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Occupational Therapy (Subject to Validation)

Entry requirements


UCAS Tariff

120-144

120 -144 UCAS tariff points (e.g. 3 A Levels at grades BBB or above), or BTEC Level 3 extended diploma (before 2010 known as BTEC national diploma level 3) MMM in a health-related subject, or Foundation degree/diploma (or similar), 120 credits, or International Baccalaureate (24 points), or NVQ Level 3 plus one-year relevant work experience, or Access to Higher Education course in Science, Health, Social Care or similar (60 credits, of which 45 credits will be at Level 3). Plus, English and Mathematics GCSE (grade A–C or 4-9) or equivalent. Applicants who do not fit the typical entry requirements will be considered on an individual basis. In this situation evidence of recent study (within 3 years) to A level standard (level 3) alongside a profile of longstanding relevant healthcare or social care experience. Applicants with a previous degree will be considered on an individual basis. English language Must have the following minimum International English Language Test Score (IELTS) results at the time of applying: Plus, English and Mathematics GCSE (grade A–C or 4-9) or equivalent. 7.0 overall or equivalent 7.0 in the listening and reading 7.0 in the writing and speaking

About this course


Course option

3years

Full-time | 2024

Subject

Occupational therapy

**PENDING ACCREDITATION BY RCOT.**

**Why study at Buckinghamshire New University?**
Developed from professional insight and working experience, the programme has been developed in partnership with local employers to give you the most modern up to date skills required for the NHS and private practice. Our course will help you gain the skills you need to provide first class care.

BNU provides clinical placements within Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire and London areas. Our course will put you in good stead to pursue work locally at our Trusts and other organisations after graduation, should you wish to remain here. We work with a range of partners across the region and our students are highly respected while there.

**What facilities can I use?**
With industry standard facilities in the Buckinghamshire area, we are the only institution that can offer our level of equipment in High Wycombe and the immediate surrounding area.

At our High Wycombe Campus, we have purpose-built facilities, including well-equipped simulation clinics and teaching rooms, where you will be taught throughout your course. Our library is packed with all the information you need for your assessments, and there is plenty of room to knuckle down for some quiet study.

Most of the placements on your course are in Buckinghamshire and surrounding counties, in addition, due to the University being part of the PMP, we have existing placement contracts with various hospitals around London, Oxford, Berkshire and Hertfordshire.

**What will I study?**
Occupational therapy involves enhancing the daily lives of people with a broad range of physical, mental health and social needs. As an occupational therapist you will work with people of all ages, to improve their wellbeing and quality of life.

Our occupational therapy degree will equip you with the skills to practise as a competent occupational therapist, in a wide variety of health and social care environments. Your studies will cover the theory and the practical aspects of this exciting and varied role.

Working with a range of people who all have different requirements, you will need to understand each client's lifestyle so that you can work with them to create the best treatment plan. We help you take an individual approach to each patient's physical and mental wellbeing and evaluate all their needs - physical, social, psychological and environmental.

You will have the skills to be able to assess, plan, implement and evaluate treatment plans in hospital and community settings and establish realistic goals with the patient, or know when to refer patients to other specialists when needed.

Organising support and rehabilitation groups for carers and clients will be a big part of your role, you will be able to contribute to the analysis, planning, audit, development and evaluation of clinical services, using the skills you gain whilst studying at BNU.

**Career Prospects**
Registered occupational therapists work in a range of different areas including the NHS, local authorities, schools, independent organisations such as voluntary or community organisations, charities and other settings.

As a newly qualified occupational therapist, you may want to gain experience in a range of specialties before you decide on an area of occupational therapy you want to provide. You may already know where you want to go based on what you enjoyed and studied at university.

Modules

**Year One**
**Core**
Becoming a Professional (20 credits)
Occupational Performance Across the Lifespan (20 credits)
Professional Skill for Occupational Therapy Practice (20 credits)
Principles of Occupational Therapy Practice (20 credits)
Working with Older People (20 credits)
Practice-based Learning 1 (Practice Placement 1) (20 credits)

**Year Two**
**Core**
Evidence-based Practice in Occupational Therapy (20 credits)
Professional Reasoning for Occupational Therapy Practice (20 credits)
Working with People with a Diversity of Needs (20 credits)
Working with Children and Young People (20 credits)
Community Engagement (20 credits)
Practice-based Learning 2 (Practice Placement 2) (20 credits)

**Year Three**
**Core**
Engaging in Research and Evidence in Practice (Dissertation) (40 credits)
Transition to Professional Practice (20 credits)
The Entrepreneurial and Visionary Occupational Therapist (20 credits)
Practice-based Learning 3 (Practice Placement 3)

Assessment methods

An in-person and blended learning approach is adopted throughout the course. A range of different learning approaches are used, each designed to support the learning and development of subject expertise or competence. This includes face-to-face contact made up of practical workshops, seminars, tutorials, and problem-based learning in small groups. As well as face-to-face contact, some of the theoretical components will be delivered online via different mediums including webinars, videos and discussion forums.

The following assessment activities are used on this programme:

• viva exams with a focus on the evaluation and application of theoretical knowledge
• practical exams (OSCE) with a focus on skills and theory
• written exams
• written coursework with a focus on critical evaluation and analytical writing
• online portfolios with a focus on critical analysis, reflective practice, and professional development
• clinical case studies
• research literacies are assessed sequentially in the first-year research methods module and the final dissertation module

**Practice-based Learning (Practice Placement)**

The World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) requires you to successfully complete and pass a minimum of 1000 practice-based learning (practice placement) hours to register with the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC).

There are three 10-week practice placements, one in each year of the programme. The practice placement study blocks undertaken by you are in a variety of practice areas where you will also be continuously assessed, such as physical and mental health settings across a variety of NHS trusts, social care, independent healthcare providers, including the voluntary sector and education settings within Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, and the surrounding areas.

A practice placement week would typically consist of 37.5 hours within the practice setting, including a half-day self-study. This would be achieved through 5 days of attendance (Monday-Friday).

Tuition fees

Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:

Channel Islands
£9,250
per year
England
£9,250
per year
EU
£15,000
per year
International
£15,000
per year
Northern Ireland
£9,250
per year
Republic of Ireland
£9,250
per year
Scotland
£9,250
per year
Wales
£9,250
per year

The Uni


Course location:

Buckinghamshire New University

Department:

School of Health and Social Care Professions

Read full university profile

What students say


How do students rate their degree experience?

The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Counselling, psychotherapy and occupational therapy

Sorry, no information to show

This is usually because there were too few respondents in the data we receive to be able to provide results about the subject at this university.


Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

95%
UK students
5%
International students
21%
Male students
79%
Female students
61%
2:1 or above
8%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

D
B
C

After graduation


The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Counselling, psychotherapy and occupational therapy

What are graduates doing after six months?

This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.

£24,000
high
Average annual salary
98%
med
Employed or in further education

Top job areas of graduates

87%
Nursing and midwifery professionals
4%
Caring personal services
3%
Teaching and educational professionals

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Lower entry requirements
Sheffield Hallam University | Sheffield
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UCAS Points: 112-120
Nearby University
Oxford Brookes University | Oxford
Occupational Therapy
BSc (Hons) 3 Years Full-time 2024
UCAS Points: 104

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Post-six month graduation stats:

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It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.

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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?

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