BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy
When can you start this course? | UCAS code | Fees | Course length | Entry requirements
Why choose this course?
- 87% of our students said they were highly satisfied with the teaching on this course in the 2011 National Student Survey.
- This course is accredited by the College of Occupational Therapists and approved by the Health Professions Council (HPC) which means that you apply to register for a license to practice as an occupational therapist when you successfully complete the course.
- You won't have to pay any tuition fees as they are paid by the NHS and you can also apply for a NHS means tested bursary to help with your studies.
- We've got a proven track record of helping and supporting our students to achieve good results and move into successful careers in diverse areas of occupational therapy practice.
About the course
Occupational therapists help people to overcome barriers that are preventing them from reaching their full potential. These activities or occupations can vary from people's paid or unpaid work, self care activities through to sports and leisure.
You'll learn through a mixture of theory and practical work, which will prepare you fully for starting work when you graduate. You'll take part in lectures, seminars, tutorials, group work, workshops, experiential learning and online learning. And you'll be assessed through your assignments, presentations, creating a poster, practice placement assessments and an exam. You'll have a personal tutor who'll guide and support you throughout your course, and we'll provide you with a range of learning support services.
Specialists in areas of occupational therapy practice, service users, patients and carers will come in to the University to share their first hand experience with you. And by studying alongside other health and social care students, you'll develop a wide knowledge of the work of an occupational therapist in different settings.
We've got great teaching facilities, including a rehabilitation kitchen and bathroom, and replica hospital ward, which you'll use to develop your practical skills.
You'll go on three placements, which could be in the NHS, social services, schools or private or voluntary sector health and social care environments.
Find out more about what subjects and modules you'll be studying...Your career
As a qualified Occupational Therapist you could work in many areas of the NHS such as acute medical care, orthopaedics, cardiac rehabilitation, paediatrics, mental health and secure environments or in social services.
Occupational therapists work in a variety of settings in both the private and voluntary sector, in areas such as industry, prisons, schools, hospitals, health centres, charities and universities. So you'll have a wide range of careers to choose from.
As our course is accredited by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists your qualification will be recognised internationally which will open up opportunities for you both in the UK and abroad.
One of our graduates Claire Richardson now works for the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary as a Band 6 Occupational Therapist working in Outpatient Rehabilitation. She helps a wide range of people, from sports injuries to orthopaedic conditions including knee and hip replacements. She also carries out a lot of vocational rehabilitation by helping people return to employment following an injury. Watch her video interview here.
What our students say
Sarah Cross, current student
"The best part of the degree has to be placement as you are putting theory into practice and gaining so much experience." Read Sarah's full story.
Lucy Hodgeson, one of our recent graduates
"Derby is a great place to study and the course is brilliant with so many variations to it. The staff are also fantastic as they facilitate to all learning capabilities"
Nikki Kelk, one of our recent graduates
"Going on placement gives you the ability to recognise your strengths."
Joanne Airey, one of our recent graduates
"I'm enjoying the course because it's quite hands-on and you get to do a lot of theory and then apply the theory."
Sally Davies, one of our recent graduates
"Studying on the Occupational Therapy course has provided a variety of teaching methods all promoting individual learning and looking at yourself as an occupational therapist."
Susannah Ali, one of our recent graduates
Susannah has raised over £20,000 for the charity 'Help 4 Happies' that she set up in her first year of study. She spent a number of weeks in South Africa in a disabled school where she helped to make the layout more accommodating to the students. This experience made her determined to set up her charity in order to raise money for the school and to buy the children new wheelchairs.
"I wanted to use my knowledge and experience to do something that made a difference. I began by making recommendations for layout changes and adaptations to the school that would help the disabled children to move around and access the school better, and then we worked to make these changes."
To find out more about Susannah's story read here.
Listen to what more of our students think about studying Occupational Therapy at Derby.
How you'll learn
You'll learn through a mixture of lectures, seminars, tutorials, group work, workshops, experiential learning, online resources and practice placements.
How you're assessed
You'll be assessed through assignments, exams, presentations, posters, oral exams (viva voce) and practice placement assessments.
Work placements
There are three periods of practice placement, where you will work full time in practice for a set number of weeks. You'll work in three separate areas of practice ensuring you have the optimum range of skills for becoming a qualified practitioner.
Gary Scott, who is one of our Practice Placement Educators at Walton Hospital in Chesterfield comments about our students from this course:
''In my experience students from the University of Derby are well prepared for placement experiences. They have a good practical understanding of basic therapeutic processes. They understand the requirements of the assessment process and are able to prepare learning contracts independently''
Anything else?
For more information please visit our Occupational Therapy website where you will find information on facilities, our current students, news stories and more.
Use the NHS Bursary Calculator to find out an estimate of how much Bursary entitlement you could be eligible to receive when studying this course.
You'll undertake a health screening at the start of the course.
Applications from international students are welcome. Please contact our Admissions Team for further details on 01332 591167 or email askadmissions@derby.ac.uk. We also welcome enquiries from anyone who wishes to self-fund the course. Please contact us for more details on this.
Start dates
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
UCAS code
B920
Fees
UK/EU students
We have a significant number of places on our pre registration courses in Occupational Therapy which are NHS funded. This includes having tuition fees paid in full and a £1,000 grant each year. If you're offered and accept one of these NHS funded places, you'll also be eligible to apply for an additional means-tested bursary of up to £4,395 per year. Please visit NHS Student Bursaries for more information.
We also welcome enquiries from potential applicants who are interested in self funding a place on these courses. Alternatively if your employer would be interested in supporting you financially rather than obtaining NHS funding please get in touch.
International students
- £10,250 each year
*These fees apply if you're starting this course between September 2012 and August 2013. We recommend you check fee details with us though, as they can change. Costs can increase each year.
More information about our fees for September 2012 and the support available
Course length
Full time: 3 years
Entry requirements
Students with life and work experience will need evidence of academic achievement (A levels, ...
