Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapists have the privilege of working with people of all ages, helping them to participate in occupations that hold personal meaning and value to them.

Occupational therapists work with individuals, groups, communities or populations to promote health and wellbeing through participation in activities of everyday life, or occupation. Of vital importance to this role is the ability to think critically and creatively, challenge where needed, advocate and empower others to live their best lives. In addition to developing practice skills, this course is designed to help you develop the mindset needed for this life-changing career.

• Leads to eligibility to apply for professional registration as an occupational therapist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and membership of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) and the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) (please see our website for more information).

• Learn to empower and support others with challenges in key areas of occupation such as self-care, restorative activity and productivity, as well as activities that develop social connections and provide a sense of purpose and fulfilment.

• Professional placements, sourced by the university, offer practice-based learning opportunities in traditional, contemporary and role-emerging settings (you’ll need to successfully complete a minimum of 1000 hours of supervised practice).

• Strong focus on cultural humility and anti-discriminatory practice.

• Focus on one academic module at a time, with five weeks of learning followed by one week of assessment per module.

• You’ll be encouraged to think critically about the potential of digitally enabled occupational therapy (e.g. use of AI and wearable technology) and the future direction of the profession.

• All eligible students on this course can apply for a minimum payment from the Government of £5,000 per year, with additional payments for students incurring childcare costs.

Why you should study this course
Becoming an occupational therapist enables you to work in partnership with other people. Your values, skills and mindset will all be key in addressing barriers that prevent people from engaging in activities that provide meaning and purpose, shape identity and enhance health and wellbeing.

• Our approach supports you to develop a strong sense of professional identity as an occupational therapist from the outset. In addition, you’ll have the opportunity to learn to thrive in dynamic health and care environments and multidisciplinary teams, developing your relationship and teamworking skills.

• Your practice placements can be in a range of settings. These could include charities, businesses, sports and leisure facilities, independent practice, the private sector and community facilities.

• Colleagues with lived experience as users of health and care services support teaching, learning and assessment.

• We offer opportunities to learn in a safe but realistic practice environment through simulation in our industry-relevant facilities.

• Engagement with the global occupational therapy community.

• Access to success coaches, placement supervisors and support for mathematics and academic writing.

Gain the skills and experience to transform lives, communities and the future of healthcare delivery. We aim to empower you to become a stand-out healthcare professional, capable, competent and confident in your field and role within the wider healthcare team.

While continuously developing your sense of professional identity as an occupational therapist from day one, you'll also collaborate with learners from other School of Health and Care fields, learning in an environment that puts inclusivity, diversity and dignity at its heart.

Please visit our website for the most up-to-date information.

Year one

• An Occupational Perspective on Health and Wellbeing
• Mind, Body, and Human Occupation
• Theoretical Foundations of Occupational Therapy
• Placement 1: Foundations of Professional Practice
• Becoming a Professional Practitioner
• Evidence: Your Profession in a Global Context

Year two

• Occupational Therapy: Enabling Performance and Participation
• Enabling Occupation with Communities and Populations
• Exploring the Complexity of Occupational Therapy
• Placement 2: Developing Professional Identity
• Exploring Knowledge Through Curiosity

Final year

• Enhancing Employability for Occupational Therapy Practice
• Occupational Therapy Across Care Pathways and Settings
• Leading for the future as a health and care professional
• Placement 3: Becoming an Autonomous Occupational Therapist
• The Evidence-based Practitioner: Professional Project

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated. Before accepting any offers, please check the website for the most up to date course content.

*For further information please check the course page on the Coventry University website.

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module.

Assessment methods may include:
case study
coursework
practice placement
portfolio
professional project
presentations.

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.

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

• Health and Care Professions Council
• Royal College Of Occupational Therapists