Course summary

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 can empower individuals, groups and communities to participate in the everyday occupations that are central to their health and wellbeing, to their sense of who they are, and to the life they want to lead. They work with people across the lifespan in a range of circumstances to address the barriers that prevent them from engaging in the everyday activities that they want and need to do. This course aims to provide you with the knowledge, skills and experience required for an occupational therapist, through academic study and professional practice placements (help searching for a placement is provided by the university)*. You will explore the power of occupation to transform people’s lives and be supported to develop a professional approach that is compassionate and respectful. You will be encouraged to think in creative and critical ways to give you the opportunity to develop sustainable solutions to complex problems, and you will also have the opportunity to develop effective leadership and communication skills.

• Accredited by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT).

• All home 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*.

• Teaching facilities including dedicated laboratories for anatomy, electrotherapy and manual skills, hospital wards, critical care settings, community housing and other real-life environments relevant to practice.

• Successful completion will provide you with an academic qualification, and eligibility to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council to seek practise as an occupational therapist (application, availability, meeting any applicable visa requirements, membership and registration fees/additional fees may apply). Our course is also accredited by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) for the 2023/2024 intake, and successful completion therefore confers eligibility to apply for membership of the RCOT and the World Federation of Occupational Therapists which can assist you to make the most of national and global professional opportunities (application, availability, meeting any applicable visa requirements, membership and registration fees/additional fees may also apply). Please see the Accreditation and Professional Recognition section and the HCPC and RCOT websites for further information.

• Upon successful completion, our course aims to help develop you in being flexible and adaptable in response to evolving healthcare provision, whilst upholding professional standards of practice - key skills of an occupational therapist

• Your learning experience through academic study and professional practice placements is designed to support you to adopt the professional values and behaviours expected of an occupational therapist such as empowering service users, collaborative working, ethical decision-making, and delivering and evaluating interventions based upon the best available evidence.

• A distinctive feature of our course is our approach to teaching and learning. Our simulation facilities in the Alison Gingell Building will enable you the opportunity to practise occupational therapy skills in realistic settings. Service user involvement in the teaching and learning process provides you with the chance for real-world experience and feedback. There may also be opportunities for collaborative learning with students undertaking other professional healthcare courses at Coventry University.