Program Overview

MSc Occupational Therapy (Pre-registration)

Accreditation

Accredited by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists.

Course Overview

This program provides students with excellent training to become highly skilled and knowledgeable occupational therapists. The program is designed to equip students with the skills and professional qualifications required for registration with the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC).

What You Will Learn

The program will equip students with all the skills they need to practice, whether in the NHS or the independent sector. The program is based on the understanding that people are occupational beings who need to engage in a balanced range of personally meaningful occupations to sustain health and wellbeing.

On This Course You Will...

• Be a member of a close-knit cohort and work in small groups with peers, with excellent learning support from highly experienced occupational therapists.
• Benefit from the practical approach to teaching and learning in purpose-built mock wards and simulation suits.
• Be fully supported by teaching and student support teams, enabling students to learn in their way.
• Experience and learn from a range of practice placements that students are well-prepared for with pre-placement practical skills and simulation learning.
• Have a personal tutor who will support students throughout their time on the program, providing extra academic and pastoral support.

Key Details

• Recruiting to: UK / RoI / Settled in UK
• Course Location: Carlisle - Fusehill Street
• Institute: Institute of Health
• Delivery Style: In-Person
• Course Duration: Full-time: 2 Years
• Course Start Point: September
• Award: MSc

Minimum Entry Requirements

• 2:2 or above Honours degree
• GCSE English Language Grade 4 (C), or equivalent.

Tuition Fees

• £9,535 - UK (per year)
• 16,900 - International (per year)

What Our Students and Graduates Say

• Don't worry about your age or seemingly irrelevant experience when it comes to occupational therapy. As long as you're driven, have a purpose for studying OT, and some relevant experience in healthcare, you will succeed.
• The teaching staff on my MSc in occupational therapy at University of Cumbria were engaging and supportive and the assignments allow flexibility for you to really research and write about the things that you care about in the way that works for you.

Teaching and Assessment

How You Will Learn

The content of the program is based on national and international standards for pre-registration education, including those developed by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists, and the World Federation of Occupational Therapists. The program incorporates blended learning strategies, which develop mastery of pedagogy, as well as mastery of professional skills.

How You Will Be Assessed

• Summative and Formative Assessment: The assessments have been designed to provide a creative and balanced strategy across the program.
• Formative Assessment: Formative assessments are developmental and aim to support learning and help prepare students for the summative assessment.
• Summative Assessment: Summative assessment aims to enable students to demonstrate their learning at the end of each module and must be passed to complete the program.

Selection Criteria

• We strongly recommend you thoroughly research the role of an Occupational Therapist, speak to an Occupational Therapist, or meet an Occupational Therapist prior to your interview as you will be asked about your understanding of their role.
• In addition to a degree, candidates should have a GCSE grade C or above in English Language.
• If you have an unrelated first degree, but have experience in occupational therapy, your application will be considered.

Funding

• You may also be eligible for additional funding through the NHS Learning Support Fund.

Additional Costs

• Books: Students need to spend approximately £100-£200 a year on textbooks and scripts.
• Stationery: Students should budget for stationery and consumables for their own personal use.
• Clothing and Equipment: The University provides 3 tunics/polo shirts, 2 pairs of trousers, and 1 fleece. If you require additional pieces of uniform, you will need to purchase this yourself.
• Field Trips: You may wish to attend a conference (optional not part of the course) again the costs vary and depend on whether you go to a one day or several days events, the costs will vary depending on where the venues are and the cost of accommodation you choose.

Research Areas

• Project Design: The aim of this module is to give students an advanced understanding of project design and selected research methods.
• Research Project: The aim of this module is to enable students to develop a critical awareness of research design through conducting a research project, engaging service users as relevant, in a topic relevant to their professional practice, and evidence their research skill development.

Year One Modules

• Fundamentals of Occupational Therapy Practice
• Project Design
• Applied Occupational Therapy
• Practice Based Simulation Placement
• Occupational Therapy in Practice 1
• Occupational Therapy in Practice 2

Year Two Modules

• Contemporary and Sustainable Occupational Therapy Practice
• Future Leaders in Practice
• Occupational and Digital Design
• Research Project
• Occupational Therapy in Practice 3
• Occupational Therapy in Practice 4

Practice Placements

• At least 1,000 hours on placement in a variety of settings with children, adults, and older adults with physical, social, or mental health challenges.
• Travel to placement may be up to 90 minutes each way, for some placements.
• Your final placement is elective, this means you can choose where your placement takes place within the United Kingdom or the wider world.