MSc Occupational Therapy (Pre-registration)
University of Lincoln
Key Information
Campus location
Lincoln, United Kingdom
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
2 years
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
Request info
Application deadline
Request info
Earliest start date
Request info
Discover Lincoln Wherever You Are in the World
Our webinars, subject masterclasses, question and answer sessions, and student panel talks are a great way to discover what it is like to live and study at the University of Lincoln.
Introduction
MSc Occupational Therapy (pre-registration) is a science-based program designed to prepare graduates for work in a variety of settings, including health organizations, social care services, housing, education, voluntary organizations, or as independent practitioners.
This program is suited to those who want to fulfill or work towards fulfilling their potential as an occupational therapist, to promote function, quality of life, and the realization of potential in people who are experiencing occupational deprivation, imbalance, or alienation. They believe that activity can be an effective medium for remediating dysfunction, facilitating adaptation, and recreating identity.
Occupational therapists work with adults and children of all ages with a wide range of conditions; most commonly those who have difficulties due to a mental health illness, or physical or learning disabilities. The course seeks to develop the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to work in a range of complex and dynamic health and social care environments.
Students in this course are encouraged to appreciate and understand current occupational therapy practice while being critical in their approach to developing new, innovative, and evidence-based interventions. There are interprofessional components of the course that are designed to develop practitioners who are professional, compassionate, safe, reflective, and autonomous. Working with peers from other professions including physiotherapy, nursing, midwifery, and social work helps promote teamwork, collaboration, and an application of research skills in the transformation of health and social care services.
Prioritising Face-to-Face Teaching
At the University of Lincoln, we strive to ensure our students’ experience is engaging, supportive, and academically challenging. Throughout the Coronavirus pandemic, we have adapted to Government guidance to keep our students, staff, and community safe. All remaining Covid-19 legal restrictions in England were lifted in February 2022 under the Government&rsquo's Plan for Living with Covid-19, and we have embraced a safe return to in-person teaching on campus. Where appropriate, face-to-face teaching is enhanced by the use of digital tools and technology and may be complemented by online opportunities where these support learning outcomes.
We are fully prepared to adapt our plans if changes in Government guidance make this necessary, and we will endeavor to keep current and prospective students informed.
Features
The University of Lincoln is home to the Community and Health Research Unit (CaHRU), which is the research center for the School of Health and Social Care. CaHRU conducts world-leading interdisciplinary research with service users, health service professionals, and organizations to increase health and well-being across the health, social, and third-sector care services. CaHRU is allied with the Lincoln Institute for Health. The Lincoln Institute for Health (LIH) is a University-wide multidisciplinary research collaboration that conducts internationally excellent and world-class studies from ‘cell-to-community’
In the second year, students may have the opportunity to go on a ‘role-emerging placement’where they will be able to explore and justify the possible role of an occupational therapist in an organization. The options for this are wide-ranging and diverse and students can develop opportunities in areas of interest with the support of the teaching staff.
"This information was correct at the time of publishing (July 2023)"
Admissions
Curriculum
How You Study
Collaboration is a key part of this Master's degree and students are encouraged to learn with and from other healthcare professionals. Students will be able to apply their taught learning experiences in real-world settings as the programme is structured through fifty per cent theory and fifty per cent practice.
Students can work in collaboration and partnership with academics, practitioners, service users, and other students. The course aims to empower students to become nurses that are resilient, caring, reflective, and lifelong learners to facilitate knowledge of other roles and services, inter-agency cooperation, and the confidence to work across professional boundaries.
Student as Producer
Research-engaged and evidence-based learning and teaching is at the core of the student learning experience on this course. Student as Producer is a model of teaching and learning that encourages academics and undergraduate students to collaborate on research activities. It is a programme committed to learning through doing.
The principles of Student as Producer are discovery, collaboration, engagement, and production.
Discovery
Students can learn through their own research. Independent learning is promoted on each module through both directed and self-directed study, enabling students to contextualise the taught content to their field of practice and promoting independent study as a process students can use throughout their professional careers.
Collaboration
Interprofessional working is an important part of the course. Students can work together to develop their knowledge and understanding and students can collaborate among professional peer groups and staff. Students are seen as partners in the production and dissemination of knowledge.
Engagement
Students can develop their confidence and identity as a member of a professional community. Students can transfer and apply their learning to nursing practice, fully engaging with reflection and the proactive identification of their own learning needs.
Production
The course focuses on the production of professionally relevant and innovative learning outputs that can be applied and implemented within nursing practice, as well as focusing on the achievement of academic learning outcomes.
Students undertake a range of modules on the course.
First-year modules:
- Essential Interprofessional Practice
- Assessing Needs, Planning and Coordinating Care
- Providing and Evaluating Care
- Leadership and Supervision in Nursing Practice
Second-year modules:
- Applied Health Improvement
- Service Evaluation for Clinical Practice
- Service Transformation
- Being an Accountable Professional Registered Nurse (Adult)
- Managing Complex Care
By the end of the programme, students must be able to demonstrate competence against the Future nurse: Standards of proficiency for registered nurses. These include being an accountable professional, Promoting health and preventing ill health, assessing needs and planning care, providing and evaluating care, leading and managing nursing care and working in teams, improving safety and quality of care and, coordinating care.
Work Placements
Work placements are designed to prepare students to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing clinical environment, whether this is a hospital, GP surgery, or community healthcare setting.
Study Abroad
In the second year, students have the opportunity to undertake an elective placement either overseas or in the UK. Placements can enable students to focus on an alternative healthcare context and offer the opportunity to gain insight into, and experience, working alongside colleagues from a range of disciplines.
Please note, students are responsible for their own travel, accommodation and general living costs while on placement or studying abroad.
Modules
- Applied Health Improvement (Core)
- Assessing needs, planning and coordinating care (L7) (Core)
- Being an Accountable Professional Registered Nurse (Adult) (L7) (Core)
- Essential Interprofessional Practice (Core)
- Leadership and Supervision in Nursing Practice (Core)
- Managing complex care (L7) (Core)
- Providing and evaluating care (L7) (Core)
- Service Evaluation for Clinical Practice (Core)
- Service Transformation (Core)
How You Are Assessed
Students are assessed both formally and informally throughout the course to develop learning and autonomy. Assessments can take place both within the University and practice placement environments. Practice-based learning will be assessed as either a pass or fail. Academic work contributes towards their final grade.
Some of the assessment on the course is led by tutors, however students are encouraged to engage in peer and self-assessment to help develop the skills of reflection and evaluation which are essential for lifelong learning and continued professional development, following registration as a nurse.
Some of the assessments focus on theoretical knowledge and the application of theory, and others on the practical performance of technical skills and patient management.
Assessments throughout the programme have been designed to be relevant to professional working practices.
Accreditations
This course is accredited by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT). Successful completion of this programme will provide graduates with the eligibility to apply to the HCPC Register as an occupational therapist and membership of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists.
Gallery
Program Outcome
How You Study
The foundation of this course is the inter-professional learning approach to develop and promote a culture of wellness in health and social care. Students on this pre-registration MSc Occupational Therapy course can experience collaborative approaches to learning and teaching that will challenge traditional perceptions of healthcare provision.
A variety of learning and teaching strategies will be used to cater for the individual needs of students on the Program. These strategies may include lectures, seminars, workshops, small group activity, self-assessment, case studies, library based resources, clinical skills sessions, virtual learning, simulation, and practice-based learning.
In addition to academic-based learning in a modern university setting students will have the opportunity to experience over 1,000 hours of practice-based learning in a variety of clinical settings.
In the second year, students have the opportunity to develop a 'role emerging placement' to explore an area where occupational therapists haven't traditionally worked before, subject to achieving the minimum requirements for supported practice learning.
Scholarships and Funding
Several scholarship options are available. Please check the university website for more information.
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
Many registered Occupational Therapists work within the NHS or in social care settings and are recruited and employed by individual organisations. This forward-looking programme appreciates that many occupational therapists and new graduates may also work in non-traditional OT roles, or for private and third sector organisations.
New, varied, and innovative job opportunities are increasingly available to qualified Occupational Therapists, and this programme aims to prepare its graduates accordingly. Non-clinical careers also exist in teaching, research, management and administration, health and safety, and training and development. The experienced teaching team can help students explore and develop their individual career aspirations.
The University Careers and Employability team can provide tailored, individual support and careers advice. The service can include one-to-one coaching, CV advice, and interview preparation. Alumni can continue to access support and advice for up 15 months after graduating. The service works closely with local, national, and international employers, acting as a gateway to the business world.
Program delivery
Contact Hours and Independent Study
Contact hours may vary for each year of your course. Students will be engaged in a two-year full-time course and so, at the very least, should expect to undertake a minimum of 37 hours of study each week during term-time. There may also be assignments set outside of term time. The composition and delivery of the course varies for each module. Each year of the course runs from January to December.
Master's level study involves a significant proportion of independent study, exploring the material covered in lectures, seminars and practice-based learning. As a general guide, for every hour spent in class, students are expected to spend two to three hours in independent study.