Occupational Therapy, BSc (Hons)

A-Level: Minimum BBB. Health or science-related courses are desirable.

Access to Higher Education Diploma: 60 credits overall with at least 45 at level 3 and 15 at level 2. Of the 45 credits at level 3, you will need a minimum of 24 distinctions, a minimum of 18 merits and a maximum of 3 passes

BTEC: DDM

Welsh BACC: B and BB at A level or DD at BTEC

Irish Leaving Certificate: 360

GCSEs: At least five GCSEs at A-C grade, these must include Welsh/English Language, Mathematics and a Physical Science or Double Award Science.

IELTS: Level 7 with no component less than 6.5 (For applicants who have gained their entry qualifications outside the UK)

For non-standard applicants: It is recognised that individuals without formal qualifications may have relevant experience and knowledge.

Recognition of Prior Learning: Applications will be considered on an individual basis. As a University, we also have a recognition of prior learning policy to support widening access aims.

Any offer of a place will also require:

• A satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Applications from potential learners who have a criminal conviction will be considered on an individual basis with reference to the most current HCPC Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics.  We have an established mechanism for dealing with such situations through Fitness to Practise processes. Applicants will be required to pay for their DBS checks.
• An Occupational Health assessment confirming that applicants are fit to undertake the programme.
• Learners also need to meet Department of Health Guidelines (March 2007) ‘Health clearance for, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV: New healthcare workers.

All applicants will be required to have a satisfactory enhanced disclosure and barring service (DBS) check and occupational health check. Any concerns arising from these may be considered at the School of Health and Social Care’s Professional Suitability and Fitness to Practise Panel and may result in admission to the programme being withdrawn.

You will experience a mixture of face-to-face and virtual teaching, self-directed study and practice-based placements in three different settings over the duration of your course. Study will be guided by a dedicated occupational therapy staff team to help you learn in theory-led, practical and placement learning settings.  

You will spend around 1050 hours in total on placement, engaging with practice partners and people using occupational therapy services.  Placements can be in rural or urban settings and enable you to learn about how occupational therapy can be effective with people who have a range of different needs.  This will help you learn the knowledge, skills and professionalism required to work alongside a wide range of people with physical, mental health or social needs. Opportunity is also provided to learn about the importance of inter-professional collaboration to enrich the experience of people using services and their caregivers.

Information for Part-Time Students

Part-time students will be required to attend campus once a week for teaching however, for placement blocks students are expected to attend these full-time. Part-time students will also be expected to attend one full week of on-campus teaching each term, when not on placement. In their 4^th year, there will be a 2-week attendance requirement for the specialist practitioner module. Across the 4 years, placements account for 8 weeks in year 1, 10 weeks in year 3, and 12 weeks in year 4.

We recommend that part-time students spend an extra day each week on their studies to help them with their academic progress. Students in employment will need to negotiate the necessary time for their student-directed study with their employer.

Welsh Provision

This course may offer some modules taught through the medium of Welsh or bilingually for students who consider themselves to be fluent Welsh speakers. For more details on the provision available see the Welsh Provision expander below.

No Provision

Unfortunately, there is currently no formal Welsh-medium provision on this course. If you would like to let us know that you are interested in pursuing an element of your course through the medium of Welsh, please email astudio@abertawe.ac.uk to indicate your interest along with your year of entry and we will do our best to see what is possible.

Whilst this course does not offer academic content delivered in Welsh, the University can provide you with the following, and Academi Hywel Teifi is here to support you:

• An interview through the medium of Welsh when applying for a place.
• The option to receive your personal correspondence in Welsh, English or bilingually.
• The option to write and submit your coursework or exams through the medium of Welsh (even if you have chosen to study in English), and your work will be marked in Welsh.
• A Welsh-speaking Personal Tutor.
• One-to-one support to improve your academic Welsh language skills.
• An opportunity to gain an additional free qualification that serves as evidence of your Welsh language ability for future employers.
• Opportunity to be a member of the Swansea University Branch of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol.

To learn more about the above and all the opportunities available to you through the medium of Welsh, visit Academi Hywel Teifi's undergraduate pages.

This programme is approved by the Health and Care Professions Council and is accredited by the UK Professional Body, the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT). RCOT accreditation will also confer recognition by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists.

The teaching team consists of highly qualified and enthusiastic HCPC registered occupational therapists alongside other specialist lecturers who have a wide range of professional knowledge to share with you. 

The teams’ experience of occupational therapy in health and social care settings or the wider community provides learners with an excellent resource to develop an understanding of the relationship between theory and practice.  

The team are experts in their field and are committed to the enhancement of occupational therapy services at local, national and international level through involvement with national associations, professional publications and information sharing in the wider health and social care environment.

Fees for full time Undergraduate UK/EU students may be increased in subsequent years of study by an inflationary amount determined by Welsh Government.

You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page.

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study. To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page.

Current students: You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page.

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study.

To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page.

Academi Hywel Teifi at Swansea University and the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol offer a number of generous scholarships and bursaries for students who wish to study through the medium of Welsh or bilingually. For further information about the opportunities available to you, visit the Academi Hywel Teifi Scholarships and Bursaries page.

If you can commit to working in Wales for two years after graduating, you could get your tuition fees covered in full through the NHS Wales Bursary Scheme, as well as maintenance funding and a reduced rate loan from Student Finance.

Please see our NHS Funding webpage to check your eligibility for funding before applying.

Access to your own digital device/the appropriate IT kit will be essential during your time studying at Swansea University. Access to wifi in your accommodation will also be essential to allow you to fully engage with your programme. See our dedicated webpages for further guidance on suitable devices to purchase, and for a full guide on getting your device set up.

You may face additional costs while at university, including (but not limited to):

• Travel to and from campus
• Printing, photocopying, binding, stationery and equipment costs (e.g. USB sticks)
• Purchase of books or texts
• Gowns for graduation ceremonies

Swansea Employability Academy (SEA) will support you at each stage of your career journey helping you build a bright future.

Our career support services include:

• Employability workshops, employers’ talks, bespoke events and careers fairs
• Individual advice and guidance from professionally qualified Careers Advisers
• Help with finding jobs, internships, work placements and volunteering opportunities
• Access to information resources on a wide range of career management topics
• Advice and guidance on postgraduate study and funding
• Funding to support student internship opportunities and Student Society/Club events.

We also provide help and advice for Swansea University Alumni up to two years after you graduate.

As well as subject specific support by college teaching staff and your personal tutor, the Centre for Academic Success provides courses, workshops and one-to-one support in areas such as:

• Academic writing
• Maths and statistics
• Critical thinking
• Time management
• Digital skills
• Presentation skills
• Note taking
• Revision, memory and exam techniques
• English language skills (if English is not your first language).

In addition, if you have a Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLD), disability, mental health or medical condition, the Centre for Academic Success have Specialist Tutors to support your learning, working alongside the Disability Office and Wellbeing Service to support all your needs and requirements whilst studying at Swansea University.

To learn more about study abroad, visit our Go Global webpages. Enrolment on a programme with a semester/year abroad does not guarantee you a semester/year abroad placement. Spaces are limited and subject to a competitive selection process. In the event you do not secure a semester/year abroad placement, you will be transferred to the standard variant of your degree scheme without a semester or year abroad.

International summer programmes are open to students from all schools. Programmes typically range from 2 to 6 weeks, across destinations such as China, Zambia, South Korea, Japan, Canada and across Europe. For more information about programmes and eligibility visit our Summer Abroad webpages.

*This course is available through Clearing and you can Apply online or by calling 0808 175 3071. 

Eligible applicants will be invited to interview and interviews for this course take place via Zoom.  Check out our Interview Tips for more information on what to expect

Full-time: For those applying to study our BSc Occupational Therapy full-time course you should apply through UCAS.

Part-time: For our BSc Occupational Therapy part-time course you should apply direct via Apply.

We recommend that you submit your application to our courses as early as you can in advance of our application deadlines. Courses will close earlier than the application deadlines listed if all available places are filled. You can find further information on our Application Deadlines webpage.