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Occupational Therapy at University of Cumbria - UCAS

Course options

2024 - 20252025 - 2026
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There are other course options available which may have a different vacancy status or entry requirements – view the full list of options

University of Cumbria has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

Open days

23Apr
London Open Evening 23rd April (for Sept 2025 intake only)
Undergraduate
7Jun
Brampton Road Open Day 7th June 2025
Undergraduate

Course summary

Occupational therapists promote health and wellbeing. They work closely with individuals and groups, empowering them to address barriers that prevent them from engaging in everyday activities, identifying solutions and enabling them to lead the lives they want to lead. This degree, accredited by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists, will equip you to become an occupational therapist registered with the Health and Care Professions Council. Our programme responds to the ever-changing world of health and social care practice. You will adapt to – and actively shape – the varied settings in which people’s occupational needs are addressed. Throughout, you will be fully supported by our team, who will get to know you personally and teach you the latest insights in occupational therapy. On campus, you will develop your skills and confidence in nurturing learning environments using our simulation facilities, including our purpose-built Occupational Therapy suite and mock ward. With at least 1,000 hours of practical placement experience, you will immerse yourself in real-world practice working with children, adults and older adults with physical, social and mental health challenges. We work closely with local NHS Trusts and other organisations to offer quality work placements in NHS hospitals, health and day centres, care homes, councils, and private, voluntary and independent sector organisations. The NHS Learning Support Fund, offering at least £5,000 per year, is available to eligible students. On this course you will...

  • Be a member of a close-knit cohort and work in small groups with your peers, with excellent learning support from highly experienced occupational therapists.
  • Benefit from our practical approach to teaching and learning in our purpose-built mock wards and flat as well as simulation suits.
  • Be fully supported by our teaching and student support teams, enabling you to learn your way.
  • Experience and learn from a range of practice placements which you are well prepared for with pre-placement practical skills and simulation learning.
  • Have a personal tutor who will support you throughout your time on the programme, providing extra academic and pastoral support.
What you will learn You will learn the fundamental rights and beliefs of people to take part in the occupations that they need and value and to enable such engagement through the practice of occupational therapy. You will have a focus on leadership and entrepreneurial skills including the effective management of resources and promoting the profession to potential commissioners and users of services. Personal development planning is embedded throughout your programme to ensure an appreciation of, and progression in, the required skills for life-long learning. The programme explores and applies the well-established theoretical and practical skills of occupational therapy and responds to the ever-changing world of health and social care practice. You will adapt to and be involved in actively shaping the many and varied settings where the occupational needs of people are addressed. You will contribute responsibly to individual and community wellbeing.

Modules

Year one

  • Exploring Foundations for Practice
  • Exploring Professional Practice
  • Exploring Occupational Beings
  • Exploring Occupational Engagement
  • Exploring Research and Evidence-based Practice
  • Practice-based Simulation Placement 1
  • Occupational Therapy in Practice 1
Year two
  • Developing Professional Practice Skills
  • Developing Occupational Possibilities 1
  • Developing Research Skills
  • Developing Global Occupational Therapy Perspectives
  • Developing Occupational Possibilities 2
  • Occupational Therapy in Practice 2
Year three
  • Applied Occupational Therapy
  • Applied Research Skills
  • Future Leaders
  • Occupational Therapy in Practice 3
- Occupational Therapy in Practice 4

Assessment method

Assessments have been designed to provide a creative and balanced strategy across the programme. The aim is to assess not only academic level but to include authentic assessments that demonstrate the professional skills required for practice, for example, report writing, verbal presentations, group work, and community-based occupational therapy intervention. This provides a range of engaging and challenging opportunities, which test the programme learning outcomes and are relevant to the needs of the workplace. Assessment of Practice Placements The four practice placements are credit-bearing modules. Each will assess your professional skills, understanding and different aspects of theory in practice. They use formative assessment via a halfway report and summative assessment using the final report element of the Common Assessment Tool (CAT document). The formal assessment of your practice placement is undertaken by the Practice Placement Educator (80% of module mark), though you are also required to self-assess your performance. Practice Educators will determine the grade awarded (with support from programme tutors). You are required to develop your CPD portfolio during each practice placement, which is assessed via a discussion with a university tutor upon completion of your practice placement (20% of module mark). You must pass both elements to pass the module. Due to RCOT requirements, you are only allowed one resit opportunity of any practice placement module. Formative Assessments Formative assessments will be used where possible and are developmental to support learning and help you prepare for the summative assessment. This is an integral part of the assessment process and will provide feedback for you to build upon. In addition to tutor feedback, we encourage you to evaluate your work but also to give feedback to your student peers. Examples of formative activities:

  • A discussion with student peers to gain feedback on an essay plan
  • A practice of a practical assessment or a presentation
  • A group discussion on a project proposal
  • Discussion with a tutor on an intervention plan
  • Review of an element of your professional development portfolio.
Summative Assessments Summative assessments enable you to demonstrate learning at the end of each module and must be passed to complete the programme. The summative assessments have been organised to provide a practicable workload across the two semesters of each year’s study. All written assessments are usually marked anonymously and feedback will be provided promptly, within a maximum of 20 days. This allows you time to consolidate your feedback, before beginning the next semester of modules. Assessment approaches may include written work in the form of
  • Essays
  • Reports and portfolios
  • Individual and group presentations
  • Academic posters
  • Discussions
  • Practicals
  • Digital media
This provides you with variety and the opportunity to use your varying strengths and abilities to achieve your potential.

How to apply

29Jan

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

Please select a course option – you will then see the application code you need to use to apply for the course.

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

GCSE English Language at grade 4/C or above. Work shadowing/experience prior to interview is preferred.

Additional entry requirements

Criminal records declaration (DBS/Disclosure Scotland)

Health checks

Interview

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students
80%
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
90%
Go onto work and study

The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

EU £9535 Year 1
England £9535 Year 1
Northern Ireland £9535 Year 1
Scotland £9535 Year 1
Wales £9535 Year 1
Channel Islands £9535 Year 1
Republic of Ireland £9535 Year 1
International £16900 Year 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

Visit www.cumbria.ac.uk/studentfinance for more information about student fees and finance, and for details about our alumni discount.
Occupational Therapy at University of Cumbria - UCAS