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Occupational Therapy

Course details
  • BSc (Hons)
  • 3 Years
  • Full-time
  • 21/09/2026
  • Undergraduate
Course location
Main Site

Course summary

Why study BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy at BU?

  • The curriculum combines academic study with practice-based learning experiences. The newly developed curriculum includes innovative and timely units of study to keep up with the changing healthcare landscape. Gain the knowledge and practical skills needed to critically assess a service user’s circumstances to help them adapt to their environment and maximise their performance potential

  • Experiential learning allows you to work on real-life scenarios to gain knowledge and understanding of occupational roles and how health and wellbeing can affect their functioning. Our purpose-built clinical simulation facilities, which feature a daily living suite and kitchen, also provide hands-on experience using Occupational Therapy equipment

  • People with lived experience play an active role in teaching and learning, through the BU Public Involvement in Education and Research (PIER) partnership. PIER members have been involved in the development and delivery of the curriculum, ensuring it is related to real-life scenarios and practice

  • Our teaching team have a range of expertise relating to practice, education and research, which informs the curriculum and provides an excellent learning experience for BU Occupational Therapy learners

  • Practice-based learning opportunities throughout the course enable you to gain experience in a variety of real-world settings

  • The course maintains small cohort sizes, resulting in an excellent lecturer-to-student ratio, meaning more support, education and resource availability

  • Within 15 months of finishing the course, 95% of graduates were in work or further study.

Funding support: Occupational therapy students may be eligible for a non-repayable government training grant of at least £5,000 a year. Find out more information about the funding: https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/nhs-learning-support-fund

Modules

Year 1 core units: Communication Skills and Professionalism | Becoming an Occupational Therapist | Introduction to Research | Exploring Occupational Interruption | Analysing Occupation | Applied Human Sciences | Practice Learning 1- Developing Professional Behaviours.

Professional bodies

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

  • Health and Care Professions Council
  • Occupational Therapists, College of

How to apply

Apply by
14 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
B930
Institution code:
B50
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Open days

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

UCAS Tariff - 120 - 136 points

120 - 136 tariff points including a minimum of 2 A-levels or equivalent.

A level

120 - 136 tariff points including a minimum of 2 A-levels.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - DDM

128 tariff points (Grade DDM)

Access to HE Diploma

118–134 UCAS tariff points with any combination of Distinction, Merit, Pass grades.

Scottish Higher

120–136 UCAS tariff points from Scottish Highers.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

Accepted as part of the overall tariff

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

Accepted as part of the overall tariff but it must be accompanied by an A-Level or equivalent.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 31 - 33 points

An overall score of 31–33 points.

Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (last awarded Summer 2024)

Accepted as part of the overall tariff but it must be accompanied by an A-Level or equivalent.

Extended Project

Accepted as part of the overall tariff but it must be accompanied by 2 A Levels or equivalent qualifications.

GCSE/National 4/National 5

GCSE English Language or English Literature and Mathematics grade 4 (or grade C in the old grading system). We also accept iGCSEs, Key Skills and Functional Skills and other qualifications at Level 2 of the National Qualifications Framework.

OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma - DDM

128 tariff points (Grade DDM)

OCR Cambridge Technical Diploma

Accepted as part of the overall tariff

OCR Cambridge Technical Subsidiary Diploma

Accepted as part of the overall tariff but it must be accompanied by an A-Level or equivalent.

OCR Cambridge Technical Introductory Diploma

Accepted as part of the overall tariff but it must be accompanied by an A-Level or equivalent.

T Level - M

Merit (120 UCAS tariff points).

AccessBU: AccessBU provides you with the opportunity to tell us about your circumstances that are not always evident in your UCAS application. This widening access initiative also considers relevant criteria such as being in care or if you live in an area with a low participation rate in Higher Education - if you are eligible, your offer could be up to 16 UCAS tariff points below the published tariff.

Apprenticeships: We recognise the transferable knowledge and skills gained through apprenticeships and welcome applications from students with a Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship recognised by the Institute for Apprenticeships. Each application will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Deferred entry: We are happy to consider eligible applicants for deferred entry. If you have already submitted your application, please submit your deferral request through our website.

Direct entry: We welcome applications from students who have previously studied at degree level at other institutions and wish to transfer onto a BU course. Our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) procedure enables credit awarded from one institution to contribute to a BU award, subject to an application process. Please visit our RPL webpage for more information.

Mature applicants: We recognise that mature applicants may have a wealth of experience rather than formal qualifications, so we’ll consider your application on these merits if included in your application. You’ll need to apply to BU in the usual way through UCAS and you may be invited to an interview to discuss your suitability for the course based on the experience you tell us about in your application.

Additional entry requirements

Criminal records declaration (DBS/Disclosure Scotland)
Health checks
Occupational Health (OH) Checks This course is physically and mentally demanding and you will need to be mentally and physically able to undertake your chosen course. Places are offered subject to passing an OH check, and this will be carried out at the University Hospital Southampton. Health conditions need to be dealt with on an individual basis e.g. deafness, blindness, eczema (or other dermatological allergic reactions) on exposed areas, epilepsy, back problems, or mental health conditions, eating disorders and other disabilities. These do not automatically exclude you but please ensure that you fully disclose your condition to OH. The University can then consider the recommendations made by OH and whether reasonable adjustments can be made to support you on your chosen course. If you require more guidance please contact us for more information. You will be required to provide a record of your immunity status or be vaccinated or have the required blood tests. Please see this table for the required immunisations. You may need to ask your GP or current OH department or find your childhood vaccination record for details of your past immunisation records. You should be aware that there may be charges made (for which you will be liable) relating to your gaining the appropriate immunity required prior to starting your training programme.
Interview
Online interviews are part of our selection process and you must be able to demonstrate at interview that you show the necessary insight into occupational therapy, as well as the motivation and commitment to become an occupational therapist.

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)7IELTS (Academic) 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in each component of writing, speaking, listening and reading.

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

Please note that this information reflects historical entry requirements for UK 18-year-olds who pursued A level and BTEC qualifications. Please see the relevant course page of our website for the most up-to-date details on this course’s entry requirements and selection methods. Our offer-making process is based on your potential to succeed on your chosen course and considers a range of factors. This course also has additional selection methods, such as an interview.

Historical entry grades data BETA

This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted with (learn more). It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
England£9790Year 1
Northern Ireland£9790Year 1
Scotland£9790Year 1
Wales£9790Year 1
Channel Islands£9790Year 1
Republic of Ireland£9790Year 1
EU£20685Year 1
International£20685Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

Placement year: the tuition fee for a placement year is based on the academic year in which the placement takes place. For students completing their placement in the 2026/27 academic year, the fee is £1,900* (UK, ROI, CI and International).

*Important information about fees: The UK, ROI & CI fees listed above for the 2026/27 academic year have been confirmed by the UK Government (subject to Parliamentary approval). In line with the maximum fee limits set out in Regulations, tuition fees will increase annually thereafter in line with inflation (using RPI-X, a measure of inflation).

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