Occupational Therapy

Bachelor of Science (Occupational Therapy)

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Course Overview
Key Facts
Course Outline
Further Education
Why Choose This Course?
Course Fees
Find Out More

What Is Occupational Therapy? Who Is It For? Course Structure Student Experience Ability Awareness For Children

Entry Points (2024)

554

Course Overview

Occupational Therapy is an interesting and rewarding career. Occupational Therapists aim to enable people to participate in the activities of everyday life. As an Occupational Therapist you will work in partnership with individuals, families and communities to enable them to participate more fully in their daily ‘occupations’. ‘Occupation’ is the term used to describe all the ways in which we occupy our time – the tasks and activities essential for daily life – washing, dressing, feeding and moving around, as well as the more complex areas of working, leisure, socialising and managing finances and home. Illness, trauma or social disadvantage can result in difficulties in these areas. Occupational Therapists design and deliver intervention programmes to address these difficulties. They also work with individuals and groups to adapt daily life activities to promote better health, prevent ill-health and maintain health and flourishing as much as possible.

As an Occupational Therapist, you could work in a large variety of settings and with many different individuals and groups. Occupational Therapists work in hospitals, primary care, community care, rehabilitation services, disability network teams, schools, industry, academia, healthcare management and administration, community/voluntary organisations and in private practice. They work across the lifespan from neo-natal services to older age and across all types of health and social concerns – from specialist neuro-rehabilitation to primary care, to mental health and to homelessness services. The BSc (Occupational Therapy) programme at the University of Galway will prepare you for wherever you wish your career in Occupational Therapy to take you.

In the programme, you will study modules relating to the structures and functioning of the human body and mind (such as Anatomy, Physiology and Psychology). You will have specialist Occupational Therapy modules in many different areas of practice (such as Physical Disability, Paediatrics, Older Adults, Neurology and Mental Health). You will learn how to provide a high-quality, evidence-based healthcare service through modules in Management, Evidence-Based Practice, Research and Fundamentals of Occupational Therapy.

Our WFOT accredited and CORU regulated programme includes over 1000 hours of Practice Education, where you will spend time in healthcare settings under the supervision of an Occupational Therapist. Your four placements will be in different healthcare areas across the country and you will get experience in all the key areas of practice.

Applications and Selections

Who Teaches this Course

The programme is delivered by academic staff who are CORU-registered Occupational Therapists. Students will also take lectures in Anatomy, Psychology, Physiology in their 1st and 2nd Year and will get the opportunity to learn from Lecturers across the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences. Some of our modules include learning from people with lived experience of health conditions and using healthcare services.

Lecturers include:

Professor Agnes Shiel

Mr Manigandan Chockalingam

Ms Mary Mulry

Requirements and Assessment

Key Facts

Entry Requirements

Minimum Grade H5 in two subjects and passes in four other subjects at O6/H7 Level in the Leaving Certificate, including Irish, English, another language, Mathematics, a laboratory science subject (i.e. Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Physics with Chemistry (joint) or Agricultural Science) and any other subject recognised for entry purposes.

Additional Requirements

Vaccinations: The HSE, the School of Health Sciences and the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, require students to produce evidence that they have received the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) and the Hepatitis B (Hep B) vaccinations. In line with this requirement, University of Galway recommends that students show evidence of both the MMR and Hepatitis B before the commencement of their first placement. Evidence of these vaccinations must be provided in the first year of the course.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Duration

4 years

Next start date

September 2025

A Level Grades (2024)

universityofgalway.ie/alevels

Average intake

QQI/FET FETAC Entry Routes

Closing Date

NFQ level

Mode of study

ECTS weighting

Award

CAO

GY502

Course code

Course Outline

This course explores how difficulties in relation to physical or mental health can affect occupation (i.e. daily activities) in all groups of people – children, adolescents, adults and older adults. The course also explores how the social and physical environment can hinder or support people to live full lives and how daily activities can be health-promoting. Throughout the four years of the programme, students will have the opportunity to take part in interdisciplinary learning with other healthcare students and learn from community partners and those with lived experience of health challenges.

Year 1

In the first year of the programme, students will gain a basic understanding of the human body and psychology and will be introduced to the theoretical background of Occupational Therapy. Students will have an opportunity to practice some key occupational therapy skills in the areas of mental health and physical disability in a classroom setting.

Year 2

In the second year of the programme, students will develop their understanding of the human body and mind further, with additional modules in neuroanatomy and neurophysiology. They will be introduced to occupational therapy practice in the areas of paediatrics and intellectual disability. They also learn about structures and systems affecting how people can participate in daily life through modules in occupational science and social policy. Students will have their first long placement in Semester 2 of 2^nd year.

Year 3

In the 3^rd year of the programme, students will engage in different methods of learning, moving towards more group-based and self-directed project work. Students work on community-led projects and learn about specialist areas of practice such as cognitive neuropsychology and neuropsychological rehabilitation. They also learn about research methods, evidence-based practice and how to work with older adults and their families. Students will again have a placement in Semester 2.

Year 4

The final year of the programme moves students towards being occupational therapy practitioners. There are two placements in Semester 1, giving students excellent experience as they prepare for their career. Students work alongside a supervisor to plan, implement and report an individual research project and they learn important skills in management and professional development.

Curriculum Information

Curriculum information relates to the current academic year (in most cases).
Course and module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Glossary of Terms

Credits: You must earn a defined number of credits (aka ECTS) to complete each year of your course. You do this by taking all of its required modules as well as the correct number of optional modules to obtain that year's total number of credits.
Module: An examinable portion of a subject or course, for which you attend lectures and/or tutorials and carry out assignments. E.g. Algebra and Calculus could be modules within the subject Mathematics. Each module has a unique module code eg. MA140.
Subject: Some courses allow you to choose subjects, where related modules are grouped together. Subjects have their own required number of credits, so you must take all that subject's required modules and may also need to obtain the remainder of the subject's total credits by choosing from its available optional modules.
Optional: A module you may choose to study.
Required: A module that you must study if you choose this course (or subject).
Required Core Subject: A subject you must study because it's integral to that course.
Semester: Most courses have 2 semesters (aka terms) per year, so a three-year course will have six semesters in total. For clarity, this page will refer to the first semester of year 2 as 'Semester 3'.

Year 1 (60 Credits)

Year 2 (60 Credits)

Year 3 (60 Credits)

RequiredOY312: Enabling Occupation - Older Adults - 5 Credits - Semester 5
RequiredOY3106: Enabling Occupation - Community Practice - 10 Credits - Semester 6
RequiredOY308: Standardised Testing - 5 Credits - Semester 5
RequiredOY306: Evidence Based Practice - 5 Credits - Semester 5
RequiredOY3115: Community Engagement - 10 Credits - Semester 5
RequiredOY3105: Cognitive Neuropsychology - 5 Credits - Semester 5
RequiredOY3108: Practice Education 2 - 0 Credits - Semester 6
RequiredOY3107: Practice Education - Case Study 2 - 10 Credits - Semester 6
RequiredOY309: Neurology - 5 Credits - Semester 6
RequiredOY307: Research Methods - 5 Credits - Semester 6

Year 4 (60 Credits)

RequiredOY4106: Practice Education 4 - 0 Credits - Semester 7
RequiredOY4105: Practice Education 3 - 0 Credits - Semester 7
RequiredOY4104: Practice Education - Case Study 4 - 15 Credits - Semester 7
RequiredOY4103: Practice Education - Case Study 3 - 10 Credits - Semester 7
RequiredOY409: Preparation for Practice - 5 Credits - Semester 8
RequiredOY403: Research Project - 20 Credits - Semester 8
RequiredOY404: Management - 10 Credits - Semester 8

In the first Year of the programme, students will gain a basic understanding of the human body, psychology and be introduced to the concepts of enabling occupation. These concepts will be developed further in the second year of the programme, with an additional focus on neuroanatomy and neurophysiology.

In years three and four of the programme, students will develop their research skills and evidence based practice. They will learn to analyse, report and present on case studies. In addition to this, year four of the programme prepares future graduates for active engagement in occupational therapy practice. Students will review current health care strategies and policies and learn about continuing their professional development once they graduate from the programme.

Further Education

Students may continue further study in the following programmes at the Discipline of Occupational Therapy in the University of Galway:

Students will be eligible to register with the Health and Social Care Professionals Regulator (CORU) as soon as they graduate.

Why Choose This Course?

Career Opportunities

Occupational Therapy graduates are in high demand in Ireland, especially as new clinical programmes are being developed. Our graduates will be in a position to work as CORU-registered Occupational Therapists in a variety of settings and with a variety of patients/clients including:

Hospitals
Community Rehabilitation Services
Mental Health Services
Child and Adolescent Services
Voluntary Organisations
Community Disability Network Teams
Private Practice
Primary Care teams
Industry

International opportunities

Occupational therapy graduates are in high demand worldwide. The BSc (Occupational Therapy) programme in the University of Galway is accredited by the World Federation of Occupational Therapy. This means that graduates can practice in settings across the world, although each country will have its own entry requirements – sometimes including an exam.

Work placement

All students are required to complete 1000 hours of Practice Education successfully under the supervision of a qualified occupational therapist. Practice education is a process of work-based learning which involves a partnership between the practice educator and the student in the practice setting. Practice education takes place in 1^st year (1 week), Semester 2 of 2^nd year (8 weeks), Semester 2 of 3^rd year (8 weeks) and Semester 1 of 4^th year (2 x 8 weeks). Students may be required to undertake practice education anywhere in Ireland in order to give them a variety of experiences.

Who’s Suited to This Course

Learning Outcomes

Transferable Skills Employers Value

Work Placement

All students are required to complete 1,000 hours of Practice Education successfully under the supervision of a qualified occupational therapist. Practice Education is a process of work based learning which involves a partnership between the practice educator and the student in the practice setting. Practice Education takes place at the end of Semester 2 in first year (one week), Semester 2 of second year (8 weeks), Semester 2 of third year (8 weeks) and Semester 1 of fourth year (2 x 8 weeks). Students may be required to undertake practice education anywhere in Ireland and can

Study Abroad

Related Student Organisations

Course Fees

Fees: EU

€7,868 p.a.(€8,208 p.a. including levy & occupational heath service fee) 2025/26

Fees: Tuition

€4,868 p.a. 2025/26

Fees: Student Contribution

€3,000 p.a. 2025/26

Fees: Student levy

€140 p.a. 2025/26

Fees: Non EU

€27,500 p.a.(€27,840 p.a. including levy & occupational heath service fee) 2025/2

Occupational Health Service
In year one students are required to pay a €200 fee towards a subsidised Occupational Health Service provided to students of the College of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences in compliance with all relevant legislation and standards.

EU Fees are comprised of Tuition + Student Contribution Charge + Student Levy* €140. *Payable by all students and is not covered by SUSI. Further detail here.

For 25/26 entrants, where the course duration is greater than 1 year, there is an inflationary increase approved of 3.4% per annum for continuing years fees**.
**Excludes Full-Time EU Undergraduate fees. These are fixed and do not change.

Find out More

Jane Bowman
The School of Health Sciences ,
College of Medicine,
Nursing and Health Sciences
T: 353 (0)91 492 957
E: healththerapies@universityofgalway.ie
www.universityofgalway.ie/occupational_therapy

Other useful links:
The Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland
The World Federation of Occupational Therapy

What Our Students Say

Anna Lynam | BSc (Occupational Therapy)

There is an excellent balance between academic learning and practical work. Placements were organised by the college and provided me with opportunities to apply the skills and theory I had learned in a practical setting. These placements were not only enjoyable but also supported me in becoming more confident in both myself and my role as an occupational therapist. This course also offers brilliant modules on different aspects of Mental Health, which is an area I now feel particularly passionate about pursuing. As the class is relatively small, I got to know the lecturers very well and developed lifelong friendships with my classmates. Lecturers always offer constructive feedback, which supports you in developing any areas for improvement.  I am so excited to start my journey as an occupational therapist and believe I have the skill set, confidence and knowledge base to do so. 