BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy

Apply to Morrison's Island Campus, Cork

Overview

Students on this broad and varied Occupational Therapy course study psychology, anatomy and physiology, as well as occupational therapy theories, assessment and treatment approaches and evidence-based practice.
The UCC course stands out from other occupational therapy courses in its focus on your development – both personal and professional – which is interwoven throughout academic and practice-based modules.

Learning is different at UCC too. Complex task-based learning (TBL) is the medium through which you will study, with a lot of self-directed individual and group work. Emphasis is placed on being able to talk about what you are doing and thinking. Your knowledge, skills and abilities will be developed in a logical sequence over the course of five years.
UCC place equal emphasis on learning to work with children/young people and adults/older adults and on developing expertise in the areas of physical and mental health. On our course, we want to educate future practitioners who possess the knowledge, skills and attitudes to deliver traditional occupational therapy and are prepared to be leaders in policy development and emerging areas of practice.

Incorporating the Level 5 Occupational Therapy Assistant course with the BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy will give learners the opportunity to start their degree in Occupational Therapy in the Cork College of FET Morrisons Island Campus, Cork City leading to direct access to the University College Cork (UCC), once progression entry requirements are met.

We are now accepting applications for the tertiary route to BSc Occupational Therapy Degree. The application period will close May 11th 2025, with interviews scheduled to take place in late May.

Applications will be shortlisted, and candidates will be contacted for an interview. In the event of oversubscription, applicants may be selected for interview through a lottery or random selection process to ensure fairness.

All students are required to undergo Garda Vetting and to adhere to UCC’s Fitness to Practice policy Fitness to Practise | University College Cork

Provider Locations and Structure

Students will spend the first year of this programme at the College of Further Education, Morrison’s Island Campus, in Cork City

Year 1 – Cork College of Further Education Morrison’s Island Campus

Years 2-5 – University College Cork.

Course Content – for all years

Year 1 QQI Level 5 Embedded Award –Health Service Skills 5M3782.
5N3766– Occupational Therapy Assistant Theory
5N3765 – Occupational Therapy Assistant Practice
5N3734 – Infection Prevention & Control
5N0758 – Care Support
5N3775 – Rehabilitation Support
5N0749– Anatomy and Physiology
5N0690 – Communications
5N1356 – Work Experience

Year 2
AN1060 Topographical Anatomy (5 credits)
AP1024 Lifespan development (5 credits)
OT1001 Person Environment Occupation I (15 credits)
OT1002 Person Environment Occupation II (15 credits)
OT1004 Becoming a Healthcare Professional (5 credits)
OT1005 Creative Occupations and Health (5 credits)
OT1006 Practice Education I (5 credits)
PL1025 Fundamentals of Physiology (5 credits)

Year 3
AN2060 Developmental Neuro-anatomy for Occupational Therapy (5 credits)
AP2040 Psychology of Childhood and Adolescence (5 credits)
CT2001 Introduction to Research Methods (5 credits)
OT2004 Person Environment Occupation IV (10 credits)
OT2007 Practice Education II (10 credits)
OT2008 Personal Professional Development 1 (5 credits)
OT2009 Personal Professional Development II (5 credits)
OT2010 Person Environment Occupation III (15 credits)

Year 4
AN3060 Applied Neuroanatomy for Occupational Therapy (5 credits)
CT3001 Advanced Research Methods (5 credits)
OT3006 Person Environment Occupation V (20 credits)
OT3007 Practice Education III (10 credits)
OT3009 Personal Professional Development III (5credits)
OT2010 Becoming a Professional Practitioner (10 credits)
OT3011 Applied Knowledge & Skills for Occupational Therapy (5 credits)

Year 5
OT4001 Integrated Professional Practice (15 credits)
OT4003 Practice Education IV (20 credits)
OT4004 Research Based Project (20 credits)
OT4005 Personal Professional Development IV (5 credits)

Accreditation, Embedded and Step Back Awards

This tertiary degree is a comprehensive 5 year programme. The programme is designed to support academic success despite challenges that may arise. If a student has to leave the programme before completing the final year, tertiary degrees include embedded awards. Embedded awards formally recognise learning achieved during time in the programme. For this degree, the embedded awards are:

After successfully completing Year 1 NFQ level 5 QQI Certificate in Health Service Skills 5M3782
After successfully completing Year 2-5 NFQ level 8 Bachelor of Science (Honours) Occupational Therapy is awarded by UCC.

Planned intake (number of places)

10 places

Entry requirements and eligibility

Places are awarded on the course subject to applications meeting the minimum entry requirements for the course and successfully completing all stages of the application process, culminating in writing a personal statement and a successful interview.
Both the College of Further Education and the Higher Education Institution will be represented on the interview panel. Students will be invited to write their personal statement prior to the interview, as part of the interview process.

The minimum entry requirements for the tertiary Occupational Therapy degree will align with UCC’s standards:

Leaving Certificate (or equivalent):
• Leaving Certificate with six subjects
• Minimum grade H4 in a lab science subject. Recognised Lab Science subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Physics with Chemistry, or Agricultural Science
• Minimum grade H5 in another subject.
• Minimum grade O6/H7 in four other subjects including English and Maths.

Mature Students:
• Must be 22 years old by January 1st of the application year. There are no minimum academic entry requirements for mature students.

QQI Level 5 Holders:
Must have achieved the full award with an overall Merit grade.
Must have attained a minimum of a Merit in Anatomy & Physiology (5N0749).

Applicants from the United Kingdom and overseas would need to have educational qualifications of a standard equivalent to the minimum entry requirements above in a General Certificate in Education (GCE), such as the GCE A Level.

Applicant’s Desirable Competencies and Experience

Applicants considering the tertiary Occupational Therapy degree should want to be part of an active and changing dynamic environment. They should also enjoy working with other people and value caring for people, demonstrating compassion and empathy. In this environment, excellent problem-solving, organisational skills and creativity are a strength. Additionally, being flexible, adaptable, having physical stamina, as well as cultural competency will all be required in this role. In line with UCC’s Graduate Attributes Programme , graduates will be recognised for being well-rounded, curious, self-aware individuals who continually learn new skills, are open to new ideas, and make things happen.

English Language Requirements

Applicants who are non-native speakers of the English language must satisfy the university of their competency in the English language, as follows:
• Irish Leaving Certificate English: Ordinary Level Grade O6
• GCE A-Level English Language: Grade D
All applicants whose first language is not English and who have not been educated through the medium of English must demonstrate CEFR proficiency at B2 for access. Evidence of English Language Proficiency must be provided through one of the following mechanisms:
• English language proficiency assessment conducted by relevant ETB during the enrolment process. Minimum B2 in all skills on entry.
• A valid certificate in English language from one of the institutions listed below:
• International Examinations: Cambridge First Certificate in English (FCE), Minimum Grade – Grade B or higher
• International Examinations: Cambridge Advanced (CAE), Minimum Grade – Borderline Fail Min 170 points
• International Examinations: Cambridge Proficiency (CPE), Minimum Grade- Unsuccessful With min. 170 points
• International Examinations, IELTS, Minimum Grade 6
• Duolingo English Test DET 120 with a minimum score of 110 in each individual section
Note: IELTS certificates are only valid two years from the date of assessment. It is recommended that the same validity duration is applied to all other examinations.

Onward pathways

Occupational therapists are employed as therapists, researchers, managers and educators in Ireland and internationally.

Occupational therapy is a people profession and is all about helping people live life to the fullest. People can be prevented from living life to the fullest for lots of reasons, including ill-health, disability or other obstacles in their environment. Occupational therapists are experts in analysing everyday activities or “occupations” and helping people do the activities that they need or want to do in their day-to-day life.

Occupational therapists work in a wide range of settings, including hospitals, health centres, care homes, schools, prisons and in the community in people’s homes and workplaces.
Our course is fully accredited by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists and the Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland, meaning that your degree qualification is recognised internationally.

Special features

Students on this course are at all times subject to Garda Vetting and Fitness to Practice guidelines Fitness to Practise | University College Cork

To progress in this tertiary pathway to the four-year undergraduate degree in Occupational Therapy, students must:

Achieve the full QQI Level 5 Award. Obtain a minimum of five distinctions (excluding Work Experience). At least one of these distinctions must be from:

• Occupational Therapy Theory 5N3766

• Occupational Therapy Practice 5N3765

• Anatomy and Physiology 5N0749

• Rehabilitation Support 5N3775

• A minimum of a Merit grade is required in Anatomy & Physiology 5N0749

This programme is subject to UCC’s Fitness to Practice Policy, Garda Vetting and a health declaration.