Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy is a healthcare profession built on the insight that meaningful activity, the everyday tasks and roles that give structure and purpose to life, is central to health and wellbeing. When illness, injury, disability, or the circumstances of ageing prevent people from engaging in their daily occupations, occupational therapists work with them to find ways to re-engage, adapt, or find new means of leading fulfilling lives. It is a profession that combines scientific knowledge of the body and the mind with deeply human skills of listening, problem-solving, and creative adaptation.

At York St John University, this three-year full-time degree is regulated by the Health and Care Professions Council and leads to eligibility for HCPC registration as an occupational therapist. You will develop an evidence-based understanding of how occupation relates to health, exploring the range of conditions, disabilities, and life circumstances that occupational therapists encounter across hospital, community, and social care settings. The programme uses a mix of contemporary and traditional learning approaches, including both theoretical study and the practical, supervised clinical experience that is essential to professional training.

You will develop skills in assessment, goal-setting, and therapeutic intervention, learning to work collaboratively with clients, families, and the wider health and social care team. The typical tariff for entry is 136 points.

Occupational therapy is an inclusive and innovative profession, and York St John's commitment to inclusive teaching reflects that ethos throughout the learning experience.

Graduates register with the HCPC and go on to work across the NHS, social services, private healthcare, and voluntary organisations, in settings ranging from acute hospitals and rehabilitation units to schools, community services, and mental health provision. Some go on to postgraduate study in specialist areas or to research in occupational therapy and occupational science. The profession offers diverse and rewarding career paths for those who want to make a tangible difference to people's lives.