BSc (Hons) - Occupational Therapy

How you will learn

Occupational Therapists of the 21st Century need to have a strong professional identity, as well as enhanced professional, interpersonal, leadership, and business skills. Our programme will support you in developing these skills so that they are in place for when you start your first post. You will take responsibility and ownership of your learning process, ensuring the continued development of the skills required for life-long learning. The profession also needs graduates with a vision for the future, who have the confidence to quickly adapt to the global, national and local context.

Experiential learning is key, it is carried out on practice placements, within the classroom, during group work and independent learning activities. By sharing practice placement experiences, case studies, simulated work experiences, and role-play scenarios, you will be able to practice professional skills, apply theory to practice and evidence-based practice, develop critical thinking, reflection and problem-solving skills. These learning strategies are crucial for the development of professional socialisation and to prepare you for the workplace.

We use learning technology to promote learning. You will develop an e-portfolio over the 3-year programme using systems such as PebblePad, which is compatible with the HCPC requirements for CPD after graduation.

Global perspectives of Occupational Therapy are embedded into the module content throughout the programme and you will develop your knowledge of population needs and priorities on an international level.

How you will be assessed

Assessments have been designed to provide a creative and balanced strategy across the programme. The aim is to assess not only academic level but to include authentic assessments that demonstrate the professional skills required for practice, for example, report writing, verbal presentations, group work, and community-based occupational therapy intervention. This provides a range of engaging and challenging opportunities, which test the programme learning outcomes and are relevant to the needs of the workplace.

Assessment of Practice Placements:

The four practice placements are credit-bearing modules. Each will assess your professional skills, understanding and different aspects of theory in practice. They use formative assessment via a halfway report and summative assessment using the final report element of the Common Assessment Tool (CAT document). The formal assessment of your practice placement is undertaken by the Practice Placement Educator (80% of module mark), though you are also required to self-assess your performance. Practice Educators will determine the grade awarded (with support from programme tutors).

You are required to develop your CPD portfolio during each practice placement, which is assessed via a discussion with a university tutor upon completion of your practice placement (20% of module mark). You must pass both elements to pass the module. Due to RCOT requirements, you are only allowed one resit opportunity of any practice placement module.

Formative Assessments

Formative assessments will be used where possible and are developmental to support learning and help you prepare for the summative assessment. This is an integral part of the assessment process and will provide feedback for you to build upon. In addition to tutor feedback, we encourage you to evaluate your work but also to give feedback to your student peers.

Examples of formative activities:

• A discussion with student peers to gain feedback on an essay plan
• A practice of a practical assessment or a presentation
• A group discussion on a project proposal
• Discussion with a tutor on an intervention plan
• Review of an element of your professional development portfolio.

Summative Assessments

Summative assessments enable you to demonstrate learning at the end of each module and must be passed to complete the programme. The summative assessments have been organised to provide a practicable workload across the two semesters of each year’s study. All written assessments are usually marked anonymously and feedback will be provided promptly, within a maximum of 20 days. This allows you time to consolidate your feedback, before beginning the next semester of modules.

Assessment approaches may include written work in the form of

• Essays
• Reports and portfolios
• Individual and group presentations
• Academic posters
• Discussions
• Practicals
• Digital media

This provides you with variety and the opportunity to use your varying strengths and abilities to achieve your potential.

Tuition Fees

2023 - 2024

• £9,250 - UK
• £16,400 - International

The figures above don't include accommodation and living costs.

Tuition fees are set annually and are subject to review each year. The University may therefore raise tuition fees in the second or subsequent years of a course, in line with inflation and/or the maximum permitted by law or Government policy. Students will be notified of any changes as soon as possible.

International Finance

At the University of Cumbria, we offer affordable tuition fees for international and EU students looking to study at one of our main four campuses. No matter your choice of course or career path, our International Team is here to support you.

Funding

You may also be eligible for additional funding through the NHS Learning Support Fund.

If you're eligible, you can get access to:

• A Training Grant of £5,000 per academic year
• Parental Support of £2,000, if you have at least one dependent child under 15 years, or under 17 years if registered with special educational needs
• Travel and Dual Accommodation Expenses
• Exceptional Support Fund (Students experiencing financial hardship)

For more information on the Learning Support Fund please visit the Learning Support Fund Page.

For further funding information, please visit our undergraduate funding page.

*This page was last updated October 2021

More Information

We have a wide range of scholarships, bursaries, grants and funds available to support you throughout your studies with us. This includes the Cumbria Bursary - a non-repayable bursary designed to support first year students with a household income of less than £25,000.

Additional Costs

There will be some additional costs. For example all students will need to purchase stationery and may wish to purchase some text books. Extra costs may also be applicable to cover field trips, membership fees etc. although such features are usually options within the course.

Books are reviewed annually and are therefore subject to change, course welcome information will provide you with an indicative list for the year.

Books and Journals

You will need to spend approximately £100-£200 a year on textbooks and scripts although this cost can be reduced considerably by sourcing second-hand copies. Boyd, D. & Bee, H.L. (2019) Lifespan development. 8th ed., Global edition. Christiansen, C. & Townsend, E.A. (2014) Introduction to occupation: the art of science and living. 2nd ed. Cole, M.B. (2018) Group dynamics in occupational therapy: the theoretical basis and practice application of group intervention. 5th ed. Thorofare, N.J.: Slack. Royal College of Occupational Therapists (2021) Professional Standards for Occupational Therapy Practice, Conduct and Ethics. Available from: https://www.rcot.co.uk/publications/professional-standards-occupational-therapy-practice-conduct-and-ethics Duncan, E.A.S. (2009) Skills for practice in occupational therapy Edinburgh: Elsevier. Duncan, E.A.S. (2021) Foundations for practice in occupational therapy 6th ed.. Edinburgh: Elsevier

Stationery

Students should budget for stationery and consumables for your own personal use. This should include notebooks, pens and pencils for taking notes in class and/or in the field. Students should also budget for the purchase of USB pen drives, as well as occasional printing and photocopying costs incurred in the preparation or submission of coursework. Whilst you will choose how much you need, expect to pay around £30 - £40 per year for these items.

Clothing and Equipment

The University provides 3 tunics/polo shirts, 2 pairs of trousers and 1 fleece. If you require additional pieces of uniform, you will need to purchase this yourself. Some placements require specific footwear such as black lace-up shoes and some require you to wear smart casual clothing and not uniforms. You will be required to take part in practical sessions at university and will need clothing suitable for these. They require loose clothing that you can move easily in but ensure that you remain covered including: Tracksuit or jogging bottoms, plain polo shirt or t-shirt, trainers or shoes with non-slip soles.

Field Trips

You may wish to attend a conference (optional not part of the course) the costs vary and depend on whether you go to a one day or several day event, the costs will vary depending on the venue and the cost of accommodation. With conference fees, travel and accommodation you will need to budget £250 and £750.

Other

Practice Placements will incur costs and you need to plan for this in your annual budget. Typically, these costs are for travel and, if necessary, accommodation to access placement. Costs of several hundred pounds can be expected and on exception over £1000 per year. You may claim placement travel expenses, and costs towards any additional accommodation that may be required to access placements. Currently, the NHS provides some reimbursement of additional placement costs to eligible students through the learning support fund. More information about this can be found at: https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/learning-support-fund/about-learning-support-fund If you are required to stay away from home overnight to access placements you will have to pay for this in advance although some accommodation expenses can be reclaimed. The cost will depend on the site of the placement and if on-site hospital accommodation is available.