Bournemouth University - BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy (with Foundation Year option)

Bournemouth University

BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy (with Foundation Year option)

Occupational therapists help people with physical, social, and psychological challenges improve their daily life skills by engaging them in meaningful tasks and occupations. Learn how to critically assess a service user's circumstances in order to help them adapt to their environment and maximize their performance potential.
The course keeps cohort sizes small, resulting in an excellent lecturer-to-student ratio, which means more support, education, and resource availability.
Utilize our purpose-built clinical simulation facilities, which include a daily living suite and kitchen, as well as equipment to address a variety of situations commonly encountered by occupational therapists.
Placement experience in a variety of settings will allow you to put your knowledge into practice.

Foundation Year: For UK students who do not meet the entry requirements for the degree course, we offer a Foundation Year option. This extra year of study will provide you with a solid foundation in the scientific skills required to prepare you for the Occupational Therapy degree, as well as boost your confidence, knowledge, and skills for further study. After completing the Foundation Year successfully, you will progress to the full degree and begin your Occupational Therapy studies. The Foundation Year will take place at Bournemouth's Talbot Campus.

Course accreditation and approval 

The accreditation and approval bodies on our BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy course allow you to work overseas as well as in the UK with your qualification. On successful completion of this course, you can: 

  • Apply to become a registered occupational therapist with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC)
  • Apply for professional membership with the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT)

Please note that the Foundation Year part of the course does not have these accreditations.

Entry Requirements

  • 128 - 144 UCAS tariff points including a minimum of two A-levels or equivalent, including 32 points in a required subject. BTEC Extended Diploma grade DDM (128 UCAS tariff points) in a required subject.
  • Foundation Year: 48-72 UCAS tariff points. 
  • If English is not your first language you'll need IELTS (Academic) 7.0 with minimum 6.5 in each component or equivalent.

Career Prospects

After qualifying as an occupational therapist, you will be able to work in a variety of settings, including local governments, social services, schools, and the private sector. Every role is rewarding in its own way, and this course will prepare you to work as an occupational therapist in a variety of settings, assisting people from all walks of life.
You can specialize in paediatrics, mental illness, or learning disabilities, among other things, or you can teach or conduct research.
According to the Complete University Guide, this course has excellent employment rates and is ranked in the top 10 for graduate prospects.

You will be well-positioned to advance into a career as a clinical specialist, allowing you to specialize in an area that interests you, such as paediatrics or chronic physical disability. Other roles that could be considered are:

  • Occupational therapist in the NHS
  • Occupational therapist in social care
  • Researcher
  • Teacher
  • Community learning facilitator.

Course Details

Our course design utilises a range of diverse teaching and learning strategies with a strong emphasis on problem based learning, which involves groups of students working on real life scenarios in order to gain knowledge and understanding of occupational roles and how health and wellbeing can affect their functioning.

On this course you will be taught by a range of staff with relevant expertise and knowledge appropriate to the content of the unit. This will include senior academic staff, qualified professional practitioners, demonstrators and technicians. You will also benefit from regular guest lectures from industry.

Foundation Year

Core units
Academic Study Skills
Applied Sciences
Introduction to Biology
Introduction to Psychology
Mathematics in Science
Foundation Year Project

Year 1

Core units
Foundations for Professional Practice & Research
Becoming an Occupational Therapist
Skills for Occupational Therapy Practice
Occupational Therapy in Action 1
Analysing Occupation
Practice Placement BU 1

Year 2

Core units
Research for Professional Practice
Professional Reasoning for Occupational Therapy Practice
Occupational Therapy in Action 2
Promoting Health and Wellbeing (Option)
Community Engagement in Occupational Therapy (Option)
Practice Placement BU2

Year 3

Core units
Research for Occupational Therapy Practice
Innovation in Occupational Therapy Practice
Team Working for Service Improvement
Practice Placement BU3

*The information’s are correct at the time of publishing, however it may change if university makes any changes after we have published the information. While we try our best to provide correct information, It is advisable to call us or visit university website for up to date information.

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