MSc; PgDip Occupational Therapy (pre-registration mode)

Some compulsory skills sessions may take place in the evening.

Year 1

• Introduction to occupational therapy and occupational science (20 credits)
  This module introduces students to the philosophy and theory of occupational therapy and occupational science. The module develops students’ understanding of these concepts and their relevance to the current health and social care environments within which contemporary occupational therapy is practiced. The module includes an introductory practice placement which enables students to begin the development of their professional identity as an occupational therapy student.
• Human function and occupational performance (20 credits)
  This module develops students’ knowledge of body structures and functions and the link between occupation and health. This knowledge informs activity analysis, contributes to the evidence base for practice, informs students’ professional reasoning and compliments their learning in modules 1 and 3.
• Promoting health and wellbeing through occupation (20 credits)
  This module explores ways in which occupational therapy uses occupation to promote health and well-being from theoretical, evidence and practice based perspectives. Students begin to develop their knowledge of theories and models influencing Occupational Therapy practice and explore how the evidence base informs practice. This module also includes practice placement 2 (7 weeks) which requires 4 university day’s attendance. The aim of these 4 days is to enable the students to retain the link between theory and practice as they develop their knowledge and skills of application of the occupational therapy process.

Year 2

• Autonomy, accountability and development of professional identity (20 credits)
  In this module students will gain confidence in their ability to identify their personal potential as an occupational therapist through self-evaluation. Awareness of the need for personal resilience and resourcefulness to meet the requirements for entry into the profession and the delivery of contemporary occupational therapy practice is a strong feature of this module. The module includes Practice Placements 3 and 4.
• Person, environment and occupation (20 credits)
  This module develops the students’ ability to utilise knowledge, skills and the evidence base to design, implement and evaluate the practice of occupational therapy with individuals and groups with a range of complex health and social needs, with a focus on  how the physical environment can be adapted to enhance occupational performance. Students consolidate their knowledge, skills and professional reasoning in relation to the occupational therapy process, and explore the influence of wider environmental, socio political and economic issues that influence sustainable and productive participation. This module prepares students for occupational therapy Practice Placement 3.
• Contemporary Issues in occupational therapy (20 credits)
  This module consolidates the students’ knowledge, critical and analytical skills and understanding of contemporary factors (e.g. changes in policy, demographics, and context) and their impact on occupational therapy theory and practice. The module prepares students for the complexities of a dynamic health and social care environment to create and develop innovative and sustainable Occupational Therapy through collaborative working with people within the wider community for example: service users, carers, other professionals.

• School of Health and Social Care Dissertation (MSc pathway only) (60 credits)
  This additional module runs concurrently with the year two modules, and successful completion allows students to graduate with an MSc award. This module provides the student with the opportunity to undertake original enquiry in a chosen area of professional practice. Through the preparatory learning set the students will be able to consolidate and extend their knowledge and understanding of research and evaluation design and associated methods of enquiry. Students will be supported to develop the skills necessary to plan and carry out their chosen project. The preparatory learning set will address ethical and governance issues and processes relevant to their project.

All modules are at level 7 (Master’s level) and are assessed by a mix of written assignments, case studies, critical review, presentations, examinations, practice placements and a dissertation (MSc students only).

Students who successfully complete the 6 core modules will be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Occupational Therapy.

Students who successfully complete the 6 core modules and the additional School of Health and Social Care Dissertation module will be awarded an MSc in Occupational Therapy.

Graduates with either award are eligible to register as an Occupational Therapist with the HCPC. Registration allows you to practice as an Occupational Therapist within the NHS, community services and local authorities, as well as social enterprise and the private sector. Other settings include prisons, residential and nursing homes, schools and Social Services.

For more information on what is involved in working as an occupational therapist, please watch 'Occupational Therapy can help people'. The Royal College of Occupational Therapists have a website Choose OT which explains if this career is right for you and the possible routes your career could take.

Post Registration Occupational Therapy MSc (Top-Up) / Continuous professional development

For graduates with a Postgraduate Diploma in Occupational Therapy from London South Bank University awarded within the last three years, we offer a unique opportunity to 'top up' your qualification to an MSc in Occupational Therapy by completing the School of Health and Social Care dissertation module. This is completed whilst working.

To find out more about this course and other continuous professional development opportunities please refer to our online CPPD prospectus.

Employability Service

We are University of the Year for Graduate Employment for the second year in a row - The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2018, 2019.

At LSBU, we want to set you up for a successful career. During your studies – and for two years after you graduate – you’ll have access to our Employability Service, which includes:

• An online board where you can see a wide range of placements: part-time, full-time or voluntary. You can also drop in to see our Job Shop advisers, who are always available to help you take the next step in your search.
• Our Careers Gym offering group workshops on CVs, interview techniques and finding work experience, as well as regular presentations from employers across a range of sectors.

Our Student Enterprise team can also help you start your own business and develop valuable entrepreneurial skills.

The course uses a range of teaching and learning methods including lectures, small group sessions, practical skills sessions, online and self-directed learning activities.

Key features of this programme is the use of problem-based (PBL) and inquiry-based approaches to learning. These educational approaches involve students working together in small groups and sharing responsibility for meeting learning outcomes.

Structure of the course

The course runs over 2 years with 2 practice placement in each year.

All occupational therapy courses are required by the World Federation of OT (WFOT) to provide a minimum of 90 weeks of study; this includes a minimum of 1000 practice placement hours.

When at university the core structure of the programme consists of taught and small group session on Tuesdays and Thursdays. In addition to this the overall number of sessions will vary at different times with practical skills and workshop sessions usually occurring on Mondays and Friday as required. Some sessions may be taught until 7pm in the evening.

In the second year the dissertation module runs for a set number of weeks on a Wednesday.

This is an accelerated course and in each of the two academic years there are seven weeks of holiday.

The above structure may be liable to change.

Personal and professional tutoring

As a Health and Social Care student, you will be allocated a named tutor during your first three weeks at LSBU. The role of your tutor is to be your primary contact for academic and professional development support.

Your tutor will support your engagement and motivation to study, providing advice and signposting to other sources of support in the University. They should be the first person at the university that you speak to if you are having any difficulties that are affecting your work. These could be academic, financial, health-related or another type of problem.

You will have appointments with your tutor regularly throughout your course.  This will include an introductory meeting in your first semester and placement visits and calls.  You can contact your tutor for additional support by email or phone.

• Bachelors degree of 2:2 or above in any subject or recognised equivalent
• English GSCE Grade C above or equivalent
• Values and attributes that are comparable to the NHS constitution
• Students for whom English is not their first language must achieve a minimum score of 7 overall or equivalent with not less than 7.5 in listening/ speaking and not less than 6.5 in writing and reading for the International English Language Test Score (IELTS) or a TOEFL score of 570 including 55 in the Test of Spoken English (TSE) and at least 5 in the Test of Written English (TWE), at the time of application.

Selection Criteria

Applicants will need to demonstrate the following abilities, skills and attributes within the application, personal statement (see more information below) and interview activities:

• Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Commitment to the values and principles that underpin the occupational therapy profession.
• Articulate their understanding of the role of the occupational therapist including the value base of the profession.
• Demonstrate reasons for interest in the chosen field of occupational therapy.
• Reflect upon their life skills and the relevance of these to occupational therapy and the demands of the course. Uphold the values and attributes required to work in health and social care as stated in the NHS constitution.
• Personal resilience and adaptability to respond to and manage the demands of working in the evolving health and social care sectors.
• Demonstrate due regard for dignity, respect for persons, and confidentiality.
• Demonstrate awareness of equality, diversity and inclusion and the impact of these issues upon health inequalities for individuals and communities.
• Willingness to learn and engage in lifelong learning and support the development and achievement of high quality care in occupational therapy.
• To be accepted on the course you must have a successful outcome from an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance and occupational health clearance, as well as an up-to-date immunisation record including Hepatitis B.

Assessment and interview

If you are shortlisted you will be invited to complete an interview. The interview panel consists of LSBU staff, lecturers, service users and clinicians.

English language

Those whom English is not their first language must achieve a minimum score of 7.0 overall or equivalent with not less than 7.0 in the listening and reading sections and not less than 7.0 in the writing and speaking sections for the International English Language Test Score (IELTS) at the time of application.

Health, disability and becoming an occupational therapist

If you believe that you have a disability it is recommended that you read the information provided by the HCPC about becoming a professional, alongside the standards of proficiencies for Occupational therapists.

Possible fee changes

The University reserves the right to increase its fees in line with changes to legislation, regulation and any government guidance or decisions.

The fees for international students are reviewed annually and the University reserves the right to increase the tuition fees in line with the RPIX measure of inflation up to 4 per cent.

Scholarships

We offer several types of fee reduction through our scholarships and bursaries. Find the full list and other useful information on funding your studies on the scholarships and fee discounts page.

Fee status

Please check your fee status and whether you are considered a home, EU or international student for fee-paying purposes by reading the UKCISA regulations.

Funding for pre-registration postgraduate programmes

Since August 2018 new postgraduate pre-registration nursing, midwifery and allied health professional students have been able to access loans from the Student Loans Company.

Accessing loans provides at least 25% more up-front living cost support whilst you study. You will also have access to the Learning Support Fund, which is administered by the NHS Business Services Authority, for support while attending clinical placements.

MSc students, please note: you are able to apply for a £9250 student finance loan each year but this will not cover the full cost of the second year of this course i.e. the loan will not cover the MSc module.

The individual fee for this course is shown above. For more information, including how and when to pay, see our fees and funding section for postgraduate students.

See our Tuition Fees Regulations (PDF File 201 KB) and Refund Policy (PDF File 775 KB).

We have a range of PhD Scholarships available in partnership with businesses and organisations; read notices of PhD studentships.