Becoming an occupational therapist.
By studying on the BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy at
Northumbria University, you will be taking your first steps towards a
profession described as ‘the best kept secret in healthcare.’ Occupational
therapy is a varied, creative, and engaging career, designed to make a meaningful
difference to people’s everyday lives. As an occupational therapist you can
have a real impact on health and social care outcomes and enjoy excellent
prospects and opportunities.
Your learning journey.
You will learn about the value of occupation to health and wellbeing
– understanding yourself as an ‘occupational being’ and understanding the
underpinning theory and philosophy of the profession. You will explore the
sciences that support our work and develop essential skills – things like
communication and teamwork.
Through the years you build your understanding of the
person, their environment, and their occupational performance, all the time
developing skills to help meet their needs.
You will grow your academic skills and develop skills in
finding and using research to support your practice. In your final year you
will be supported to produce a systematic review of a topic of interest to you.
You undertake a series of practice placements where you can
grow your skills in the workplace. You will complete 1000 hours of practice within
a mixture of NHS Trusts, Local Authority Services as well as possible
opportunities within emerging areas of practice.
Education is delivered in a range of ways to create a
varied, engaging course. There will be lectures, workshops, and real-life
simulation which help develop your understanding of both theory and practice.
What is Occupational Therapy?
Occupational therapy focusses on helping people to live
their best lives. We promote health and well-being through occupation by
enabling people to participate in the everyday things that matter to them. The
word occupation is often associated with work. However, occupational therapists
using in much more widely to describe:
‘The everyday activities that people do as individuals,
in families and with communities to occupy time and bring meaning and purpose
to life. Occupations include things people need to, want to and are expected to
do’ (World Federation of Occupational Therapists, 2021).
Imagine being unable to do something that really matters to
you – dress yourself, read to your children, drive a car. If it is something that matters to you, it
matters to occupational therapists. We work with people who face a wide range
of issues that affect their ability to do the things they want, need or ought
to do. These can include physical or mental illness, disability, and
challenging life circumstances. We also work with people at every stage of the
lifespan. We help in three main ways:
- Helping people to develop the skills they need: for example, helping a child to develop handwriting skills, supporting their success in school.
- Adapting an activity to make it more doable: such as adapting a game of football to ‘walking football’ or ‘frame football’ – making it available to different ages and abilities
- Adapting the environment to make tasks possible: Working with employers and workers to ensure their workplace is accessible for everyone
Why choose Northumbria to study Occupational Therapy?
- Top University - Counselling, Psychotherapy & Occupational Therapy at Northumbria is ranked 7th in the UK by the Complete University Guide for 2024.
- A Thriving Teaching Team – we have an experienced and passionate team involved in your education, bringing a wealth of therapeutic and academic knowledge and skills. For example, 100% of students studying Health Sciences at Northumbria thought staff made their subject engaging and believed that the course was intellectually stimulating, challenging them to achieve their best work (NSS, 2023).
- Excellent Connections – We have excellent partnerships with local health and social care organisations, experts by experience and voluntary agencies. These connections help support the vital practical elements of the course and give diverse, real world experiences.
- Over 1000 Hours of Placement – At Northumbria we know the value of real-world practice which is why each student undertakes a minimum of 1000 clinical hours.
- A Research Powerhouse - Northumbria’s research in Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy is ranked 8th in the UK for research power (REF, 2021), out of 91 submissions.
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Accredited Degree - The course is approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and is accredited by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists. This means that it is designed to reach industry standards and prepare you the world of work.
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Student Rated - Over 89% of students studying Occupational Therapy at Northumbria believed that their assessment feedback was often on time and believed the library resources supported their learning (NSS, 2023).
How does this course prepare me for work?
Our courses are designed to prepare you for a career in
occupational therapy - a global, client-centred, science-based, healthcare
profession. Occupational therapy continues to grow in popularity and provide
exciting career opportunities in the UK and overseas. Therapists are working in more sectors than
ever.
The course’s contemporary curriculum prepares you for work
in multiple areas, and successful completion makes you eligible for
registration with the Health and Care Professions Council.Health & Care Professions Council