Program Overview

Programme: Bachelor of Occupational Therapy [BOT]

The programme extends over four academic years, during which period a student receives clinical training as a student occupational therapist at an institution approved by the University.

Programme Information

• The programme is offered by the Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Occupational Therapy.
• Minimum duration of study: 4 years
• Total credits: 506
• NQF level: 08
• Students must complete at least 1 000 hours' clinical practical work over the four years of study to register as an occupational therapist with the Health Professions Council of South Africa.

Admission Requirements

• Important information for all prospective students for 2026: The admission requirements apply to all who apply for admission to the University of Pretoria with a National Senior Certificate (NSC) and Independent Examination Board (IEB) qualifications.
• Minimum requirements:
  • Achievement level: English Home Language or English First Additional Language: 4, Mathematics: 4, Physical Sciences: 4
  • APS: 30
• Life Orientation is excluded when calculating the APS.
• Applicants currently in Grade 12 must apply with their final Grade 11 (or equivalent) results.
• Applicants who have completed Grade 12 must apply with their final NSC or equivalent qualification results.
• Meeting the minimum academic requirements does not guarantee admission.

Additional Requirements

• Each student in Occupational Therapy must apply immediately after admission to the first year of study, to the Registrar of the Health Professions Council of South Africa for registration as a student in Occupational Therapy.

Other Programme-Specific Information

1. Students who must repeat specific modules in the final year of study, must also acquire a certificate of work integrated learning attendance (fieldwork) and progress in Occupational Therapy 401, 402, and OCX 400 in the year of repetition, even if the section in the module(s) in question have already been passed in the unsuccessful year.
2. In the final year of study, examinations are compulsory in respect of all the modules presented by the Department of Occupational Therapy, as it is not possible to be promoted in any of these modules.

Examinations and Pass Requirements

• Subminimum: In modules with a written as well as a practical and/or clinical examination, a subminimum of 40% is required in the written as well as the practical and/or clinical sections of the examination.
• Examination after one semester: A final-year student who has failed one module but who has passed all other modules, may be admitted to a special examination in the module in question at the end of the first semester of the subsequent year, after satisfactory attendance at lectures and clinical work during the first semester.

Promotion to Next Study Year

• Students in the first year of study who do not qualify for admission to the second year of study are automatically subjected to selection again.
• In modules with a written as well as a practical and/or clinical examination, a subminimum of 40% is required in the written as well as the practical and/or clinical sections of the standard and supplementary examination.

Fundamental Modules

• AIM 111: Academic information management 111
• AIM 121: Academic information management 121
• ANA 151: Introduction to anatomy 151
• ANA 152: Anatomy of the limbs 152
• ANA 161: Anatomy of the torso 161
• ANA 162: Anatomy of the head and neck 162
• ELH 121: Academic English for Health Sciences (BNurs, BDietetics, BOH, BOT, BRad and BPhysio) 121
• ELH 122: Academic English for Health Sciences 122
• FSG 161: Physiology 161
• FSG 162: Physiology 162
• GNK 286: Basic emergency care 286
• MTL 180: Medical terminology 180
• SEP 119: Sepedi for beginners 119
• SLK 110: Psychology 110
• SLK 120: Psychology 120
• UPO 110: Academic orientation 110
• ZUL 119: isiZulu for beginners 119

Core Modules

• IHL 120: Integrated healthcare leadership 120
• OCX 100: Occupational science 100
• OTX 100: Occupational therapy 100

Year 2

Fundamental Modules

• FSG 251: Physiology 251
• FSG 252: Physiology 252
• FSG 261: Physiology 261
• FSG 262: Physiology 262
• SLK 210: Psychology 210

Core Modules

• IHL 210: Integrated healthcare leadership 210
• OCX 200: Occupational science 200
• OTX 211: Occupational therapy 211
• OTX 212: Occupational therapy 212
• OTX 221: Occupational therapy 221
• OTX 222: Occupational therapy 222

Year 3

Fundamental Modules

• ANP 210: Anatomical pathology 210
• RHC 300: Research methodology for healthcare sciences 300

Core Modules

• IHL 310: Integrated healthcare leadership 310
• OCX 303: Occupational science 303
• OCX 311: Occupational science 311
• OCX 312: Occupational science 312
• OTX 311: Occupational therapy 311
• OTX 322: Occupational therapy 322

Year 4

Fundamental Modules

• RHC 400: Research in healthcare sciences 400

Core Modules

• IHL 413: Interprofessional health management 413
• OCX 400: Occupational science 400
• OTX 401: Occupational therapy 401
• OTX 402: Occupational therapy 402

Pass with Distinction

• The BOT degree is conferred with distinction on a student who has obtained a joint average of at least 75% (not rounded) in the core modules in OTX 401, OTX 402, and OCX 400.