Empower individuals, groups, and communities with our accelerated Occupational Therapy MSc, designed to promote health and ensure a lasting impact.
Occupational therapy is a dynamic and diverse health profession promoting health, wellbeing, and quality of life. As a future occupational therapist, your key focus will be providing value to the everyday life of an individual, group, or community. Your profession will also be research-active, as you'll continually draw on the principles and concepts of occupational science.
Our Occupational Therapy MSc is stimulating, contemporary, and academically rigorous. You'll develop theoretical knowledge, skills, and research within diverse topics like:
- occupation across the lifespan and life course
- key body functions and structures
- activity and movement analysis
- research and evidence-based practice
- occupational science and justice
- political, economic, and institutional factors that affect health and social care provision
- inclusive, culturally-sensitive, and diverse practice
- innovative and creative practice.
Our Occupational Therapy master’s is career-focused while prioritising your personal development. After graduation, you'll access a range of sectors and settings - from hospitals to schools and prisons to private practice. 96% of St Mary’s students are in employment, vocation, or further study 15 months after graduating (HESA, 2024). Find out more about your future career.
This programme is fully approved and accredited by Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT), and World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT).
One-to-one support
You will learn from an inspiring, supportive, and dedicated teaching team. We're here to foster your knowledge, skills, and communication as you become a compassionate, competent, and research-engaged occupational therapist. You’ll get:
- one-to-one academic and pastoral support whenever you need
- additional support from the Wellbeing Service.
We’re experts with service connections
All our lecturers are:
- research and scholarship active
- specialists with international experience.
We have close links with colleagues in the NHS, social services, and voluntary sector, allowing you to network with confidence.
Access state-of-the-art facilities
During your Occupational Therapy degree, you will access purpose-built facilities, such as:
- a brand-new occupational therapy flat/Activity of Daily living suite
- therapeutic kitchen
- stimulation suite
- biomechanics suite
- creative arts facilities.
Placements in London’s top hospitals
Through a practice placement, you will create strong partnerships with:
- the NHS
- health and social care services
- key stakeholders
- community groups and charities.
And, because of our team’s industry links, you can even complete your placement at some of London’s top hospitals.
Secure an exciting, fulfilling career
Occupational therapists are in high demand. Our Occupational Therapy MSc is an essential step for a successful and rewarding career within the industry. Once you’ve graduated, you can register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) in the UK.
96% of St Mary’s students are in employment, vocation, or further study 15 months after graduating (HESA, 2024).
Dr Kee Hean Lim
Associate Professor in Occupational Therapy
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Course content
Modules
There are two large modules that run through the course; one is research and the other practice-based learning. Your learning will also focus on respect, consideration and compassion for the people we serve, those we work alongside and for ourselves.
Year 1: You will acquire essential, foundational knowledge and skills for occupational therapy practice. You will also further develop personal and professional skills including self-reflection, communication, and teamwork. Lastly, you'll complete your first practice placement in Year 1.
Year 2: You will consolidate your knowledge, practical skills, leadership ability, and research capacity. You will explore specialties and undertake a research project. You will also undertake two further practice placements.
Please note: it is possible that a module listed on the website will not be able to run due to reasons beyond our control. For more information please refer to our course information disclaimer.
Entry requirements
2:2
Previous degree
Undergraduate degree and work experience
A 1st or 2:1 degree (or equivalent) in a related field* is required. You will also need up to 6 months experience in the health and social care sector or therapy-based work with service users and carers.
A 2.2 degree (or equivalent) in a related field* is required. You will also need up to 9 months experience in the health and social care sector or therapy-based work with service users and carers.
*Related degrees include subjects within biology, education, health science, social science, sports and sports science, psychology, and theology.
GCSEs
Five GCSEs at grade C or above, including English Language or Literature, Mathematics, and a science subject.
References and legal checks
- You will need to supply two references to support your application.
- You will also need to provide an enhanced DBS clearance.
- You will need to pass a criminal record check.
- If you have previously been enrolled in an occupational therapy pre-registration programme or any other health professional education programme, you must submit a self-declaration confirming no previous fitness to practise concerns.
Selection event
If you are shortlisted, we will invite you to a selection event or interview organised by the admissions tutor. This will take place on campus or online. You will:
- receive a programme talk
- participate in group activities that help you demonstrate interpersonal, analytical, and organisational skills
- complete a short written task on one of the NHS core values
- engage in a short interview.
International Requirements
International students should check our country-specific pages for equivalents. If English is not your first language you will need to achieve an IELTS score of 7.0 overall with no less than 6.5 in any section.
We now accept IELTS Indicator test results as proof of your English language level.
If your first language is not English, there is a requirement to achieve an IELTS tariff of 7.0 with no individual component below 6.5. This is in line with the HCPC requirements.
Further Information
For more information about entry requirements please email apply@stmarys.ac.uk.
Fees & funding
January 2025
Home
£9,535
International
£18,600
Additional costs
*Please note: Tuition fees are annual and may increase as detailed in our tuition fee variation disclaimer.
Extra costs on the programme include:
- student membership at the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT)
- Food Hygiene Online Training: £12 approximately
- uniform: £70 approximately
- CPR (BLS: Basic Life Support) Training: £25 per year approximately (you must organise this yourself, and there must be a practical component to this training)
- immunisations/vaccines
- Enhanced DBS check
- ID check
- travel costs to/from practice placement.
Travel and dual accommodation expenses
If you do a practice placement you may be able to claim travel costs if:
- your practice placement is in a hospital or community health centre and not at the University
- it costs you more to travel to your placement than it costs to travel to university.
Claim travel and dual accommodation expenses via the NHS Student Bursaries website.
Funding support for additional costs
- You can apply for an NHS Allied Health Professional training grant of £5000, which could help to cover additional costs.
- We offer several avenues of financial support at St Mary's, including our Student Hardship Fund.
- You can claim travel and dual accommodation expenses via the NHS Student Bursaries website.
- The University also has some funds for those who need help with travel costs to/from their practice placement. The practice placement lead will tell you more about these funds.
Alumni discount
A 20% tuition fee discount is available for our alumni (undergraduate and PGCE) planning to study this Master's degree. Those studying for a PGDip of PGCert are not eligible for the discount.
Funding
You can check on the UK government website to see if you may be eligible for a loan of up to £12,167 to help with course fees and living costs while you study a postgraduate programme.
Home and international students may also be eligible for external sources of funding. International students should check their eligibility for our International Scholarship.
For more information, please look at our postgraduate funding page.
How the degree is taught
Assessment methods
There will be a range of assessments including:
- academic essays
- oral presentations
- teaching sessions
- reflective essays
- practical assessments
- visual and digital presentations
- practice-based assessments.
Career opportunities
As an occupational therapist, you'll get opportunities to work within diverse areas, such as:
- the NHS
- social services
- schools
- independent practice
- prisons
- charities
- teaching and consultancy.
The diversity of practice is extensive and includes:
- paediatrics
- neurology
- mental health
- orthopaedics
- forensics
- neonatal care
- work with the homeless
- hand therapy
- many more areas.
Contact our Career Services at careers@stmarys.ac.uk for support and further information.
Apply now
January 2025
Make sure to check our step-by-step guide to application process.
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