Occupational Therapy
UCAS code B920
- Study mode
- Full-time
- Duration
- 3 years
- Start date and application deadlines
-
- Start date
About this course
Our Occupational Therapy programme is stimulating and rewarding, delivering a breadth of person-centred practical experience in a region with a particularly diverse population, providing an invaluable insight into a student's potential future career.
Introduction
The Occupational Therapy programme at Liverpool will equip you with a range of both academic and practical skills for a rewarding career that enhances the quality of life for people encountering physical, emotional, social and cognitive challenges.
You will be taught by respected academics with a breadth of clinical and research experience and will graduate with up-to-date knowledge. You will learn about the human body and use the impressive Human Anatomy Resource Centre. This knowledge will help you learn about disease and disability and how they impact on the ability to engage in everyday meaningful occupation.
Throughout the three years you will undertake clinical placements. We have extensive connections with a diverse range of clinical specialties in physical and mental health and learning difficulties, for all age groups from young children to the elderly, in our student placements. There are also opportunities for you to study abroad. In addition, there are opportunities for elective and role emerging placements.
More than 1,000 hours of clinical experience, together with the theoretical knowledge gained from the programme, will enable the Liverpool graduate occupational therapist to competently analyse the psychosocial, physical and environmental factors in the lives of the people in their care and devise appropriate interventions to help them.
The programme is approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and is accredited by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT). The programme also has approval from the World Federation of Occupational Therapy (WFOT). Recognition of the programme by the RCOT and WFOT are important for graduates seeking international job opportunities.
Programme in detail
During your three years you will engage in modules which are framed within four themes. These themes explore the person, occupation and environment relationship, which is a core underpinning philosophy for the practice of occupational therapy. They are:
- Core concepts and skills
- Professional identity
- Society and well-being
- Evidence for practice.
As a requirement for qualification you will experience a minimum of 1,000 hours practice placement education. Placements are integrated within each of the three years of the programme and are undertaken in a variety of health and social care settings.
What you'll learn
- Research gathering techniques
- Critical thinking skills
- Communication skills
- Self-directed learning techniques
- Patient care
Course content
Discover what you'll learn, what you'll study, and how you'll be taught and assessed.
Year One
The aims of year one are to provide you with the opportunity to:
- Develop an understanding of the concept of ‘person’ as it relates to health and wellbeing
- Explore and experiment with the use of occupation as a therapeutic medium
- Demonstrate basic self-awareness and communication skills
- Demonstrate an understanding of normal biological and behavioural functioning that contributes to human lifespan
- Apply systematic problem-solving approaches to rehabilitation
- Develop critical appraisal skills
- Develop skills to inform occupational therapy practice and engage with research literature.
Modules
Programme details and modules listed are illustrative only and subject to change.
Year Two
The aims of year two are to provide you with the opportunity to:
- Demonstrate an understanding and evaluation of the philosophy and theory of occupation and occupational therapy
- Appreciate the importance and implications of a multicultural society
- Demonstrate an understanding of research methodology and the importance of evidence-based practice
- Apply core skills of occupational therapy
- Develop a well-being plan to promote health and well-being through engagement in occupation
- Demonstrate the ability to work both autonomously and collaboratively.
Modules
Programme details and modules listed are illustrative only and subject to change.
Year Three
The aims of year three are to provide you with the opportunity to:
- Consolidate an understanding of the relationship between person, occupation, environment and wellbeing
- Demonstrate creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship through the application of technology to practice
- Demonstrate competent acquisition of the basic professional skills
- Make explicit the acquisition of professional standards of practice.
It may be possible to undertake a placement overseas as an elective personal choice in year three.
Modules
Programme details and modules listed are illustrative only and subject to change.
Teaching and assessment
How you'll learn
Learning is promoted through a wide variety of activities that enable the students to become autonomous and continuous learners. Interactive lectures, practical and clinical skills group work, directed study, role play, problem-based learning, small group work, student-led seminars, collaborative project work and interactive tutorials are key learning strategies of the programmes. Practical work using our imaging suite digital equipment, the Clinical Skills Resource Room and the Human Anatomy Resource Centre complement teaching activities.
Face-to-face interactions between all students will occur at shared lectures, tutorials and group work and online interaction will be encouraged and facilitated. There is also inter-professional education and learning opportunities across all Healthcare Professions programmes.
How you're assessed
Using a mixture of coursework and examination, a range of assessment methods can be seen across the programmes. These include seen and unseen written examinations, essay assignments with specific word lengths, multiple choice questions, case study presentations, video analysis and interactive practical examinations. Assessment of the work-based learning element of all programmes is an important aspect. You will be required to communicate your views orally and in written form; analyse, implement and evaluate your practice; and to extend the research and evidence base of your chosen profession.
The various methods of assessments have been chosen to provide a balance that will permit the undergraduates to demonstrate their intellectual abilities in all areas to the full.
Liverpool Hallmarks
We have a distinctive approach to education, the Liverpool Curriculum Framework, which focuses on research-connected teaching, active learning, and authentic assessment to ensure our students graduate as digitally fluent and confident global citizens.
The Liverpool Curriculum framework sets out our distinctive approach to education. Our teaching staff support our students to develop academic knowledge, skills, and understanding alongside our graduate attributes:
- Digital fluency
- Confidence
- Global citizenship
Our curriculum is characterised by the three Liverpool Hallmarks:
- Research-connected teaching
- Active learning
- Authentic assessment
All this is underpinned by our core value of inclusivity and commitment to providing a curriculum that is accessible to all students.
Entry requirements
The qualifications and exam results you'll need to apply for this course.
| Qualification | Details |
|---|---|
| A levels |
BBB (including Science) |
| GCSE |
5 GCSEs at grades A*-C or 4-9 including Maths and English Language. Please note English Language must be achieved at a minimum of grade 5. A GCSE Science subject (not applied) must be achieved at grades 4-9 or A*-C if applicants are not offering an A-level Science qualification or level 3 equivalent. |
| BTEC Level 3 national extended diploma |
DDD in Health and Social Care, Sport and Exercise Science or Applied Science will be considered. |
| BTEC combinations |
BTEC National Extended Certificate D plus BB including a science subject.at grade B. BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Health & Social Care will be considered at grade DD plus a science A Level at grade B. |
| Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced |
B in the Welsh Baccalaureate, plus BB at A level to include a Science subject. |
| Access |
27 Level 3 credits at Distinction and 18 level 3 credits at Merit in a relevant Access Diploma. |
Course options
Studying with us means you can tailor your degree to suit you. Here's what is available on this course.
Global opportunities
University of Liverpool students can choose from an exciting range of study placements at partner universities worldwide.
Summer abroad
Spend a summer abroad on a study placement or research project at one of our worldwide partner institutions.
- Spend a summer abroad in addition to your degree programme
- Study abroad without adding an extra year
- Choose any summer between your first and final year of study
- Get the chance to study subjects outside your discipline
Where can I spend a summer abroad on this course?
- Hong Kong
- Japan
- South Korea
Language study
Every student at The University of Liverpool can study a language as part of, or alongside their degree. You can choose:
- A dedicated languages degree
- A language as a joint or major/minor degree
- Language modules (selected degrees)
- Language classes alongside your studies
Your experience
Occupational Therapy students benefit from the School of Allied Health Professions and Nursing‘s experience in delivering over 100 years of dynamic, research-led teaching. Our student satisfaction rates, which range from 93-100%, are testament to our School being a great place to start to your career.
Explore where you'll study
A day in the life of Allied Health Professions and Nursing student Charmain Yip
Virtual tour
Supporting your learning
From arrival to alumni, we’re with you all the way:
- Careers and employability support, including help with career planning, understanding the job market and strengthening your networking skills
- A dedicated student services team can help you get assistance with your studies, help with health and wellbeing, and access to financial advice
- Confidential counselling and support to help students with personal problems affecting their studies and general wellbeing
- Support for students with differing needs from the Disability advice and guidance team. They can identify and recommend appropriate support provisions for you.
An exciting place to study
- Major centre for education and research in health sciences
- State-of-the-art facilities
- Opportunities for in-depth study and development of advanced clinical skills
- Flexible programmes for postgraduate study
- Active research environment
- Provides specialist training with taught and clinical placement components.
It's amazing how quickly the practicals come into play, within the first two weeks we were talking with patients and out on placements. I am loving the course, I think it's fantastic. I know that I'm going to get a job at the end of it. Liverpool offers an amazing place to study and a wonderful city to come to.
Chat with our students
Want to find out more about student life?
Chat with our student ambassadors and ask any questions you have.
Careers and employability
Occupational Therapy graduates are eligible to apply for membership of the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) and the World Federation of Occupational Therapy (WFOT) to work outside the UK.
Your qualification allows opportunities to build a career in the NHS, Social Services, and independent third-sector employers.
Successful completion of the programme will allow you to work in a range of specialist services with people of all ages to support them to address the psychological, physical, cognitive, social, and environmental challenges that impact their day-to-day functioning.
You can work in a variety of settings including:
- hospitals
- schools, higher and further education
- community centres
- prisons
- clients’ homes.