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  • Occupational Therapist

Occupational Therapist Degree Apprenticeship

Occupational therapists help people to maintain or rebuild their lives physically and psychologically, and to use activity to retain their independence.

Taught by experts in both public and private healthcare organisations, this Degree Apprenticeship is designed to produce Occupational Therapists who have advanced theoretical knowledge, are autonomous, reflective, ethical and fit for practice.

As an occupational therapist, you will work with people who are unable to lead full lives for various reasons. These might be essential everyday skills such as dressing, eating and cooking, or the aspects of life that define us, such as our jobs, leisure interests and relationships.

A practical approach to learning means that apprentices apply their knowledge to solve real-world case scenarios in clinical settings. They develop practical skills in our Daily Living Suite in specialist rooms that are equipped for learning about, and adapting activities of daily living, and for therapeutic activities such as craft and gardening. A focus on interdisciplinary learning enriches apprentices experiences while preparing them for the reality of professional practice.

By meeting all learning outcomes of the programme, apprentices are eligible to apply for registration as an Occupational Therapist in the UK with the Health and Care Professions Council. 

Make sure that you’ve read the FAQs, and that you meet the eligibility criteria, before you submit an application.

*All courses taught by the School of Sport and Health Sciences will be based on our Falmer, Brighton campus from the academic year 2024–2025. Students applying to start this course in September 2022 or September 2023 will be based at our Falmer, Brighton campus from September 2024. Students starting from September 2024 onwards will be based in Falmer throughout their studies.

key information

University of Brighton award Occupational Therapy BSc(Hons)

Apprenticeship standard Occupational Therapist

Level 6

Start Date September 2022

Application close date April 2022

Duration 4 years

Location Eastbourne and Falmer*

Accreditation Health and Care Professions Council, Royal College of Occupational Therapists, World Federation of Occupational Therapists

closed for 2022 entry

This programme is closed for 2022 entry. Applications for September 2023 will open in September.


Ask us about apprenticeships

Logos for: Royal College of Occupational Therapists, NHS approved framework provider, Health and Care Professions Council, World Federation of Occupational Therapists and Ofsted
I think that the apprenticeship route is a fantastic opportunity because it enables employment security in addition to learning and provides a clear career path.

Dan Shelton, Apprentice Occupational Therapist, East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust

Programme details

Programme structure

The Occupational Therapist Degree Apprenticeship BSc(Hons) programme is a four-year, full-time degree which is delivered via six 15-week semesters. The programme follows a traditional degree structure of two semesters per calendar year.

As part of the requirements for professional registration the apprentice will undertake a minimum of 1,000 hours of clinical placement as an apprentice occupational therapist, returning to their normal employed role outside of university time.

Alongside their scheduled clinical placement and set academic work on the course, apprentices work with their work-based mentor to make full use of the opportunities to learn within their employed job role.

Modules

Year 1

  • Human Occupation
  • Assessing Occupational Capabilities 1 and 2
  • Beginning Practice
  • Novice Practice

Year 2

  • Maximising Occupational Participation 1 and 2
  • Occupational Therapy in Teams
  • Intermediate Practice

Year 3

  • Evaluating Therapeutic Occupations 1 and 2
  • Occupational Therapy in Diverse Settings
  • Diverse Practice

Year 4

  • Competent Practice
  • Person-centred Occupational Therapy
  • Achieving Best Practice 1 and 2

Core skills

Upon completion of the programme, apprentices will be equipped to:

  • use occupation-based assessment techniques to identify health and social care needs
  • uphold and promote the rights of individuals which influence the therapist's roles
  • use information provided by other professionals to plan strategies for meeting occupational health needs
  • formulate specific and appropriate management plans, and maintain records appropriately
  • plan and carry our therapeutic activities skilfully and in accordance with evidence-based practice

  • critically analyse changing structures and philosophies of care
  • explore areas outside traditional working environments in which people with occupational needs may be found
  • promote the principles of occupational science, and the use of activity as a means for facilitating change
  • develop, influence and respond to new models of service provision.

Teaching and assessment

Tuition on the programme is provided by experts based within the university, visiting occupational therapists and others based within public and private healthcare organisations, as well as those with lived experiences as experts in the teaching. This contributes to ensuring the relevancy and currency of the curriculum.

The innovative curriculum uses a problem-based learning approach, where apprentices examine real-life scenarios together in small groups with a tutor. This type of education reflects the ideas of pragmatism and active learning on which occupational therapy itself was founded.

A variety of therapeutic skills are also practised, for example in arts and crafts, cooking, ceramics, technology and horticulture, considering how these may be adapted for people with different needs. In order for apprentices to be aware of their responsibilities during these sessions, they are asked to sign a statement of consent agreeing to act in client-role-playing as well as practitioner roles in classes.

A range of summative assessment methods that reflect tasks an occupational therapist might encounter in practice are used throughout the programme. These are related to module aims and learning outcomes, allowing apprentices with a range of abilities to succeed, and include:

  • practice placements
  • individual and group presentations
  • written reflections
  • patient treatment plans
  • vivas.

Employer and apprentice commitments

In order to deliver the programme, the employer undertakes to:

  • conduct a workplace induction and set out a contract of employment
  • provide an appropriately qualified workplace mentor to support the apprentice
  • attend apprentice's progress review (twice a year) 
  • ensure that an Occupational Health Screening and an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check has been undertaken by the employer
  • release apprentice for scheduled off-the-job training
  • have an Apprenticeship Agreement in place from the start of the programme.

Throughout the programme, apprentices will:

  • attend the workplace for the agreed pattern as set out in the employment contract 
  • record all training sessions and off-the-job learning 
  • attend scheduled university learning sessions and complete all assessments as required by the university and End Point Assessment Organisation
  • behave in a safe and responsible manner at the workplace and university
  • engage with regular progress reviews 
  • complete, throughout the apprenticeship, a professional development portfolio.

Fees and funding information for apprentices 

Course fees

As an apprentice the cost of your learning programme is covered by your employer through their Digital Apprenticeship Service (DAS) account.

Student finance

Higher and degree level apprentices are not eligible for any element of student finance. This is because they receive a salary instead of the student loan package. However, if you are experiencing any financial difficulties, please contact the Student Advice Service on 01273 642 888.

Learning support

Apprentices studying at Higher and degree level may be able to access funding in relation to additional support but this is available through the university and not Disabled Students Allowance. Apprentices may also be able to apply for Access to Work funding for work-based equipment and software. Please contact the Disability and Dyslexia team on 01273 643 799.

Living costs and benefits

Higher and degree level apprentices must fulfil the standard eligibility criteria in order to apply for means tested benefits such as Universal Credit, Child Tax Credit and Housing Benefit. If you have any questions about entitlement to benefits, please contact the Student Advice Service on 01273 643888.

Higher and degree level apprentices who are undertaking a full-time mode of study can be treated as being exempt from paying Council Tax. Although some programmes require study on a day-release arrangement, this can still be classed as full-time study. You will need to obtain a letter from the Student Information Desk at any campus and send this to your Council Tax department when you enrol on the programme.

Other

Brighton & Hove bus discount

NUS card

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

Apprentices will be expected to provide evidence of academic achievement at Level 3 or above, equivalent to at least one subject at A-level. This could be a BTEC National Extended Certificate, an Access to HE qualification or a Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate. Normally, this will have been awarded no earlier than the summer 10 years before the September start date.

GCSE

Grade C/4 or above from GCSE maths and English language. Level 2 Functional Skills will be accepted.

Non-academic requirements

A 500-word report which demonstrates the applicants understanding of the diversity of occupational therapy. Each applicant is responsible for gaining the knowledge required to write the report. Applicants who work in an occupational therapy setting may wish to draw on their experience, but it will be expected that a range of services will be referred to including physical, mental health, hospital or community settings. All applicants are encouraged to use resources such as books, journal articles, and web-based sources. The report will not be expected to cover all occupational therapy practice settings.

The report is in addition to the personal statement and should be uploaded as a separate document on the personal statement section of our admissions portal.

COVID-19 vaccine requirement

The COVID-19 vaccination requirement has been removed. Find out more about this decision.

References

Two references. References should not be from personal acquaintances, and apprentices should consider referees who can best support their suitability for the programme.

Applications

Please ensure applications meet the above criteria and are complete in order to be considered for interview. Please indicate that applications are supported by the employer when completing the form. The deadline for applications is April 2022, however we reserve the right to close the course before this date if all places have been filled. Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS) and occupational health screening must be undertaken by the employer and satisfactorily cleared as a condition of an offer of a place on the apprenticeship.

Deferred applications
We are not able to accept applications for deferred entry onto this course. If you wish to apply for a later year of entry, we recommend waiting until the admissions cycle for that year opens – this is usually in October of each year.

Why choose us?

  • The professional accreditation ensures that apprentices receive a wide-ranging, research-informed education, and develop the practical skills demanded by employers
  • We are a trusted partner to the health and social care sector, working extensively with local providers over many years
  • We are at the forefront of universities delivering apprenticeships in health
  • Apprenticeships rated 'Good' by Ofsted
Ofsted logo

Our latest news

Meet one of our Occupational Therapist Degree Apprentices

Meet one of our Occupational Therapist Degree Apprentices

How did a background in circus performance and childhood dream of owning a chocolate factory end up with Dan Shelton embarking on a career in Occupational Therapy via the degree apprenticeship route at the University of Brighton?

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Meet one of our final year Podiatry Degree Apprentices

Apprentice Podiatrist Natasha Bassett tells about her experience on the programme and how this route worked for her career journey.

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Meet Katie Wilmshurst, one of our Registered Nurse Degree Apprentices, who works for Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust.

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