MSc Occupational Therapy (pre-registration)
Imagine the satisfaction of helping people reach their true potential, take control of their lives and participate fully in the world around them. With an MSc Occupational Therapy from GCU, that’s exactly what you’ll do. Occupational therapists are skilled professionals who help people of all ages to carry out activities made difficult by physical or mental illness, disability or ageing.
Approved by the Health and Care Professions Council and accredited by both the College of Occupational Therapists and the World Federation of Occupational Therapists, our programme will broaden your experience and give you new insight into caring for patients.
As a graduate of any discipline, you can get a world-class education in occupational therapy with an internationally recognised curriculum. Train in both theory and practice, and prepare to contribute to the common good while also making a positive impact on your future career.
You’ll benefit from the friendly, open and diverse community at GCU – and gain experience in the inter-professional nature of the field by learning side by side with students in physiotherapy, dietetic, nursing and social work.
Graduate prospects
When you graduate from GCU, you’ll be eligible to apply for registration as an occupational therapist with the UK’s Health and Care Professions Council – and you’ll be ready to make a meaningful difference.
Our shared commitment to social responsibility is evident in our international network of alumni, who work with disadvantaged and marginalised groups around the world in hospitals, community settings, charitable organisations and private practice.
Occupational Therapy Foundations for Practice; Inter-Professional Context of Practice; Challenges to Occupational Health and Well-Being; Occupation for Local and Global Health; Understanding Occupational Therapy in Practice; Implementing the Occupational Therapy Process in Practice; Developing Essential Practice Skills; Community Based Practice; Developing Readiness for Practice; Professional Development and the Work Environment; Working in Organisations: Interprofessional and Critical Perspectives Organisational Behaviour and Professional Practice; and Dissertation.
Download the Programme Specification for a detailed breakdown of its structure, what you will learn and other useful information.
International students can continue to apply as normal.
Typical entry requirements
We welcome applicants with a first degree in any discipline. All applicants will be considered on their individual merits and academic preparedness for this programme, however there are two identified entry routes to the programme:
Route 1:
A recent (in the last 5 years) first class or upper second honours degree (or equivalent) in health, behavioural or social sciences
A grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or above (for graduates of non-UK institutions)
Route 2 Entry via Negotiate Learning Module:
A second entry route to the programme, which may require completion of the Negotiate Learning Module, is available for applicants who:
Have not studied in the last 5 years
Have a lower second or third class honours degree (or a GPA lower than 3.0 for international applicants)
Have an unclassified degree with relevant work experience
Have studied a discipline outwith the health, behavioural or social sciences
The Negotiate Learning Module is an online module which is completed at distance between August and November prior to admission.
In addition applicants should normally have:
A basic knowledge of statistics which includes an introduction to statistical inference
Two satisfactory references (one of which should be academic)
English language
Academic IELTS score of 7.0 with no element below 6.5 (or equivalent).
Additional Information
Other academic and vocational qualifications
Each application to GCU is considered on an individual basis. If you do not have the typical academic entry qualifications, but can demonstrate relevant work experience and/or credits from recognised professional bodies, you may be eligible to enter this course via the University's Recognition of Prior Learning scheme.
International pathways
If you do not meet the English language requirements, you may be eligible for our pre-sessional English programme which is taught at our Glasgow campus.
The tuition fees you pay are mostly determined by your fee status. What is my student fee status?
Tuition fees 2019/20
Home: £6835
RUK: £6835
EU: £6835
International: £15120
Fees are subject to change and published here for guidance only. Fees and refund policy.
Additional costs for fee paying students
Self-funded students are required to cover the cost of the following:
- Uniforms, approximately £15 each. The number of uniforms you require depends on duration of your course and can range from two to four.
- Occupational health checks and vaccination, approximately £200.
- Membership of Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme. New applications cost £59. Updates to existing scheme record costs £18.
Additional costs
As a student at the University, there are additional fees and costs which may or may not apply to you, but that you should be aware of.
Scholarships
We provide high-quality education for a fair price; as the University for the Common Good, we are committed to offering accessible higher education for talented students by keeping our tuition fees low and providing a generous scholarship package of over £2.5 million per year.
The programme is approved by the Health and Care Professions Council and accredited by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists and the World Federation of Occupational Therapists.
We use a wide variety of interesting and challenging assessment methods to help you to develop personally, whilst simultaneously developing your knowledge and understanding of topics integral to occupational therapy practice.
The learning and teaching methods we use ensure that our programme is both vocationally relevant and academically challenging. Our approach is student-centred, practical, participative and relevant to the needs of employers.
We've moved away from the traditional teacher-centric learning to a more independent learning approach, where you are encouraged to develop critical thinking skills.