Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours)
Help people break down everyday barriers. Occupational therapists help people overcome limitations caused by injury or illness, psychological or emotional difficulties, developmental delay or the effects of ageing. Learn the philosophy and skills that underpin occupational therapy, and get the hands-on experience you need to enter the profession.
In this program you will:
- Study occupational therapy for children, adolescents, adults and older people
- Build foundational knowledge in physiology, functional anatomy, psychology and wellbeing, and public health
- Complete 1000 hours of fieldwork to build your professional skills and clinical experience in a wide range of settings and age groups
Location
CRICOS code
Entry threshold
ATAR/RankDuration
Full-time or equivalent part-time Only a full-time option is available to international students on a Student visa. Online programs are not available to Student visa holders.Indicative fees
Indicative 2022 fees ($AUD)
CSP Annual fee / Estimated total feeQTAC code
Start
- Semester 1
- Start
-
- Semester 1
- Delivery mode
-
- Blended Learning
- Total courses
- 27
- Total units
- 384
- Duration
- 4 years 4 years
- CRICOS code
- 077418D
- UniSC program code
- SC440
- Program coordinator
Introductory courses (8) 96 units
HLT140 Think Health
LFS103 Introductory Bioscience
LFS112 Human Physiology
LFS122 Human Anatomy
OCC101 Concepts in Human Occupation
OCC102 Participation in Occupation
PSY100 Introduction to Psychology A
PSY101 Introduction to Psychology B
Developing and Graduate courses (15) 192 units
HLT205 Health Research and Evidence
HLT242 Indigenous Wellbeing Practice
OCC201 Occupational Therapy Theory
OCC202 Therapeutic Skills
OCC212 Evaluation of Occupational Performance
OCC222 Neurological Causes of Occupational Dysfunction
OCC232 Foundational Placement Competencies in Allied Health
OCC301 Enabling Occupation: The Child and Adolescent
OCC311 Enabling Occupation: The Adult
OCC312 Enabling Occupation: The Older Person
OCC321 Occupational Therapy in Mental Health
OCC322 Consolidation of Occupational Therapy Practice Competencies 1(24 units)
OCC331 Foundational Placement Competencies in Occupational Therapy
PSY203 Introduction to Human Development
SPX201 Functional Anatomy
PLUS one of the following pathways:
Project Pathway courses (4) 96 units
OCC401 Consolidation of Occupational Therapy Practice Competencies 2(48 units)
OCC402 Professional Issues in Occupational Therapy
OCC432 Occupational Therapy Innovation(24 units)
OCC442 Occupational Therapy Reasoning, Research & Evaluation (Project Pathway)
Research Pathway courses (4) 96 units
OCC401 Consolidation of Occupational Therapy Practice Competencies 2(48 units)
OCC402 Professional Issues in Occupational Therapy
OCC422 Occupational Therapy Thesis(24 units)
OCC452 Occupational Therapy Reasoning, Research & Evaluation (Research Pathway)
Note: Program structures are subject to change. Not all USC courses are available on every USC campus.
This study sequence reflects the current program structure. Continuing students must follow their commencing structure, which can be found in the previous student handbooks.
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| Applicant background | No. of students | % of all students |
|---|---|---|
Notes
<5 - the number of students is less than 5
N/A - Students not accepted in this category
N/P - Not published: the number is hidden to prevent calculation of numbers in cells with less than five students.
Adjusted ATARs are a calculation of a student's ATAR + eligible adjustment factors and are used to determine admission. The raw ATAR is the student's rank before any adjustments are applied.
Entry requirements
For entry into most USC undergraduate degree programs, you need to have completed a minimum level of education similar to successful completion of Australian Year 12 with good grades.
Further studies, for example, a semester or more at college or university, can also be considered for entry and may give you credit transfer towards a degree.
Some examples of upper secondary qualifications and a guide to the minimum grades that USC will consider are listed here. These are minimum requirements and do not guarantee entry. Some programs may require higher grades. Alternative qualifications may also be considered on a case by case basis.
If your qualification (grouped by country) is not listed, send the qualification transcripts with your application form to the International Office for assessment.
English language requirements
If English is not your first language, you also need to meet the minimum English language requirements for your chosen program. If you do not meet the minimum requirements, you may like to enrol in one of our English Language Programs.
Minimum entry threshold
Applicants must meet the minimum ATAR/Rank.
| Location | ATAR/Rank |
|---|---|
| Sunshine Coast | 70.00 |
Post admission requirements
In first year, all students must obtain (or show proof of):
- a Working with Children Check (‘blue card’)
- First Aid and CPR training
- immunisations (hepatitis B, MMR, DTPA, varicella, COVID-19)
At the start of second year, students must complete a criminal history check. These checks and certificates must remain current for the duration of the program.
Students must purchase an occupational therapy student uniform.
This program includes supervised work placements. Placements are normally undertaken in a full-time capacity over 1-10 weeks. Where required, reasonable accommodations can be made to allow for part-time or flexible placement options.
Additional entry information
Non standard English language requirements apply.
IELTS (Academic): Overall score of 7.0 with minimum 7 in each subtest
Language of Instruction English (LOI) LoI English will be considered in limited circumstances on a case-by-case basis. Applicants who have successfully completed at least two years of senior secondary, post-secondary (eg VET/TAFE) or tertiary study where the language of instruction is English, completed within the last five years in any of the countries listed, may be considered:
Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, United Kingdom and United States of America.
LoI English will not be considered for studies undertaken in countries that don’t appear in this list.
- Prerequisites
English (Units 3 and 4, C); plus one of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Health or Physical Education (Units 3 and 4, C)
In order to graduate you must:
- Successfully complete 384 units as outlined in the Program Structure
- Complete requirement as listed below
Program notes
- For Sippy Downs students some courses in this program will be taught at the Sunshine Coast Health Institute
- Preparing for study at SCHI
- Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per semester (normally 4 courses) and following the recommended study sequence
- Due to external accreditation and sequencing courses within the program , pre-requisites cannot be waivered. It is not possible to study 300 level courses prior to completing all the 200 level courses as this professional externally accredited program is developmentally sequential.
- Work experience hours cannot be credited towards placement or any other courses as per USC policy for RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning). There are no specified RPL credits, no unspecified RPL credits or block RPL credits.
- The unit value of all courses is 12 units unless otherwise specified
- It is each students responsibility to enrol correctly according to your course requisites, program rules and requirements and be aware of the academic calendar dates
- Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods including essays, seminar presentations, reports, in-class tests and examinations. Not all courses will necessarily include all methods
- The Study Overseas Program is not currently available to occupational therapy students
- Only a full-time study option is available to international students on a Student Visa. Please refer to the English language requirements
- Refer to the Managing your progression page for help in understanding your program structure, reviewing your progress and planning remaining courses.
WIL notes
This program includes compulsory placements in settings that require full COVID-19 vaccination.
It is a Queensland Government requirement that students undertaking a placement within a clinical setting are fit tested annually for an approved respirator. Clinical settings include hospitals, residential aged care facilities, residential disability care facilities, prison health services, youth detention health services, community health care settings, and vaccination clinics). If the Fit Testing requirement applies to placement activity within your Program it will appear in your mandatory checks on Sonia Online. In accordance with Australian Standards, you must be clean shaven for your fit test. Facial hair that lies along the sealing surface of a tight-fitting respirator prevents an effective seal. Therefore, it is a requirement that there is no hair growth between the skin and the facepiece sealing surface in order to achieve a fit. At this stage, there is no exemption in Queensland to this requirement for religious or other reasons and UniSC is unable to waive this requirement.
- Each student needs to complete 1000 hour of practice education (Work integrated learning). This will require students to attend worksites on a fulltime basis for 10 weeks at a time. These worksites may be outside of the Sunshine Coast but within Queensland.
- Hold a valid Blue Card from the Public Safety Business Agency (PSBA), throughout the duration of your program. You should allow 12 weeks for PSBA to issue the card. This is required by Week 8 of Semester 1, first Year
- Provide evidence of immunity to Hepatitis B (blood titre level after approved vaccination schedule)
- Provide evidence of COVID-19 vaccination
- Comply with requirement for annual fit testing of an approved respirator
- Hold current Senior First Aid and CPR certificates (currency of certification is to be maintained throughout the program)
- Purchase the required OT uniform
- You may also be required to complete a Criminal History Check for particular placements, cost of which is to be borne by the student
- During practice education students are likely to be exposed to people with infectious diseases, including COVID-19, and students will be required to use PPE.
- For more information on mandatory requirements refer to Occupational Therapy - Placements.
Prospective students must consider the Inherent Academic Requirements before applying to study this program.
Refer to Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) - Inherent Academic Requirements
USC strongly supports the rights of all people to pursue studies. The University embraces diversity and endeavours to accommodate all students.
What are Inherent Academic Requirements (IARs)?
The IARs of a program are those fundamental skills, capabilities and knowledge that students must be able to demonstrate in order to achieve the essential learning outcomes of the program, while maintaining the academic integrity of that program.
Students with a disability or chronic health condition may be able to have reasonable adjustments made to enable them to meet these requirements.
USC is committed to making reasonable adjustments to teaching and learning, assessment, placement and other activities to enable students to participate in their program.
Reasonable adjustments must not fundamentally change the nature of the IAR.
Consideration is given to a student's cultural and religious background/beliefs, which may impact on participation in their program or course. For further information contact Student Support.
Why are Inherent Academic Requirements (IARs) important?
IARs ensure the academic integrity of a program is maintained and preserves the University's learning, assessment and accreditation processes. They must be met by all students.
How does this affect you?
To successfully complete a program at USC, you need to be able to meet all the Inherent Academic Requirements.
If you are applying for a program, you should read the IAR statement carefully to ensure you are able to meet them.
If you have a disability or chronic health condition, contact a USC Disability Advisor to talk about the adjustments that may be put in place so you can meet the requirements.
Career opportunities
- Aged care
- Child and adolescent services
- Community health and mental health
- Occupational Therapist in hospitals
- Private practice
- Vocational rehabilitation
Memberships
Graduates may be eligible to become members of:
- Occupational Therapy Australia Limited
Registration is a requirement to work as an occupational therapist in Australia. Occupational therapists apply for registration through the Occupational Therapists Board of Australia through the Australian Health Practitioner Registration Agency (AHPRA). Students should familiarise themselves with the registration standards of the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (common and discipline specific).
Accreditation
This program is accredited by the Occupational Therapy Council of Australia (Ltd) and approved by the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia. Graduates will be eligible to apply for registration as an occupational therapist with the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia (OTBA). The program is also approved by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists.
Headstart Program - Year 11 or 12
The Headstart program lets you study uni subjects while you’re still in high school. If you successfully complete two Headstart courses, you’ll get a selection rank that you could use to get into uni.
Early Offer Guarantee scheme - Year 12
The Early Offer Guarantee scheme enables Year 12 students to be offered a place at USC on the basis of their Principal's recommendation.
Previous qualifications or experience
If you:
- have completed Year 12 (no matter how long ago)
- have a TAFE/VET qualification
- have relevant work experience, or
- have studied at university before (even if you didn’t complete your studies)
You may be eligible for a selection rank, which can help you get into uni. For more detailed information selection ranks and how applications are assessed, visit Admissions explained.
Tertiary Preparation Pathway
If you don’t have qualifications or experience that will give you a selection rank, you can complete the Tertiary Preparation Pathway as a stepping stone into most degrees. You can also use TPP to complete subject prerequisites.
If you haven’t studied in a while, TPP is also a great way to brush up on essential study skills like critical reading, assignment writing and referencing.
It can also build your knowledge and confidence in the subject areas you’ll need for your degree, like science or maths. TPP courses are fee-free for eligible domestic students.
I identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
You may be eligible for direct entry into a USC degree based on your potential to succeed, under USC’s Indigenous Direct Entry and Access Scheme (IDEAS). All you have to do is complete an online application through our website.
- CSP estimate
- A$9,668
- Annual tuition fee ($AUD, 2022)
- A$27,400
- Estimated total tuition fee ($AUD, 2022)
- A$109,600
Commonwealth supported places
Commonwealth supported places are substantially subsidised by the Australian Government so that students only pay 'student contribution" amounts. The student contribution amount will vary depending on the course you are studying and how much funding the Government provides.
If you accept a Commonwealth supported place you are a Commonwealth supported student. As a Commonwealth supported student you must make a contribution towards the cost of your education (unless you are enrolled in Enabling or Tertiary Preparation Pathway courses) with the majority of the cost met by the Commonwealth Government.
Commonwealth supported places are only available to domestic students. As a domestic student you are entitled to a Commonwealth supported place in an eligible program if you:
- meet the citizenship and residency requirements
- complete an electronic Commonwealth Assistance Form (eCAF)
- meet the University's entry requirements for your chosen program.
International fee-paying places
Estimated total tuition fees are based on 2022 rates and the minimum number of courses required within the programs standard duration.
Annual tuition fees are based on 2022 rates and the equivalent full-time student load as per the recommended study sequence in the relevant program.
Actual fees payable are based on the actual enrolment load in a teaching period (excluding Study Abroad and Postgraduate Qualifying Pathway).
All prices quoted are in Australian Dollars (A$).
Domestic applicants apply for admission through the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC). Some applicants may be eligible to apply direct to USC if they meet certain criteria.
Find out about how to apply and key application closing dates.
No matter what kind of future you’re looking for, you can find it at USC. Our programs offer the choice and flexibility you need to get started on any career goal.
Visit How to apply for simple steps to submit your international student application and start your USC experience today.
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Any questions? Contact us.
QTAC code
| Location | QTAC code |
|---|---|
| Sunshine Coast | 013421 |
Student story
“I was able to apply all of the theoretical knowledge I had learned over the past four years to my practice and successfully manage my first independent OT caseload."