Overview
Make a difference, transform lives, and fast-track your career with our MSc Occupational Therapy (Pre-registration). Designed for graduates with a first degree, this accelerated course enables you to become a registered occupational therapist and gain HCPC registration faster than traditional routes.
Learn in a dynamic, interdisciplinary environment, collaborating with students from other allied health professions to develop essential skills in communication, problem-solving, and patient-centred care. This real-world teamwork approach mirrors modern healthcare settings, ensuring you graduate confident and career-ready.
You will gain hands-on experience through diverse occupational therapy placements across NHS trusts, social care providers, rehabilitation centres, and mental health services. In addition to clinical practice, you will develop your skills in real, simulated, and virtual learning environments, preparing you for the evolving demands of occupational therapy.
What's more, our expert lecturers, leading researchers, and experienced practitioners will guide you through evidence-based interventions, clinical reasoning, and holistic patient care. You will be part of a supportive academic community that fosters professional growth, confidence, and readiness for practice.
By the end of this course, you will have built a strong professional identity, equipping you to work in hospitals, community healthcare, social care, and specialist rehabilitation services. With a focus on inclusion, independence, and quality of life, you will be ready to make a lasting impact.
You will also be able to apply for accreditation from the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT), allowing you to apply for roles worldwide through their affiliation with the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT).
This degree is your gateway to a rewarding, people-focused career where you will empower individuals to live independently and improve their quality of life.
You will belong to an inclusive, diverse, and vibrant Occupational Therapy community, led by a team of Occupational Therapy educators with a wide range of practice and research interests who are committed to challenging the traditional parameters of Occupational Therapy practice.Professional Lead, Dr Gemma Wells
Entry requirements
Standard academic requirements: A previous degree, or equivalent at a minimum of 2:1 classification.
Other entry requirements: Ability to demonstrate understanding of Occupational Therapy gained through volunteering or work experience.
Other PSRB requirements: Either a native English speaker or has achieved an IELTS level 7.0 with no element below 6.5
Interview: All applicants will be required to attend an interview.
Occupational health check: All students on Health and Social Care courses need to attain Occupational Health clearance to ensure they are fit to practice.
DBS check: You will not be eligible to register as a student or start your studies until you have applied for your DBS check. If you do not have your DBS clearance by the deadlines advised by the University, you run the risk of being withdrawn from your course.
2:1
Undergraduate degree
Module information
Core/optional modules
*Modules subject to approval
How you’ll learn
This course will be delivered through lectures, seminars, workshops, and online sessions. You will engage in enquiry based learning where you will work in small groups to establish the information you need to know and to collate that information to facilitate your ongoing learning. You will also be required to undertake a minimum of 1000 hours of practice placement education.
Independent study will consist self and academic directed activities prior to and following taught sessions to inform and consolidate your learning. You will be expected to read widely and engage with a range of resources, such as videos and Podcasts to further develop your knowledge and understanding.
This is a full time course, and you should expect to be engaged in teaching and learning activities five days a week.
You will be taught by qualified Occupational Therapists who are all registered with the Health and Care Professions to Council. Many of our team influence the profession of Occupational Therapy both nationally and internationally, through being peer reviewers for academic journals, acting as accreditors for the Royal College of Occupational Therapists and more.
This course will provide you with the opportunity to immerse yourself in a modern and dynamic learning environment tailored to the evolving landscape of Occupational Therapy practice. Our course emphasises evidence-based practice, effective communication, professionalism, and leadership, equipping you with the skills and confidence needed to excel in diverse settings in health, care, and beyond.Dr Gemma WellsProfessional Lead in Occupational Therapy
How you’ll be assessed
To be awarded your MSc in Occupational Therapy you will need to successfully complete all academic and practice placement components of the course.
We use a range of assessment methods in the course, many reflect the requirements of professional practice such as reflective writing, oral presentations, and portfolios.
On successful completion of the course you will have achieved 180 credits at Level 7.
Your future career
Upon successful completion of our Occupational Therapy course, you will be eligible to apply for registration as an occupational therapist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
This opens doors to a rewarding career where you'll work with individuals and communities to enable them to carry out everyday activities and improve their quality of life. Our alumni can be found working in the NHS, social care, local councils, schools, charities, independent practice, research, and more.
What's more, you will graduate with the ability to work in a range of settings, from hospitals and rehabilitation centres to schools, social services, and community health organisations.
You will also be able to gain accreditation from the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT), allowing you to apply for roles worldwide through their affiliation with the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT).
Whether your ambition is to work in clinical practice, research, or policy development, this course will give you the foundation to succeed in an impactful and rewarding career.
This course has been developed with an emphasis on ensuring you develop the knowledge, skills, and understanding to be a competent and creative Occupational Therapist. This is achieved through combining University based academic learning and practice placement education.Dr Gemma WellsProfessional Lead in Occupational Therapy
Fees
Tuition fees for this course
| UK | Overseas | |
| Full-time | £9,545 | £15,500 |
20% Alumni Discount
We offer alumni discounts on CCCU Postgraduate Taught, PGCE Primary and Secondary, and Master's by Research courses for eligible students.
Find out if you're eligible for the discount.
Important Information on Tuition Fees
Tuition fees for all courses which last more than one academic year are payable on an annual basis, except where stated.
There will be an annual inflationary increase in tuition fees for this course where the course lasts more than one academic year. For further information read the Tuition fee statements and continuing fee information.
We encourage you to become a student member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists, which will give you the opportunity to engage with the wider profession and provide you with access to additional learning opportunities and resources.
You will be provided with uniform for practice placements; however, some services will require you to wear your own clothes which you will be responsible for purchasing.
Travel or accommodation expenses are usually reimbursed, however you will need to pay for them in advance of your claim being made for reimbursement.
Industry links
Our collaborative partnerships with key stakeholders in the health and care sector guarantee that our course stays attuned to the evolving demands of Occupational Therapy practice. Upon graduation, you'll possess the essential knowledge, skills, and personal attributes necessary for thriving in your professional journey. These partnerships extend to local NHS trusts, private healthcare entities, and community organizations, granting you access to invaluable practice expertise, mentorship programmes, and firsthand insights. By leveraging these partnerships, you'll enrich your learning experience and gain practical insights that will equip you for the diverse challenges and opportunities within Occupational Therapy practice.
Apply now
*We are advertising this course as ‘subject to approval.’ When we add new courses or update existing courses, we advertise the course as ‘subject to approval’. We do this to let you know the University still needs to agree to run the course. It is rare for a course not to gain approval, but it is not guaranteed. There may be changes to course and module titles, content and assessment, but we will tell you about these if there is a change. You can still apply to study a course subject to approval. We have prepared some questions and answers to tell you more.