Occupational Therapy

Why choose this course?
Our accredited Occupational Therapy degree blends academic excellence with practical experience. With small cohorts, students receive personalised attention, enhancing their learning experience.

You will:

Benefit from a small yearly intake, ensuring a supportive and focused learning environment
Study a course approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT), ensuring recognised qualification upon graduation
Enjoy a wide variety of placements in the local area, further afield and in role emerging settings
Train in a state-of-the-art simulation suite, equipped for practicing and honing clinical skills in a realistic environment
*This course is part of a subject area ranked

1st in the UK for Student Experience
Joint 1st in the UK for Graduate Prospects
1st in Wales and top 10 in the UK for Teaching Quality
in the Subjects Allied to Medicine subject area league table in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide, 2025

*This subject area is rated 1st in Wales for Graduate Prospects in the Counselling, Psychotherapy & Occupational Therapy subject area league tables in the Complete University Guide, 2025

*This course is rated 4th in the UK for Satisfied with Teaching in the Health Professionals subject area league table in the Guardian University Guide, 2025.

Key Course Features:
Participate in interprofessional learning, with opportunities to collaborate with other health and related professionals throughout the program.
As this is a commissioned programme, eligible students (who agree to work in Wales for two years post qualification) can have their fees covered, receive a one-off annual payment, placement cost support and apply for a means-tested bursary as well as student finance.
Engage in varied assessments designed to suit diverse learning styles and measure a broad range of skills.
Develop research skills and complete a research project, preparing for evidence-based professional practice.
Work collaboratively to develop an innovative group product, fostering creativity and teamwork skills.
Develop both individual and group working abilities, preparing for the diverse demands of professional practice.

What you will study
YEAR 1 (LEVEL 4)
At this level, you will build a strong foundation in occupational therapy principles, focusing on self-awareness, professional ethics, and basic research skills. You'll explore human function through occupation and begin your journey with practical placements to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world settings.

MODULES
Foundations in Professional Practice 1
Foundations in Research
Human Function Through Occupation
Foundations in Professional Practice 2
Practice Placement 1

YEAR 2 (LEVEL 5)
This level enhances your understanding of occupational therapy approaches and interventions. You'll delve into evidence-based practice, overcoming occupational barriers, and addressing complex issues in diverse contexts. Practical placements will further develop your skills, preparing you for advanced professional roles.

MODULES
Developing in Professional Practice
Evidence in Practice
Overcoming Occupational Barriers through Intervention
Complexity in Practice
Practice Placement 2

YEAR 3 (LEVEL 6)
In your final year, you'll focus on compassionate leadership, innovation, and inter-professional relationships. You'll engage in advanced research, evaluate complex practices, and undertake a significant practice placement. This level prepares you for the transition from student to competent, reflective, and innovative practitioner.

MODULES
Transition into Professional Practice
Research for Practice
Evaluating Complex Practice
Practice Placement 3

On successful completion of all levels, you will be awarded a BSc (Hons) in Occupational Therapy and will be eligible to apply for registration as an Occupational Therapist with the Health and Care Professions Council.

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the programme that will take the form of either core or option modules. Modules are designated as core or option in accordance with professional body requirements and internal academic framework review, so may be subject to change.

Teaching & Assessment
How you’ll be taught
The course is either a three-year full-time programme or a four-year part-time programme. For full-time students, this would involve three days per week of taught content and then self-directed learning amounting to 35 hours of study per week in total. For part time students, this would involve one day of taught content per week alongside self-directed learning amounting to 18 hours of study per week. At three points in the year, part time students are expected to attend for three days of teaching in a week.

Placements for part-time students are conducted using full time hours.

The course is commended on the high value it attaches to supporting students in their studies and the quality of clinical placements. You will be part of a small cohort of students. The study is a mix of university-based lectures, group work, self-directed study at home and clinical placements with some modules being shared with other AHP lecturers and student groups.

How you’ll be assessed
There are a wide variety of assessments including:

Academic essays
Shared group projects
Case-based viva presentations
A final year research project on a negotiated topic of your choice
Poster presentations
Competencies in practice placements in a wide variety of health and social care settings
We also use simulation of professional practice as a core component of our teaching in our new simulation facilitites and also using our simulation house `Ty Dysgu’ which is located on site.

The course has also formed links with the University of St Augustine's in Florida and this has seen lecturers visit each other’s institutions and take part in teaching. Students from St Augustine's have been to our Wrexham campus for shared sessions and there are plans for Wrexham students to be able to visit Florida. We have also provided live sessions online to the students in the USA and this is a really valuable link in giving students a sense of the global reach of the profession.