Occupational Therapy (pre-registration)

Occupational Therapy (pre-registration) - MSc

Our professionally approved and accredited Occupational Therapy MSc will appeal to graduates from all disciplines seeking a rewarding, in-demand career in a profession which supports individuals to participate and engage in meaningful everyday activities.

Please note that applications are now closed for international students for entry in January 2026.

Month of entry

January

Mode of study

Full time

Location

Keele University campus

Subject area

Health and Rehabilitation

Fees for 2026/27 academic year

UK Full Time - £9,535 per year*
International Full Time - £20,800 per year.
*£9,535 for the 2025/6 academic year (subject to Parliamentary approval).

Duration of study

Full time - 2 years

This course is no longer accepting applications from international students for the 2025/26 academic year.

Apply now

Why study Occupational Therapy (pre-registration) at Keele University?

Approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), accredited by Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT), and approved by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT)

Varied clinical placements including the NHS, emergency services, social care, schools, prisons and in the private, independent and voluntary sectors

Eligible students can apply for the £5,000 NHS training grant to help with living costs

Gain professional transferable skills including clinical reasoning, patient handling, communication, leadership, team working, and critical reflection

Opportunities to collaborate with student physiotherapists, radiographers, prosthetists, orthotists, nurses, midwives, pharmacists, doctors and paramedics

Course summary

Underpinned by evidence and reflective of contemporary occupational therapy practice, our MSc aims to provide you with the knowledge, skills, behaviours and values to become an Occupational Therapist. The centrality of occupation in human life and the contribution that meaningful occupation has to the physical and mental health and wellbeing of individuals is at the heart of the programme. Throughout the MSc you will explore the following topics:

The history and evolution of the occupational therapy profession.
The relationship between the person, their occupations and the environment.
The dynamic relationship between occupation, health and wellbeing and the factors that challenge or facilitate occupational performance and participation.
The concepts which underpin occupational science and occupational risk factors and how these impact health and wellbeing.
The use of self in building and maintaining professional therapeutic relationships.
How the environment, governance, technology, finance, legislation, policy, agendas and initiatives can influence contemporary occupational therapy practice and service delivery.
The occupational and health needs of individuals, communities and populations, both nationally and internationally plus the potential challenges to providing equitable occupational therapy services.
The changing and diverse context of complex health and social care systems.

Student support

Academic mentor

You will be assigned an academic mentor who will support you with your academic development and queries. They will be your initial contact and are able to refer you to a range of student services offered by the university, including welfare and financial support.

Student experience and support team

Based within our faculty is a Student Experience and Support team who have a member of the team who is dedicated to the School of Allied Health Professions and Pharmacy. As part of Keele’s student services, they work closely with teams across Keele so you can easily access the support you need.

There is peer support and additional help is available from the School's Disability Inclusion Tutor who provides an additional layer of support for all students, particularly for those who have special learning needs.

You will have access to a mixture of advice and support services at Keele which include;

Learning Support and Academic Guidance
Disability Support and Inclusion
English Language Unit
Student Advice at Keele (ASK)
Student Support Services
Occupational Health Department

Practice educators

During your practice-based learning placements you will be supported and assessed by a qualified Occupational Therapist. Practice educators have a breadth of knowledge and experience in a variety of settings (clinical/professional body/leadership/research).This will help to provide insight into a range of careers and specialisms that may be of interest to you.

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Accreditation and professional recognition

The MSc Occupational Therapy (pre-registration) programme is approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). It is also accredited by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) and approved by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT). Successful completion of the programme provides you with eligibility to register with the HCPC and use the protected title of Occupational Therapist.

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Course structure

The MSc commences in January and is divided into two semesters for each year of study. The programme comprises of 11 compulsory taught modules and 4 compulsory practice-based learning modules. Over the two years you will complete 180 credits plus a minimum of 1000 successfully completed hours of practice-based learning.

All offers are normally conditional upon having a satisfactory occupational health assessment and enhanced clearance by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). The School strongly advises students to become student members of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT). Student membership of the RCOT provides access to a range of resources and provides insurance for practice placements. Further information can be found at Student Membership - RCOT.

Modules

The module details given below are indicative, they are intended to provide you with an idea of the range of subjects that are taught to our current students. The modules that will be available for you to study in future years are prone to change as we regularly review our teaching to ensure that it is up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods, as well as student voice. The information presented is therefore not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules available in any given year.

Year 1: Compulsory modules

Transitions to Occupational Therapy Studies - 15 credits

Our Transition to Occupational Therapy Studies module aims to develop your understanding of the occupational therapy profession.
As you build the skills, knowledge and attributes that are essential for a health and social care professional, you will also reflect on your knowledge and previous experiences to identify your learning needs and action plans. This will support your development in knowledge relating to anatomy, physiology and movement science and communication.

Health, Wellbeing and Behaviour Change – 15 credits

This module brings together the concepts of health promotion, primary and secondary prevention and health behaviour change. You will explore the factors which affect health and wellbeing and also the theories, models and principles which underlie health behaviour change. Health promotion strategies are also evaluated.

Occupation: Art and Science - 15 credits

This module will introduce you to the history and evolution of the occupational therapy profession, and will include examination of key concepts, philosophy, values and beliefs. You will also develop an understanding of the dynamic relationship between occupation, health and wellbeing, in addition to critically reviewing the occupational therapy process.

Psychology, Pathologies, Life Changes and Life Choices - 15 credits

You will explore a range of psychological theories which may include: cognition, memory, capacity, processing, motivation, learning and development. You will also learn about the typical pathologies encountered in practice such as: schizophrenia, dementia, anxiety and depression and learning disabilities, stroke, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, arthritis, cancers and diabetes.

Practice Based Learning 1 - 0 credits

This practice based learning module will enable you to further develop and apply your knowledge and skills to work in diverse settings. It will also develop your transferable skills including multidisciplinary team working, leadership and advance communication that can be applied in a variety of settings and specialties.

Models of Occupational Therapy and the Occupational Therapy Process - 15 credits

This module aims to develop your knowledge and skills following your first placement. Within the module you will gain practical experience in occupational therapy assessment, intervention and outcome measurement. You will also expand your knowledge and ability when justifying decision making in contemporary occupational therapy practice.

Professional Reasoning and Diversity in Practice - 15 credits

This module enables you to participate in, practically facilitate, critically appraise and justify a range of specialist and diverse occupation focused interventions such as: splinting, wheelchair provision, pressure care, vocational rehabilitation and group work.
Risk management, risk enablement and health and safety are key aspects of this module.

Evaluating Healthcare and Evidence Based Practice - 15 credits

The Evaluating Healthcare and Evidence Based Practice module focuses on developing and enhancing your knowledge and skills in effectively using research and other forms of evidence to support and underpin your practice. The module also reviews the tools used to evaluate services.

Year 2: Compulsory modules

Practice Based Learning 2 - 0 credits

Practice Based Learning 2 builds on previous practice based learning and content covered earlier in the MSc Occupational Therapy programme. The module aims to prepare you to work in diverse and contemporary settings whilst also developing transferable skills such as multidisciplinary team working and leadership that can be applied in a variety of settings and specialties.

Addressing the Occupational Needs of Communities and Populations - 15 credits

You will explore the occupational and health needs of communities and populations on a global scale, in addition to proposing equitable occupational therapy services to address these needs. The module will also consider public health, health promotion and prevention strategies for communities and populations.

Research Proposal - 15 credits

The Research Proposal module focuses on developing your knowledge and skills in justifying and designing a comprehensive plan for a research project, under the guidance of a supervisor.

Practice Based Learning 3 - 0 credits

Building on previous practice based learning modules, you will explore working in contemporary and diverse settings whilst developing transferable skills that can be applied in a variety of settings and specialties.

Leadership and Service Development - 15 credits

During this module you will have the opportunity to develop a deeper appreciation of the ethical dilemma's in health and social care and debate these issues with other students from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.

Research Project - 30 credits

This module enables you to implement your research proposal to produce a structured written report. You will also develop your ability to carry out subsequent research independently and commission, manage and evaluate the research activities of others.

Practice Based Learning 4 - 0 credits

This module enables aims to prepare you to work in contemporary and diverse settings whilst also developing transferable skills that can be applied in a variety settings and specialties.

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Practice-based learning

The programme offers four placement opportunities where you will gain 30 weeks of practice-based experience across a wide spectrum of public, independent, private, third sector and health, wellbeing, social and integrative care systems.
Exposure to such a wide variety of practice-based settings will help to prepare you for the diversity of occupational therapy practice.

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Entry requirements

The following section details our typical entry requirements for this course for a range of UK and international qualifications. If you don't see your qualifications listed, please contact us to find out if we can accept your qualifications.

Typical offer

Please ensure that you read the full entry requirements by selecting your qualifications from the dropdown menu below. This will include any subject specific, GCSE/Level 2 Maths, and English language requirements you may need.

Typical offer: 2:2 degree in any subject other than pre-registration Occupational Therapy Additional criteria apply

Please select your country from the drop-down list below for the full entry requirement information

UK

2:2 degree in any subject other than pre-registration Occupational Therapy

You will also need: 4 / C in GCSE Maths or Level 2 Functional Skills Maths, plus an English language qualification (see below)

Bangladesh

60% in a 4-year degree or 3-year degree with a 2-year Master's in any subject other than pre-registration Occupational Therapy from a public university
or
CGPA 2.8 in a 4-year degree or 3-year degree with a 2-year Master's in any subject other than pre-registration Occupational Therapy from a private university

We don’t accept degrees from certain universities, please see our Bangladesh Country Page for more information

You will also need: 3 in Higher or Intermediate Certificate Maths or 4 / C in GCSE Maths, plus an English language qualification (see below)

Canada

70% or C or a GPA of 2.5 in a degree (Ordinary or Honours) in any subject other than pre-registration Occupational Therapy

You will also need: 50% in Grade 11 Maths or 4 / C in GCSE Maths, plus an English language qualification (see below)

China

70% in a degree in any subject other than pre-registration Occupational Therapy
or
65% in a degree in any subject other than pre-registration Occupational Therapy from a '211' university

You will also need: 60% in Senior Secondary School or Gaokao Maths or 4 / C in GCSE Maths, plus an English language qualification (see below)

Ghana

Second class degree in any subject other than pre-registration Occupational Therapy

You will also need: C6 in Senior School Certificate Maths or 4 / C in GCSE Maths, plus an English language qualification (see below)

India

55% or CGPA 6/10 in a degree of at least 3 years, in any subject other than pre-registration Occupational Therapy

You will also need: 6 or C2 in Secondary School Examination Maths, or Pass in Standard XII Maths, or 4 / C in GCSE Maths, plus an English language qualification (see below).

Kenya

Second class degree in any subject other than pre-registration Occupational Therapy

You will also need: C in KCSE Maths or 4 / C in GCSE Maths, plus an English language qualification (see below)

Nepal

60% / 2.4 in a 4-year Bachelor's degree
or
65% / CGPA 2.8 in a 3-year Bachelor's degree in any subject other than pre-registration Occupational Therapy

You will also need: 40% or GPA 2.5 in the School Leaving Certificate or 4 / C in GCSE Maths, plus an English language qualification (see below)

Nigeria

Second class degree in any subject other than pre-registration Occupational Therapy

You will also need: C6 in Senior School Certificate Maths or 4 / C in GCSE Maths, plus an English language qualification (see below)

Pakistan

We accept a range of qualifications from Pakistan. Please visit our Pakistan Country Page for more information

or we will consider demonstrated relevant professional qualifications or experience

You will also need: 33% in Higher Secondary Certificate Maths or 4 / C in GCSE Maths, plus an English language qualification (see below)

South Africa

Second class division 2 / 60% in a Bachelor's degree with Honours
or
Second class division 1 / 70% in an Ordinary Bachelor's degree in any subject other than pre-registration Occupational Therapy

You will also need: 4 in NSC Maths or 4 / C in GCSE Maths, plus an English language qualification (see below)

Sri Lanka

55% in a Special Bachelor's degree in any subject other than pre-registration Occupational Therapy

You will also need: C in O-level Maths or 4 / C in GCSE Maths, plus an English language qualification (see below)

Uganda

Second class degree in any subject other than pre-registration Occupational Therapy

You will also need: 6 in UACE or UCE Maths or 4 / C in GCSE Maths, plus an English language qualification (see below)

Zimbabwe

Second class degree in any subject other than pre-registration Occupational Therapy

You will also need: C in Ordinary Level Maths or 4 / C in GCSE Maths, plus an English language qualification (see below)

English language requirements

All of our courses require an English language qualification or test. For most students, this requirement can be met with a 4 or C in GCSE English. Please see our English Language guidance pages for further details, including English language test information for international students. For those students who require an English language test, this course requires a test from Group D.

References

Normally, you will need to provide at least one academic reference to support your application unless you have been out of study longer than two years. If it has been more than two years since you last studied on a degree-level programme, you will normally need to provide an employment reference instead. For more information about Academic References, please see our Postgraduate how to apply web pages.

Personal Statement/Statement of Purpose

Please see our Postgraduate how to apply web pages for guidance on what to include in your personal statement.

Recognition of Prior Learning

The Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a process which enables applicants to receive recognition and formal credit for learning acquired in the past through formal study or work and life experiences.

RPL can also be requested for admission onto the start of a programme in lieu of the admission requirements. For more information, see our Recognition of Prior Learning web pages.

General information

The entry grades outlined in this section indicate the typical offer which would be made to candidates, along with any subject specific requirements. This is for general information only. Keele University reserves the right to vary offer conditions depending upon a candidate's application. For international students, find out how we work with approved agents as part of our admissions process.

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Interprofessional education

During the course you will share teaching sessions with students from Keele's Physiotherapy and Prosthetics and Orthotics programmes and other programmes within the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Interprofessional education is designed to contribute to professional understanding and respect as you learn with, from and about various professions for the benefit of service user care.

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Social life, societies and sports

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Accommodation

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Local area and travel

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Boost your employability

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Postgraduate funding and scholarships

Funding

Whether you're continuing from undergraduate study or returning to education, our dedicated financial support team is here to help.

Living costs

Keele University is located on a beautiful campus and has all the facilities of a small town. Student accommodation, shops, restaurants and cafes are all within walking distance of the teaching buildings. This is a very cost effective way to live and to reduce your living costs.

Eligible Occupational Therapy (Pre-Reg) MSc students can apply for funding support via the NHS Learning Support Fund, which includes a £5,000 training grant and certain travel and accommodation costs for placements. More information, including eligibility criteria, can be found on the NHS Learning Support Fund website.

Please note, if your course offers a January start date, the January 2026 start date falls in the 2025/26 academic year. Please see the tuition fees archive for the 2025/26 fees.

Planning your funding

It's important to plan carefully for your funding before you start your course. Please be aware that not all postgraduate courses and not all students are eligible for the UK government postgraduate loans and, in some cases, you would be expected to source alternative funding yourself. If you need support researching your funding options, please contact our financial support team.

Scholarships

We are committed to rewarding excellence and potential. Please visit our bursaries and scholarships webpage for more information.

For continuing international students, fees will increase annually by RPIX, with a maximum cap of 5% per year.

Additional costs

Explore postgraduate fees and funding

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Continual Professional Development

Our MSc promotes a commitment to lifelong learning and you will be encouraged to take responsibility for the ownership, planning and implementation of your continuing professional development. You will have access to a range of methods for recording your CPD achievements and are encouraged to document and formulate future development plans within academic mentor meetings and placement briefing
and debriefing.

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Keele Postgraduate Association (KPA)

A focal point for the social life and welfare needs of all postgraduate students during their time at Keele.

Keele Postgraduate Association (KPA) is a Students’ Union that specialises in representing the interests of postgraduate students. With a dedicated home at the KPA Clubhouse, a popular venue on campus for students, staff and residents alike – the KPA offers support, advice and a welcoming community for postgraduates.

Find out more about Keele Postgraduate Association

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Occupational Therapy (pre-registration) MSc