MSc Advanced Occupational Therapy/MSc Advanced Occupational Therapy (Community) (incorporating PG Cert/PG Dip)

Start date: You can start this course in September, January or April.

Course length: Part time: 2-6 years

Campus: Distance Learning

This course is available to international students

This course consists of two pathways which lead on to two separate awards; the MSc Advanced Occupational Therapy and the MSc Advanced Occupational Therapy (Community). It is aimed at qualified occupational therapists and each pathway has a Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma and a Masters stage, all studied on a part time basis.

Both routes are appropriate to any setting that you may be placed within, but if you work in a community setting, MSc Advanced Occupational Therapy (Community) has modules on community working which are only available if you study on this route.

During the course, you will have the opportunity to study individual modules as stand alone courses which will contribute to your continued professional development, if you want to. Alternatively you can take a number of modules which will work towards a PG Certificate, a PG Diploma or the full Masters. You will also have the opportunity to come into the university for optional study days which will give you the chance to share ideas with fellow students from your profession.

You'll be encouraged to apply the knowledge you've already learnt in your workplace to your study, which will help you to develop both personally and professionally. Our team of tutors, who are all qualified occupational therapists, will also give you all the help and support you need during your studies.

What you’ll study

This course is made up of three stages – Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma and MSc.

Occupational Therapy
Postgraduate Certificate in Occupational Therapy
You’ll study this module: Introduction to Masters Level Study (20 credits). Plus you’ll choose two optional modules.

Postgraduate Diploma in Occupational Therapy
You’ll study this module: Research Methods (20 credits). Plus you’ll choose two more optional modules.

MSc Advanced Occupational Therapy
You’ll study this module: Independent Scholarship (60 credits)

Occupational Therapy (Community)
Postgraduate Certificate in Occupational Therapy (Community)
You’ll study these modules: Introduction to Masters Level Study (20 credits) and Community Focused Occupational Therapy (20 credits). Plus you’ll choose one optional module.

Postgraduate Diploma in Occupational Therapy (Community)

You’ll study these modules: Research Methods (20 credits) and  Occupations and Communities (20 credits). Plus you’ll choose one more optional module.

MSc Advanced Occupational Therapy (Community)
You’ll study this module: Independent Scholarship (60 credits). Plus you’ll choose optional modules throughout the course.

This is a specialist course.

UK/EU students

• £815 per module (you usually take 9 of these modules in total)

International students

• Full time: £11,070 (in total)

*These fees apply if you're starting this course between September 2013 and August 2014. We recommend you check fee details with us though, as they can change. Costs can increase each year.

How you'll learn

You will study through distance learning, e-learning, e-mail tutorials, phone tutorials, face to face tutorials (which are optional) and also optional study days which you can attend at the university.

How you're assessed

For each 20 credit module you study you will be assessed by a 4,000 word assignment. The 40 credit modules are assessed by the production of a portfolio together with an 8,000 word assignment.

At Masters stage you will submit a 15,000 - 20,000 word dissertation based on a topic of your choice which is studied through a systematic review of the literature or piece of research.

Some of our previous graduates from this course have found it very beneficial to their role as they have been able to apply the skills and knowledge they have learned to their workplace. It will also contribute to your continued professional development which is an essential requirement for registration with the Health Professions Council. You could even use this course to demonstrate that you may be eligible for a reward under the Agenda for Change Grading Scheme.

If you want to carry on studying, you can go on to study our Doctorate in Health and Social Care Practice (Occupational Therapy), once you have successfully completed either the PG Diploma level or the MSc in Advanced Occupational Therapy. Studying this course may help you to become a clinical and professional leader in your profession.

Recent graduate Esther Ball commented on the course saying:

"The course offered me the opportunity to develop myself professionally and academically. I was able to evaluate my working practice and gather evidence-base to support it. Due to the range of modules available I chose a learning path which addressed my specific requirements and completed research within my field of acute mental health. Overall I found the course enjoyable, challenging, teaching me skills which will advance my clinical practice and I would recommend it to occupational therapists wishing to enhance their knowledge base."

Shiela Keeble, one of our graduates.
"It feels as if the MSc is the start of a combined learning experience rather than an end point, building tools which I can continue to use in my work as an occupational therapist."

"I like the flexibility for modules to apply to work practice."

"Challenging and very worthwhile...it is really helping me to approach my work differently."

"Im happy with the selection of modules, consider they are all of relevance, particularly as the major benefit within the modules is that they are flexible enough to modify in line with your own area of practice or something of particular interest to you."