use occupational analysis to identify and explore the components of occupational engagement. An introduction to occupational interruption and the impact on health and wellbeing. Students will study the interaction between person, occupation and environment and how this impacts meaningful occupations. 

  • Occupational Studies: Humans as Occupational Beings Through Community Engagement (OCT409)

    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 community engagement will be included. 

  • Practice Placement 1 (OCT410)

    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.

  • Preparation for Practice (SOHP401)

    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

  • Occupational Studies: The Young Person; Interruptions and Transitions (OCT528)

    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 analyse and evaluate transitions and interruptions and their impact on performance of the central occupations relevant to this stage of the lifespan.

  • Occupational Studies: Adults; Interruptions and Transitions (OCT529)

    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 analyse and evaluate transitions and interruptions and their impact on performance of the central occupations relevant to this stage of the lifespan. 

  • Occupational Studies: The Older Person; Interruptions and Transitions (OCT530)

    Students will apply the 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 evaluate transitions and interruptions and their impact on performance of the central occupations relevant to this stage of the lifespan.

  • Practice Placement 2 (OCT531)

    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. 

  • Occupational Studies: Exploration into Practice (OCT532)

    This module provides the opportunity to select and explore a particular area of occupational therapy practice of the students’ choice. Enabling an examination of an area of interest to broaden the profile of knowledge. 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. 

  • Project Studies (SOHP503)

    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 HCPC 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

  • Occupational Studies: The Innovative Practitioner (OCT605)

    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. 

  • Occupational Studies: The Contemporary Practitioner (OCT606)

    This module provides students with the opportunity to critically explore current and emerging trends in practice. Development of skills and confidence to support the transition into clinical practice. Considers the changing landscape of health and social care services locally, nationally and internationally.

  • Practice Placement 3 (OCT607)

    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.

  • Occupational Studies: Occupation for Promoting Health and Wellness of Communities (OCT608)

    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. 

  • Inter-professional Working in Health and Social Care (SOHP602)

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

  • Project (SOHP605)

    This module consolidates knowledge and skills related to evidence-based practice and lifelong learning. The content will support the students to undertake research at undergraduate level, to discuss their findings in the context of the contemporary evidence base and to evaluate the implications of their activities on their future 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 programme specification 6942

UCAS tariff

128 - 112