Occupational Therapy BSc (Hons)

This degree in Occupational Therapy is delivered in three formats:

• Full-time route
• Full-time Extended route
• Apprenticeships

All the programmes are accredited by the Health and Care Professions Council and the Royal College of Occupational Therapy.

All of the University of Northampton’s Occupational Therapy BSc graduates gain an academic degree which will then allow you to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) to obtain a licence to practice and become a member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists.

You will be taught by qualified Occupational Therapists who also have additional teaching qualifications, Masters or PhD qualifications. Our teaching staff have a variety of clinical backgrounds and expertise from acute/community/forensic mental health, acute physical, hand therapy, neuro rehab, community social service, primary care, learning disabilities, and paediatrics.

• The Full-Time BSc Occupational Therapy degree is approximately 20 hours of direct contact plus 15 dedicated study hours per week across standard university semesters.
• The Full-Time Extended BSc Occupational Therapy course is approximately 14 hours of direct contact plus additional study hours per week, extended over 45 weeks of the year.
• The Degree Apprenticeship includes work based learning and 7 hours direct contact plus additional study hours per week, extended over 45 weeks.

Studying the BSc Occupational Therapist degree offers you many opportunities including:

• Short Overseas Exchange: during Stage two you will have the option to take part in a student exchange programme where you can spend one week studying on the Occupational Therapy degree programme at a university in Finland. This is an excellent cultural professional exchange experience. Please note that you will have to pay for flights and accommodation.
• You are encouraged to participate in extracurricular activities during your studies such as Naidex; an annual equipment exhibition, RCOT conference or the OT Show or the many activities/courses on campus such as social entrepreneurship activities. You will be invited to take part in Heath Roadshows to promote the profession and the university, Open days and Discovery Days to contribute to the recruitment and joining of successive student cohorts.

The World Federation of Occupational Therapists stipulate that occupational therapy students need to complete 1,000 hours of assessed practice. You will complete four placements across the programme that will meet this requirement.

Placements are available in a variety of settings and we work closely with the students to provide a range of practice opportunities.

At the University of Northampton, everything we do, from funded trips to paid internships, is to give you everything you need to make a difference when you leave.

If you join our full-time Occupational Therapy degree at the University of Northampton, you will receive a laptop when your course begins*. The laptops are built to a bespoke custom specification ideal for use in the seminar room, collaborative group work or studying at home.

Whatever your ambitions, we’re here to help you to achieve them. We’ll support you to identify the skills you’re learning during your occupational therapy course, find your strengths and secure practical experience so that when it comes to applying for jobs or further study you’ll feel confident in standing out from the crowd. We’ve created the Northampton Employment Promise because we are so confident that if you focus on your studies and complete one of our awards you’ll be highly employable by the time you graduate. Putting you in a great position to secure employment or continue your studies.

To check out the full list of perks, visit our Student Perks page or dedicated International Perks page.

* UK fee payers only (see Terms and Conditions for further details)

What is the difference between the different routes?

We have 3 routes in the BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy:

• Full-time (FT): students are available for teaching and self-directed study Monday to Friday for traditional university terms. Placements are full time.
• Full-time Extended (FTE): students are in university 2 full days per week, with an additional day needed for independent study. Therefore, FTE students are required to attend for more weeks of the year in order to complete all of the modules. Teaching continues into June/July for FTE students.  Placements are part time (22.5 hrs) in the first 2 years, and full time in the final year.
• Apprenticeship: students are in full time employment or being recruited to an apprentice post the health and social care sector. Students are nominated for the degree by their employer, they attend university one day per week, complete work-based learning tasks and complete full time placements.

Some modules are completed with FT, FTE and apprenticeship students together. All routes are completed within 3 years.

How will I be taught on the Occupational Therapy degree?

Our occupational therapy degree incorporates a range of learning and teaching methods to engage you in active learning. This includes technology enhanced learning through online workbooks, activities and interactive discussions: classroom based learning through seminars, skills workshops, tutorials and practice–based learning. You will be a collaborator in learning with your tutors, peers and practice educators. We are working with local partners in strategy development and are encouraging of social entrepreneurship with resources and expertise within the staff team.

Successful completion of the BSc Occupational Therapy degree will allow you to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). In addition, it will also give you an opportunity to obtain a licence to practice and become a member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists.

How will I be assessed on the Occupational Therapy course?

A diverse range of assessments are included in the course to ensure academic and professional competence and to prepare you for the role of an Occupational Therapist. This includes written assignments, multiple choice question tests, poster presentations, group work, reflective essays, case studies, OCSE’s, Blogs and placement assessment. You may work together in pairs/small groups for some assignments.

Support is provided by tutors for all module assignments in the form of assessment tutorials and marking criteria.

What extra curricular course events or activities are there?

There are opportunities throughout the course to get involved in events and activities. We have excellent links with local organisations for volunteering.  We have a strong Occupational Therapy community, the student Occupational Therapy Society arrange regular activities, we participate in National OT Week and various events throughout the year.