MSc Occupational Therapy (Pre-Registration)

Program Overview

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The MSc Occupational Therapy (Pre-Registration) at the University of Salford is a two-year postgraduate program that prepares graduates to become registered occupational therapists. The program emphasizes a contemporary, theory-driven, and evidence-based approach to occupational therapy, fostering inclusivity and professional sustainability. Graduates are eligible for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as Occupational Therapists, opening doors to diverse career paths.

Program Outline

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Degree Overview:

This two-year postgraduate program prepares graduates to become registered occupational therapists, equipped to promote health and wellbeing through occupation. The program emphasizes a contemporary, theory-driven, and evidence-based approach to occupational therapy, fostering inclusivity and professional sustainability.

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Objectives:

• Train graduates to meet the needs of diverse populations.
• Empower graduates to utilize their skills in alignment with their interests.
• Develop graduates into confident, reflective practitioners equipped for lifelong learning.
• Foster graduates who are passionate about promoting occupational wellbeing.
• Equip graduates with the ability to critically analyze and apply theory and evidence in practice.

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Program Description:

The program utilizes Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles, offering diverse teaching methods, including:

• Keynote lectures
• Coaching
• Simulations
• Seminars
• Tutorials
• Independent study
• Practical workshops
• Practice placements
• Group work
The curriculum is underpinned by four "golden threads":
• Theory Driven: Modules draw from theories within and beyond occupational therapy.
• Evidence Based: The program utilizes various types of evidence from diverse sources, including peer-reviewed research, expert opinions, real-world learning, and professional social media.
• Occupation Centred: Occupation is central to the profession and reflected in the program's content, recognizing people as occupational beings.
• Inclusive: The program acknowledges systemic racism, ableism, inequality, and privilege, emphasizing inclusivity, allyship, and equality within its courses and modules.

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Placement Opportunities:

The program integrates four supervised placements totaling over 1,000 hours in health and social care settings, including hospitals and community services. Additionally, students can pursue role-emerging, project-based, research, or leadership placements in their third year.

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Outline:

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Year One:

• The Occupational Therapist: Introduces the philosophy, history, and practice of occupational therapy, including professional standards and ethics.
• Valuing Occupation: Explores the concepts of occupation, activity, tasks, and skills, their relevance to human occupation, and the interplay between occupation, health, and wellbeing.
• Putting Occupational Therapy into Practice A: Applies occupational therapy processes to real-world scenarios using evidence-informed decision-making, focusing on individuals experiencing occupational disruption or dysfunction.
• Putting Occupational Therapy into Practice B: Explores professional communication, occupation-focused models, and approaches to improve occupational performance, emphasizing collaborative relationships, person-centered practice, and effective communication.
• Integrating Theory, Evidence, and Practice 1: Appraises and applies occupational therapy processes, models, and approaches to support occupational performance within a specific practice setting.

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Year Two:

• Integrating Theory, Evidence, and Practice 2: Critically examines the evidence base and theoretical influences on occupational therapy practice, developing research and reasoning skills.
• Promoting Occupational Therapy: Explores leadership, professional sustainability, and advocacy for occupational aspirations and goals, including career development and preparation for change.
• Advancing Occupational Therapy: A project-based module where students identify an area of interest and propose research, a quality improvement process, or service implementation plan to address a need.
• Autonomous Practice: Integrates the final practice placement with theory-based learning to culminate in autonomous practice, emphasizing critical exploration, professional standards, and advanced communication.

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Assessment:

The program utilizes a variety of assessments to ensure graduates meet the HCPC standards of proficiency for registration. These assessments include essays, reports, presentations, vivas, portfolio development, practical demonstrations, and successful completion of practice placements. Universal Design principles guide the selection of assessment methods, offering students diverse ways to demonstrate their learning.

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Teaching:

The program employs UDL principles to provide accessible and engaging learning experiences, including:

• Keynote lectures by experts in the field.
• Simulation activities to practice skills and knowledge in safe, realistic environments.
• Seminars and tutorials for interactive discussion and learning.
• Independent study opportunities to encourage self-directed learning and exploration.
• Practical workshops for hands-on experience and skill development.
• Practice placements to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world situations.
• Group work to enhance collaboration and communication skills.
The faculty consists of experienced occupational therapists with diverse clinical backgrounds, research involvement, and professional accreditation.

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Careers:

Graduates are eligible for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as Occupational Therapists, opening doors to diverse career paths, including:

• Rotational posts in acute and community settings
• Schools
• Civil Service
• GP surgeries
• Charities and Third Sector Services
• Government bodies
• Research and Academia
• Private practice

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Other:

The program provides access to dedicated learning spaces, including the Rehabilitation Flat and Simulation Suite, mirroring real-world environments to facilitate practical learning and skill development.

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Full-time home 2024/25 £9,250.00per year Full-time international 2024/25 £16,380.00per year