Program Overview

Do you want to promote and restore people’s health and well-being? On this two year masters programme you'll learn how to enhance people’s occupational engagement in everyday life in order to meet their biological, psychological, social and spiritual needs through exploration and adaptation. You will become a highly skilled, reflective and confident occupational therapy practitioner, able to critically evaluate the importance of occupational engagement for every stage of an individual’s life.

To successfully complete the programme and be eligible to apply for a professional registration as an occupational therapist you must complete a specified number of practice placement hours along with your theoretical study. This is a requirement of the Health and Care Professions Council. As such, you will only be able to take personal holidays during specified leave periods including induction week, where it is vital you attend all sessions. You will experience interprofessional learning and explore your role in preparation for placement or as a potential leader and manager in future practice. You will develop the core understanding of occupational theory, occupational science and skills, and understand and appraise evidence-based practice issues and the applicability of a wide range of research methods. Placement opportunities will enable you to develop professional practice skills in distinctive service settings under supervision.

Key features

• Study full time over two years and gain an MSc as your entry qualification to the profession.
• Join an enthusiastic team of occupational therapists, undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD students who are pushing forward the boundaries of knowledge on  occupational therapy and occupational science.
• Take the opportunity to study on the only programme of its kind in the South West.
• Cover the required 90 weeks of pre-registration study in two years, instead of the usual three years, on the full-time accelerated programme, to qualify and gain employment quicker.
• Develop your understanding of the philosophy of the profession and the relevant sciences that guide practice, as well as the creative reflexivity for effecting necessary change.
• Benefit from the experience of being out on placement for 29 weeks – gain invaluable knowledge, skills and industry contacts which will help boost your future career prospects.
• Looking for a change of career? Prepare yourself for a new future role. Your first degree does not have to be from a health profession background to study on this programme.
• Successfully complete the programme and you’ll be eligible to apply for registration as an Occupational Therapist with the Health and Care Professions Council and to be a member of the British Association of Occupational Therapists.
• Your qualification will be recognised by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists, meaning you may be eligible to apply to work overseas.