Program Overview

PGDIP/MSc OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY (PRE-REGISTRATION MODE)

Overview

Full training in two years

Both of our PgDip and MSc graduate entry programme are designed to enable you to be eligible for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the programme is accredited by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) and recognised by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT). We have a large, diverse and vibrant occupational therapy community with

• academic staff with a wide range of clinical expertise
• a large student cohort across our occupational therapy courses

This course allows full-time professional training to be condensed into two years. To support teaching, the Institute of Health and Social Care has a dedicated suite of clinical skills labs, including two well-equipped Activities of Daily Living (ADL) suites, plus large rooms for art, splinting and group skills sessions.

Why Occupational Therapy at LSBU?

• Ranked 1st in London for Occupational Therapy (Complete University Guide 2025).
• Well-developed relationships with practice partners over many years, with the PgDip course established in 1989, initially as part of the London Hospital Medical College in Whitechapel and occupational therapy courses at LSBU since 1988.
• We deliver a mix of theoretical and practical teaching in small groups alongside whole cohort lectures in our three Occupational Therapy Labs, with facilities including splinting laboratory, simulated living spaces and artistic intervention tools.
• Our Occupational therapy course is delivered through a hybrid learning in our central London campus, using a wide variety of teaching and assessment methods to tailor for diverse learning needs.
• LSBU Health and Social Care graduates are the second highest paid amongst all London Modern university graduates, and the sixth highest in the UK one year after graduating (DfE LEO data 2022).
• Students on this course could be eligible to receive a non-repayable amount of up to £11,000 per academic year with the NHS Learning Support Fund.

Mode | Duration | Start date | Application code | Application method

• Mode PGDip Full-time | Duration 2 years | Start date September | Application code B931 | Application method UCAS
• Mode MSc Full-time | Duration 2 years | Start date September | Application code B932 | Application method UCAS

Course Accreditations

• RCOT
• HCPC

Location

• Southwark Campus

London South Bank University student union is located at 103 Borough Rd, London SE1 0AA.

Entry Level Requirements

• Bachelors degree with honours of 2:2 or above in any subject or recognised equivalent
• English GSCE Grade C above or equivalent
• Values and attributes that are compatible with to the NHS constitution
• Applicants for whom English is not their first language must have a minimum score of 7.0 overall or equivalent for the International English Language Test Score (IELTS), with no element below 6.5.

Fees

• UK fee: £12693
• International fee: £21758

Year 1

• Introduction to occupational therapy and occupational science (20 credits)
  • This module introduces learners to the philosophy, theory and concepts of occupational therapy and occupational science. The module develops learners’ critical understanding and relevance of these concepts to contemporary occupational therapy practice in health, social care and third sector environments. The module includes an introductory practice placement which enables learners to begin the development of their professional identity as an occupational therapist.
• Human function and occupational performance (20 credits)
  • This module develops learners’ knowledge of body structures and functions and the impact of dysfunction on occupational performance, engagement, and participation in life roles. This knowledge informs activity analysis, contributes to the evidence base for practice, and informs learners’ professional reasoning.
• Promoting health and wellbeing through occupation (20 credits)
  • This module explores ways in which occupational therapy uses occupation to promote health and well-being from theoretical, evidence and practice based perspectives. Learners begin to develop their knowledge of theories and models influencing occupational therapy practice and consider how the evidence base may inform practice. The module also includes Practice Placement 2 (7 weeks) which requires 3 university day’s attendance. The aim of these 3 days is to enable learners to retain the link between theory and practice as they develop their knowledge and skills of application of the occupational therapy process.

Year 2

• Autonomy, accountability and development of professional identity (20 credits)
  • In this module learners will gain confidence in their ability to identify their personal potential as an occupational therapist through critical self-evaluation, awareness of the need for resilience and resourcefulness to meet the requirements for entry into the profession, and the delivery of contemporary occupational therapy practice. The module includes Practice Placement 4.
• Person, environment and occupation (20 credits)
  • This module develops learners’ ability to utilise knowledge, skills and the evidence base to design, implement and evaluate the practice of occupational therapy with individuals and groups from different heritages and ethnic and cultural identities and with a range of complex health and social needs. This module consolidates the learners’ knowledge and skills in relation to the occupational therapy process and includes consideration of the influence of wider environmental, socio political and economic issues that influence sustainable and productive participation. The module develops learners’ understanding of how the environment in its widest sense – at micro, meso and macro levels – can be adapted to enhance occupational performance and participation. The module includes Practice Placement 3.
• Contemporary Issues in occupational therapy (20 credits)
  • This final module consolidates learners’ knowledge, critical and analytical skills and understanding of contemporary factors (e.g. changes in policy, demographics, and context) and their impact on occupational therapy theory and practice. The module prepares learners for the complexities of a dynamic health and social care environment to create and develop innovative and sustainable occupational therapy through collaborative working with people within the wider community.
• School of Health and Social Care Dissertation (MSc pathway only) (60 credits)
  • This module provides learners with the opportunity to undertake original enquiry in a chosen area of professional practice through a systematic review of the literature. Learners will be able to consolidate and extend their knowledge and understanding of research and evaluation design and associated methods of enquiry during six taught sessions. They will subsequently be supported by a named supervisor to develop the practical skills necessary to plan and carry out their chosen project.

Careers

Graduates with either award are eligible to register as an Occupational Therapist with the HCPC. Registration allows you to practice as an Occupational Therapist within the NHS, community services and local authorities, as well as social enterprise and the private sector. Other settings include prisons, residential and nursing homes, schools and Social Services.

Placements

During the course you are required to successfully complete and pass over 1000 practice placement hours within a broad variety of health and social care settings; meeting the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (2019), the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (2016) and the Health and Social Care Professions Council (2017) standards and requirements.

Teaching and Assessment

The course uses a range of teaching and learning methods including lectures, small group sessions, practical skills sessions, online and self-directed learning activities.

Key features of this programme is the use of problem-based (PBL) and inquiry- based approaches to learning. These educational approaches involve students working together in small groups and sharing responsibility for meeting learning outcomes.

Personal and Professional Tutoring

As a Health and Social Care student, you will be allocated a named tutor during your first three weeks at LSBU. The role of your tutor is to be your primary contact for academic and professional development support.

Your tutor will support your engagement and motivation to study, providing advice and signposting to other sources of support in the University. They should be the first person at the university that you speak to if you are having any difficulties that are affecting your work. These could be academic, financial, health-related or another type of problem.

You will have appointments with your tutor regularly throughout your course. This will include an introductory meeting in your first semester and placement visits and calls. You can contact your tutor for additional support by email or phone.