Occupational Therapy

Occupational Therapy is a health profession that helps people of all ages who face barriers, whether from illness, injury, disability, or the challenges of mental health, to participate in the activities that matter to them. The fundamental insight of occupational therapy is that engagement in meaningful activity is essential to health and wellbeing, and that when people cannot do the things they need or want to do, skilled therapeutic intervention can help them regain or develop that capacity. Occupational therapists work in hospitals, community settings, schools, prisons, mental health services, and rehabilitation units, using both practical and psychological approaches to support recovery and independence.

At Nottingham Trent University, this three-year full-time programme prepares you for registration as an occupational therapist with the Health and Care Professions Council. You will study the theoretical and scientific foundations of the profession, including anatomy and physiology relevant to occupational therapy practice, psychology, sociology, and the models and frameworks that guide OT intervention. Clinical placements are integral to the degree, taking you into a range of practice settings where you develop your skills under the supervision of qualified therapists.

These placements are assessed and are a core component of the professional qualification you are working towards.

The programme develops both the practical skills of therapeutic intervention and the reflective and analytical habits that enable you to continue growing as a practitioner throughout your career. Communication, empathy, problem-solving, and the ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams are all developed through the programme.

Graduates register with the HCPC and pursue careers in NHS hospitals and community services, mental health trusts, local authority social services, private practice, schools, and the charity sector. Some go on to postgraduate study or to specialist practice in areas such as neurological rehabilitation, paediatrics, or mental health.