Occupational Therapy - MSc

This course, for practicing occupational therapists, aims to develop your knowledge and essential skills to help you progress your career; we will encourage you to utilise evaluative, critical thinking skills to explore your profession, enabling you to make a meaningful contribution to the improvement of patient care.

Overview

One of the few MSc courses in Occupational Therapy in the UK for qualified professionals, our Masters provide a sound grounding in the theory and models of the profession and occupation focused practice.

The programme focuses on the acquisition of high quality reasoning skills and the development of innovative ideas based on evidence based practice. With an emphasis on independent learning in a research-led environment, the programme offers an opportunity to develop your evaluative, critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Working with both clinical and research-active staff, you will have the opportunity to develop your professional expertise across the four pillars of advanced practice: management and leadership, education, research and advanced clinical practice.

As a full-time student, you will undertake five taught modules to complete the postgraduate diploma, and undertake a choice of one dissertation module to complete the MSc.

Distinctive features

• We are well respected within the profession, with close links with the College of Occupational Therapists. We are ranked 1^st in the UK for Occupational Therapy for our pre-registration programmes by the Complete University Guide 2018.
• We run an occupational therapy clinic on-site, providing you with the opportunity to observe and assist with assessment and treatment of clients with developmental disabilities.
• Our MSc is delivered flexibly, enabling you to pursue your professional career whilst studying part time, or to take a career break and complete on a full time basis 
• You will study alongside students from a range of professions, reflecting the ways in which inter-disciplinary teams work in practice
• Our MSc emphasises the acquisition of high quality clinical reasoning skills and the development of innovative ideas based on evidence based practice.

Learning and assessment

How will I be taught?

Teaching is mainly through discussions, practitioner-led sessions, student-led seminars, presentations and individual tutorials. There are also some lectures.

Self-directed study forms an important part of the course, and you will be directed in study skills and guided in the areas for study.

How will I be supported?

The University offers a wide range of services and activities designed to support students. These include a student counselling service, a student advisory service, crèche and day facilities, sport and exercise facilities, as well as campus information, library and IT services.

This programme gives you the opportunity to share ideas with health professionals. As well as developing your own intellectual abilities, this sharing of ideas enables you to learn and benefit from the experiences of others. Opportunity is given for this sort of discussion and exchange of ideas through seminars and tutorials.

Career prospects

The MSc offers an opportunity to develop your evaluative, critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and to increase your practical and theoretical knowledge of occupational therapy, so that you can apply these skills in the further advancement of your profession.

A professional postgraduate qualification can lead to opportunities to develop your career in a number of directions, from advanced practice in your clinical area,  into management or leadership roles, or to positions in education. An MSc is also an ideal stepping stone to undertaking further study or research.

All students are given a named personal tutor following registration onto the programme, who is able to assist with any pastoral care as well as advice on writing style, grammar and academic mentoring.

All modules within the programme make extensive use of Cardiff University’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) Learning Central, on which students will find course materials, links to related materials and assessment exemplars.

For students whose first language is not English there are open access English Language courses available. These are five week courses run on a first come first served basis and cost an administration fee of £25.

Visit the Occupational Therapy - MSc page on the Cardiff University website for more details!