Curious about studying Occupational Therapy - BSc (Hons)at Bucks New University? We've gathered all the key details—entry requirements, modules, fees, and more. Hear from real students by checking out reviews, or take the next step by booking an open day to explore it for yourself.
Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)
High Wycombe Campus
Full Time
Oct 2026
3 Year
Are you passionate about empowering people of all different abilities to live their best lives? Do you want to make a real impact? Then our HCPC (Health and Care Professions Council) and RCOT (Royal College of Occupational Therapists) accredited BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy degree course might be the right one for you! You’ll learn how to take a holistic approach to supporting people across the lifespan by unlocking their potential to engage in those everyday ‘occupations’ that matter most to them. Through our expert-led, creative and interactive teaching strategies, real-world placements, and a blend of theory to inform practice, we’ll train you to take a client-centred and evidence-based approach to this critical Allied Health Professional role. You’ll gain the knowledge and skills needed to work with people and communities in their everyday environments and create tailored interventions to make that real impact.
Why study BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy?A degree shaped by industryThis course has been designed by industry-experts and developed in partnership with local employers, ensuring you gain the most current, real-world skills needed to thrive in today’s health and social care landscape, and beyond.By integrating hands-on experience and professional insight, our course prepares you to step confidently into a wide range of practice settings, including the NHS, social care, voluntary sector, and private practice. You'll graduate with the knowledge, practical skills, and professional networks that industry employers look for in this competitive job market.As well as this, we pride ourselves on keeping up to date with the changing landscape of Occupational Therapy both in the UK and globally, meaning the opportunities open to you after graduating from this internationally relevant degree are endless.
Practice placementsPractice-based learning (placements) is a vital part of the course, giving you the hands-on experience needed to grow your skills and confidence. Throughout the degree, you’ll typically complete three practice placements across Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, London, and surrounding areas. These full-time 10-week placement blocks will give you the chance to put your learnt knowledge and skills into practice whilst gaining a feel for a real-world experience in a variety of settings. These placements are not only integral to your learning but also help you build strong professional networks that often lead directly to employment. On placement you’ll have the support and guidance of a BNU link tutor and a practice educator, as well as the team and management of the placement you’re in.We work in close partnership with NHS Trusts, local authorities and a wide range of health, social care and education providers, giving you a strong foundation to pursue local and regional opportunities immediately after graduation.
Professional facilitiesYou’ll benefit from interprofessional learning opportunities that allow you to work with other students and professionals from a range of health and care backgrounds. This experience will help you build a strong understanding of how Occupational Therapists work as part of a team, while also developing your knowledge of specialist equipment and approaches to client-centred care.Using our state-of-the-art facilities, including simulation labs and industry-standard clinical equipment, you’ll have the chance to practise and refine your knowledge and skills in a safe, supportive environment. Regular simulation sessions will immerse you in replicated real-life scenarios, helping you build confidence, problem-solving abilities, and technical skills essential for practice.
This module is delivered in term 1 and prepares you for professional life as an occupational therapist. It will provide you with a foundation on which to develop key transferable and academic skills including: information technology, teamwork, risk management, writing about literature and reflection.
Focus on expanding your understanding of anatomy and physiology of the systems, structures and functions of the human body, with the support of specialist anatomical movement analysis. Case scenarioswill enable you to explore occupational participation and learn about interventions.
Familiarise yourself with working within a practice setting, develop a range of core skills essential to occupational therapy practice. You will explore occupational therapy core skills theory and apply these skills through simulated practice within the occupational therapy laboratories.
The module will explore occupational science and concepts that guide occupational therapists and how they work and in different contexts throughout the patient lifespan. The module will also consider how personal, local, social and national factors impact on participation.
Occupational therapists play a vital role in working with older people in restoring andmaintaining function, roles, participation and health. This module will explore the biological,social, and psychological aspects of aging, the cultural diversity of the older adult populationand the ethical aspects of working with the older population.
This module introduces professional practice through practice-based learning in a placement setting. The placement will provide an opportunity to apply some learning to real life under the guidance of a registered occupational therapist.
The aim of this module is to support you on their journey to become an inspired, informed, and reflective occupational therapist able to discuss, evaluate and apply the use of research to inform and innovate within the field of occupational therapy.
You will explore the application of occupational therapy theories, models and frameworks, professional reasoning and decision-making in practice with the related legal, professional and ethical issues in the practice of occupational therapy.
The emphasis of this module is on problem solving and appropriately managing complex scenarios related to practice and leadership, you will learn to adapt and grade interventions based on evidence and professional reasoning, considering the diverse needs of individuals, their communities and the contexts in which they exist.
The module will explore the range of occupational therapy practices with children and young people and the strategies that support meaningful occupations across the spectrum of ability. We will also examine the biological, social, and psychological challenges for children and young people.
Examine the importance of social participation, social inclusion and the potential of co-production through the medium of occupational practice. The module will also introduce the potential for occupational therapists to embrace systems working with influential stakeholders including, funding agencies and policymakers which are impacting on the lives of people in groups and communities.
During this placement you will practice occupational therapy, including assessments and interventions. You will further develop clinical reasoning and make decisions about service users. You will be encouraged to engage in self-reflection and integrate theory into practice.
Practice-based Learning 2 (Practice Placement 2) is a 10-week placement that spans the end of term 1 and term 2 of year 2. You will have successfully completed all level 4 modules including Practice-based Learning 1 (Practice Placement 1) and level 5 modules, Evidence-based Practice in Occupational Therapy and Professional Reasoning for Occupational Therapy Practice.
Our module will explore strategies for you to continually update current evidence-based practice and self-development. Consideration will also be given to the ever-evolving changes in practice, in addition to recognising the importance of sustainability and overcoming potential challenges in healthcare and other practice settings.
This module focuses on the application of leadership and management to deliver andimprove our complex health care systems. It will evaluate what leadership is and how it isapplied to influence change in healthcare settings. The module will discuss and analyseconcepts, theories, characteristics, tools, and practices across the themes of leadership,change and innovation, service improvement and risk, error and quality management.
This module prepares you for registered practice in occupational therapy following graduation with a third and final placement in an occupational therapy setting. The placement aims to synthesise, develop and refine occupational therapy knowledge, skills and professional reasoning to a pre-registration level of competency.
4.4Bucks New University (BNU) is a student-focused university based in High Wycombe, with over 130 years of educational his...
