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LOCATION
Stratford Campus
Location Fees and Funding
Here's the fees and funding information for each year of this course
Overview
Subject to Validation
BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy is now closed for September 2022. Please check back in October to apply for September 2023.
Occupational therapy is a challenging and rewarding health career. Occupational therapists work with people of all ages, helping them to develop, recover or maintain their daily living and working skills. Occupational therapists work with people who may have physical, cognitive or mental impairments. Their expertise helps improve independence and quality of life.
This course prepares you to be an occupational therapist and includes a minimum of 1,000 clinical hours you need to qualify.
When considering an application to this course do review the following links which will help provide you with further information about the role, responsibilities, professional conduct and expectations of being an occupational therapist. This information can help you make an informed choice about enrolling in the pre-registration programme.
- Royal College of Occupational Therapists
- The Health and Care Professions Council
- World Federation of Occupational Therapists
Please note: This course has mandatory placements within the NHS where you will come in contact with high risk and vulnerable patients and you are therefore strongly advised to ensure you are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 prior to starting the course.
What makes this course different
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
The University of East London has worked with partner organisations to develop an Occupational Therapy (BSc Hons) degree by Apprenticeship. The course will provide you with the opportunity to develop an understanding of the principles and practices of occupational therapy that underpins and informs professional practice.
The course will enable you to register with the HCPC and equip you with knowledge and skills that enable you to engage with individuals by using occupations as a means of promoting and maintaining health.
DOWNLOAD COURSE SPECIFICATIONS
This course is subject to validation. You can still apply for this course while it is being approved.
MODULES
- Core Modules
Occupational Therapy: Engagement and Well-being CloseOccupational Therapy: Engagement and Well-being
This module enables you to explore the relationship between the impact of health conditions, occupational performance, and participation in daily life together with core conceptual models of occupational therapy practice, and approaches in occupational therapy practice, and the relevance of occupational science to the profession.
Structure and Function of the Human Body CloseStructure and Function of the Human Body
This module provides you with an understanding of the structure and function of the human body and introduces knowledge relating to the workings of the human body and how it supports and sustains normal occupations and occupational performance throughout the Human lifespan.
Human Health and Occupation CloseHuman Health and Occupation
In this module you will explore the multiple factors which can impact upon on health, well-being, and participation in daily life This module supports you to understand typical human development in order to lay the foundations to understand dysfunction.
Describing Occupation, the assessment of occupational performance CloseDescribing Occupation, the assessment of occupational performance
This module enables you to undertake and record a thorough, sensitive, and detailed assessment, using appropriate techniques, language and equipment to analyse occupation. This module supports the development of your verbal and written reporting skills and the importance of documentation. Through interactive and experiential learning, you will develop the necessary skills to deliver occupation-centred assessment, planning, intervention, and evaluation.
Participation in Occupation CloseParticipation in Occupation
In this module, you will explore the different factors (social, cultural, environmental and personal) that influence participation in human occupation. You will explore the various barriers and enablers to participation that individuals encounter and the relationship between participation and health and wellbeing.
Working with People Occupational Therapy Practice placement 1 CloseWorking with People Occupational Therapy Practice placement 1
This module provides you with your first professional practice-based learning experience (4 weeks). It enables you to understand the role of the occupational therapist and their contribution to the multi-disciplinary team and inter-professional working
- Core Modules
Achieving Best Practice in Occupational Therapy CloseAchieving Best Practice in Occupational Therapy
This module enables you to evaluate evidence informed occupational therapy and builds on Year 1 learning to enhance skills for occupational therapy practice. You will continue to develop therapeutic skills, professional identity and the therapeutic use of self to support working with individuals, groups and communities across all sectors of health, social care, contemporary contexts and occupational science. You will gain a broader understanding and apply a range of professional skills and reasoning in order to enhance your person-centred practice.
Understanding Occupational Therapy’s Unique Contribution CloseUnderstanding Occupational Therapy’s Unique Contribution
Occupational Performance, Engagement and Well-being CloseOccupational Performance, Engagement and Well-being
This module builds upon the theoretical foundations of occupational therapy practice introduced in previous modules. You will explore how occupational therapy practice models underpin the profession's unique occupational perspective. Through interactive and experiential learning, you will develop the necessary skills to deliver occupation-centred assessment, planning, intervention, and evaluation.
Describing Occupation - Facilitating Occupational Change CloseDescribing Occupation - Facilitating Occupational Change
The aim of this module is to build on your knowledge of carrying out assessments from the earlier modules. It aims to enable you to develop key skills in analysing assessments and understand how to use this information to plan intervention(s) for people with occupational needs to maintain or support increasing engagement in their chosen occupations. It also aims to enable you to be able to reason and justify the decisions you make and to document this process accurately using appropriate language.
Working in Teams and Services Occupational Therapy Practice - Placement 2 CloseWorking in Teams and Services Occupational Therapy Practice - Placement 2
Research methods via apprenticeships CloseResearch methods via apprenticeships
The module will develop your ability to organise, analyse and interpret data so that you may draw your own conclusions and may check whether researchers' claims appear to be reasonable and/or offer a distorted representation of the evidence. You will develop an understanding of some of the questions commonly asked so that you may contribute intelligently to the collection of service-related data and be ready to modify your thinking and amend practice accordingly.
Occupational Therapy practice placement 3 elective CloseOccupational Therapy practice placement 3 elective
The aim of this module is to help you prepare for and undertake your second-year practice placements. You will develop further skills in working with people and will examine the contribution that a range of relevant professions and services may contribute to meet the wider needs of service users. The emphasis will be on clinical reasoning, reflective practice and the application of theory into practice. You will be able to demonstrate increased responsibility for evaluating your practice learning and professional development.
- Core Modules
Transition to Professional Practice CloseTransition to Professional Practice
This module will increase your understanding of the requirements for initial and ongoing registration and prepare you for employment as an occupational therapist. It will support you to become "employment ready" through practising application and interview related skills, strengthening your occupational therapy professional identity through portfolio building and enabling you to recognise both your transferable and unique skills.
Effective Collaborative Practice CloseEffective Collaborative Practice
This module will enable you to analyse the complexity of occupational engagement issues of groups of frequently marginalised people through critical exploration of social determinants of health and wellbeing and the concept of occupational justice.
Practice in Context One Occupational Therapy Practice placement ClosePractice in Context One Occupational Therapy Practice placement
This practice-based module will provide you with an opportunity to continue your professional development in a new practice environment. The emphasis will be on clinical reasoning, reflective practice, and the application of theory into practice. You will be able to demonstrate increased responsibility for evaluating your practice learning and professional development.
Applied Research CloseApplied Research
This module will advance your understanding of research methodologies in the practice setting and enable you to design a research project/research proposal. It will help you develop an understanding of organisation, analysis and interpretation of data; preparing you to assess the implications of research and evaluation for professional practice and use research in the development and advancement of professional practice e.g. audit, service evaluation, patient/client satisfaction.
Enterprise and Innovation CloseEnterprise and Innovation
The aim of this module is to help prepare you for your working life as an autonomous practitioner within a changing health and social care landscape. You will work collaboratively in small groups with an academic mentor to co-create a credible business proposal. The module will also allow you to consolidate your reflective skills in relation to your abilities in collaboration, negotiation, planning and presentation within deadlines.
Practice in Context two Occupational Therapy Practice Placement ClosePractice in Context two Occupational Therapy Practice Placement
This practice-based module will provide you with an opportunity to continue your professional development in a practice environment you encountered in PT6434. The emphasis will be on clinical reasoning, reflective practice, and the application of theory into practice. You will be able to demonstrate increased responsibility for evaluating your practice learning and professional development.
HOW YOU'LL LEARN
We encourage an educational experience that is active, social, collaborative, engaging and student-owned. You will have access to a variety of resources ensuring your learning experience goes beyond the classroom.
Lab, rehearsal and practical on campus sessions are scheduled in blocks with online options.
We are investing in key areas beyond your studies including our career services, library and well-being, to be available both face-to-face on campus and online with many of these available 24/7. We have new, modern library facilities on both campuses offering inspirational environments for study and research. Libraries contain resources in print and digital formats, a range of study spaces and dedicated librarian who can assist with your learning. Students are supported with any academic or subject related queries by an Academic Advisor, module leaders, former and current UEL students.
If you need a bit of extra help with certain skills such
Our Student Support hubs in Docklands and Stratford feature centralised helpdesks to cater for your every need. UEL provides also support and advice for disabled students and those with specific learning difficulties (SPDs).
Your overall workload consists of class and online tutor led sessions, individual learning, practical activities. The size of classes can vary depending on the nature of the course, module and activity. This can range from large groups in a lecture theatre setting, to smaller groups taking part in seminars and collaborative work. You will receive your personalised timetable at the beginning of the academic year dependent on your course.
HOW YOU'LL BE ASSESSED
Assessment tasks are mainly spread across the year to make the workload manageable. Assessment methods include group works, exams and individual work including essays, presentations, case studies, professional development and practical activities depending on the nature of the course. All grades count towards your module mark. More details will be included in the student handbook and module guides.
Feedback is provided within 15 working days in line with UEL's assessment and feedback policy
CAMPUS and FACILITIES

Stratford Campus, Water Lane, Stratford
WHO TEACHES THIS COURSE
The teaching team includes qualified academics, practitioners and industry experts as guest speakers. Full details of the academics will be provided in the student handbook and module guides.
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Our students and academics are more critically engaged and socially conscious than ever before. Discover some of the positive changes our students, alumni and academics are making in the world.
YOUR FUTURE CAREER
Occupational therapy is a vocational programme, with graduates moving into the NHS or local authorities as band 5 occupational therapists. The programme has been mapped to regulatory and professional body requirements which reflect and inform employment outcomes.
Embedded into the programme is advice from our members of staff on gaining employment in the NHS or local authorities. Students will be able to create their own professional networks during placements in clinical settings giving them vital knowledge of the environment that they are looking for jobs in.
Explore the different career options you can pursue with this degree and see the median salaries of the sector on our Career Coach portal.