Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy is one of the healthcare professions most directly concerned with what people do, and with the profound effect that activity has on health, identity and quality of life. Where medicine focuses on disease and nursing on care, occupational therapy focuses on occupation: the everyday activities through which people express themselves, fulfil their roles and engage with the world. When illness, injury, disability or mental health difficulties disrupt those activities, occupational therapists work with individuals to rebuild their capacity and find new ways to do the things that matter to them.

At City St George's, University of London, this three-year full-time programme prepares you for professional practice across a wide range of settings, from acute hospitals and rehabilitation units to community services, mental health teams, social care and schools. You will learn the theoretical foundations of occupational therapy alongside clinical skills in assessment, goal-setting, intervention design and evaluation. A significant proportion of the degree is spent in practice placements, working alongside qualified therapists and learning from direct experience with clients.

The programme also includes opportunities for interprofessional learning with students from other healthcare disciplines, which is a genuinely important feature: occupational therapists work closely with physiotherapists, nurses, doctors, social workers and psychologists throughout their careers. A typical entry tariff of 120 points reflects the profession's combination of academic and practical demands.

Graduating from an approved occupational therapy programme allows you to register with the Health and Care Professions Council, which is required to practise as an occupational therapist in the UK. Career opportunities exist across the NHS, local authorities, the independent and voluntary sectors, and increasingly in schools, prisons, housing services and the growing field of vocational rehabilitation. Postgraduate study and continued professional development are integral to a long career in the profession, and those with research interests can pursue master's programmes or doctoral work in occupational science, rehabilitation or allied health research.