Master of Occupational Therapy (Graduate Entry)

Designed for students who have completed a health-related bachelor’s degree, this program will provide you with the requirements to practise as a registered occupational therapist in just two extra years of study.

Registered occupational therapists assist people in managing constraints caused by injury or illness, as well as emotional, developmental, environmental, societal, age-related and psychological limitations.

They help people of all ages achieve their goals, optimise their lifestyles and actively participate in society irrespective of limitations.

This Master’s degree ensures you graduate with the knowledge, skills and attributes needed to become an innovative and competent occupational therapist.

With a strong focus on practical skills, you will complete more than 1,000 hours of field placements in settings such as community agencies, kindergartens and aged care facilities, providing valuable hands-on experience that will enable a seamless transition from study to the workforce.

What you'll need Students who undertake activities where interaction with patients/the public is required for their degree, such as field or clinical placements/visits and in University clinics and gyms, must demonstrate they meet mandatory pre-placement conditional requirements.

These include criminal history clearance, a Working with Children Check and immunisation requirements.

Please visit the Clinical Placement Unit for information on key requirements, and to access the full student checklists.

All students enrolled in a program leading to professional registration must be registered with the relevant National Board.

The registration process is undertaken by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) with the University providing notification to AHPRA following enrolment in the program.

Entry requirements

Applicants must:

• Have completed a recognised Bachelor Degree or higher within the past 10 years with a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 5.0
• Have completed the prerequisite courses at a Bachelor level or higher within the last 10 years

All applicants are required to demonstrate their eligibility by completing the Additional Information Form and providing supporting evidence.

Prerequisite courses Applicants are required to provide evidence of satisfactory completion of the following prerequisite courses:

• 0.125 EFTSL of Human Anatomy that includes musculoskeletal and systems anatomy; AND
• 0.125 EFTSL of Human Physiology; AND
• 0.125 EFTSL of either Human Psychology or Sociology/Anthropology; AND
• 0.125 EFTSL of Research Methodologies

Note: Applicants who are overseas trained occupational therapists and are eligible to apply for assessment by the Occupational Therapy Council of Australia to meet the qualification requirements for registration by the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia are not eligible to apply for this program.

Students who undertake activities where interaction with patients/the public is required for their degree, such as field or clinical placements/visits and in University clinics and gyms, must demonstrate they meet mandatory pre-placement conditional requirements. These include criminal history clearance, a Working with Children Check and immunisation requirements. Please visit the Clinical Placement Unit for information on key requirements, and to access the full student checklists.

All students enrolled in a program leading to professional registration must be registered with the relevant National Board. The registration process is undertaken by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) with the University providing notification to AHPRA following enrolment in the program.

You will study the major theoretical approaches and skills occupational therapists use to work with a broad range of clients.

Practical learning is a strong focus of this master’s degree and you will practice your skills in real scenarios when you complete 1,000 hours of field placements. Placements will take place in a variety of settings, such as health, disability and community agencies, kindergartens and aged care facilities.

The importance of critical thinking, superior communication skills, ethical action and problem solving are also explored in depth.

For each course you study, you will need to allocate time for various classes such as lectures, tutorials, workshops, seminars and practicals. Plus you will need additional hours to study in your own time to complete assignments, readings and projects and contribute to online discussion forums. So as a general rule, if you are studying full-time you would need to allocate 12 – 26 hours of study when at university and 14 – 28 hours of independent study per week.

Your studies will incorporate practical, professionally focused and research-based learning, so assessment types will vary. You can expect them to include:

All of our teachers are registered occupational therapists and accomplished researchers, which means you are not only offered exceptional learning opportunities but also valuable industry contacts. During your practice placements you will develop relationships and networks to prepare you for entering the workforce once you’ve graduated.

You will also work alongside experienced researchers when you complete a research project and thesis during your final year of study. This affiliation not only provides exceptional learning opportunities but is also an important networking opportunity.

We also host regular University-wide employee master classes and employment expos, and alumni events in Australia and overseas.

Your career

A successful occupational therapist is practical, logical, attentive and observant. You will enjoy working with people and be mentally and physically capable. This field of work is immensely rewarding and can offer exciting challenges, assisting people of all ages to overcome physical and mental barriers in their life.

As an occupational therapist you can gain employment in a range of settings across the various health, disability and community sectors, working with people across the lifespan including:

• hospital and acute services
• private practice
• community mental health services
• ambulatory and rehabilitation services
• aged care facilities
• community services
• home care programs
• local council services
• government departments
• schools
• not for profit and non-government sector
• primary health networks.

There are also opportunities to work with both children and their families, to assist with the child’s development of functional skills and strategies to build their motor skills, social skills and self-care.

The degree prepares you for working overseas, qualification is recognised in most countries.

You may also choose to pursue a career in research – graduates with honours degrees are highly sought after by prospective employers, particularly within academia and research settings.

Applying to study with us:

• check you meet the full entry requirements for this program
• go to the top of this page and make note of the SATAC code, then click Apply
• you will be redirected through to the SATAC website to continue your application

Our campuses have fantastic facilities including modern lecture theatres, libraries, workshops, laboratories, tech zones, and areas that simulate real work environments. You’ll also find student gyms and campus sport activities to keep you active. We also offer flexible study options, with online resources available for accessing lecture recordings, virtual classrooms, library resources and learning support.

Adelaide has a variety of accommodation options to suit different requirements and budgets. Options include dedicated student accommodation or private rentals. See our long-term accommodation pages for plenty of options. If you need somewhere to live, our new student accommodation by urbanest is on Bank Street in Adelaide’s lively cultural precinct, a perfect location for students. It is within easy reach of UniSA’s city and metropolitan campuses, Rundle Mall shopping, the Central Market, Chinatown, and the West End’s vibrant nightlife. It is also across the road from the Adelaide train station, and on bus and tram routes.

Our student support services can make your life at university easier. We provide a full range of support services including academic and personal counselling. You can also access a range of services through our students association, USASA. When you become a UniSA student you can contact Campus Central for help with anything related to your degree. They will help you with your enrolment, ID cards, fees, timetables and any other questions you might have.

We have six campuses in metropolitan and regional areas, each with advanced facilities including modern lecture theatres, libraries, laboratories, and areas that simulate real work environments.

As an occupational therapy student you will have access to:

• Occupational Therapy teaching rooms
• Anatomy laboratory
• Physiology laboratory.