Why study BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy at BU?
- The curriculum combines academic study with practice-based learning experiences, including innovative and timely units to keep up with the changing healthcare landscape and teach skills to assess a service user’s circumstances and help develop adaptations
- Experiential learning allows you to work on real-life scenarios to gain an understanding of occupational roles and how health and wellbeing can affect their functioning. Our clinical simulation facilities, which feature a daily living suite and kitchen, also provide hands-on experience
- People with lived experience play an active role in teaching and learning, through the BU Public Involvement in Education and Research (PIER) partnership, ensuring the course is related to real-life scenarios and practice
- Our teaching team have a range of expertise relating to practice, education and research, providing an excellent learning experience
- The course maintains small cohort sizes, resulting in an excellent lecturer-to-student ratio, meaning more support, education and resource availability
- Within 15 months of finishing the course, 95% of graduates were in work or further study.
New funding: Occupational therapy students may be eligible for a non-repayable government training grant of at least £5,000 a year. Find out more information about the funding. Please note that this funding is not available for students on the foundation year, however you will be able to access it once you complete the foundation year and move onto the degree.
Course accreditation and approval
This course is accredited by The Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT). The accreditation and approval bodies on our BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy course allow you to work overseas as well as in the UK with your qualification. On successful completion of this course, you are also eligible to:
- Apply to become a registered occupational therapist with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC)
Please note that the Foundation Year part of the course does not have these accreditations.
Explore our facilities and see more of the course







Key information
Next start date:
September 2025, September 2026
Location:
Bournemouth University, Lansdowne Campus. Foundation Year: Bournemouth University, Talbot Campus.
Duration:
3 years, including mandatory practice-based learning placements or 4 years with the Foundation Year (1 year, followed by 3 years including mandatory practice-based learning placements)
Accreditations:
Royal College of Occupational Therapists
Required subjects:
All subjects considered
Entry requirements:
For September 2025 entry: 120 - 136 UCAS tariff points including a minimum of two A-levels or equivalent. BTEC Extended Diploma grade DDM (128 UCAS tariff points). Foundation Year: 48-72 UCAS tariff points.
For more information check out our full entry requirements.
International entry requirements:
For September 2025 entry: If English is not your first language you'll need IELTS (Academic) 7.0 with minimum 6.5 in each component or equivalent.
For more information check out our international entry requirements.