Occupational Therapy (Degree Apprenticeship) BSc(Hons)

This apprenticeship is employer led: applications must be submitted by employers on behalf of their staff.

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Start Dates

21 September 2026

Duration

3 years full-time

UCAS Tariff

120-112

Eligibility Criteria

Permanent Employment in relevant field

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Ask your employer to email us at apprenticeships@hud.ac.uk.

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About this course

Overview

Why choose Huddersfield for this course?

  • Outstanding Quality - Huddersfield is an Ofsted Outstanding provider, delivering top-tier apprenticeship training.
  • You’ll learn from experienced health professionals and service users whose real-world insights bring teaching to life.
  • Gain confidence using our state-of-the-art skills labs and immersive simulation facilities on our National Health Innovation Campus.

Accreditation and Professional Links

Recognised connections to give you an extra edge when you graduate. Read More

This course has been designed to provide you with the opportunity to study Occupational Therapy BSc(Hons) whilst being employed in a health or social care role. It helps you gain a strong grounding in the theory exploring what is involved in the various components of occupational therapy practice.

In line with the apprenticeship model, the course is designed to support a training in practice approach. Whilst undertaking the course you’ll remain employed by your host organisation and spend approximately four days (30 hours) a week in your current workplace and one day (7.5 hours) a week at the University undertaking theory work or alternative practice placements in areas outside of your organisation. At the end of the course you’ll complete an End Point Assessment (EPA) which is integrated into the course and verified at the course assessment board. The course is designed to be progressively demanding and once qualified you’ll be eligible to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), as well as the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT).

If you’re thinking of studying an apprenticeship course or are an employer looking for an apprenticeship for your employees, you’ll also find useful information on our Degree Apprenticeship webpages.

Why study Occupational Therapy (Degree Apprenticeship) BSc(Hons)

In the National Student Survey 2025, Huddersfield is ranked top in Yorkshire for assessment and feedback, organisation, management, and learning resources, as well as top 10 in the UK for academic support, learning resources, and student voice (counselling, psychotherapy, and occupational therapy).

During this course, you’ll work with people of all ages in different situations, you’ll assess their needs and collaboratively develop interventions facilitating them to achieve their potential and enjoy maximum quality of life. This will assist you in developing an in-depth understanding of occupational therapy through placements in different settings, including old people’s homes, hospitals, local authorities, schools, charities, and prisons.

The University’s new Daphne Steele Building is now open on the site of the National Health Innovation campus, too. This allows our Occupational Therapy students to benefit from specialist clinical teaching facilities and world-leading research facilities. You can also hear the experiences and viewpoints from service users and carers, who are part of the Public Partnership Group.

Occupational therapists work interprofessionally, alongside other healthcare professionals. You’ll therefore study alongside students from other healthcare professions courses and you’ll have the chance to carry out a research project and develop entrepreneurial and change management skills with them.

The University of Huddersfield has the highest Apprenticeship Qualification Achievement Rate (QAR) among Higher Education Institutions in England.*

Our 2023/24 QAR was 87.6% and coupled with our Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ rating displays the excellent learning experience for apprentices and their employers at the University of Huddersfield.

*Excludes providers with fewer than 100 apprentices.

Who can apply?

Entry Requirements

BBB-BBC at A Level, including one of the following A Levels: Biology, Human Biology or Psychology but excluding General Studies. If you are studying Science A Level, the endorsement for practical work is essential and a requirement for entry to our degree course.
120-112 UCAS tariff points from a combination of Level 3 qualifications, excluding General Studies, and including one of the following: A Level Biology, Human Biology or Psychology, BTEC Subsidiary Diploma/National Extended Certificate/Diploma in Health and Social Care or Applied Science. If you are studying Science A Level, the endorsement for practical work is essential and a requirement for entry to our degree course.
Merit at T Level in Health or Healthcare Science.
DDM-DMM in BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care or Applied Science.
NCFE CACHE Technical Level 3 Extended Diploma/Level 3 Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care at Grade B.
Pass a relevant Access to Higher Education Diploma with 45 Level 3 credits, 30 at Distinction and 15 at Merit. The course must contain 18 credits in a Biological Science.
120-112 UCAS tariff points from International Baccalaureate qualifications including Biology at Higher Level at grade 6.


In addition you will:

  • Be at least 16 years old.
  • Be employed in a Health or Social Care setting and supported by your employer to undertake the course.
  • Be employed in a role relevant to your apprenticeship for more than 30 hours per week in England (or have at least 50% of their working hours in England).
  • Have lived in the EEA for the past 3 years and currently reside in the United Kingdom.
  • Be paid more than the Apprenticeship National Minimal Wage.
  • Have an understanding of the Occupational Therapy profession.
  • Hold and provide evidence of GCSE English Language and Maths at grade 4 or above, or grade C or above if awarded under previous GCSE grading scheme or equivalent, before the start date of your apprenticeship.
  • Be ‘eligible’ as outlined in ESFA’s Funding Rules.

If you have alternative qualifications, along with relevant working experience, these will be considered on an individual basis. Any alternative qualifications must meet the University's minimum entry requirements.

You’ll need to complete a Rehabilitation of Offenders form and have a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and Occupational Health clearances. We arrange these as part of the application process. You’ll be required to sign a self-declaration at the start of each year confirming you have no previous fitness to practise concerns or a criminal record. All police contact during the course must be reported to the course leader as a matter of urgency and may lead to suspension or termination. We will request an Overseas Police Check if you have lived in a country outside of the UK for 6 months or more (whether continuously or in total) in the last 10 years before applying to us and whilst aged 18 or over.

You’ll also be required to complete an Initial Needs Assessment.

If you have previously been enrolled in an Occupational Therapy Pre-Registration programme or any other health professional education programme you must submit a self-declaration confirming no previous fitness to practice concerns.

Offers will be subject to an interview and references. Please note all the information provided in support of your application may be checked and must be verifiable as a true record.

You’ll also required to meet the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) and the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct at all times. Copies of these documents will be given to learners at the beginning of the course.

You may be eligible to gain accreditation for your prior learning. Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) is where you can claim academic credit for your prior learning achieved from an accredited course. Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) involves claiming academic credit for prior learning gained through experience and not from an accredited course. The University only accepts claims for APL, which combined with the chosen course of study will not exceed six years.

The recognition of prior learning will be considered on an individual basis by the Admissions Tutor. The assessment of recognition of prior learning applications will be undertaken through a collaborative process between the education provider and the employer. The maximum amount of prior learning must be less than or equal to one third of the total pre-registration programme, and may include practice-based learning in accordance with Royal College of Occupational Therapists standards for pre-registration education (RCOT, 2019).

You must comply with the regulations of the University regarding conduct.

If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum of IELTS 7.0 overall with no element lower than 6.5, or equivalent. Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our International Entry Requirements page.

What will you learn?

Course Details

This module examines different contexts in which occupational therapy is practiced. Working in a group, you'll consider the wider socio-political issues affecting the occupation of communities and populations. You'll explore the environmental and cultural influences on occupational performance as well as wider socio-political issues including occupational issues of communities and populations. Drivers and current issues influencing the delivery of occupational therapy will be addressed. You’ll engage with the module material in a reflexive way and will be given opportunities to develop your reflective skills.

This module examines the key concepts, foundations and philosophy of occupational therapy practice. You'll consider the application of occupational therapy model to occupational therapy practice. You'll explore the concepts of occupation, as well as the emerging role of occupational science and its influence on practice. You'll also consider models of practice, the occupational therapy process and fundamental to this module, is placing the client at the centre of occupational therapy practice.

This module explores health from an occupational perspective, including the relationship between health and occupation. You’ll be introduced to the structure and function of the human body, along with the underlying physiological and psychological processes supporting healthy human behaviour.

This module explores health from an occupational perspective, including the relationship between health and occupation. You’ll examine physiological and psychosocial factors which can affect occupational performance. You'll be introduced to the cause and effect of occupational disruption and deprivation, as well as a range of occupational therapy assessment methods.

You’ll be introduced to a variety of occupational therapy practice settings through completing a practice placement. This will provide the opportunity for you to develop and apply your practical skills, as well as gain an understanding of appropriate professional behaviour and standards, which you’ll demonstrate during the practice experience. You’ll also examine the nature and development of communication strategies in relation to therapeutic relationships and working with other health and social care professionals. Alongside a practice based educator you’ll develop a learning contract to identify learning outcomes for your placement.

This module provides the opportunity for you to develop the fundamental academic skills to understand and report current relevant research, as well as those required to underpin lifelong learning and personal development planning. You’ll be introduced to the concept of reflective practice and be encouraged to utilise experience to develop this throughout the module.

In this module you’ll explore issues of assessing, enabling and enhancing the occupational performance of communities and groups of people. As well as developing planning, intervention and evaluation skills you’ll have the opportunity to review the ethical, legal and policy framework effecting service delivery through a 30-minute therapeutic group facilitation. You’ll have opportunity to lead practical therapeutic groups, to help you develop your confidence and creative abilities. Throughout the module you'll learn about the aspects of research and applying these concepts within occupational therapy practice.

In this module you’ll explore issues of assessing, enabling and enhancing the occupational performance of individuals. You’ll develop planning, intervention, and evaluation skills whilst having the opportunity to review the ethical, legal and policy framework effecting service delivery through case study exploration.

This module provides the opportunity to complete a six week placement in a practice environment. You’ll focus on client-based assessment and use a range of occupational therapy skills and interventions to support clients in the achievement of their personal goals. You’ll also begin to work with other members of the wider health and social care team. Alongside a practice-based educator, you’ll develop a learning contract to identify learning outcomes for your placement, which will be reviewed and developed throughout the placement.

You’ll have the opportunity to complete a six week placement during which you’ll apply your occupational therapy skills in a wider variety of contexts. This will involve taking a greater degree of responsibility for overall client care and learning to select and justify appropriate assessments and interventions for individuals, groups and communities. You’ll also engage with health and social care professionals from a range of disciplines. Alongside a practice-based educator, you’ll a learning contract to identify learning outcomes for your placement.

This module is designed to equip learners with the skills and knowledge necessary to critically engage with research methodologies and evidence-based practices within their clinically relevant fields. Learners will explore a variety of research methods, research design, along with considerations for data collection, analysis and research ethics. By the end of this module learners will be able to critically assess research literature, identify gaps in current knowledge and complete an independent research proposal for a project that would contribute to research findings in their field.

This module involves focusing in-depth on an area of occupational therapy in a variety of contexts such as health, social care and third sector. Through lectures and workshops you’ll have the chance to gain the skills required to evaluate an area of occupational therapy and develop a proposal for enhancing the service. You’ll use and evaluate these skills whilst undertaking an assessed practice placement in a service area.

You’ll have the opportunity to further develop your understanding of the theories, principles and concepts, which influence current practice within occupational therapy. Using case studies, you’ll be required to adopt an enquiry based, critical evaluation of the theoretical and practical approaches to working with individuals, groups, communities and populations. You’ll demonstrate your ability to apply occupational therapy intervention to a selected case study.

You’ll have the opportunity to work with increasing independence by learning how to manage your time and prioritise your workload during an eight week placement within the NHS, social care or non- traditional settings. You’ll encounter clients with complex and challenging needs and contribute to the management of the service, working effectively as part of a team. Alongside a practice- based educator, you’ll develop a learning contract to identify learning outcomes for your placement.

This module involves the consolidation of occupational therapy practice skills by focusing on how health and social care is provided in the UK and how leadership at all levels is an important part of this, enabling you to prepare for future employment. Through lectures and workshops, you’ll have the opportunity to gain the skills required to prepare you for the transition into practice in order to become a safe and competent occupational therapist.

Teaching and Assessment

Discover what to expect from your tutor contact time, assessment methods, and feedback process.

Interested in a placement?

Placements

Practice based learning is an important and compulsory part of the course, so practice-based learning placements are undertaken throughout the three years in addition to your work-based learning.

You're required to successfully complete 1000 hours of assessed professional practice throughout the course in a range of health, social and third sector care settings, outside of your usual employment environment. This will be equivalent to placements of five weeks in Year 1, 12 weeks in Year 2 and 10 weeks in Year 3 – including an exciting and innovative project to broaden the scope of Occupational Therapy Practice.

Your practice based learning provides you the opportunity to apply and develop skills under the guidance and supervision of an experienced occupational therapy practitioner. We have an extensive collaborative working relationship with a wide variety of placement providers including NHS, councils, private and third sector as well as education environments. Our programme also utilises a reciprocal apprentice placement arrangement which enables you gain a wide and dynamic range of placement experiences.

Please note that you may be required to travel for/during your placements. We aim to place apprentices close to their home location, but need to ensure a variety of settings and experience, so placements may sometimes be further afield. For more information visit our placements page.

How much will it cost?

Fees and Finance

As an apprentice, there is no tuition fee to pay for the higher or degree apprenticeship. Tuition fees are covered by your employer and the government through the Levy. As you'll be a paid employee, you are not able to take out a student loan.

Are you an employer? You’ll find lots of information about how apprenticeships are funded via the levy on our Degree Apprenticeship webpages.

If you require further information, please contact apprenticeships@hud.ac.uk

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What’s included in your fee?

We want you to understand exactly what your fees will cover and what additional costs you may need to budget for when you decide to become a student with us.

If you have any questions about Fees and Finance, please email the Student Finance Team.

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At the University of Huddersfield, you’ll find support networks and services to help you get ahead in your studies and social life. Whether you study at undergraduate or postgraduate level, you’ll soon discover that you’re never far away from our dedicated staff and resources to help you to navigate through your personal student journey.

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