Program Overview

Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours)

The Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) is a four-year full-time program that helps people overcome limitations caused by injury or illness, psychological or emotional difficulties, developmental delay, or the effects of aging. Students learn the philosophy and skills that underpin occupational therapy and gain hands-on experience to enter the profession.

Program Overview

• Study occupational therapy for children, adolescents, adults, and older people
• Build foundational knowledge in physiology, functional anatomy, psychology, wellbeing, Indigenous wellbeing, and public health
• Complete 1000 hours of practice education to build professional skills and clinical experience in various settings and age groups

Location and Duration

• Location: Sunshine Coast
• Duration: 4 years full-time or equivalent part-time

Indicative Fees

• Indicative 2026 fees (A$): A$10,519 - 2026 Fees (CSP), A$32,500 (Annual fee)

Career Outcomes

• Aged care
• Child and adolescent services
• Community health and mental health
• Occupational Therapist in hospitals
• Private practice
• Vocational rehabilitation

Memberships and Accreditation

• Graduates may be eligible to become members of Occupational Therapy Australia Limited
• The program is accredited by the Occupational Therapy Council of Australia (Ltd) and approved by the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia
• The program is also approved by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists

Program Structure

The program consists of:

• Introductory courses (8) 96 units
  • HLT140 Think Health
  • LFS103 Introductory Bioscience
  • LFS112 Human Physiology
  • LFS122 Human Anatomy
  • OCC100 Occupational Therapy Theory
  • OCC101 Concepts in Human Occupation
  • OCC102 Participation in Occupation
  • PSY100 Introduction to Psychology A
• Developing courses (9) 108 units
  • HLT205 Health Research and Evidence
  • HLT242 Indigenous Wellbeing Practice
  • OCC200 Occupational Therapy in Mental Health
  • OCC202 Therapeutic Skills
  • OCC212 Evaluation of Occupational Performance
  • OCC222 Neurological Causes of Occupational Dysfunction
  • OCC232 Foundational Placement Competencies in Allied Health
  • PSY203 Introduction to Human Development
  • SPX201 Functional Anatomy
• Graduate courses (5) 84 units
  • OCC300 Consolidation of Occupational Therapy Practice Competencies 1
  • OCC301 Enabling Occupation: The Child and Adolescent
  • OCC311 Enabling Occupation: The Adult
  • OCC312 Enabling Occupation: The Older Person
  • OCC331 Foundational Placement Competencies in Occupational Therapy
• Honours plans 96 units
  • Select 1 pathway from:
    • Occupational Therapy Project Pathway
    • Occupational Therapy Research Pathway

Program Requirements

To graduate, students must:

• Successfully complete 384 units as outlined in the Program Structure
• Most courses are taught from Sippy Downs, but some courses may be taught at the Sunshine Coast Health Institute
• Preparing for study at SCHI information
• Due to external accreditation and sequencing courses within the program, pre-requisites cannot be waived
• Work experience hours cannot be credited towards placement or any other courses as per UniSC policy for RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning)
• The Study Overseas Program is not currently available to occupational therapy students
• Cross-institutional study is not permitted for OCC-coded courses

Student Profile

In Semester 1, 2025, UniSC admitted 150 new Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) students at the Sunshine Coast campus. The student profile data shows:

• Applicant background:
  • A. Higher education study: 36 students (24%)
  • B. Vocational education and training (VET) study: less than 5 students
  • C. Work and life experience: not published
  • D. Recent secondary education: 103 students (68.67%)
• Adjusted ATARs:
  • Highest adjusted ATAR/Rank to receive an offer: 99.1
  • Lowest adjusted ATAR/Rank to receive an offer: 75.55
  • Highest raw ATAR/Rank to receive an offer: 93.1
  • Lowest raw ATAR/Rank to receive an offer: 69.75

Entry Requirements

For entry into the program, students must meet the minimum entry threshold:

• Location: Sunshine Coast
• ATAR/Rank: 75.00
• English language requirements: Students must also meet the English language requirements for this program
• Prerequisites:
  • English (Units 3 and 4, C)
  • Plus one of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Psychology, Health, or Physical Education (Units 3 and 4, C)

Pathways

• Headstart Program - Years 10 to 12: The Headstart program lets students study uni subjects while still in high school
• Early Offer Guarantee scheme - Year 12: The Early Offer Guarantee scheme enables Year 12 students to be offered a place at UniSC on the basis of their Principal's recommendation
• Prior study or work experience: Students with prior study or work experience may be eligible for a selection rank
• Tertiary Preparation Pathway: If students dont have qualifications or experience that will give them a selection rank, they can complete the Tertiary Preparation Pathway as a stepping stone into most degrees
• Indigenous Direct Entry and Access Scheme (IDEAS): Students may be eligible for direct entry into a UniSC degree based on their potential to succeed, under UniSCs Indigenous Direct Entry and Access Scheme (IDEAS)

Fees and Scholarships

• CSP estimate: A$10,519 - 2026 Fees
• Annual tuition fee (A$, 2026): A$32,500
• Additional student costs: Students will be expected to purchase personal protection equipment and cover personal expenses related to attending practice education
• Commonwealth supported places: Commonwealth supported places are substantially subsidised by the Australian Government, so students only pay 'student contribution" amounts
• International fee-paying places: Annual tuition fees are based on 2025 rates and the equivalent full-time student load as per the recommended study sequence in the relevant program

How to Apply

Domestic applicants apply for admission through the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC). Some applicants may be eligible to apply direct to UniSC if they meet certain criteria. International students can apply through UniSC's website.