Occupational Therapy BSc (Hons)

Course Content

• Course Details

  The University of Northampton’s Occupational Therapy degree equips you with the knowledge and skills that you will require for professional practice through combining the study of occupational and human sciences with hands-on learning in a practical setting.

  We were one of the first Occupational Therapy courses to be established in Britain. We have strong connections in the local area and offer a wide range of exciting local, national and international practical placement opportunities.

  You will have an opportunity to engage in professional practice within a variety of health and social care settings across public, private, voluntary and independent sectors. The range of placements in traditional and non-traditional settings enables you to develop and advance your skills in assessment and intervention with clients. You will be encouraged to consider the evidence base for current practice throughout the Occupational Therapy course.

  The BSc Occupational Therapy degrees delivered in three formats:

  • Full-time route
  • Full-time Extended route
  • Apprenticeships

  All the programmes are accredited by the Health and Care Professions Council and the Royal College of Occupational Therapy.

  All of the University of Northampton’s Occupational Therapy BSc graduates gain an academic degree which will then allow you to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) to obtain a licence to practice and become a member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists.

  You will be taught by qualified Occupational Therapists who also have additional teaching qualifications, Masters or PhD qualifications. Our teaching staff have a variety of clinical backgrounds and expertise from acute/community/forensic mental health, acute physical, hand therapy, neuro rehab, community social service, primary care, learning disabilities, and paediatrics.

  • The Full-Time BSc Occupational Therapy degree is approximately 20 hours of direct contact plus 15 dedicated study hours per week across standard university semesters.
  • The Full-Time Extended BSc Occupational Therapy course is approximately 14 hours of direct contact plus additional study hours per week, extended over 45 weeks of the year.
  • The Degree Apprenticeship includes work based learning and 7 hours direct contact plus additional study hours per week, extended over 45 weeks.

  Please note the modules shown here relate to the academic year 24/25. The modules relating to the academic year 25/26 will be available from June 2025.

  • Stage 1
    • Interprofessional Education (IPE)
      Module code: FHS_IPE20

      Status: Compulsory
    • Exploring Professional Perspectives of Occupation (20 Credits)
      Module code: OTH1127

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to introduce students to the meaning and purpose of occupation and models of occupation. Students will develop their understanding of person centred practice and occupation theory.
    • Understanding Health and Well-being (20 Credits)
      Module code: OTH1128

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to enable students to understand and explore the anatomical and psychological components of the human body and mind which may contribute to everyday functional activity. Students will develop an understanding of how individuals at different life-stages function within their environments.
    • Health and Well-being: Understanding Impact on the Individual (20 Credits)
      Module code: OTH1129

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to enable students to explore how daily life is affected by a range of conditions that impact health and wellbeing. Students will develop an understanding of how individuals will participate in occupations in relation to the disease process.
    • Core Skills for Occupational Therapy Practice (20 Credits)
      Module code: OTH1130

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to develop a range of core skills essential to Occupational Therapy practice with a framework of a model of occupation. Students explore these skills through practical workshops within the occupational therapy specialist facilities.
    • Enabling Engagement in Occupation (20 Credits)
      Module code: OTH1131

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to understand the occupational therapy process and its components. Students will build on developing core skills and applying theory to practice through the use of case studies.
    • Placement 1 (20 Credits)
      Module code: OTH1132P

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to enable the student to engage in occupational therapy practice. The module will provide the student with opportunity to develop knowledge, core skills and behaviours required for professional practice.
  • Stage 2
    • Exploring Evidence to Inform Practice (20 Credits)
      Module code: OTH2116

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to enhance students? academic research skills through critiquing local, national and/or international evidence related to socio-cultural issues relevant to occupational therapy. Students will develop a proposal for research.
    • Exploring Inequalities and Inclusive Practice (20 Credits)
      Module code: OTH2117

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to expand students thinking to consider a wide range of perspectives within occupational therapy to enhance best practice. Students will understand and be aware of inequalities and demonstrate inclusive practice.
    • Placement 2 (20 Credits)
      Module code: OTH2118P

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to enable the student to engage in occupational therapy practice. The module will provide the student with opportunity to enhance their knowledge, therapeutic skills and behaviours required for professional practice.
    • Placement 3 (20 Credits)
      Module code: OTH2119P

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to enable the student to engage in occupational therapy practice. The student will have the opportunity to develop skills in service delivery, collaborative working and leadership.
    • Principles Informing Practice (20 Credits)
      Module code: OTH2120

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is for students to develop their knowledge of theoretical frameworks and skills in professional reasoning. Students will consider the impact of occupational disruption which occurs through illness or disability.
    • Rehabilitation Skills (20 Credits)
      Module code: OTH2121

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to develop skills in a range of occupational therapy practice settings. Students will be able to justify the selection of assessment and intervention using appropriate occupational therapy theory.
  • Stage 3
    • Becoming an Autonomous Practitioner (20 Credits)
      Module code: OTH3120

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to enable students to develop knowledge and a range of skills in specialist practice areas of personal interest. This module will provide students the opportunity to focus on employability skills ready for their first post. This module prepares students to become an autonomous practitioner and ready to work in a variety of practice settings.
    • Developing Creative Practice in Communities (20 Credits)
      Module code: OTH3121

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to enable students? to broaden their perspectives of occupational practice. Students will evaluate current occupational therapy services and design a service which aim to meet the occupational needs within a community.
    • Placement 4 (40 Credits)
      Module code: OTH3122P

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to enable the student to engage in occupational therapy practice to become an autonomous practitioner. The module will provide the student with opportunity to consolidate knowledge, specialist skills and behaviours required for professional practice.
    • Embedding Evidence to Inform Practice (40 Credits)
      Module code: OTH4106

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to enable students to use academic research to enhance current practice. Using evaluation and synthesis of local, national and/or international evidence related to socio-cultural issues relevant to occupational therapy. Students will follow a research process, participate in and evaluate, in order to present the findings of their research project.

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• Student Opportunities

  Studying the BSc Occupational Therapy degree offers you many opportunities including:

  • Short Overseas Exchange: during Stage two you will have the option to take part in a student exchange programme where you can spend one week studying on the Occupational Therapy degree programme at a university in Finland. This is an excellent cultural professional exchange experience. Please note that you will have to pay for flights and accommodation.
  • You are encouraged to participate in extracurricular activities during your studies such as Naidex; an annual equipment exhibition, RCOT conference or the OT Show or the many activities/courses on campus such as social entrepreneurship activities. You will be invited to take part in Heath Roadshows to promote the profession and the university, Open days and Discovery Days to contribute to the recruitment and joining of successive student cohorts.

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• Professional Practice Placements

  The World Federation of Occupational Therapists stipulate that occupational therapy students need to complete 1,000 hours of assessed practice. You will complete four placements across the programme that will meet this requirement.

  Placements are available in a variety of settings and we work closely with the students to provide a range of practice opportunities.

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• Student Perks

  At the University of Northampton, everything we do, from funded trips to paid internships, is to give you everything you need to make a difference when you leave.

  If you join our full-time Occupational Therapy degree at the University of Northampton, you will receive a laptop when your course begins*. The laptops are built to a bespoke custom specification ideal for use in the seminar room, collaborative group work or studying at home.

  Whatever your ambitions, we’re here to help you to achieve them. We’ll support you to identify the skills you’re learning during your occupational therapy course, find your strengths and secure practical experience so that when it comes to applying for jobs or further study you’ll feel confident in standing out from the crowd. We’ve created the Northampton Employment Promise because we are so confident that if you focus on your studies and complete one of our awards you’ll be highly employable by the time you graduate. Putting you in a great position to secure employment or continue your studies.

  To check out the full list of perks, visit our Student Perks page or dedicated International Perks page.

  * UK fee payers only (see Terms and Conditions for further details)

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• FAQs

  What is the difference between the different routes?

  We have 3 routes in the BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy:

  • Full-time (FT): students are available for teaching and self-directed study Monday to Friday for traditional university terms. Placements are full time.
  • Full-time Extended (FTE): students are in university 2 full days per week, with an additional day needed for independent study. Therefore, FTE students are required to attend for more weeks of the year in order to complete all of the modules. Teaching continues into June/July for FTE students.  Placements are part time (22.5 hrs) in the first 2 years, and full time in the final year.
  • Apprenticeship: students are in full time employment or being recruited to an apprentice post the health and social care sector. Students are nominated for the degree by their employer, they attend university one day per week, complete work-based learning tasks and complete full time placements.

  Some modules are completed with FT, FTE and apprenticeship students together. All routes are completed within 3 years.

  How will I be taught on the Occupational Therapy degree?

  Our occupational therapy degree incorporates a range of learning and teaching methods to engage you in active learning. This includes technology enhanced learning through online workbooks, activities and interactive discussions: classroom based learning through seminars, skills workshops, tutorials and practice–based learning. You will be a collaborator in learning with your tutors, peers and practice educators.

  We are working with local partners in strategy development and are encouraging of social entrepreneurship with resources and expertise within the staff team.

  How will I be assessed on the Occupational Therapy course?

  A diverse range of assessments are included in the course to ensure academic and professional competence and to prepare you for the role of an Occupational Therapist. This includes written assignments, multiple choice question tests, poster presentations, group work, reflective essays, case studies, OCSE’s, Blogs and placement assessment. You may work together in pairs/small groups for some assignments.

  Support is provided by tutors for all module assignments in the form of assessment tutorials and marking criteria.

  What extra curricular course events or activities are there?

  There are opportunities throughout the course to get involved in events and activities. We have excellent links with local organisations for volunteering.  We have a strong Occupational Therapy community, the student Occupational Therapy Society arrange regular activities, we participate in National OT Week and various events throughout the year.

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