About the course
Reasons to study
- Regulated by the Health and Care Professions Council and accredited by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT), and the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT), our Occupational Therapy BSc(Hons) course provides the foundations for a potentially life-changing career in occupational therapy.
- You’ll participate in interprofessional learning alongside students from other healthcare professions, including physiotherapists, nurses, midwives, speech and language therapists and podiatrists.
- You’ll develop an in-depth understanding of occupational therapy through placements in different settings, including peoples’ homes, hospitals, local authorities, schools, charities, and prisons. You’ll also have the unique chance to practise your skills in our occupational therapy skills lab.
Occupations are practical, meaningful, and purposeful activities that allow people to develop a sense of identity – for example, self-care, work, or leisure tasks. Occupational therapists work collaboratively with people to help them engage in those activities (occupations) which they need or want to do, enabling them to lead fulfilling and healthy lives.
During this Occupational Therapy BSc(Hons) course, you’ll work with people of all ages in different situations, you’ll assess their needs and collaboratively develop interventions facilitating them to achieve their potential and enjoy maximum quality of life. This will assist you in developing an in-depth understanding of occupational therapy through placements in different settings, including old people’s homes, hospitals, local authorities, schools, charities, and prisons.
Why study Occupational Therapy BSc(Hons)?
Whilst studying the course our purpose-built occupational therapy skills lab enables you to learn in authentic simulated situations and environments. You can also hear the experiences and viewpoints from service users and carers, who are part of the Public Partnership Group.
Occupational therapists work interprofessionally, alongside other healthcare professionals. You’ll therefore study alongside students from other healthcare professions courses and you’ll have the chance to carry out a research project and develop entrepreneurial and change management skills with them.
This course is regulated by the Health and Care Professions Council and accredited by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT), and the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT). During your studies, you’ll learn how to integrate underlying theory and principles of occupational therapy and apply what you learn to different areas of practice. You’ll also work on both the teamwork and autonomous practice skills required to work in a rapidly changing health and social care context.
Upon successful graduation, you could work within the NHS, social services, charities, education services, social enterprises, community interest groups, medico-legal firms, or in independent practice. There may also be opportunities in education, research or overseas, as occupational therapists are also needed internationally.
The University’s new Daphne Steele Building is now open on the site of the National Health Innovation campus, enabling our Occupational Therapy students to benefit from specialist clinical teaching facilities and world-leading research facilities.
Students studying this course may be eligible to receive a non-repayable grant of at least £5,000 each year. Further information is available on the NHS Learning Support Fund website.
Not quite ready to start Occupational Therapy BSc(Hons)? Successful completion of our Health Foundation Pathway leading to a BSc(Hons) Degree will equip you with the foundation knowledge to study Occupational Therapy.
Course detail
Core modules:
Contexualising Occupational Therapy
This module examines different contexts in which occupations are carried out and occupational therapy is practiced. You’ll explore the environmental and cultural influences on occupational performance as well as wider socio-political issues including occupational issues of communities and populations. The drivers and current issues influencing the delivery of occupational therapy will be discussed and explored. You’ll engage with the module material in a reflective way and will be given opportunities to develop your reflective skills.
Factors Affecting Occupational Performance and Participation
This module explores health from an occupational perspective, including the relationship between health and occupation. You’ll examine physiological and psychosocial factors which can affect occupational performance and participation. You’ll also be introduced to the cause and effect of occupational disruption and deprivation, as well as a range of occupational therapy assessment methods with a focus on the assessment of function. You’ll have the opportunity to learn and demonstrate the principles of safe moving and handling, as well as gain knowledge, understanding and application of the principles of risk assessment with occupational therapy practice.
Health and Performance Skills for Occupation
This module explores health from an occupational perspective, including the relationship between health and occupation. You’ll be introduced to the structure and function of the human body, along with the underlying physiological and psychological processes supporting health human behaviour. You’ll develop skills to be able to identify and describe factors which facilitate occupational performance. Building upon these concepts, you’ll explore and analyse a variety of physiological and psychosocial factors which can affect occupational performance.
Practice Based Experience 1
You’ll complete an occupational therapy practice placement, where you'll have the chance to develop and apply your practical skills, as well as gain an understanding of appropriate professional behaviour and standards, which you'll demonstrate during the practice experience. You'll also examine the nature and development of communication strategies in relation to therapeutic relationships and working with other health and social care professionals.
Principles Underpinning Occupational Therapy Practice
This module examines the key concepts and philosophies underpinning occupational therapy practice. You’ll explore the form, function and meaning of occupation, while considering the value and importance that occupations have for individuals, communities and populations. You’ll consider the emerging role of occupational science and its influence on practice. Additionally, you’ll explore their environmental and cultural influences on occupational performance. Fundamental to this module is placing the individual at the centre of occupational therapy practice. You’ll explore a variety of occupational therapy models of practice that support the occupational therapy process. You’ll develop your problem solving, therapeutic and professional reasoning skills.
Professional Development and Research 1
This module involves a multidisciplinary team-based learning approach, where you'll work with occupational therapy, physiotherapy, podiatry students and speech and language therapy students. It will introduce you to the role of research and evidence-based practice exploring different research methodologies and the concept of ethics within healthcare research. You'll have the opportunity to develop transferable skills in literature searching using electronic databases, academic writing and referencing. You'll also explore lifelong learning, reflective practice and continuing professional development that underpins the essential skills needed to understand registration requirements for your specific professional and regulatory body.
Core modules:
Enhancing Occupational Participation for Individuals
You’ll have the opportunity to explore issues of assessing and enhancing the occupational participation of individuals. As well as developing planning, intervention and evaluation skills you’ll also review the ethical, legal and policy frameworks affecting service delivery. You’ll also develop skills to evaluate pertinent theory and research relating to the enhancement of occupational participation for individuals and use this to inform Occupational Therapy practice. You’ll develop practical intervention skills and the ability to modify a range of environments and contexts to enhance occupational participation of individuals.
Practice Based Experience 2A
You'll have the opportunity to complete a six week placement in a practice environment where you'll focus on client-based assessment and use a range of occupational therapy skills and interventions to support clients in the achievement of their personal goals. You'll also begin to work with other members of the wider health and social care team. Guided by a practice based educator you'll identify your own specific learning objectives.
Practice Based Experience 2B
You'll have the opportunity to complete a six week placement during which you'll apply your occupational therapy skills in a wider variety of contexts. This will involve taking a greater degree of responsibility for overall client care and learning to select and justify appropriate assessments and interventions for individuals, groups and communities. You'll also engage with health and social care professionals from a range of disciplines. Guided by a practice based educator you'll identify your own specific learning objectives.
Research 2
This module provides the opportunity to build on your knowledge of research from Year 1 and prepares you to undertake an area of research in Year 3. You’ll explore data collection and analysis in relation to methods which are currently used in research and evaluation of practice.
Utilising Group Work to Enhance the Occupational Participation of Individuals
You’ll explore issues of assessing and enhancing the occupational participation of individuals using group interventions. As well as developing planning, intervention and evaluation skills you’ll have the opportunity to review the ethical, legal and policy framework effecting service delivery. You’ll evaluate pertinent theory and research relating to the enhancement of occupational participation for individuals within a group and use this to inform practice. You’ll also have the opportunity to lead practical therapeutic groups where you’ll also be able to develop your confidence and creative abilities.
Core modules:
Contemporary Occupational Therapy
In this module you’ll have the opportunity to further develop your understanding of occupational justice and the ways in which occupations are subject to a range of contextual influence. Using community and population based case studies, you’ll adopt an enquiry based approach to explore unmet occupational needs and occupational justice; considering global and local contexts which influence communities and populations and you’ll also critically evaluate the value of an occupational perspective in developing and applying interventions.
Practice Based Experience 3
You'll have the opportunity to work with increasing independence by learning how to manage your time and prioritise your work load during an eight week placement within the NHS, social care or non-traditional settings. You'll encounter clients with complex and challenging needs and contribute to the management of the service, working effectively as part of a team. Guided by a practice based educator you'll identify your own specific learning objectives.
Research 3
This is a multidisciplinary module which follows on from Research 2. You'll undertake a small-scale research project related to an interdisciplinary research environment. You’ll work in a multi-professional group, with other health professional students on a defined topic area with a named supervisor. You’ll also be involved in data collection. Your research proposals will be subject to the necessary ethical approvals within the University.
Transitioning into Practice
This module helps to prepare you for transitioning into practice by focusing on your professional and personal development, as well as equipping you for autonomous practice in complex evolving environments. Through lectures and workshops, you’ll have the chance to gain the skills and knowledge required to become a resilient, reflective practitioner capable of leading contemporary services. You’ll engage with the Career Development Framework to ensure you are prepared to transition into professional practice as a safe and competent Occupational Therapist.
Widening Occupational Therapy Practice
This module involves focusing in-depth on an area of occupational therapy in a wide variety of contexts such as public health, social care or the third sector. Through lectures and workshops, you'll have the chance to gain the skills required to evaluate the potential of occupational therapy in a contemporary context or develop a sustainable proposal or intervention for enhancing the service. You’ll also have the opportunity to develop entrepreneurial and business development skills which are now vital skills for a healthcare professional in this mixed market economy.
An average of 16% of the study time on this course is spent with your tutors (either face to face or online) in lectures, seminars, tutorials etc and 28% is spent on placement.
Teaching and learning is delivered through seminars, group work, practical experience, lectures, presentations and simulation.
Counselling, psychotherapy and occupational therapy at Huddersfield is top in Yorkshire for Academic Support, scoring 93%, based on experimental statistics from the National Student Survey 2023.*
Assessment involves a combination of coursework, practice/competency based learning, examinations and essays. This also includes a variety of innovative methods such as reflective logs, group presentations, case studies, portfolios of learning, poster presentations and practice based reports. Your module specification/course handbook will provide full details of the assessment criteria applying to your course.
Counselling, psychotherapy and occupational therapy at Huddersfield is top in Yorkshire for Assessment and Feedback, scoring 88%, based on experimental statistics from the National Student Survey 2023.**
Feedback (usually written) is normally provided on all coursework submissions within three term time weeks – unless the submission was made towards the end of the session in which case feedback would be available on request after the formal publication of results. Feedback on exam performance/final coursework is available on request after the publication of results.
Throughout the course you’ll also have access to a Personal Development Plan, where you can identify your strengths and weaknesses, construct a record of achievement documenting the acquisition of knowledge, skills and competencies, as well as reflect and act upon your personal, professional, academic and long term career goals.
*Institutions in Yorkshire with turnover of over £100 million.
** The following positive scores combined to produce this theme: 93% of students felt it was easy to contact teaching staff when they needed to and 92% felt teaching staff had supported their learning well.
***The following positive scores combined to produce this theme: 88% of students felt the marking criteria used to assess their work were clear, 87% felt the marking and assessment on their course had been fair, 80% felt assessments allowed them to demonstrate what they have learned, 97% felt they received assessment feedback on time and 90% felt feedback helped them to improve their work.
Further information
Once you’ve submitted your application form to UCAS you may be invited to attend an interview.
The teaching year normally starts in September with breaks at Christmas and Easter, finishing with a main examination/assessment period around May/June. Timetables are normally available one month before registration. This is a full-time course, so you may have to attend every day of the week.
Your course is made up of modules and each module is worth a number of credits. Each year you study core modules to the value of 120 credits, adding up to 360 credits in total for a bachelor’s qualification.
If you achieve 120 credits for the current stage you are at, you may progress to the next stage of your course, subject to any professional, statutory or regulatory body guidelines.
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The University of Huddersfield has been rated Gold in all three aspects of the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023. We were the only university in Yorkshire and the Humber and the North West to achieve Gold ratings in all three aspects of the TEF among those announced in September 2023. In fact only 13 Universities, out of the 96 that were announced in September 2023, were Gold in all three ratings.
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Further proof of teaching excellence: our staff rank in the top three in England for the proportion who hold doctorates, who have higher degrees, and hold teaching qualifications (HESA 2024). So, you’ll learn from some of the best, helping you to be the best.
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We are joint first in the country for National Teaching Fellowships, which mark the UK’s best lecturers in Higher Education, winning a total of 23 since 2008 (2024 data).
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We won the first Global Teaching Excellence Award, recognising the University’s commitment to world-class teaching and its success in developing students as independent learners and critical thinkers (Higher Education Academy, 2017).
Read more about academic staff at the University of Huddersfield
At Huddersfield, you'll study the Global Professional Award (GPA) alongside your degree* so that you gain valuable qualities and experiences that could help you to get the career you want, no matter what your field of study is. On completion of the Award, you'll receive a GPA certificate from the University of Huddersfield, alongside the specialist subject skills and knowledge you gain as part of your degree, which may help to set you apart from other graduates.
Giving students access to the Global Professional Award is one of the reasons the University won ‘Best University Employability Strategy’ award at the National Graduate Recruitment Awards 2021. Find out more on the Global Professional Award webpage.
*full-time, undergraduate first degrees with a minimum duration of three years. This does not include postgraduate, foundation, top-up, accelerated or apprenticeship degrees.
Entry requirements
BBB-BBCat A Level , including one of the following A Levels: Biology, Human Biology or Psychology but excluding General Studies. If you are studying Science A Level, the endorsement for practical work is essential and a requirement for entry to our degree course. |
120-112 UCAS tariff points from a combination of Level 3 qualifications, excluding General Studies, and including one of the following: A Level Biology, Human Biology or Psychology, BTEC Subsidiary Diploma/National Extended Certificate/Diploma in Health and Social Care or Applied Science. If you are studying Science A Level, the endorsement for practical work is essential and a requirement for entry to our degree course. |
Merit at T Level in Health or Healthcare Science. |
DDM-DMM in BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care or Applied Science. |
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GCSE English Language or English Literature and Maths at grade 4 or above, or grade C if awarded under the previous GCSE grading scheme, or equivalent Ofqual regulated qualification.
If you do not have the appropriate qualifications for direct entry to this degree you may be able to apply to our Health Foundation Pathway leading to a BSc(Hons) Degree.
You must demonstrate an good understanding of the profession of occupational therapy
You may be eligible to gain accreditation for your prior learning towards this course.
- Offers will be subject to an interview and references. Please note all the information provided in support of your application may be checked and must be verifiable as a true record
- You also need satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and occupational health clearances prior to registration. We arrange these as part of the application process. You will be required to sign a self-declaration at the start of each year. All police contact during the course must be reported to the course leader as a matter of urgency and may lead to suspension or termination. We will request an Overseas Police Check if you have lived in a country outside of the UK for 6 months or more (whether continuously or in total) in the last 10 years before applying to us and whilst aged 18 or over.
Placement providers for this course may require you to have received a number of vaccinations, unless medically exempt, and provide evidence of these. As a student on a course with a clinical or healthcare placement, we strongly recommend that you complete any courses of vaccinations required under current guidelines for your future profession. Failure to do so may result in your inability to undertake a placement in certain clinical settings, therefore impacting upon your academic progression, and may result in academic failure of your course.
If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 6.5 overall with no element lower than 6.0, or equivalent. Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our International Entry Requirements page.
Other suitable experience or qualifications will be considered. For further information please see the University's minimum entry requirements.
Please note places are limited and attainment of the minimum entry requirements does not guarantee an interview or offer. You must include details of any previous study.
Placements
Practice education is an important and compulsory part of the course, so placements will be undertaken throughout the three years. You're required to successfully complete 1000 hours of assessed professional practice throughout the course in a range of health, social and third sector care settings within (and occasionally beyond) the West Yorkshire region. This will be equivalent to placements of seven weeks in Year 1, 12 weeks in Year 2 and 10 weeks in Year 3. You may also have the opportunity to work in the University's Telehealth service.
Please note that you may be required to travel for/during your placements across West Yorkshire and occasionally beyond.
“My placements have been in a variety of settings, enabling me to gain an insight into the role of an occupational therapist within different areas of practice. They have helped improve my communication skills and confidence, as well as grow in my own independence and knowledge.”
Kadie Taylor, Currently studying Occupational Therapy BSc(Hons)
Facilities
Student support
At the University of Huddersfield, you'll find support networks and services to help you get ahead in your studies and social life. Whether you study at undergraduate or postgraduate level, you'll soon discover that you're never far away from our dedicated staff and resources to help you to navigate through your personal student journey. Find out more about all our support services.
Important information
Although we always try and ensure we deliver our courses as described, sometimes we may have to make changes for the following reasons
When you enrol as a student of the University, your study and time with us will be governed by our terms and conditions, Handbook of Regulations and associated policies. It is important that you familiarise yourself with these as you will be asked to agree to them when you join us as a student. You will find a guide to the key terms here, along with the Student Protection Plan.
Although we always try and ensure we deliver our courses as described, sometimes we may have to make changes for the following reasons
Changes to a course you have applied for but are not yet enrolled on
If we propose to make a major change to a course that you are holding an offer for, then we will tell you as soon as possible so that you can decide whether to withdraw your application prior to enrolment. We may occasionally have to withdraw a course you have applied for or combine your programme with another programme if we consider this reasonably necessary to ensure a good student experience, for example if there are not enough applicants. Where this is the case we will notify you as soon as reasonably possible and we will discuss with you other suitable courses we can transfer your application to. If you do not wish to transfer to another course with us, you may cancel your application and we will refund you any deposits or fees you have paid to us.
Changes to your course after you enrol as a student
Changes to option modules:
Where your course allows you to choose modules from a range of options, we will review these each year and change them to reflect the expertise of our staff, current trends in research and as a result of student feedback or demand for certain modules. We will always ensure that you have an equivalent range of options to that advertised for the course. We will let you know in good time the options available for you to choose for the following year.
Major changes:
We will only make major changes to non-optional modules on a course if it is necessary for us to do so and provided such changes are reasonable. A major change is a change that substantially changes the outcomes, or a significant part of your course, such as the nature of the award or a substantial change to module content, teaching days (part time provision), type of delivery or assessment of the core curriculum. For example, it may be necessary to make a major change to reflect changes in the law or the requirements of the University’s regulators or a commissioning or accrediting body. We may also make changes to improve the course in response to student, examiners’ or other course evaluators’ feedback or to ensure you are being taught current best practice. Major changes may also be necessary because of circumstances outside our reasonable control, such as a key member of staff leaving the University or being unable to teach, where they have a particular specialism that can’t be adequately covered by other members of staff; or due to damage or interruption to buildings, facilities or equipment, or pandemics.
Major changes would usually be made with effect from the next academic year, but may happen sooner in an emergency. We will notify you as soon as possible should we need to make a major change and will carry out suitable consultation. If you reasonably believe that the proposed change will cause you detriment or hardship we will, if appropriate, work with you to try to reduce the adverse effect on you or find an appropriate solution. Where an appropriate solution cannot be found and you contact us in writing before the change takes effect you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the University without liability to the University for future tuition fees. We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so.
In exceptional circumstances, we may, for reasons outside of our control, be forced to discontinue or suspend your course. Where this is the case, a formal exit strategy will be followed in accordance with the student protection plan.
The Office for Students (OfS) is the principal regulator for the University.
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