Overview

If you’re driven to make a meaningful difference, occupational therapy offers a rewarding career focused on helping individuals live independently and participate fully in everyday life. Occupational Therapists (OTs) are skilled professionals who help people of all ages to carry out activities made difficult by physical or mental illness, disability or ageing.

This MSc Occupational Therapy (Pre-registration) is an accelerated, hands-on route for graduates from any discipline, offering an alternative to the traditional four-year undergraduate degree. It prepares you to become a skilled, compassionate and adaptable healthcare professional, ready to make a real difference in people’s lives.

We offer an engaging and supportive learning environment where you’ll explore how health, wellbeing, and participation in everyday activities are influenced by physical, psychological, and social factors.

Through a blend of theory, practical learning, and four supported work experience placements, you’ll develop the skills to work across diverse settings.

These include:

hospitals
schools
rehabilitation centres
private practice
community environments.

Taught by an experienced and enthusiastic team, the course emphasises critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration. You’ll study alongside other healthcare and social care professions, developing the teamwork and communication skills essential for practice.

The course is approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and accredited by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists and the World Federation of Occupational Therapists. Your qualification will be an internationally-recognised pathway to a rewarding career in health and social care.

Why study Occupational Therapy (Pre-registration) at GCU?

Designed for graduates from any discipline, this accelerated MSc offers a fast-track route into a rewarding career as an Occupational Therapist.
Accredited by relevant professional bodies, your degree is recognised across the UK, as well as being able to support global career opportunities.
Build confidence through a range of placements and simulation experiences, developing practical skills in safe, supportive real-world settings.
Study an innovative, occupation-focused curriculum that integrates theory and practice to reflect contemporary occupational therapy approaches.
Learn alongside other health and social care students, developing teamwork skills essential for collaborative, real-world healthcare practice.

Royal College of Occupational Therapists

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Health and Care Professionals Council

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World Federation of Occupational Therapists

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What you will study

Modules

Occupational Therapy 1A: Exploring Occupation

Occupational Therapy 1B: Skills and Process

Occupational Therapy 1C: Occupational Performance

Practice Based Learning: Beginner Placement

Occupational Therapy 2: Evidence Based Interventions

Interprofessional Collaborative Practice within Health and Social Care

Practice Based Learning: Intermediate Placement

Occupational Therapy 3: Complex Reasoning

Practice Based Learning: Project Focused Placement

Practice Based Learning: Competent Placement

Occupational Therapy 4: Contemporary Practice

Masters Dissertation

We aim to display the most up-to-date information possible.

The modules listed on this page and the Programme Specification are intended to give you an idea of what you may be able to study on this course. Please note that course content, modules, teaching and assessment may change each year and after you have accepted your offer to study at GCU. This might be because we are required to do so by law, by a governmental authority, regulator or accrediting body. We may also make changes for quality assurance reasons, or to enhance the course.

Careers

After graduation, you’ll be eligible to register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as an Occupational Therapist. You’ll work with people of all ages to support them to live meaningful, independent lives, overcoming challenges and achieving what matters to them.

Occupational Therapists are highly sought after across the UK and internationally. This is a stable and rewarding career with excellent opportunities for growth and development.

Our graduates are employed in:

hospitals
schools
rehabilitation units
charities
voluntary organisations.

They often go on to work with marginalised and disadvantaged groups, making a lasting impact on communities.

Some of our graduates now work for:

Glasgow City Council
NHS Lothian
PAMIS, a Scottish organisation that supports people with learning disabilities.

You’ll benefit from GCU’s strong professional networks, connecting you with future employers during your studies.

Course information

Award	Mode of study	Duration	Start date	Location
Award	Full time	1 year	Sep 27	Location	Enquire
Award	Mode of study	Duration	Start date	Location
MSc	Full Time	24 months	Jan 27	Glasgow	Enquire Apply

Please note that admission to GCU is considered on a competitive basis, and the academic entry requirements stated here may be the minimum required to be eligible for an offer.

International students can get information on entry requirements specific to their country in our International Study section.

Minimum academic requirement

We welcome applicants with a degree in any discipline. All applicants will be considered on their merits and academic preparedness for this course.

Prospective applicants should normally be expected to possess:

An honours degree at second class lower (2:2) or above (or equivalent for graduates of non-UK institutions) completed within 10 years of anticipated entry to the programme.

Applicants are required to submit a personal statement outlining:

Reasons for application to the programme with clear evidence of understanding of the unique role of occupational therapy, which may include detail of relevant contact with occupational therapists.
Knowledge and/or experience of working with individuals, groups or communities relevant to the diverse nature of occupational therapy, which can be in a personal, work or voluntary capacity.
Personal attributes and skills relevant to the demands of the profession

Applicants will be required to demonstrate knowledge of the research process and research methods.

Applicants will also be required to submit one satisfactory reference, preferably an academic reference.

We will also consider applicants who completed their honours degree more than 10 years ago or with a lower degree classification who meet all other above criteria. However, normally these applicants would need to demonstrate evidence of study at SCQF level 10 or equivalent within the last five years.

English language requirement

IELTS score of 7.0 (or equivalent) with no element below 6.5.

Additional information for international applicants

Entry requirements by country
Application deadlines
English language tests
Knowledge of English - Applicants from a majority English speaking country may not be required to provide further proof of your English language proficiency. Information about this requirement is available on the Student Visa section of the gov.uk website.

Additional information for all applicants

Relevant experience (Recognition of Prior Learning)

GCU's flexible entry policies exist to allow relevant work experience and prior learning to be considered towards standard entry or advanced entry into a course.

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 (RPL) scheme.

Teaching and assessment methods

We focus on creating an active and engaging learning experience on this course. From hands-on practice placements to community projects and simulated learning experiences, you’ll apply your knowledge in diverse real-world and practice-inspired settings. Practice-based learning helps you develop the wide range of skills essential for occupational therapy practice.

You’ll be learning from experienced practitioners and guest lecturers who bring real-world insights from a wide range of occupational therapy settings. Their expertise ensures your learning is grounded in current professional practice and helps you understand how theory is applied in practice.

You’ll be assessed through a range of different methods, such as essays, presentations, and practical assessments. These allow you to showcase your strengths and apply your learning in meaningful ways. You’ll graduate as a confident, adaptable, and forward-thinking practitioner, ready to meet the evolving needs of the profession.

Practice placement

You’ll have four unpaid placements – two part time and two full time - over the two years of the course. These will give you a total of 1,000 hours of practice education, meeting the requirements for professional registration.

Previous placement opportunities have included NHS Scotland, in areas such as:

acute medical wards
learning disability services
community mental health services
neurological rehabilitation.

Others have been at local authority social work services or charities such as Headway or Threshold.

International opportunities

In the final year, there can be the opportunity to undertake an international placement exchange, giving valuable experience in a different healthcare setting or cultural context.

Interprofessional Simulation Centre

Our Interprofessional Simulation Centre is a state-of-the-art teaching facility where health and social care students learn through realistic, hands-on experience. It includes lifelike hospital wards, simulated home and care environments, an ambulance and specialist spaces such as X‑ray, radiotherapy and physiotherapy clinics.

Using real healthcare equipment, advanced patient manikins and video recording, you'll be able to safely practise real-life situations and review your learning. The Centre supports nursing, paramedic, allied health and social care training, helping you learn how to work across specialties while building your confidence and practical skills before working with real patients.

We use video and audio recordings of students during practical exercises in our teaching and assessment. Students applying to study health-related courses should be aware that there will be times when they will be recorded, and these recordings may be viewed by programme staff, students, and external examiners for learning and assessment. This is not an optional component of the course.

Student support

You’ll have access to excellent library and Learning Development support services to help you succeed throughout your studies. Support from these services is embedded into the course to help you build your academic skills.

Research and impact

In the second year, you’ll conduct a research project focused on a contemporary issue in occupational therapy. This will give you the chance to explore a topic of interest and contribute to evidence-based practice.

Accreditation

This course is approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and accredited by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists and the World Federation of Occupational Therapists.

As a graduate, you’ll be eligible to register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), allowing you to work as a registered Occupational Therapist in the UK.

Our course meets the 1,000 hours of practice-based learning required by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT), giving you the flexibility to pursue professional registration internationally.

Visit the Health and Care Professions Council website

Visit the Royal College of Occupational Therapists website

Visit the World Federation of Occupational Therapists website

Download the programme specification

In addition to the core modules that all students must undertake, some courses offer students a choice from a selection of optional modules to shape the focus their degree. Optional modules where available, form part of the overall credit structure of the course.

Download the programme specification for a detailed breakdown of the course structure, including modules, what you'll learn and other useful information.

Terms and Conditions

Details of the University’s terms and conditions are available here.

Overview

Why study Occupational Therapy (Pre-registration) at GCU?

Accreditations

What you will study

Careers

Course information