Occupational Therapy with Integrated Foundation Year

Occupational therapy is the health profession concerned with enabling people to participate in the activities that are meaningful to them, in spite of illness, disability, injury, or the challenges of ageing. It draws on medical science, psychology, and the social sciences to understand how physical and mental health conditions affect function, and applies that understanding to develop practical interventions that help people regain, maintain, or improve their ability to engage in daily life. The profession works across hospitals, community settings, schools, mental health services, and care homes.

At the University of Plymouth, this four-year full-time programme includes an integrated foundation year that introduces students to the underpinning sciences and professional knowledge needed before entering the clinical degree. The foundation year builds knowledge in relevant biological and social sciences alongside introductory occupational therapy concepts, giving you a thorough grounding before you encounter the full clinical curriculum. The main degree combines academic study with substantial practice placements, developing your professional competence in real therapeutic settings alongside your theoretical understanding.

The programme is accredited by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists, which is the professional body for the discipline, and successful completion leads to eligibility for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council. The typical entry tariff of 152 points reflects the professional demands of the programme.

You will develop clinical reasoning, client-centred practice, the ability to assess functional ability and design targeted interventions, and the professional skills that occupational therapy in the NHS and independent sector requires.

Graduates go on to work in NHS hospitals, community health teams, mental health services, social care, paediatric services, and independent practice. Leadership, specialist postgraduate qualifications, and research are well-established routes for those wishing to develop their careers further.