BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy - Extended Route at University of Salford

As an occupational therapist, you'll work with people from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures and across all age groups, helping them to cope with a variety of physical and psychological problems.

Faculty: Allied Health Professions  |  Duration: Full-time: Three years; Overview; How you'll learn; Future careers; Modules; Entry requirements; Fees and funding; How to apply; to this course; Ask a question; Overview; This extended BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy route; is designed to offer you flexibility in your studies, accommodating work or other commitments.; It enables you to; participate in the course across three semesters; of the academic year to fulfil the modules and engage in practice education, typically requiring a commitment of 22.5 hours per week for learning, along with additional full-time practice education placements.; Taught elements occur on; Mondays and Tuesdays; (full days) with additional expectations of independent and self-directed study to be completed outside of these times. Mandatory training may take place on a Wednesday or Thursday but advance notice will be provided.; Our standard; BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy programme; .; Please note:; Due to the structure of this programme, we can only accept UK and Irish professionals or those already in the UK with existing leave to remain. This course is not suitable for applicants who require Student Visa sponsorship.; Occupational therapy is a client-centred profession concerned with promoting health and wellbeing through occupation. This means occupational therapists support people to participate in what they want, need, and are expected to do, by modifying the occupation and/or the environment to maximise health and/or wellbeing.; This course is designed to train you to meet the contemporary needs of diverse populations and will empower you to use the skills you develop in settings that align with your interests.; This course is underpinned by four 'golden threads' to support contemporary practice. These are:; Occupation Centred:; Occupation is at the centre of our profession and is reflected in our content in recognising people as occupational beings.; Theory Driven:; The modules you complete are informed by theories from both inside and outside the discipline of occupational therapy.; Evidence Informed:; This course uses various types of evidence from a range of sources, including (but not limited to) published peer-reviewed research, opinions from experts by experience, and real-world learning and professionally orientated social media.; Inclusive:; We recognise the existence of systemic racism, ableism, inequality and privilege. Occupational Therapists work within complex systems and diverse populations. Inclusivity, allyship and equality are central to our courses, modules, and the way in which we work.; You will:; Combine academic study with practice placements and develop a variety of professional and personal skills; Be taught through Universal Design for Learning (UDL) which aims to produce learners who are purposeful, motivated, resourceful, knowledgeable, goal-directed, and strategic; Be taught by Occupational Therapists with a range of clinical backgrounds, actively involved with leading professional bodies, who are research-active and hold Advance HE accreditation; Benefit from our strong links with service users, clinical experts, and industry partners, which means that we have an excellent reputation for training occupational therapists who can meet the demands of current practice; Learn through simulation as an integral part of the course. This will take a variety of forms, including, using on-site skill suites, online resources, and case studies; Be eligible to register with the Health and Care Professions Council upon successful completion of your programme; Course accreditations; Occupational Therapy students with a patient.; Male and female Occupational Therapy students practising moving and handling techniques with a slide sheet under the direction of a tutor.; Human patient manakin in a hospital bed; Male and female Occupational Therapy students practising moving and handling techniques with a sling and hoist under the direction of a tutor.; Occupational Therapy students practising with kitchen and personal care equipment; Occupational Therapy student practising basic life skills on a resuscitation manakin; Occupational Therapy students practising with personal care equipment; Male Occupational Therapy student playing the role of a patient in a hoist sling.; Occupational Therapy students practicing with kitchen equipment; This is for you if...; 1.; You are passionate about using occupation to enable health and wellbeing; 2.; You have good interpersonal and communication skills; 3.; You believe in inclusivity and want to be part of a diverse community; 4.; You are passionate about promoting the health and wellbeing of others; 5.; You are determined to use a theoretical and evidence-based approach in your practice; 6.; You are creative and flexible in your approach to practice; The School of Health and Society; The School of Health and Society is a forward-thinking, dynamic school with a commitment to lifelong learning and real-world impact. Our courses are informed by the latest research and we work closely with organisations from both the public and private sector to ensure our teaching is at the forefront of practice.; The University has received approval for a; new health building; on the Frederick Road campus which will create brand new teaching spaces, including new Occupational Therapy spaces. Construction will began in 2024, with completion expected by Autumn 2026. This state-of-the-art facility will serve as a health and wellbeing hub, supporting popular healthcare courses and community services. It will feature sustainable design elements and provide modern clinical facilities to enhance student learning and community engagement.; In time community healthcare clinics will also take place there as partnerships are developed to explore research opportunities and to provide a range of therapeutic sessions.; Explore our school; Rehabilitation Flat; The Rehabilitation Flat is a realistic environment used by students to simulate real-world situations. It replicates the scene of a community visit where occupational therapists work alongside service users to enable their engagement with daily occupations using adapted equipment, new techniques, energy-saving devices or other interventions.; The bedroom and bathroom are fitted with ceiling track hoists to demonstrate safe transfers and give students valuable practice in a safe and supportive learning environment to observe and practice a range of assessments. The flat is furnished to mimic a small home environment, which can also support with risk assessment. The kitchen is used for group baking and kitchen assessment sessions and the bedroom has a high-seat chair, a raised bed and a commode to really immerse students in personal care in the bedroom.; The flat has also been fitted with more advanced technology to enable streaming to classrooms.; Explore our rehabilitation facilities; How you'll learn; What will I be doing?; Assessment; You must pass all assessments on the programme as they are all mapped to the HCPC standards of proficiency to show you have met the standards to register and work as an occupational therapist. This also includes having completed 1000 hours of passed placement hours.; Universal Design principles, which recognise the diversity of experience, knowledge, interests, strengths and needs of learners, will guide the selection of assessment methods. You will therefore be assessed in a variety of ways; at times you will have a choice about how you will be assessed, and the assessments are designed to be authentic and reflect the real-world skills and knowledge required for practice.; Assessment methods include:; Essays/reports; – Written assignments enable you to demonstrate knowledge and written communication skills. Some written assignments mirror professional reports, others are more traditional essays that draw on case study information.; Presentations/vivas; – Presentations take a variety of formats, such as pre-recorded presentations followed by questions, live presentations with questions, viva voce examinations, professional conversations and ‘pitches’ for ideas.; Production of creative work; – You may have the opportunity to demonstrate your learning through the production of creative work, such as video, audio, poster etc, supplemented with academic justification/referencing.; Portfolio; - Continuing professional development portfolios are used throughout the programme to support you to develop your lifelong learning habits as well as assessing the extent to which your development addresses professional and regulatory standards. Portfolios may include reflections and inclusion of evidence that skills have been acquired.; Practice placement education is also an integral part of assessment. There are five placements in the BSc programme, offering over 1,000 hours of experience. All placements are assessed as pass/fail and must be passed for progression.; Teaching; The teaching and learning in the programme is guided by Universal Design for Learning Principles (UDL) so that you will learn in a variety of ways, designed to give you the knowledge and skills required for contemporary practice.; These methods may include, but are not limited to:; Group work; Independent study; Keynote lectures; Practical and skills-based workshops; Practice Placements; Seminars; Simulation; Tutorials; Teaching staff; All staff who teach on this course have worked clinically as occupational therapists in a wide variety of settings, including internationally. There is an active research ethos across the department which informs the practice of occupational therapy in the clinical setting.; Future careers; Career prospects; Following successful completion of your degree, you will be eligible to register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as an Occupational Therapist. As a practitioner, you will be qualified to work in a range of clinical environments, with scope for management, research, leadership and education. Occupational Therapists are employed in a range of settings.; Here are some examples of where our graduates have been employed:; Rotational posts in acute and community settings; Schools; Civil Service; GP surgeries; Charities and Third Sector Services; Government bodies; Research and Academia; Private practice; A taste of what you could become; Occupational therapist; Private practitioner; Disability service worker; Manager; Researcher; And more...; Career Links; Placements; An integral part of your learning will be provided by a series of five supervised placements amounting to over 1,000 hours in health and social care settings. These placements include hospital settings and community services. Most of our placements are currently within the Greater Manchester area.; In addition, all students have access to role-emerging, project-based, research or leadership practice experience in their third year of study, and this is supported through learning within a module to enable students to make the most of the experience. These placements involve students implementing service improvement in an organisation, which promotes the student’s professional development and facilitates innovation. Examples of role-emerging placement settings include schools, charities, and private organisations.; Further study; As a graduate of the occupational therapy programme, you will be eligible to apply for further study that aligns with your career interests. There are a range of courses to explore depending on what your goals and aspirations are.; View a range of; master's and PhD level studies; .; Modules; Salford occupational therapy graduates:; Draw on theory and evidence to confidently articulate the occupational nature of human beings and apply this knowledge to influence the health and wellbeing of individuals, communities, and populations.; Articulate the value of occupation and the potential of occupational therapy. Develop professional values, and demonstrate respect, kindness and compassion in their interaction with others.; Professionally critique, challenge and disrupt the status quo, advocate for and influence change; leading the future of the profession and wider service provision. Are reflective practitioners and life-long learners who engage in continuing development.; Recognise the value of diversity and inclusion; their individuality and differences are celebrated, and they are skilled to work inclusively within a wide range of changing contexts.; You will attend placements in the Greater Manchester area to develop a range of skills and gain experience across different practice settings, including contemporary practice. Please note you may be expected to travel up to 90 minutes from your term time address to attend placement.; The Occupational Therapy course outcomes will enable you to:; Be eligible to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council.; Be entitled, upon registration with the Health Care Professions Council, to use the protected title of ‘Occupational Therapist’.; Be eligible to apply for professional membership of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists.; Course structure; The modules have been influenced by Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles to reflect our understanding that our student population is diverse and therefore our teaching and learning methods, resources and structure of materials need to represent this. A UDL curriculum aims to produce learners who are purposeful and motivated, resourceful and knowledgeable, goal-directed and strategic. The aim of UDL is to provide opportunities for learning that are genuinely open to all learners, which means you will learn via a variety of different methods, including lectures, seminars, simulation, practical classes, workshops, independent study and external visits.; Modules also use simulation as an integral part of learning. It takes a variety of forms, such as using specific equipment in the on-site skills suites, online resources and using detailed case studies. Simulation aims to enable students to apply knowledge and skills to authentic situations, and to develop their reasoning.; Our 'Developing Professional Identity' modules are predominantly self-directed with content that can be accessed at any time.; Level 4; What is Occupational Therapy?; This module will provide you with an introduction to occupational therapy. You will learn about the unique philosophy and history of the profession as well as what occupational therapists do and where they work. You will begin to engage with key concepts in occupational therapy practice, including the occupational therapy process and the relationship between the person, environment, and occupation; .; What is Occupation?; Using simulation, this module provides you with the opportunity to explore the concepts of occupation, activity, tasks and skills and their relevance to human occupation. You will learn about the complex interplay between occupation, health, and well-being, as articulated in occupational science. You will also explore a range of applied sciences that will help you to understand people as occupational beings and analyse tasks, activities, and occupations.; Developing Professional Identity 1; This module includes all your mandatory training for level 4 and supports you to begin to develop your own continuing professional development portfolio. With the guidance of an online learning workbook, key staff and your academic tutor, you will be supported to develop your study skills and prepare for and undertake your first 4-week Practice Placement (PPA) in Trimester 2. You will learn about professional ethics and standards based on the requirements of the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT), and what is expected of you as a student occupational therapist, so that you can recognise professional and unprofessional behaviour in practice. This will involve identifying and managing any personal risk factors and learning how to Speak Up for the benefit of the safety of others.; Occupational Therapy in Practice 1; In this module, you will apply the occupational therapy process to real-world scenarios, utilising the best available evidence to inform your decision-making. Using simulation and case studies, you will have the opportunity to ‘meet’ a range of individuals who are experiencing occupational disruption or dysfunction due to ill health and/or disability. Using an occupation-focused model and a range of approaches, you will apply each stage of the occupational therapy process and identify appropriate sources of evidence to inform professional reasoning.; Occupational Therapy in Practice 2; This module will develop your knowledge and understanding of an occupation-focused model and approaches to improving the occupational performance of a diverse range of people while specifically considering professional communication. You will explore the value of creating collaborative therapeutic relationships, person-centred practice, and effective communication when creating occupation-focused intervention plans. You will have the opportunity to put some of these skills into practice by working with experts by experience and with simulated case studies.; Developing Professional Identity 2; This module supports you in developing your professional identity as an occupational therapist through your first practice placement education opportunity, alongside support to develop your academic writing, reflection, critical thinking, and presentation skills. You will learn about the significance of managing your health and well-being and will have the opportunity to explore strategies for coping with challenging situations. This module includes your second practice placement, PPB.; Level 5; Developing Professional Identity 3; This module builds on the foundational knowledge gained in Level 4 and enables you to develop your professional identity. In this module, you will engage in mandatory training, practice education, digital skills training, receive academic tutoring, and participate in collaborative group work to develop your identity as a skilled and effective occupational therapist. A highlight of this module is its emphasis on nurturing your well-being and refining your learning strategies. You will be encouraged to prioritise self-care, emotional resilience, and mental health, while also refining your study habits and learning approaches to optimise your educational experience.; Evidencing Occupational Therapy in Context; This module works alongside Occupational Therapy in Context 1, drawing on the simulation examples and topics covered in that module. You will consider the evidence base for occupational therapy. You will apply a process for evidence-based practice, learn how to formulate pertinent questions for evidence-based practice, search for, identify, and critically appraise appropriate literature to inform practice. This module builds upon the foundational skills learned in Occupational Therapy in Practice 1, enabling you to critique research evidence.; Occupational Therapy in Context 1; This module builds upon the content covered in the first year of the programme. It provides you with the opportunity to explore concepts of occupational identity and how access to meaningful occupation influences the health and well-being of people, their families, friends, and local communities. Through simulation, you will “meet” groupings of people from a local community who will be experiencing a range of health and other challenges. Using an occupation-focused model and approaches to improving occupational performance and engagement, you will explore how to work effectively as an occupational therapist with them.; Occupational Therapy in Context 2; This module will help you understand occupational therapy in different parts of the world. You will learn about how theories and evidence are applied to an occupational therapy context, with a focus on occupational justice. You will also examine concepts like belonging, fairness, and justice, and think critically about these concepts. You will also study how political power, intersectional identities, and historical influences affect theories of occupation and occupational therapy practice. This learning will enable you to explore whether dominant societal forces may lead to unfair systems that affect people, what they do, and the places they live and thrive in. You will also consider an occupational therapy response to inequality.; Promoting Occupational Wellbeing and Health 1; In this module, you will explore a diverse range of occupation-focused strategies aimed at enabling people and communities to manage their health and wellbeing. You will consider the current evidence base for factors that affect health and wellbeing, including social determinants of health. You will apply your understanding of humans as occupational beings and draw upon valuable insights from occupational science, behaviour change, health promotion, and public health literature. In addition, you will explore the concepts of occupational balance, repertoire, and patterning, allowing you to integrate different knowledge bases to provide actionable information for potential service users. This module will also enable you to use your creativity, digital skills, and communication skills to form and communicate information and advice for specific populations or groups.; Developing Professional Identity 4; This developing professional identity module will enable you to develop more autonomy and independence in your practice. Alongside practice placement education (PPD – 225 hours), you will again have the opportunity to work through a series of online resources as guided by a workbook and supported by synchronous lectures and practical classes. The module enables you to critically consider how professional standards are used in practice. You will discuss and practise strategies for advanced communication and discussing communication challenges, such as speaking up, giving and receiving feedback, and promoting the occupational therapy profession.; Level 6; Promoting Occupational Wellbeing and Health 2 (Includes PPD); This module prepares you to start your career as an occupational therapist by exploring post-graduation opportunities in practice, further study, and research. The module offers opportunities to equip you with the knowledge and skills to make decisions about your career. In this module, you will enhance your professional profile, prepare for challenge and change, and develop the skills necessary for effective personal and professional development by selecting optional elements that align with your personal career aspirations.; Moving into Practice; This module focuses on leadership and professional sustainability, and you will use theory and evidence, including new occupation-focused models, to learn how to advocate for people’s occupational needs. The module includes a practice Placement, in which you will have the opportunity to work in an emerging area of occupational therapy practice or undertake a project or leadership placement.; Shaping the Future; Shaping the Future is a project-focused module that will prepare you for shaping future practice within occupational therapy. In this module, you will have the opportunity to select an area of occupational therapy that aligns with your professional interests. The module promotes the application of research and project design, data skills, critical thinking, ethics, creative problem-solving, and inclusivity, as you will be supported to create a proposal for a project that could have a unique and meaningful impact on the occupational therapy profession. Upon completion, you will be well prepared to address the diverse challenges inherent in an evolving occupational therapy landscape, enabling you to play a role in shaping the profession's future.; The Autonomous Occupational Therapist (includes PPE); This module integrates Practice Placement E, your final practice placement, with theory-based learning to culminate in your ability to practice occupational therapy autonomously. In this module, you will embark on a journey of critical exploration, emphasising a theory-informed and evidence-based approach to tackling complex decision-making in practice. On placement, through co-creation and in simulation, you will hone your expertise in risk management, caseload management, professional reasoning, and advanced communication, all while maintaining a focus on adhering to the highest professional standards.; We take a flexible approach to our course delivery that promotes diversity and inclusivity and provides a blended learning experience, which will vary to meet specific programme requirements. This learning time includes formal lectures and interactive activities such as seminars, tutorials, practical sessions, laboratory and studio learning. Smaller classes may be used to support collaborative activities such as project and group work and presentations. A range of different assessments and feedback is offered to meet the needs of both our diverse student body and specific subject needs.; Our undergraduate courses are normally made up of 20 credit modules which are equal to 200 hours of learning time. A three-year degree qualification typically comprises a total of 360 credits (120 credits per year).; Please note that exact modules and content offered may vary in order to keep content current and, for courses that offer optional modules, may depend on the number of students selecting particular options. When accepting your offer of a place to study on a programme with optional modules, you should be aware that optional modules may not all run each year. Your tutor will be able to advise you as to the available options on or before the start of the programme. Whilst the University tries to ensure that you can undertake your preferred options, it cannot guarantee this.; Entry requirements; Applicant profile; We welcome applicants from a wide range of educational and experiential backgrounds as we believe that your experiences and skills inform your skills as an occupational therapist.; Ideal candidates looking for entry into the course are those who possess skills or wish to develop into practitioners who are:; Passionate about using occupation centrally in their practice.; Enthusiastic about embedding theory, evidence and research into their practice.; Committed to being inclusive and promoting an inclusive practice.; Dedicated to working with people.; The ideal candidate will have reflected on why they would like to pursue a career in occupational therapy, have spent time looking at different career prospects within occupational therapy and developed their understanding of the profession’s philosophy.; Application guidance; All applications for the BSc programme go through UCAS. There is a range of advice provided online about applications for BSc programmes across the country. You will find more information about this on the; Royal College of Occupational Therapists; website.; Your personal statement must convey the following:; Your understanding of occupational therapy as a profession and the impact that illness and disability may have on a person's life. Therefore, you are strongly advised to visit/contact at least two occupational therapists as this will enable you to give examples of occupational therapists working in physical and mental health settings.; Your personal attributes and communication skills will enable you to be a successful occupational therapist.; How your values align to the values of the profession.; Your relevant experience of working with people. Volunteering or work-related roles in relevant health and social care areas would also give a stronger profile for applicants.; Interviews; Applicants who are successful at the application stage will be invited to interview.; The interview is group based, face to face and is based around a range of simulation activities and a written reflection. It will last for 3 hours. The activities will be focused on your understanding of occupational therapy as a profession, your interpersonal skills and your ability to reflect. You will also be asked to complete a written piece of work prior to the interview as part of this process.; Online group interviews will be facilitated for international students. If you are a home student who requires an online interview, please contact us on; [email protected]; . If you require reasonable adjustments to support you to engage with our interview process- please contact us at least a week before your interview date on; [email protected]; .; Additional requirements; Applicants who have previously been enrolled in an occupational therapy pre-registration programme or any other health professional education programme must submit a self-declaration confirming no previous fitness to practice concerns if an offer is made for a place on the programme.; All students will need occupational health clearance and DBS clearance in order to continue with the programme.; Additional support; We strongly advise any students who may need additional support with their learning to get in touch with our admissions team as soon as possible.; Standard entry requirements; GCSE; Five GCSEs at Grade 4/C or above (or equivalent) including English Language and Maths. Equivalents accepted. You must fulfil our GCSE entry requirements as well as one of the requirements listed below.; UCAS Tariff points; 120 UCAS Tariff points (points must be awarded in the same sitting).; A level; 120 UCAS Tariff points (ABC/BBB) from a minimum of three A-Levels.; BTEC National Diploma; DDM; Scottish Highers; 120 UCAS Tariff points; Irish Leaving Certificate; 120 UCAS Tariff points from H1-H3 grades (A/B grades in the old system) considered only.; International Baccalaureate; Equivalent to 120 UCAS Tariff points.; T Levels; Merit overall, with merit in Specialism.; Alternative entry requirements; The Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL); The Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL); (both Certified Prior Learning and/or one Prior Experiential Learning) is used as per the university’s; Admissions and Retention Policy; . If you are made an offer, you’ll be notified about what you need to do next to proceed with this route.; APL allows us to consider students who may not have the traditional entry criteria, but do have relevant experience or the ability to pursue the course successfully. Assessment may consider employer references, previous coursework/examinations or a portfolio of your work. You can find out more about APL on; the Salford Alternative Entry Scheme Page.; To be considered for APL you must have already achieved or be working towards GCSE Maths and English Grade C/4 (or equivalent). If you would like to discuss this further with a member of the occupational therapy admissions team, please contact; [email protected]; .; Not sure how many UCAS points you have?; Use our UCAS Tariff Calculator; to find out.; Fees and funding; Additional funding support for healthcare students; The NHS Learning Support Fund might be available to students studying on our programme. Please visit the; NHSBSA website; for further information.; Home students; International students; 2027/28; Type of study; Fees; Full-time; £10,050; per year; Part-time; Part time fee will be calculated on a pro rata basis; 2027/28; Type of study; Fees; Full-time; £20,040; per year; The tuition fees shown are for the first year only. If your course lasts longer than one year, fees may increase each year in line with inflation, up to the maximum limits set by the UK Government.; Additional costs; For more information about uniforms, DBS, Occupational Health clearance, and immunisations, visit our page Information for Students page.; You should consider further costs which may include books, stationery, printing, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits.; The NHS Learning Support Fund is available to students studying on our programme. Visit the NHSBSA website for further information.; Scholarships for international students; If you are a high-achieving international student, you may be eligible for one of our scholarships. Explore our International Scholarships.; How to apply; Still have some questions? Register for one of our; Open Days; or contact us:; [email protected]; +44 (0)161 295 4545; Enrolment dates; September 2027; Student information; Terms and conditions; UCAS information; Course ID; B922; Institution; S03; How to apply; Related courses; Looking for more?; BSc (Hons); Social Work; This course will provide you with the knowledge, values and skills needed to begin to...; BSc (Hons); Learning Disabilities Nursing and Social Work (Integrated Practice); This exciting and innovative course offers you the opportunity to study for, and to...; BSc (Hons); Nursing/ RN Adult; Adult nurses work in hospitals or in the community, offering support, education and care...; Popular links; Find a course; Open Days; Virtual tour; Accommodation; Student support teams; Get in touch; Contact us; Course enquiries; Travel to the university; Quick links; Campus accessibility; Data protection and privacy; Equity, Diversity and Inclusion; Legal and regulatory information; Modern slavery statement; Student complaints; Term dates; Web Accessibility statement; Questions; How do I apply for an undergraduate course?; How do I apply for a postgraduate course?; How much does a course cost?; How do I change my course?; Facebook; Instagram; LinkedIn; TikTok; X; Youtube; Copyright ©; 2026; University of Salford; Manage privacy settings  |  Study mode: extended learning, with placement  |  Intake: September 2027  |  Location: Salford, England, United Kingdom

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