As a qualified Occupational Therapist (OT), you’ll need to work in close collaboration with other healthcare professionals, which is why our programme has a strong inter-professional focus, embodying the principles that facilitate effective teamwork. You’ll develop a professional identity of your own, while gaining a greater awareness of the roles and responsibilities of all partners in health and social care.

Throughout the course you’ll share modules with physiotherapy and speech and language therapy students. And you’ll take part in small teaching groups, allowing you to get involved with a close-knit student body and supportive learning culture. You can also take practice placements in a variety of settings that allow you to apply and practice your newly-acquired knowledge and skills in a safe environment.

Highlights of Occupational Therapy at UEA

Our three-year course, which is fully approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) ensures you are:

• Able to practice autonomously, using your knowledge and skills to make complex decisions while critically evaluating your own practice.

• A lifelong learner, capable of using reflective practice within a framework of continuing professional development.

• An active research consumer, basing your practice on high quality research evidence, and able to contribute towards the culture of enquiry within the profession.

• Flexible, innovative and responsive to change. Able to manage yourself and others within shifting contexts of health, social care and education; enhancing service development, while ensuring quality and productivity.

• Able to work safely and effectively within your scope of practice, understanding the impact of culture, equality and diversity so you act in the best interests of service users at all times.

• Proactive in leadership and the management of others.

• A skilled team member, operating effectively within interdisciplinary and multi-agency environments.

ABOUT

UEA is ranked in the UK's top 10 for Overall Satisfaction in Counselling, Occupational Therapy and Psychotherapy (NSS 2019) and top 15 for Occupational Therapy in the Complete University Guide 2020.

Occupational therapists play a critical role in helping people of all ages to overcome challenges caused by illness, ageing or an accident, so that they can continue their everyday occupations. By entering onto our three-year course, you’ll be taking the first step towards an exciting and rewarding profession that focuses on developing extraordinary partnerships with people and making lasting, positive changes to their lives by empowering them to reach their maximum potential.

As well as giving you a solid and varied academic grounding, our programme will provide you with early patient contact and access to superb facilities, including our anatomy room and assistive technology suite. So you can develop the practical skills which will prove vital to making your career a success.

ACCREDITATION

This course is  approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) for the purpose of providing eligibility to apply for registration with the HCPC as an occupational therapist.

PLACEMENT YEAR AND STUDY ABROAD

Placement 6 is an eight-week professional development placement within an area guided by the student’s placement profile, in a location (with approval from the Personal Advisor / Course Director) chosen and organised by the student. You can choose where you’d like to complete the placement, based on your previous practice experience.

There is the option to undertake your placement overseas, broadening your understanding of occupational therapy within a different country and culture. This is subject to government health advice at the time these placements take place.

AFTER THE COURSE

Once you graduate, you’ll be eligible to register with the Health and Care Professions Council and join the Royal College of Occupational Therapists as a professional member.

Throughout your career you’ll have the chance to make a real difference, giving individuals a renewed sense of purpose, opening up new horizons, and changing the way they feel about the future.

You’ll enjoy a broad range of career opportunities, and the skills you’ll develop could lend themselves to new emerging roles too, such as working with asylum seekers or refugees, the police or the fire services.

CAREER DESTINATIONS

• Acute health and social care

• Private practice

• Research/education

• Working in the community

• Mental health services

• Third sector charities