Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours)
Transform lives by promoting health and well-being
Occupational therapists help us build and protect the specific capabilities we need to effectively participate in the critical activities of our daily lives: learning, socialising, playing, doing our jobs and simply looking after ourselves.
By guiding and supporting physical and psychological progress, they help individuals, families and communities create or restore meaning, purpose and independence.
What will you study during a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours)?
Our Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) equips you to identify, prevent and manage the full range of challenges to everyday activity.
With many courses taught by registered practising occupational therapists, the degree places an emphasis on real-world experience. In over 1,000 hours of work-based training, you’ll work with children and adults of all ages in multiple settings: public and private health organisations; schools; rehabilitation centres; aged care; mental health and more.
You’ll gain high-level knowledge and skills in:
- human anatomy, physiology and the pathophysiology
- rehabilitation from short- and long-term injury, musculoskeletal and neurological conditions, chronic illness, disability and mental health issues
- specialised practice with children and families
- broad public health issues and population approaches to health and wellbeing
- cultural diversity, with a focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities, and rural or international health perspectives
- evidence-based, patient-centred care.
You’ll regularly access our purpose-built training facilities and state-of-the-art simulation suites—among Australasia’s most advanced. In addition, you’ll benefit from collaborative learning with key complementary disciplines, speech pathology and physiotherapy.
From late in third year, you’ll choose one of two streams—research* or industry—and undertake a major project. Research will hone your skills in developing new knowledge; industry focuses on integrating research into practice.
Where could a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) take you?
You’ll graduate eligible to pursue a wide range of career opportunities working with communities and populations to achieve and maintain health and well-being. You could help children with sensory issues realise their full learning—and life— potential. You might help elderly people maintain the capacity to live in their treasured family homes. Perhaps you’ll help those recovering from workplace trauma return to their passion.
Accredited with conditions by the Occupational Therapy Council and approved by the Occupational Therapy Board.
*Entry into the research stream will be based on academic merit.
Note:
This degree is only available in blended mode and on-campus attendance is required. If you are a continuing student in the degree and are unable to attend campus, please contact your program coordinator for program advice.
Explore your career in Occupational Therapy
Discover how the University of Adelaide prepares students like Ella for a meaningful career in helping others thrive. Ella shares how her practical skills and confidence grew with the help of our state-of-the-art learning facilities before she even started placement.
*Australian Government, Labour Market Insights, 2023.
Entry Requirements
Choose your applicant type to view the relevant admissions
information for this program.
I am a:
Before applying make sure you understand the eligibility and entry requirements for your chosen degree.
Look out for any prerequisites or assumed knowledge subjects. Some degrees also have additional entry requirements like interviews and auditions.
Domestic applicants
| SATAC Code | 354271 |
|---|---|
| 2023 CSP ATAR | 85.1 |
| 2023 CSP IB | 32 |
| Guaranteed Entry Score - ATAR | 95 |
| Guaranteed Entry Score - IB | 38.25 |
| Deferment | Yes - 2 year |
| Intake | February |
| Additional Entry Requirements | Rural Background Entry Pathway: If you have as of 31 December in the year prior to degree commencement, spent at least five 5 consecutive years, or 10 years cumulatively, in an Australian Standard Geographic Classification - Remoteness Areas (ASGC-RA) RA 2-5 area, from birth, you are eligible to apply under the Rural Background entry pathway. The time frame is based on the location of your primary residence. Please refer to Remote Area locations (RA) for further guidance. Rural Background Entry Pathway Rural Background Entry (RBE) pathway applicants are required to sign and submit a statutory declaration as the only acceptable proof of rural background. You must upload the form as part of your SATAC application. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pathway: The Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences is committed to increasing the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who participate in its programs and makes particular effort to encourage Indigenous students to participate in health education. This degree has allocated a number of places just for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants. Please contact the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences Student Support Officer via email at fhms.sso@adelaide.edu.au to discuss your interest in applying. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander application process: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander application process:
|
Selection Criteria
| Recent Secondary Education | Applicants with recent secondary education are those whose admission is primarily based on the completion of Year 12 within the last two years, however if you completed your secondary education more than two years ago, you may still be able to be considered on the basis of your secondary schooling. You must not have completed more than 2 years full time equivalent university study (48 units). You compete for a place with your Selection Rank (ATAR plus any applicable adjustment factors). |
|---|---|
| Higher Education Study | You must have completed at least six months full time equivalent higher education study (the number of courses and units will vary depending on your prior institution however at the University of Adelaide, this equates to 4 courses / 12 units). There are places in the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) reserved for University of Adelaide students however students with study from other institutions are also considered. A Grade Point Average (GPA) is calculated for each separate program you have undertaken (apart from some double degree programs where the GPA is combined). You compete on the basis of your best GPA. |
| Work and life experience | To be eligible to sit the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) as as pathway for entry, you must be 18 years or over before 1 February 2024. If you have studied at higher education level in the last two years (for 2024 entry this means you were enrolled in either 2023 or 2022), you must not have accumulated more than a TOTAL of 2 years full-time (or part-time equivalent) higher education study (ie. including any study prior to 2022). If you meet this criteria, you will be ranked according to your result in the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT). Your STAT result is not weighted between verbal and quantitative components. |
| Other Entry Pathways | |
2023 Admissions Data for school leavers
| ATAR (raw ATAR, excluding any applicable adjustment factors) |
Lowest ATAR to receive an offer | 74.7 |
|---|---|---|
| Median ATAR to receive an offer | 89.55 | |
| Highest ATAR to receive an offer | 99.5 | |
| Selection Rank (ATAR plus any adjustment factors) |
Lowest Selection Rank to receive an offer | 85.1 |
| Median Selection Rank to receive an offer | 92.25 | |
| Highest Selection Rank to receive an offer | 99.95 | |
| Minimum eligibility score | 70 | |
| Additional criteria considered | Selection rank only | |
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Admissions Transparency Data
Student Profile
Applicant background Semester one/Full year intake 2023 Number of students Percentage of all students (A) Higher Education study
(includes a bridging or enabling course)18 18.9% (B) Vocational education and training (VET) study N/A N/A (C) Work and life experience
(admitted on the basis of previous achievement not in the other three categories)N/A N/A (D) Recent secondary education: - Admitted solely on the basis of ATAR
(regardless of whether this includes the consideration of adjustment factors)
74 77.9% - Admitted where both ATAR and additional criteria were considered
(e.g. portfolio, audition, extra test, early offer conditional on minimum ATAR)
N/A N/A - Admitted on the basis of other criteria only and ATAR was not a factor
(e.g. special consideration, audition alone, schools recommendation scheme with no minimum ATAR requirement)
<5 N/A International students <5 N/A All students 95 100.0% - Admitted solely on the basis of ATAR
Ready to Apply?
Find out more about the application process and start your studies at the University of Adelaide.
Be sure to check the critical dates to avoid missing application deadlines.
ApplyFees and Scholarships
Choose your applicant type to view the relevant fees and scholarships information for this program.
I am a:
Domestic applicants
| Indicative annual tuition fees |
Commonwealth-supported place: $10,195
|
Where the standard duration of the program is less than one year the full cost of the program is displayed.
More information on Student Contribution Amounts.
Incidental fees
There will be additional costs, over and above tuition fees for all Honours Degree of Bachelor of Occupational Therapy students, these include (but are not limited to) textbooks, equipment, required immunisations, clearance renewals, first aid certificates, student amenities fees etc. For further information visit: adelaide.edu.au/student/finance/other-fees/
Scholarships
These scholarships, as well as many others funded by industry and non-profit organisations, are available to potential and currently enrolled students.
Careers
Career Readiness
Please see the inherent requirements for occupational therapy programs for further information.
The University of Adelaide Careers Service prepares, inspires and empowers students to achieve successful career transitions and connect with industry.
Industry Placement
Professional Accreditation
Potential careers
Graduates of this program have gone on to roles such as:
Occupational Therapist
Degree Structure
In the first year of study, you will be introduced to anatomy, physiology, public health and health research courses with a focus on occupational therapy principles.
The second year includes detailed applied anatomy of the lower and upper limbs and explores the pathophysiologic basis of disease. Occupational Therapy specific courses prepare you for professional practice, while you will elect to pursue courses that focus on rural or international health perspectives.
The third year of the degree focuses on specialised practice principles including children and families, musculoskeletal and neurological conditions, and mental health across the lifespan.
The fourth year of the degree provides an opportunity to apply learning in professional practice settings, under the supervision of registered clinical professionals.
From late third year, you’ll choose one of two streams—research* or industry— and undertake a major project. Research will hone your skills in developing new knowledge; industry focuses on integrating research into practice.
* Eligibility for entry to the Research Stream will be determined by a student’s cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) for the courses which comprise the first and second years of the program, and the availability of a suitable research project and supervisor within the School. Students with a cumulative GPA of 5 or greater will be notified of their eligibility for entry to the “Research Stream” at the commencement of the third year of the program. Eligible students who wish to undertake the Research Stream will be required to contact the School of Allied Health Science and Practice Honours Coordinator to discuss their area of interest and project the availability of a suitable research project and supervisor.
Example Study Plan
| Level I | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | HLTH SC 1400 Biosciences for Human Health A |
HLTH SC 1401 Communication in Professional Practice |
HLTH SC 1404 Evidence Based Practice in Allied Health 1 |
OCCTH 1000 Introduction to Occupational Science |
|
| S2 | HLTH SC 1403 Biosciences for Human Health B |
HLTH SC 1402 Foundations of Health and Wellbeing |
HLTH SC 1406 Introduction to Behavioural Neuroscience |
HLTH SC 1405 Psychological Foundations for Allied Health |
|
| Level II | |||||
| S1 |
HLTH SC 2400 |
ANAT SC 2401 |
OCCTH 2000 |
OCCTH 2003 |
|
| S2 |
PATHOL 2400 |
HLTH SC 2401 |
OCCTH 2002 |
OCCTH 2001 |
|
| Level III – Industry Honours Stream | |||||
| S1 |
OCCTH 3001 |
|
|||
| S2 |
OCCTH 3006 |
|
OCCTH 3002 |
||
| Level IV – Industry Honours Stream | |||||
| S1 |
OCCTH 4005 |
OCCTH 4003 Occupational Therapy Clinical Practice B (6 units) |
|||
| Winter School |
Advanced Occupational Therapy Practice |
||||
| S2 |
OCCTH 4002 |
OCCTH 4004 |
|||
| Level III – Research Honours Stream | |||||
| S1 |
OCCTH 3001 |
OCCTH 3007 |
|||
| S2 |
OCCTH 3002 |
OCCTH 3004 |
HLTH SC 4400 |
||
| Level IV – Research Honours Stream | |||||
| S1 |
HLTH SC 4401A |
Occupational Therapy Clinical Practice B (6 units) |
|||
| Winter School |
Advanced Occupational Therapy Practice |
||||
| S2 |
Allied Health Honours Research Project (6 units) |
Occupational Therapy Clinical Practice C (6 units) |
|||
Further information
All courses are compulsory. The Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) does not contain elective courses.
Assessment
Related Degrees
The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.
Last updated: Thursday, 4 Apr 2024
