Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy is a healthcare profession built on a deceptively simple but profound idea: that engaging in meaningful activities is fundamental to health and wellbeing. When illness, disability, injury, or the effects of ageing limit what a person can do, the occupational therapist works with them to restore or adapt that capacity, modifying activities, environments, and approaches so that participation in everyday life becomes possible again. The profession draws on psychology, anatomy, sociology, and the study of human occupation to develop skilled, person-centred practitioners who work across a wide range of clinical and community settings.

At Sheffield Hallam University, this three-year, full-time programme also includes a foundation year, making it accessible to students who benefit from additional preparation before progressing to professional training. The programme is aligned with professional and ethical standards, and you will spend significant time on placement as part of your training, gaining supervised clinical experience across different settings and client groups. You will learn to assess how people's health conditions and environments affect their ability to participate in the activities that matter to them, and to develop and deliver interventions that support recovery, adaptation, and independence.

The programme emphasises collaboration with service users, their families, and wider multidisciplinary teams, reflecting the realities of contemporary healthcare practice.

A typical entry tariff of 120 points reflects the professional and academic demands of the programme. Successful completion leads to eligibility to register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and to practise as an occupational therapist in the NHS, social care, voluntary organisations, schools, prisons, workplaces, and private practice. Occupational therapists are in strong demand across health and social care settings.

Many graduates go on to develop specialisms in areas such as mental health, neurological rehabilitation, paediatrics, or older people's services, and further study at master's level supports career development and specialisation.