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MSc Occupational Therapy (Pre-reg)

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MSc Occupational Therapy (Pre-reg)

MSc
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Please note, there are two application deadlines. The deadline for overseas applicants is 31 July 2025, and for home applicants, it is 29 August 2025. For more details, click here.

Key information

Duration: 2 years full time

Institution code: R72

Campus: Egham

UK fees*: £9,535

International/EU fees**: £22,300

The course

MSc Occupational Therapy (Pre-reg) (MSc)

The pre-registration MSc Occupational Therapy course is delivered by the Department of Health Studies at Royal Holloway, University of London in collaboration with local partners. The course has been validated by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) a regulatory body for Allied Health Professions (AHP) and accredited by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT), a professional body for Occupational Therapists in the UK.

This two-year masters will give you the knowledge and practical skills that you need to develop a rewarding career as an occupational therapist in emerging global health roles and social prescribing roles in the UK and in internationals settings. The course has a unique focus upon disaster management, sustainability, and global health, with an emphasis on placements throughout the degree to develop your practice-based experience and establish strong employment networks.

Occupational therapy has a valuable role in society helping people recover, maintain or improve healthy participation in life. Working across disciplines in different sectors, it offers training in globally relevant and developing skills for disaster management and will deepen your understanding of the value of sustainability and the importance of the environment to health, wellbeing and social care.

You will acquire clinical and professional reasoning skills for occupational therapy in different settings, and learn the methods and skills needed to work with individual clients as well as community groups in the public and environmental health sectors.

Through teaching and practical placements, you will develop assessment and intervention skills for health promotion in physical and mental health with a variety of age groups, together with service evaluation and quality improvement skills.

On completion of the course you will have developed skills and experience for embarking on emerging global health roles and social prescribing roles in the UK and in international settings.

The Department of Health Studies is a hub for world-leading research, knowledge exchange and public engagement and you will be taught by international research leaders across a broad range of topics, particularly in the areas of occupational therapy, global health, long-term conditions and disease prevention.

Fitness to practise and health requirements

See below for full entry requirement, and all offers of a place are subject to satisfactory Occupational Health (OH) screening and clear Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check.  To be admitted and continue the course, students must be deemed medically fit for both practice and theory by the Occupational Health Department. If you have any concerns about a health condition/issue and its impact on your ability to undertake the course, please contact the admissions team as early as possible in the application process. Further information will be provided following the offer of a place. Please note that Professional Bodies such as the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) have certain requirements regarding the health and character status of applicants and their ability to meet the required core professional competencies and to practise safely without direct supervision. Please read the HCPC information to find out more. Please ask us for advice and/or support as early as possible in the application process if you have any questions about this requirement.

From time to time, we make changes to our courses to improve the student and learning experience. If we make a significant change to your chosen course, we’ll let you know as soon as we can.

Core Modules

Year 1

  • An introduction to the occupational therapy profession's fundamental concepts and theoretical foundations, you will also gain insight into sustainability and global health issues. The module aims to provide you with an understanding of the core values, behaviours, and skills required for occupational therapy practice, including reflection, communication, and teamwork.

    In addition to these professional skills, you will explore AHP's model of sustainability and global health issues from an occupational perspective.

  • You’ll gain a comprehensive grounding in human sciences, including anatomy, physiology, psychology, and sociology. The goal is to prepare you to apply this knowledge in clinical practice and contribute to the holistic well-being of clients. You’ll explore the dynamic relationship between body structure and function, psychological and sociological factors, and occupational performance.

    Digital literacies and health informatics will also be addressed in this module, using digital platform to enhance your learning. Students will be encouraged to create a glossary of terms, especially for anatomy and physiological terms/ language.

  • This module equips you with the knowledge, skills, and capabilities needed for practice placement 1, a foundation placement.

    You’ll complete mandatory training such as safeguarding adults/ children, moving and handling, unconscious bias, basic life support, etc. and learn occupational therapy core practice skills such as effective communication, observation, active listening, interviewing, digital and written documentation, and reflection.
    You’ll also link learnings from other modules with a focus on developing a foundation for occupational therapy practice.

    You will be introduced to the Health and Care Professions Council’s (HCPC) revised standards of proficiency (2022), HCPC’s revised standards of conduct, performance and ethics (2023, effective from September 24) and RCOT’s professional standards for OT practice, conduct and ethics (2021).

  • This module provides the opportunity to undertake an 8-week part-time practice-based learning (19 hours/ week, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday). These hours contribute to the 1000 hours of supervised practice placement experience required during the completion of the course as stated by RCOT, Learning and Development standards of pre-registration education (2019).

    You will demonstrate OT core practice skills under the supervision of a practice educator in alignment with the learning outcomes and practice placement competencies.

  • The module will equip you with the knowledge, skills, and capabilities needed for practice placement 2, an exploratory placement.

    You will continue to develop occupational therapy core practice skills such as therapeutic communication, observation, active listening, interviewing, digital and written documentation, and reflection. In addition, students will explore occupational performance and OT processes further by learning new skills such as assessments, clinical reasoning, activity analysis, assistive technologies, equipment, and splinting. 
    An experiential learning and role plays will be used as a teaching method along with simulations for students to practice case studies.

  • This module provides the opportunity to undertake an 8-week part-time practice-based learning (19 hours/ week, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday). These hours contribute to the 1000 hours of supervised practice placement experience required during the completion of the course as stated by RCOT, Learning and Development standards of pre-registration education (2019).

    You will continue to learn OT core practice skills and develop knowledge about the OT process under the supervision of a practice educator.

Year 2

  • This advanced occupational therapy module examines key theories and concepts around disability, determinants of health, and barriers to participating in everyday occupations. You’ll prepare for the effective transition from learner to autonomous practitioner, capable of being anticipatory to the needs of people and populations experiencing complex physical and/or mental health conditions.

    You’ll develop knowledge of physical and mental health dysfunction at an advanced level. You will apply and critically reflect on OT models/ frames of reference and continue to use the ‘Occupational therapy process’ to develop and consolidate skills in clinical reasoning and decision-making to formulate interventions. You will learn to draw on appropriate knowledge and skills to inform practice and modify their practice as needed to take account of new developments, technologies and changing contexts.

  • The module will equip you with the knowledge, skills, and capabilities needed for practice placement 3, an intermediate placement.

    Collaborative working is a crucial skill for occupational therapy professionals, and that is the primary focus of this module. The module will involve simulated and real interdisciplinary practice with other health and social care professionals, as well as inquiry-based learning activities that concentrate on practice-oriented interdisciplinary scenarios.

  • This module provides the opportunity to undertake a 10-week full-time practice-based learning (37.5 hours/ week). These hours contribute to the 1000 hours of supervised practice placement experience required during the course completion as stated by RCOT, Learning and Development standards of pre-registration education (2019). You will be given half a day alternate week for placement-related study for full-time placements.

    The primary focus is collaborative working. In the linked academic module, you will engage in simulated and real interdisciplinary practice with other health and social care professionals and inquiry-based learning activities focusing on practice-oriented interdisciplinary scenarios. This module examines the skills and values needed by OT professionals to work collaboratively to ensure seamless, client-centred delivery. It will evaluate students' ability to use person-centred professional reasoning and multidisciplinary care planning approaches.

  • In this module, you’ll develop a solid grounding in the methodologies and skills  used across the course and for your final independent project. These include project design and management, data collection, data analysis, and leadership and teamwork.

    You’ll work independently and as part of an interdisciplinary team, taking a systems approach to Global and Planetary Health Challenges, in line with the Occupational Therapy research. You will develop skills in engaging with different stakeholders such as OT practitioners, service users, families, marginalised groups, etc. in the design and conduct of research, with guidance from a dissertation supervisor. You may have opportunities to design an investigative project as part of a larger research project or group, with agreement from the module leader. Your research will culminate in a dissertation/project report.

  • The module will equip you with the knowledge, skills, and capabilities needed for practice placement 4, an advanced placement. This module develops your understanding of the relationship between research, practice, and policy, and how evidence-based practice is essential in therapies. 

    Throughout this module, you will develop a critical understanding of the different research paradigms, research designs, research methods, data collection, research leadership and analysis skills, and ethical issues associated with conducting research. These skills will not only enhance your ability to critique evidence for practice but will also prepare you for service improvement or research projects you may undertake in your professional career.

  • This module provides the opportunity to undertake a 10-week full-time practice-based learning (37.5 hours/ week). These hours contribute to the 1000 hours of supervised practice placement experience required during the course completion as stated by RCOT, Learning and Development standards of pre-registration education (2019). 

    During placement 4, students will collaborate with the practice educator to identify and develop a research project in practice that may impact patient and service outcomes.

    You will be given half a day on an alternate week basis for placement-related study during this full-time placement.

All modules are core

The course is a two-year full-time masters degree that will be delivered through a combination of on-campus learning at our Egham campus in Surrey and placement opportunities.

Teaching and learning are mostly through lectures, seminars, hands-on practical skills, placement-specific workshops, study groups, essay consultations, oral presentations, and guided independent study. Assessment of knowledge and understanding is typically by coursework assignments, examined essays, case study-based assignments, online tests and exercises, practice-based skills examinations, oral presentations, and the dissertation or long essay. In addition, students may be involved in workshops and may produce various forms of creative or editorial work. 

In the first year, the week will be divided into approximately two days on campus and two and a half days on placement. Additionally, students will have self-directed study time integrated into all modules and placements.

Year one teaching will consist of two 30-credit modules focusing on human sciences and occupational science, 'Occupational Therapy with a Global Context' and 'Human Sciences and Occupational Performance' as well as two 15-credit modules linked to practice placements 1 and 2. These will focus on developing core occupational therapy practice skills.

The second year will include two 15-credit modules focused on advanced clinical, research, and leadership skills required for occupational therapy practice across various settings, these are 'Research in practice (focused on PP4 preparation & research methods)' and 'Collaborative approach in practice (module focused on PP3)'. Additionally, students will complete two 30-credit modules: 'Contemporary Practice in Occupational Therapy' and 'Research project in Occupational Therapy & Global Health', a research project aligned with occupational therapy and global health needs.

Practice Placements:

Students on the occupational therapy course are required to complete a minimum of 1000 hours over four practice placements in two years, in line with the requirements of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists and the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT, 2016). Each learning placement is linked to a 15-credit module: Occupation in Practice 1, Occupation in Practice 2, Collaborative Approach in Practice, and Research in Practice.
The primary responsibility for the assessment of students is held by the practice educator, who has undergone formal preparation and education, including regular updates, before the placement. The Occupational Therapy Placement Lead will support the practice educator and student to ensure robust and consistent arrangements for the assessment of practice learning. Practice-based learning placements are graded as pass/fail, and students can be reassessed a maximum of two times on non-consecutive placements.

Teaching and learning approaches:

The curriculum design is based on a spiral approach that combines constructivist and critical pedagogy. Students will gain in-depth knowledge through active engagement in enquiry-based learning, independent research, and finding solutions to complex problems. The curriculum's goal is to encourage students to critically examine local and global health issues, individual circumstances, and systemic barriers that limit participation, within an occupational science framework. By understanding theory and practice, students will develop an appreciation of multiple perspectives and a sense of critical consciousness and professional identity. The curriculum will help students develop practical skills and self-reflection, leading to professional transformation. Students enrolled in this course are expected to engage in theoretical and practice-based learning, demonstrating high levels of personal motivation, emotional resilience, and academic performance. The course aims to prepare graduates to work as occupational therapists who can promote individual well-being and a sense of belonging while addressing global health needs.

Teaching and learning on your course are closely informed by the active research of staff, particularly in the areas of occupational therapy, global health, long-term conditions, disease prevention, etc.  In general terms, the course provides an opportunity for you to develop and demonstrate the learning outcomes detailed herein. Teaching and learning are mostly through lectures, seminars, hands-on practical skills, placement-specific workshops, study groups, essay consultations, oral presentations, and guided independent study. Assessment of knowledge and understanding is typically by coursework assignments, examined essays, case study-based assignments, online tests and exercises, practice-based skills examinations, oral presentations, and the dissertation or long essay. In addition, students may be involved in workshops and may produce various forms of creative or editorial work.  The learning and assessment tasks are designed in alignment with HCPC standards of proficiencies (2023), HCPC standards of conduct, performance & ethics (2023) and RCOT’s Learning and development standards of pre-registration education to ensure that students can demonstrate professional behaviour, conduct, performance, and ethics during the course and meet the registration requirements as an occupational therapist. Students will be offered a formative opportunity for all module assessments including academic and practice-based learning modules to maximise performance in their summative assessments.

2:2

UK 2:2 entry grade. Some understanding of research methodology, taken within dissertation, final year project or as its own module will be required.

We invite students from a wide range of scientific, social science and humanities backgrounds to apply and be considered. You will need to have completed an undergraduate degree in one of these fields to be eligible. Other eligible backgrounds will be evaluated individually on a case-by-case basis.

Please note in order to meet RCOT standards of accreditation (standard 2.6), the university can only consider requests for recognition of prior learning in a maximum of one third of the total pre-registration course.

Applicants will be subject to an interview* and upon enrolment, applicants will be required to go through occupational health checks. DBS and Occupational Health checks are mandatory admissions requirements for this course in alignment with Health and Care Professions Council standards of education and training for occupational therapists.

*Applicants will be invited for a virtual or face-to-face interview on campus. Interview invitations and details of the interviews will be sent by email. Applicants will take part in value-based interviews either in 1:1 or group format with academic staff from the course team, occupational therapy clinicians and Insight group members. The Insight group member will be a service user or client who has access to health or social care services and may have used Occupational Therapy services to help with their physical/ mental health conditions. We will be specifically looking at the applicant’s motivation, communication and interpersonal skills, teamworking skills, research project skills and any experience of working with people with health conditions etc.


International & EU requirements

English language requirements

  • IELTS 7.0 and no sub-score below 6.5.
  • Pearson Test of English: 69 overall. No other sub-score lower than 61.
  • Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE): ISE IV
  • Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C/210.
  • TOEFL iBT: 97 overall, with Reading 25 Listening 25 Speaking 25 Writing 25.
  • Duolingo: 130 overall, with no sub-score below 125.

This is a pre-reg masters leading to a professional qualification to practice Occupational Therapy and not a traditional MSc studies in Occupational Therapy. Upon successful completion of your course, you will be eligible to apply to register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). Once registered, you will be able to practice as an occupational therapist in the UK and may apply for additional professional registration with the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT). If you are an international student or want to practice in another country, you may need to complete additional country-specific registration requirements.

This is a unique course that is focused on disaster management, sustainability, and global health. This course will equip you with clinical, professional, research and other transferrable skills to work in different sectors and age groups. You will have a variety of career development opportunities in health and social care within client-facing roles.

Occupational therapy qualifications provide a versatile foundation for a variety of rewarding careers, each offering the opportunity to make a significant impact on the lives of individuals and communities. Here are some potential career options:

  • Clinical Practice: You may work in NHS acute care, rehabilitation units, community, intermediate care, and outpatient clinics in different settings as a hospital-based OT, Neuro OT, Ortho OT, paediatric OT, Geriatric OT, Mental Health OT, Hand therapy OT, etc. You may also work with local authorities as a Social services OT and with GP practice.
  • Private Roles: You may work as an OT consultant/ case manager with independent and/ or charity organisations. You may work with companies that design assistive technology, adaptive equipment, or therapeutic tools, providing input on functionality and user experience. You may work with professional organisations, government agencies, or advocacy groups to influence healthcare policies, promote the OT profession, and ensure access to services.
  • Education and Research: You may work in higher education and research areas.
  • Independent practice: Start your own OT clinic, offering specialised services tailored to specific populations or conditions. You may establish a consulting business focused on areas such as accessibility, workplace ergonomics, or disability management.
  • Non-Profit Sector: Work with non-profit organisations that serve specific populations, such as veterans, people with disabilities, or refugees, providing OT services and support.

Home (UK) students tuition fee per year*: £9,535

EU and international students tuition fee per year**: £22,300

Other essential costs***: Please be aware that there will be additional costs such as travel and accommodation for placements, and occupational health related costs as required.

How do I pay for it? Find out more about funding options, including loans, grants, scholarships and bursaries.

* and ** These tuition fees apply to students enrolled on a full-time basis in the academic year 2025/26. Students studying on the standard part-time course structure over two years are charged 50% of the full-time applicable fee for each study year.

Royal Holloway reserves the right to increase all postgraduate tuition fees annually. For further information, see fees and funding ,and terms and conditions.

** This figure is the fee for EU and international students starting a degree in the academic year 2025/26. Find out more 

*** These estimated costs relate to studying this particular degree at Royal Holloway during the 2025/26 academic year, and are included as a guide. Costs, such as accommodation, food, books and other learning materials and printing, have not been included.

Please be aware that the university will support DBS (for Home students only) and the initial occupational health assessment costs; however, the university does not pay for vaccinations, further occupational health follow-ups, or additional assessments.  All applicants are advised to have their vaccinations completed prior to the start of the course and will be asked to submit evidence during onboarding. Please contact the admissions team or Course Director for more information. International applicants will be asked to submit a copy of the international police check and evidence of vaccinations.

There is an NHS Learning Support Fund available for this programme. Find out more here.

Samita Kirve

Course Lead for MSc (pre-reg) Occupational Therapy
Senior Lecturer in Occupational Therapy

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