MSc Occupational Therapy (Pre-registration)

Start date: If you're from the UK or EU you can apply to study this course in: September 2012 If you're from a country outside the EU you can apply to study this course full time in: September 2012

Course length: This course starts in September and you can study it full time for just over two years.

Campus: Kedleston Road and Britannia Mill sites, Derby Campus

This course is available to international students

Occupational therapists enable people to take part in meaningful activities by helping them to overcome barriers that prevent them from reaching their potential. These activities vary from paid or unpaid work and self care activities to sports and leisure. We'll help you develop a deep and critical understanding of the profession. Take a look at the opportunities you'll have with a career in occupational therapy.

This course is approved by the Health Professions Council, so you will be eligible to apply for registration to practise as an occupational therapist when you graduate. It is also accredited nationally and internationally through the College of Occupational Therapists and the World Federation of Occupational Therapists.

You will develop and demonstrate your pre-registration competencies through the practical and theoretical elements of this course. Towards the end of the course you'll complete an independent scholarship where you'll investigate a potential area of practice you're passionate about and identify real opportunities for future innovative occupational therapy. When you've completed this course you'll be well placed within the employment market as a self-directed, reflective, proactive and initiative driven practitioner, capable of influencing the development of others and the profession.

During this course you will develop a deep and critical understanding of the profession, by focusing on:

• what 'occupation' may mean for individuals and communities;
• how people's 'occupations' are developed and affected throughout their life;
• how 'occupation' is influenced by and informs health and well-being;
• how 'occupation' may be used therapeutically.

You'll reflect on your role and performance as a developing practitioner and analyse how your professional decisions in practice are shaped and influenced by multiple factors such as health and social policy, research, working with others and experience.

What you’ll study
You’ll study these modules:

• Foundations for Occupational Performance (20 credits)
• The Developing Practitioner (20 credits)
• Occupational Therapy: Foundations for Professional Practice (20 credits)
• Occupational Impact of Life Changes (20 credits)
• The Occupational Therapy Process: Integrating Theory and Practice (20 credits)
• Pactice Placement Education 1 (0 credits)
• Practice Placement Education 2 (0 credits)
• Practice Placement Education 3 (0 credits)
• Independent Scholarship (60 credits)
• Occupational Therapy: Reasoning and Therapeutic Practice (20 credits)

You'll need an honours degree of 2:1 or above obtained in the last 5 years, or, if your degree is over 5 years old you must have evidence of level 7 (post graduate) study in the last year. Your application will also be considered if you hold an honours degree of 2:2 plus a PG Certificate . It would be beneficial to have a current approved first aid certificate which includes emergency life resuscitation. You will also need to have a range of skills that demonstrate your commitment, enthusiasm and professional suitability for a career in occupational therapy. You will require relevant experience and evidence that you will be able to manage the academic demands of Masters level study.

If you apply before January each year, you will be given full consideration for an interview, however, due to the popularity of the programme those applications received after this date may not be afforded this opportunity.

You'll need to be fluent in English and have a clear criminal record as you will be expected to successfully gain enhanced criminal record clearance, along with health screening if you are offered a place on the course. For overseas students the IELTS at level 7 or equivalent is also required.

How you'll learn

You'll learn through a variety of methods including workshops, practical sessions, practice placement education, discussions, debates, peer teaching and experiential learning. Many of the modules use e-learning technology to support learning such as the use of discussion forums, wikis, blogs, classroom conferencing facilities as well as a range of teaching and learning resources which are available electronically.

How you're assessed

Your assessment will incorporate a range of methods that are closely linked to the skills you need for your future career and lifelong learning. These include written assignments, reports, oral presentations, independent study, practice placement, literature reviews and personal reflections.

Work placements

There are three periods of practice placement, where you will work full time in practice for a set number of weeks. Working in three separate areas of practice will ensure you have the optimum range of skills for becoming a qualified practitioner.

Every day will be different, but always rewarding, as you work with people to enable them to take part in activities that are meaningful to them. You could work with people of all ages facing different challenges in a wide range of settings such as:

• Health services;
• Social services;
• Education;
• Care homes;
• Prison services;
• Charity sector;
• Legal services;
• Social enterprises;
• Schools;
• Community;
• Independent practice.

This course could lead to career opportunities in many areas of the profession as you'll be well placed to develop creative, innovative, evolving and emerging services using your strong professional identity, research, service design and leadership skills.

"I have met some fantastic people, my confidence has grown and I cannot wait to put what I have learnt into practice."

Jennifer Bincliffe, one of our recent graduates.

"I found the course very stimulating as the learning format in each lecture varied from presentations to group work, which made it interactive and easier to take in the information."

Sarah Colton, one of our recent graduates.

"I'm really enjoying the course, I've made lots of new friends and particularly enjoy the practical element of placement. The lecturers have also been extremely helpful, and are very approachable."

Eleanor Ramsell, one of our recent graduates.

"This course gave me a great introduction to occupational therapy. I have learnt so much from the first two terms and I am really looking forward to putting my knowledge into practice on my first placement."

Clare Atkin, one of our recent graduates.

"I have found the course really stimulating, it has helped me to learn more about myself and extended my abilities."

Mary Riley, one of our recent graduates.