Master of Occupational Therapy

This is a undergraduate Integrated Masters in Occupational Therapy. We also offer a BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy course (subject to validation).

This four-year integrated undergraduate master’s course will give you the expertise, people skills and conceptual understanding that you will need to work as an occupational therapist. This course is responsive to the demands of the health and social care sector and there are practice-based learning opportunities across the course to integrate theory, knowledge and practice.

Why QMU?

• Develop key skills that will help you work effectively with others: Studying on this course will give you the expertise, people skills and conceptual understanding that you will need to work as an occupational therapist.

• Responsive and relevant: This course is responsive to the demands of the health and social care sector and there are practice-based learning opportunities across the course to integrate theory, knowledge and practice.

• Professional recognition and registration: This course is approved by the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the Royal College of Occupational Therapists. It is recognised by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT). Graduates are eligible to apply for registration with the HCPC.

• Complete University Guide ranking: We are in the top 5 of UK universities for Counselling, Psychotherapy and Occupational Therapy (Complete University Guide 2024).

• National Student Survey ranking: We are in top 2 Scottish higher education institutes for overall satisfaction in courses in Counselling, Psychotherapy and Occupational Therapy. (National Student Survey 2023)

• You will be taught by highly experienced lecturers who are well respected in their fields: They engage in innovative research, contribute to knowledge development and translation and have strong personal links with practice settings. We have small class sizes, therefore our staff will really get to know you. We genuinely care about your journey and will recognise your strengths and where you most need support.

The course in brief:
Living, not existing, that is a primary objective for the profession. As an occupational therapist, you will work with individuals, groups and communities to foster participation in the aspects of life that people need, want and have to do. This course is your first step towards a rewarding and diverse healthcare career with excellent employment prospects.

On this course you will:

• Explore how to provide practical support to empower people, facilitate health and wellbeing, and help identify and respond to barriers that prevent people from doing what really matters to them;

• Learn a wide range of transferable personal and professional skills, understanding why and how people engage in occupations and what might disrupt patterns of occupation; critically engaging with knowledge and evidence that informs the profession; and collaborating with services to address needs of their communities;

• Develop an appreciation of how individual’s lives can be shaped by society including environments, history, or systems and how these factors can impact health; and

• Learn through a variety of approaches, and practical placements are a key element of the course, giving you the opportunity to translate your learning into practice and to work with a wide range of services and populations.

This is a four year integrated undergraduate master’s course. Students commence the course with a view to graduating with a Master of Occupational Therapy (MOccTh) in four years. The majority of modules are taught alongside postgraduate students studying on the accelerated MSc Occupational Therapy (Pre-Registration) course. There is an option for students to transfer to a BSc (Hons) route at the end of year two and they will still be eligible to apply for registration with the HCPC as an occupational therapist.

Year One
Complete a six-week placement
Study a range of modules that provide you with the knowledge and concepts that are foundational to occupational therapy practice.
Be introduced to different perspectives on occupation and its centrality in everyday life, as well as its relationship with health and wellbeing.
Develop skills in communication, information technology and academic study skills.

Modules
Foundations of Occupational Therapy Practice
Personal Academic and Professional Development
Preparation for Practice-Based Learning
Practice-based Learning 1
Health Wellbeing and Participation in Occupation
Finding, Evaluating and Consuming Knowledge

Year Two
Complete a six-week placement
Focus on occupational therapy processes (assessment, goal setting, intervention, evaluation) with individuals and communities.
Explore disruption and deprivation of occupation (personal and contextual factors), across the life span.
Be introduced to aspects of public health and health promotion. This will be revisited in the later years.

Modules
Assessing, Analysing and Evaluating Occupational Needs, Performance and Participation
Developing Goals to Meet Occupational Needs
Facilitating Learning within Occupational Therapy
Developing, Delivering and Evaluating Occupation-Focused Interventions
Practice-based Learning 2

A learner who achieves 60% average in SCQF level 8 modules can remain on the MOccTher route. They may choose the BSc (Hons) route even if the 60% average has been achieved. All learners will be supported in making their decisions.

Year Three
Complete a nine-week placement
Critically explore issues related to practice, theories and systems.
Study the social construction and complexity of knowledge and practice.
Develop further understanding of leadership, practice development and innovation in thinking and action.
Have the opportunity (subject to availability) to undertake practice-based learning at an overseas university with which we have partnership agreements. For more information, see www.qmu.ac.uk/study-here/international-students/exchanges-and-study-abroad

Modules
BSc (Hons) route:
Elective Module Occupational Therapy: Contexts, Collaborations and Communities
Practice-based Learning 3
Evaluating Occupational Therapy Practice
MOccTh route:
Elective Module
Occupational Therapy: Contexts, Collaborations and Communities
Practice-based Learning 3
Evaluating Occupational Therapy Practice
Research Methods

Year Four

Complete a 10-week placement
Consolidate your master’s-level learning opportunities and build upon your previous knowledge and practice experiences in diverse and changing contexts.
Participate in community partnership working, project development, leading to the completion of a dissertation, and deepening your leadership skills.
Work alongside other health professionals - Interprofessional learning and working is an integral part of professional practice and will be incorporated throughout the course.
Have the opportunity (subject to availability) to undertake practice-based learning at an overseas university with which we have partnership agreements. For more information, see www.qmu.ac.uk/study-here/international-students/exchanges-and-study-abroad/

Modules
BSc (Hons) route:
Health Society and Occupation
Practice-based Learning 4
Dissertation Project
MOccTh route:
Health Society and Occupation
Practice-based Learning 4
Transforming Occupational Therapy Practice
Dissertation Project

The modules listed here are correct at time of posting but may differ slightly to those offered in 2026. Please refer to our course webpage for the most up to date information.

Our course is designed to allow you to get to know your peers and our staff, and build positive academic and professional relationships. Teaching and learning methods include interactive lectures, seminars, practical workshops, group work and self-directed learning. Outside timetabled sessions, you will be expected to continue learning through independent study. For assessment, we focus less on written examinations and more on demonstrations of knowledge and understanding: reports, essays, presentations, oral and practical examinations, and creative assessments.

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

• Health and Care Professions Council
• British Association of Occupational Therapists and College of Occupational Therapists

To work as a teacher at a state school in England or Wales, you will need to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS). This is offered on this course for the following level:

• Course does not award QTS