Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours)
Overview
Become a leader in the field of occupational therapy to help enable people to overcome barriers and engage in everyday activities that are meaningful and important to them.
As an occupational therapist you'll be qualified to help people of all ages overcome barriers that affect their ability to engage in vital everyday activities – from tying shoelaces to driving a car.
You'll join one of the leading schools for health and rehabilitation sciences in Australia, with a long tradition of teaching, research and graduate excellence.
Throughout the program, you'll explore and practise a range of approaches to develop, recover or maintain your client's engagement, despite challenges from injury or illness, psychological or emotional difficulties, developmental delays or ageing.
You'll learn how to collaborate with your clients and other healthcare partners to identify effective solutions, such as modifying tasks or the environment, skills development and education.
Importantly, you'll undertake more than 1000 hours of supervised clinical practice in hospitals, educational facilities, other healthcare organisations, private practice and UQ’s occupational therapy clinics. This allows you to apply your theoretical knowledge to practice and develop your clinical skills in real-life situations.
Program highlights
- Develop a thorough understanding of the theory and practice of occupational therapy and build your knowledge of the medical, social, behavioural, psychological and psychosocial sciences.
- Gain practical experience from your first year in a variety of community and healthcare settings, in on-site clinics and with external partners.
- Graduate with a highly respected and internationally renowned honours qualification, with advanced knowledge and skills that will set you apart in a competitive job market.
- Create a pathway to future research or learning.
How you'll learn
Due to the way they are taught, certain programs and plans are not offered online in Semester 1, 2023.
Your learning experiences are designed to best suit the learning outcomes of the courses you choose.
- Lectures
- Tutorials
- Work placements
- Online study
- Fieldwork
Placements and work experience
You will undertake supervised clinical practice in a range of clinical settings that includes hospitals, educational facilities, other health care organisations, private practices and UQ's internal clinics. During your placements, you will have the opportunity to apply your theoretical knowledge acquired through coursework and research to practice and develop your clinical skills in real life settings.
You will undertake a variety of sessional practical experiences from year one before commencing full time block placements during years three and four.
Clinical placements may be outside of the Brisbane metropolitan area where you will be required to fund your travel, accommodation and daily living expenses.
Prior to applying, applicants should ensure they will be able to meet placement requirements outlined on this website.
What you'll study
At UQ, degrees are called 'programs' and subjects are called 'courses'. Here's a sample of the courses you could study in this program:
- Systematic & Applied Anatomy
- Introduction to Professional Skills in Occupational Therapy
- Occupational Therapy for Children & Youth I
- Promoting Participation through Occupation & the Environment
Career possibilities
Our programs prepare you for your first job and beyond. Here are some of the careers you could be on your way to:
- Occupational therapist
- Injury prevention and rehabilitation therapist
- Physiotherapist
- Sports therapist
- Schools and/or special needs therapist
- Residential care therapist
Graduate salary
Rehabilitation (postgraduate)
compared.edu.au
Professional memberships
When you graduate, you may be eligible for memberships with the following professional organisations. Contact the organisation to find out how to become a member.
- Occupational Therapy Australia
Professional registration
When you graduate, you may be eligible for registration with the following professional organisations. Contact the organisation to find out how to register.
- Occupational Therapy Board Of Australia
Program accreditation
The Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) is accredited by:
- Occupational Therapy Council, World Federation Of Occupational Therapy
There are many lectures and tutorials presented by experienced health professionals. This allows students to have a more hands-on experience and develop accountability for the quality of their work.
Graduate, Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours)
There are many lectures and tutorials presented by experienced health professionals. This allows students to have a more hands-on experience and develop accountability for the quality of their work.
Graduate, Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours)
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UQ people
Meet the expert: Changing lives as a nurse practitioner with Aaron Grogan
Stories
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UQ people
Meet Rebecca from Canada, studying Occupational Therapy in Australia
UQ people
Meet the expert: Changing lives as a nurse practitioner with Aaron Grogan
Entry requirements
Prerequisites
Prerequisites
Entry score threshold
| ATAR / Rank | IB |
|---|---|
| 95.38 | 38 |
These are the lowest adjusted scores we made an offer to in Semester 1, 2022. Entry scores are based on the most recent Semester 1 intake and are updated in April each year. Meeting the entry score threshold doesn't guarantee admission.
English language requirements
IELTS overall 7; reading 7; writing 7; speaking 7; listening 7. For other English Language Proficiency Tests and Scores approved for UQ
TOEFL IBT - Overall 100, listening 25, reading 25, writing 27, speaking 23.
TOEFL PB - Overall 600, listening 59, reading 59, writing 64/6.
Pearsons - Overall 72, sub bands minimum 72.
CES - Overall 185, All sub bands minimum 185.
BE and OET are not accepted.
There are other ways to meet the English language requirements. For some programs, additional conditions apply.
Inherent requirements
To complete this degree, you have to meet its inherent requirements by demonstrating essential skills and attributes. Read the inherent requirements before you apply.
Student visas
International students who are accepted into full-time study in the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) are eligible to apply for an Australian student visa (subclass 500).
There are a number of requirements you must satisfy before a visa is granted, including the genuine temporary entrant (GTE) requirement.
Entry score range
This table shows the range of entry scores for recent secondary students offered a place in the B Occupational Therapy (Hons) for Semester 1, 2022
| Without adjustments | With adjustments | |
|---|---|---|
| Highest | 99.7 | 99.95 |
| Median | 96.25 | 97.50 |
| Lowest | 90.75 | 95.4 |
Who you'll study with
Here's a snapshot of our student intake for this program in Semester 1, 2022:
| Applicant background | Number of students | Percentage of all students |
|---|---|---|
(A) Higher education study | 54 | 41.22% |
(B) Vocational Education and Training (VET) study | 0 | 0% |
(C) Work and life experience | 0 | 0% |
| (D) Recent secondary education | ||
| 56 | 42.75% |
| 0 | 0% |
| 0 | 0% |
International students | 21 | 16.03% |
Total | 131 | 100% |
"<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 protect the privacy of students in other cells.
Need help meeting the entry requirements?
Additional application information
Prior to applying, applicants should ensure they will be able to meet placement requirements outlined on this website.
For applicants who need to provide evidence of English proficiency, please note that this program requires a higher level of English language proficiency than the UQ minimum.
Additional application information
This program has limited intake capacity.
Prior to applying, applicants should ensure they will be able to meet placement requirements outlined on this website.
Fees and Scholarships
Indicative annual fee
Approximate yearly cost of tuition (16 units). Your fees will vary according to your selected courses and study load. Fees are reviewed each year and may increase.
$9,070
2023
Approximate yearly cost of tuition (16 units). Your fees will vary according to your selected courses and study load. Fees are reviewed each year and may increase.
AUD $47,504
2023
Additional costs
- Annual CPR re-certification (approximately $80 per year)
- Students are expected to fund travel and living expenses associated with placements, some of which may be outside the Brisbane metropolitan area.
- First Aid Certificate (including CPR) (approximately $130 renewed every 3 years)
- Clinical uniform: Shirts (approx. $25); Black slacks (can either be own or purchased for approx. $60)
- Costs for vaccinations and serology are the responsibility of the student and will vary based on individual and program requirements.
Government assistance
Financial aid
As an international student, you might be eligible for financial aid – either from your home country, or from the Australian Government.
HECS-HELP
Domestic places in the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) are Commonwealth Supported. This means the cost of your education is shared between you and the Australian Government.
Instead of tuition fees, Commonwealth Supported students pay what are called student contribution amounts.
HECS-HELP is an Australian Government loan scheme to assist eligible students with the cost of their student contribution amounts.
Centrelink support
The Australian Government offers a number of income-support payments to eligible Australian university students.
Scholarships
Make your university experience more affordable with a scholarship. Opportunities include:
How to apply
Applying online
If your senior schooling is from outside Australia, you can submit your application to UQ. Or, if you prefer, you can use an approved UQ agent in your country.
The program code for the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) is 2368.
Find out more about applying for undergraduate study
If your senior schooling is from Australia
Submit your application to the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre if you're an international student who is currently studying:
- Australian Year 12 (in Australia or another country), or
- the International Baccalaureate in Australia.
The QTAC code for the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) is 724002.
Applying through QTAC
All domestic applications should be submitted to the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC).
The QTAC code for the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) is 724002.
Important dates
If you’re studying Year 12 in Australia, go to the QTAC website to check the closing date for this program.
If you’re applying to UQ, the closing date for this program is:
- To commence study in semester 1 - November 30 of the previous year.
To learn more about UQ dates, including semester start dates, view the Academic Calendar.
Important dates
To check the closing date for this program, go to the QTAC website.
To learn more about UQ dates, including semester start dates, view the Academic Calendar.
Admissions schemes
Applying to university can be both exciting and daunting, which is why we’ve tried to make the process as simple as we can.
We have several schemes in place to improve your chances of getting a place at UQ.
Pathway options
A rank or score doesn’t determine your potential.
If you're not offered a place in your first-choice program – or if you don't meet the entry requirements – you still have a number of options.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants
For support with applying - or if you have any questions about Uni - get in touch with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit.
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