Occupational Therapy (Full-Time)

Course Overview
Our Occupational Therapy course will equip you with the expertise to begin your career in this diverse and rewarding profession. You will build the knowledge, skills and experience to become a compassionate and work-ready practitioner, who understands the power of meaningful activity to transform lives.

Throughout this course, which can be studied 3 years full-time or 4 years part-time, you will learn how to deliver evidence-based occupational therapy to individuals, groups and communities, supporting people of all ages to overcome barriers to participation, enhance their wellbeing and achieve their full potential.

Through a mix of theoretical learning, immersive simulation and high-quality placements, you will build the knowledge and experience required to be eligible to apply to the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and become a registered occupational therapist.

Areas of learning include:
Occupational Science and the foundations of practice
Mental and physical health across the lifespan
Leadership, digital capability and evidence-based decision making
Community, public health and socially responsive practice

Why Occupational Therapy at Swansea?
Our programme is fully aligned with Health Care Professions Council and Royal College of Occupational Therapist standards, and our teaching team have a wealth of experience in NHS, Social Care, Private and Third Sector settings.

As the sole provider of occupational therapy in South-West Wales, our course is deeply connected to local communities and health services, enhancing both your employability prospects and your impact on the regional healthcare workforce.

Providing if you can commit to working in Wales for two years after graduating, you could get your tuition fees covered in full through the NHS Wales Bursary Scheme, as well as maintenance funding and a reduced rate loan from Student Finance.

Please see our NHS Funding webpage to check your eligibility for funding before applying.
https://www.swansea.ac.uk/undergraduate/fees-and-funding/student-loans-and-grants/nhs-funding/

Your Occupational Therapy Experience
Our excellent facilities in the School of Health and Social Care include realistic clinical suites within the Swansea University Simulation and Immersive Learning Centre (SUSIM), so you can learn practical skills in a safe, supervised environment before using them in a real-life situation.

This simulation-based learning, combined with research-informed teaching and high-quality placement opportunities, in settings such as hospitals, schools, social care, prisons and the community (with additional opportunities to volunteer and shadow professionals), will enhance your real-world experience and ensure that you are well prepared for the challenges of a rapidly changing health and social care landscape.

Occupational Therapy Careers
Completion of this course will enable you to apply to the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) to become a registered Occupational Therapist. You can expect a starting salary of £31,515 rising to £55,531 for a highly experienced Occupational Therapist.

Occupational Therapy is a rewarding career that allows you to make a real difference to people’s independence and quality of life. There are many opportunities to specialise, for example working with older adults, in rehabilitation services, social care or with children, people with mental health issues or who have a learning disability.

Course Modules

In Year 1, you will typically study areas including:
Professional foundations of practice
Technology in Health and Social Care
Occupational concepts for wellbeing and practice
Practice placement

In Year 2, you will typically study areas including:
Evidence based practice for occupation
Developing collaboration for health and wellbeing
Occupational concepts for wellbeing and practice
Working with communities
Practice placement

In Year 3, you will typically study areas including:
Evidence based project for occupation
The emergent practitioner
Developing leadership and innovation in Health and Social Care
The specialist practitioner
Practice placement

Assessment is designed to use integrated academic skills that demonstrate professional reasoning and problem solving – the skills required in practice. There are a number of coursework submissions including essays and reports to help develop confidence in handling evidence, literature and written expression, academic posters as would be seen at professional conferences, presentations designed to mimic the challenges of responding to questions about case work and written examinations. Research is assessed through a small group research project, reflecting the teamwork approach to handling and generating evidence to support practice following qualification and placement competency will be assessed by your practice educator during formative learning such as simulation and clinical skills delivery in specialist areas.

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

• Health and Care Professions Council
• The World Federation of Occupational Therapists