Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours)
Help people break down everyday barriers. Occupational therapists help people overcome limitations caused by injury or illness, psychological or emotional difficulties, developmental delay or the effects of ageing. Learn the philosophy and skills that underpin occupational therapy, and get the hands-on experience you need to enter the profession.
In this program you will:
- Study occupational therapy for children, adolescents, adults and older people
- Build foundational knowledge in physiology, functional anatomy, psychology and wellbeing, Indigenous well-being and public health
- Complete 1000 hours of practice education to build your professional skills and clinical experience in a wide range of settings and age groups
Location
CRICOS code
Entry threshold
ATAR/RankDuration
Full-time or equivalent part-time Only a full-time option is available to international students on a Student visa. Online programs are not available to Student visa holders.Indicative fees
Indicative 2025 fees (A$)
CSP Annual feeQTAC code
Start
- Semester 1
Career opportunities
- Aged care
- Child and adolescent services
- Community health and mental health
- Occupational Therapist in hospitals
- Private practice
- Vocational rehabilitation
Memberships
Graduates may be eligible to become members of:
- Occupational Therapy Australia Limited
Registration is a requirement to work as an occupational therapist in Australia. Occupational therapists apply for registration through the Occupational Therapists Board of Australia through the Australian Health Practitioner Registration Agency (AHPRA). Students should familiarise themselves with the registration standards of the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (common and discipline specific).
Accreditation
This program is accredited by the Occupational Therapy Council of Australia (Ltd) and approved by the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia. Graduates will be eligible to apply for registration as an occupational therapist with the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia (OTBA). The program is also approved by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists.
- Start
-
- Semester 1
- Delivery mode
-
- Blended Learning
- Total courses
- 27
- Total units
- 384
- Duration
- 4 years 4 years
- CRICOS code
- 077418D
- UniSC program code
- SC440
- Program coordinator
Introductory courses (8) 96 units
HLT140 Think Health
LFS103 Introductory Bioscience
LFS112 Human Physiology
LFS122 Human Anatomy
OCC100 Occupational Therapy Theory
OCC101 Concepts in Human Occupation
OCC102 Participation in Occupation
PSY100 Introduction to Psychology A
Developing courses (9) 108 units
HLT205 Health Research and Evidence
HLT242 Indigenous Wellbeing Practice
OCC200 Occupational Therapy in Mental Health
OCC202 Therapeutic Skills
OCC212 Evaluation of Occupational Performance
OCC222 Neurological Causes of Occupational Dysfunction
OCC232 Foundational Placement Competencies in Allied Health
PSY203 Introduction to Human Development
SPX201 Functional Anatomy
Graduate courses (5) 84 units
OCC300 Consolidation of Occupational Therapy Practice Competencies 1(36 units)
OCC301 Enabling Occupation: The Child and Adolescent
OCC311 Enabling Occupation: The Adult
OCC312 Enabling Occupation: The Older Person
OCC331 Foundational Placement Competencies in Occupational Therapy
Honours plans 96 units
Select 1 pathway from:
Occupational Therapy Project Pathway
Occupational Therapy Research Pathway
Note: Program structures are subject to change. Not all UniSC courses are available on every UniSC campus.
In order to graduate you must:
- Successfully complete 384 units as outlined in the Program Structure.
- Most courses are taught from Sippy Downs but some courses in this program may be taught at the Sunshine Coast Health Institute
- Preparing for study at SCHI information
- Due to external accreditation and sequencing courses within the program, pre-requisites cannot be waived. It is not possible to study 300 level courses prior to completing all the 200 level courses as this professional externally accredited program is developmentally sequential.
- Work experience hours cannot be credited towards placement or any other courses as per UniSC policy for RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning). There are no specified RPL credits, no unspecified RPL credits or block RPL credits.
- The Study Overseas Program is not currently available to occupational therapy students
- Cross-institutional study is not permitted for OCC-coded courses.
Program notes
- Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per semester (normally 4 courses) and following the recommended study sequence
- The unit value of all courses is 12 units unless otherwise specified
- It is each students responsibility to enrol correctly according to your course requisites, program rules and requirements and be aware of the academic calendar dates
- Refer to the Managing your progression page for help in understanding your program structure, reviewing your progress and planning remaining courses.
WIL notes
- Each student needs to complete 1000 hours of practice education (Work integrated learning). As part of this requirement, students are to attend worksites on a full-time basis for 10 weeks at a time. These worksites may be outside of the Sunshine Coast but within Queensland.
- Hold a valid Blue Card throughout the duration of your program.
- Hold a valid national police check throughout the duration of your program.
- Provide evidence of required vaccinations and/or immunity.
- Comply with the requirement for annual fit testing of an approved respirator.
- Hold current Senior First Aid and CPR certificates (currency of certification is to be maintained throughout the program).
- Purchase the required OT student uniform.
- Comply with QLD health infection control standards during placements (including the use of PPE & dress standards for infection control).
- For more information on mandatory requirements, refer to Occupational Therapy - Placements.
This study sequence reflects the current program structure. Continuing students must follow their commencing structure, which can be found in the previous student handbooks.
Explore the likely peer cohort in the student profile data
No admissions data available
In UniSC admitted new student{{ studentProfile.model.allStudents > 1 || studentProfile.model.allStudents[0] === '<' ? 's' : '' }} at the {{ studentProfile.getLocationByCode() }} campus
| Applicant background | No. of students | % of all students |
|---|---|---|
Notes
<5 - the number of students is less than 5
N/A - Students not accepted in this category
N/P - Not published: the number is hidden to prevent calculation of numbers in cells with less than five students.
Adjusted ATARs are a calculation of a student's ATAR + eligible adjustment factors and are used to determine admission. The raw ATAR is the student's rank before any adjustments are applied.
Entry requirements
For entry into most USC undergraduate degree programs, you need to have completed a minimum level of education similar to successful completion of Australian Year 12 with good grades.
Further studies, for example, a semester or more at college or university, can also be considered for entry and may give you credit transfer towards a degree.
Some examples of upper secondary qualifications and a guide to the minimum grades that USC will consider are listed here. These are minimum requirements and do not guarantee entry. Some programs may require higher grades. Alternative qualifications may also be considered on a case by case basis.
If your qualification (grouped by country) is not listed, send the qualification transcripts with your application form to the International Office for assessment.
English language requirements
You will also need to meet the English language requirements for this program. If you do not meet the minimum requirements, you may be able to enrol in our English Language Programs to reach the required level for most of UniSC’s programs (exceptions apply to non-standard English requirement programs).
Minimum entry threshold
Applicants must meet the minimum ATAR/Rank.
| Location | ATAR/Rank |
|---|---|
| Sunshine Coast | 70.00 |
Post admission requirements
In first year, all students must obtain (or show proof of):
A Working with Children Check (‘blue card’)
First Aid and CPR training
Immunisations (hepatitis B, MMR, DTPA, varicella, COVID-19)
At the start of the second year, students must complete a criminal history check. These checks and certificates must remain current for the duration of the program.
Students must purchase an occupational therapy student uniform.
This program includes supervised work placements. Placements are normally undertaken in a full-time capacity over 1-10 weeks. Where required, reasonable accommodations can be made to allow for part-time or flexible placement options.
Accreditation
This program is accredited by the Occupational Therapy Council of Australia (Ltd) and approved by the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia. The program is also approved by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists.
Memberships
Students are eligible to apply for student membership with Occupational Therapy Australia (Ltd). Graduates are eligible to be full members of Occupational Therapy Australia (Ltd).
Registration
To work as an occupational therapist in Australia occupational therapists apply for registration through the Occupational Therapists Board of Australia (OTBA) through the Australian Health Practitioner Registration Agency (Ahpra). Students should familiarise themselves with the registration standards of the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (common and discipline-specific). Graduates are eligible to apply for registration as an occupational therapist with the OTBA.
Additional entry information
Non standard English language requirements apply.
IELTS (Academic): Overall score of 7.0 with minimum 7 in each subtest
Language of Instruction English (LOI) LoI English will be considered in limited circumstances on a case-by-case basis. Applicants who have successfully completed at least two years of senior secondary, post-secondary (eg VET/TAFE) or tertiary study where the language of instruction is English, completed within the last five years in any of the countries listed, may be considered:
Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, United Kingdom and United States of America.
LoI English will not be considered for studies undertaken in countries that don’t appear in this list.
Students in this program will be expected to purchase personal protection equipment (laboratory coat, safety glasses, closed footwear) for use during practical work at UniSC and cover personal expenses related to attending practice education (e.g. transport, accommodation, uniform).
- Prerequisites
English (Units 3 and 4, C); plus one of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Health or Physical Education (Units 3 and 4, C)
Prospective students must consider the Inherent Academic Requirements before applying to study this program.
Refer to Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) - Inherent Academic Requirements
UniSC strongly supports the rights of all people to pursue studies. The University embraces diversity and endeavours to accommodate all students.
What are Inherent Academic Requirements (IARs)?
The IARs of a program are those fundamental skills, capabilities and knowledge that students must be able to demonstrate in order to achieve the essential learning outcomes of the program, while maintaining the academic integrity of that program.
Students with a disability or chronic health condition may be able to have reasonable adjustments made to enable them to meet these requirements.
UniSC is committed to making reasonable adjustments to teaching and learning, assessment, placement and other activities to enable students to participate in their program.
Reasonable adjustments must not fundamentally change the nature of the IAR.
Consideration is given to a student's cultural and religious background/beliefs, which may impact on participation in their program or course. For further information contact Student Support.
Why are Inherent Academic Requirements (IARs) important?
IARs ensure the academic integrity of a program is maintained and preserves the University's learning, assessment and accreditation processes. They must be met by all students.
How does this affect you?
To successfully complete a program at UniSC, you need to be able to meet all the Inherent Academic Requirements.
If you are applying for a program, you should read the IAR statement carefully to ensure you are able to meet them.
If you have a disability or chronic health condition, contact a UniSC Disability Advisor to talk about the adjustments that may be put in place so you can meet the requirements.
Headstart Program - Years 10 to 12
The Headstart program lets you study uni subjects while you’re still in high school. If you successfully complete two Headstart courses, you’ll get a selection rank that you could use to get into uni.
Early Offer Guarantee scheme - Year 12
The Early Offer Guarantee scheme enables Year 12 students to be offered a place at UniSC on the basis of their Principal's recommendation.
Prior study or work experience
If you:
- have completed Year 12 (no matter how long ago)
- have a TAFE/VET qualification
- have relevant work experience, or
- have studied at university before (even if you didn’t complete your studies)
You may be eligible for a selection rank, which can help you get into uni. For more detailed information selection ranks and how applications are assessed, visit Admissions explained.
Tertiary Preparation Pathway
If you don’t have qualifications or experience that will give you a selection rank, you can complete the Tertiary Preparation Pathway as a stepping stone into most degrees. You can also use TPP to complete subject prerequisites.
If you haven’t studied in a while, TPP is also a great way to brush up on essential study skills like critical reading, assignment writing and referencing.
It can also build your knowledge and confidence in the subject areas you’ll need for your degree, like science or maths. TPP courses are fee-free for eligible domestic students.
Indigenous Direct Entry and Access Scheme (IDEAS)
You may be eligible for direct entry into a UniSC degree based on your potential to succeed, under UniSC’s Indigenous Direct Entry and Access Scheme (IDEAS). All you have to do is complete an online application through our website.
High-school leavers completing year 12 are not eligible, and must apply through QTAC.
- CSP estimate
- A$10,272 - 2025 Fees
- Annual tuition fee (A$, 2025)
- A$29,990
Commonwealth supported places
Commonwealth supported places are substantially subsidised by the Australian Government so that students only pay 'student contribution" amounts. The student contribution amount will vary depending on the course you are studying and how much funding the Government provides.
If you accept a Commonwealth supported place you are a Commonwealth supported student. As a Commonwealth supported student you must make a contribution towards the cost of your education (unless you are enrolled in Enabling or Tertiary Preparation Pathway courses) with the majority of the cost met by the Commonwealth Government.
Commonwealth supported places are only available to domestic students. As a domestic student you are entitled to a Commonwealth supported place in an eligible program if you:
- meet the citizenship and residency requirements
- complete an electronic Commonwealth Assistance Form (eCAF)
- meet the University's entry requirements for your chosen program.
International fee-paying places
Annual tuition fees are based on 2025 rates and the equivalent full-time student load as per the recommended study sequence in the relevant program.
Actual fees payable are based on the actual enrolment load in a teaching period (excluding Study Abroad and Postgraduate Qualifying Pathway).
All prices quoted are in Australian Dollars (A$).
Domestic applicants apply for admission through the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC). Some applicants may be eligible to apply direct to UniSC if they meet certain criteria.
Find out about how to apply and key application closing dates.
No matter what kind of future you’re looking for, you can find it at UniSC. Our programs offer the choice and flexibility you need to get started on any career goal.
Visit How to apply for simple steps to submit your international student application and start your UniSC experience today.
Need help with submitting your application?
UniSC has appointed representatives to assist you with submitting your application and provide information about the steps you need to complete to begin your studies. You can contact a UniSC Representative in your area.
Any questions? Contact us.
QTAC code
| Location | QTAC code |
|---|---|
| Sunshine Coast | 013421 |
Student story
“I was able to apply all of the theoretical knowledge I had learned over the past four years to my practice and successfully manage my first independent OT caseload."
Need advice on what to study or how to apply?
Our Student Central team can help.
Call us +61 7 5430 2890
Email us information@usc.edu.au
For locations and opening hours, visit Student Central.