If you’re looking to pursue a career as an Occupational Therapist, our BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy Accelerated course could be the perfect opportunity. We’re looking at some of the things we offer to our students to ensure you get the most out of your degree course.
If you want to find out more about the experiences of our current students, read some of our student stories. You can also find out more information about what an Occupational Therapist does.
Why study Occupational Therapy at Sunderland?
We are very proud to be the only higher education provider in the UK that offers an undergraduate Occupational Therapy Accelerated degree. Our two-year accelerated route is delivered by experienced teaching staff, who continue to work with providers to ensure their teaching is informed by relevant and contemporary practice. Your learning and development will also be enhanced by the integration of people with lived experience using health and social care services, such as through our Patient, Carer and Public Involvement Group.
Furthermore, our Occupational Therapy Accelerated course is approved by the HCPC, as well as being accredited by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists and the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT).
Graduate sooner
While successful completion of both of our Occupational Therapy routes mean you can register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as a registered Occupational Therapist, the accelerated route means you can obtain this goal faster.
The two-year accelerated route covers the same teaching content as the traditional route, but the vacation time is reduced so the course spans just 24 calendar months. If you are a student embarking on a second degree, pursuing a career change or just wanting to begin your dream job sooner, the accelerated route means less time away from the workplace to gain a qualification. It can also help you gain your degree with lower student fees!
"The BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy Accelerated course, which was a new route that the university was offering, was perfect for me. This is a route which allows you to complete your degree in 2 years and having already studied at university for 3 years in the past, this made sense for me. I am now able to graduate a year earlier than I expected and be out in my dream job sooner! After attending an interview, I was amazed by the university as a whole. This single interview had me so excited about what the future could hold for me at the University of Sunderland."
Victoria Stewart, BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy Accelerated student
Facilities and equipment
We have a world-class range of facilities and equipment available at Sunderland to benefit and enhance the learning of our Occupational Therapy students. We have inter-professional learning facilities including four acute simulation hospital wards, a simulation mental health ward, a simulation learning disability ward, a patient diagnostic suite, two immersive suites and multiple practical assessment suites.
We also have a mock house for our Occupational Therapy students equipped with all the equipment needed to practice and develop your skills in a safe space. Students also enjoy spending time in our Occupational Therapy Garden, where not only can they get to know members of their cohort, they can also work on their wellbeing. The garden also benefits the community, as students delivered flowers they had grown to residents in a local care facility!
There are also opportunities for collaborative working with students from other courses, such as Physiotherapy, Nursing, Pharmacy, Paramedic Sciences, Medicine, Sport and Exercise Sciences, Social Work and Psychology. As well as getting to know the wider student population, it is also an excellent opportunity to simulate how you may operate with other professionals in your future career!
Placements
For the Occupational Therapy Accelerated route, you will be required to undertake three placements to meet the required 1000 hours of practice experience. You will normally undertake one placement for level four (usually during your first year), one placement at level five and once placement at level six (usually during your second and final year).
Your placement will be organised by the university and can cover a range of settings, including mental and physical health, community and acute environments. During your third placement, you will often undertake a placement in a non-traditional setting, which allows you a broader scope of practice as well as the chance to explore your personal interests!
Join our degree programme now!
Accelerated Programme Leader Rachel Ineson says “I am so proud to be part of the only undergraduate accelerated BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy programme in the UK. At Sunderland, we offer a unique pathway into Occupational Therapy which prepares our students for a versatile and rewarding career. Our blend of practical and academic learning, set within outstanding facilities and supported by a truly dedicated staff team ensures that our accelerated occupational therapy students have the best opportunity to achieve their goals.”
Published: 4 September 2023