University of Salford offers the Master of Occupational Therapy (Pre-Registration) as a full-time degree delivered on campus at its main campus in Salford, United Kingdom. Taught in English and completed over 2 years, the program equips students with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills required for occupational therapy (pre-registration) and related professional fields. Tuition fees are USD 23,556 / years, and the next available intake begins on September 1, 2026.

About Master of Occupational Therapy (Pre-Registration)

Introduction

In a nutshell

Home applicants: the closing date for applications to the 2025 entry for this programme is 31 May 2025.

International applicants: please check the international intakes page for the latest information and application dates.

Occupational therapy is a client-centred profession concerned with promoting health and wellbeing through occupation. This means occupational therapists support people to participate in what they want, need, and are expected to do, by modifying the occupation and/or the environment to maximise health and/or wellbeing.

This course is designed to train you to meet the contemporary needs of diverse populations and will empower you to use the skills you develop in settings that align with your interests.

This course is underpinned by four 'golden threads' to support contemporary practice. These are:

Theory Driven: The modules you complete are informed by theories from both inside and outside the discipline of occupational therapy.
Evidence Informed: This course uses various types of evidence from a range of sources, including (but not limited to) published peer-reviewed research, opinions from experts by experience, and real-world learning and professionally orientated social media.
Occupation Centred: Occupation is at the centre of our profession and is reflected in our content in recognising people as occupational beings.
Inclusive: We recognise the existence of systemic racism, ableism, inequality and privilege. Occupational Therapists work within complex systems and diverse populations. Inclusivity, allyship and equality are central to our courses, modules and how we work.

You will:

Combine academic study with practice placements and develop a variety of professional and personal skills.
Be taught through Universal Design for Learning (UDL) which aims to produce learners who are purposeful, motivated, resourceful, and knowledgeable, goal directed and strategic.
Be taught by Occupational Therapists with a range of clinical backgrounds, involved with professional bodies, who are research active and hold accreditation with Advance HE.
Benefit from our strong links with service users, clinical experts, and industry partners, which means that we have an excellent reputation for training occupational therapists who are able to meet the demands of current practice.
Learn through simulation as an integral part of the course. This will take various forms, including the use of on-site skill suites, online resources, and case studies.
Be eligible to register with the Health and Care Professions Council upon successful completion of your programme.

Placement

options available

International

students accepted

Course accreditations

Occupational Therapy students practising moving and handling techniques

Occupational Therapy Skills Session Occupational Therapy students practising with kitchen and personal care equipment

Occupational Therapy students practising moving and handling techniques

Occupational Therapy Skills Session Occupational Therapy students practising with personal care equipment

Occupational Therapy student practising basic life skills

Occupational Therapy Skills Session Occupational Therapy students practicing with kitchen equipment

Occupational Therapy Skills Session Students discussing actions in response to a case study example

Occupational Therapy students engaged in manual handling training with a hoist

This is for you if...

1.

You are passionate about promoting the health and wellbeing of others.

2.

You have good interpersonal and communication skills.

3.

You believe in inclusivity and want to be part of a diverse community.

4.

You are passionate about using occupation to enable health and wellbeing.

5.

You are determined to use a theoretical and evidence-based approach in your practice.

6.

You are creative and flexible in your approach.

Requirements and Admission Criteria for Master of Occupational Therapy (Pre-Registration) at University of Salford

Entry Requirements

Requirements

What you need to know

Applicant profile

We welcome applicants from a wide range of educational and experiential backgrounds as we believe that your experiences and skills inform your skills as an occupational therapist.

Ideal candidates looking for entry into the course are those who possess skills of or wish to develop into practitioners who are:

Passionate about using occupation centrally in their practice.
Enthusiastic about embedding theory, evidence and research into their practice.
Committed to being inclusive and promoting an inclusive practice.
Dedicated to working with people.

The ideal candidate will have reflected on why they would like to pursue a career in occupational therapy, have spent time looking at different career prospects within occupational therapy and developed their understanding of the professionâs philosophy.

English language requirements

If you are an international student and not from a majority English-speaking country, you will need IELTS 7.0 with no element below 6.5. We also accept a range of other English language qualifications. If you do not have the English language requirements, you could take our Pre-Sessional English course.

Additional requirements

Applicants who have previously been enrolled in an occupational therapy pre-registration programme or any other health professional education programme must submit a self-declaration confirming no previous fitness to practice concerns if an offer is made for a place on the programme.

Applying

For the majority of our courses, youâll need to complete our online application form. If you have your supporting information ready, the form should take 20 minutes to complete. If you donât have these documents to hand you can save your application and come back to it later. If you are an international student, you should also read how to apply from overseas.

There is a range of advice provided online about applications for occupational therapy programmes across the country. You will find more information about this on the Royal College of Occupational Therapists website.

Your personal statement must convey the following:

Your understanding of occupational therapy as a profession and the impact that illness and disability may have on a person's life. Therefore, you are strongly advised to visit at least two clinical occupational therapy departments as this will enable you to give examples of occupational therapists working in physical and mental health settings.
Your personal attributes and communication skills that will enable you to be an occupational therapist.â¯
How your values align to the values of the profession.â¯
Your relevant experience of working with people. Volunteering or work-related roles in relevant health and social care areas would also give a stronger profile for applicants.â¯

Interviews

Applicants who are successful at the application stage may be put forward for interview. The interview is face-to-face and is based around a range of simulation activities and a written reflection. This will be focused on your understanding of occupational therapy as a profession, your interpersonal skills and your ability to reflect.

Online interviews will be facilitated for international students. If you are a home student who requires an online interview, please contact us on [email protected].

If you require reasonable adjustments to support you to engage with our interview process, please contact us at least a week before your interview date on [email protected].

Standard entry requirements

Undergraduate degree

This course is suitable for people with a first degree in any subject looking for an accelerated course to prepare them to work as an occupational therapist.

We require a 2:1 or above for entry into the programme from a previous first degree completed within 5 years of applying.

GCSEs

GCSE Maths and English at Grade C/4 and above. Equivalents accepted.

International Students

We accept qualifications from all around the world. Find your country to see a full list of entry requirements.

Alternative entry requirements

Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL)

We welcome applications from students who may not have formal/traditional entry criteria but who have relevant experience or the ability to pursue the course successfully.

The Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) process could help you to make your work and life experience count. The APL process can be used for entry onto courses or to give you exemptions from parts of your course.

Two forms of APL may be used for entry: the Accreditation of Prior Certificated Learning (APCL) or the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL).

English Requirements

IELTSMin 6

English Program Requirements

Equivalent qualifications

English language requirements are shown on individual course pages. Generally, this is shown as an IELTS grade, however we accept a range of equivalent qualifications.

As a general guide:

For undergraduate courses we require IELTS 6.0 (with a minimum 5.5 in each component) or equivalent

For postgraduate courses, we require IELTS 6.0 (with a minimum 5.5 in each component) or equivalent

For the International Foundation Year, we require IELTS 4.5 (with a minimum 4.0 in each component) in UKVI IELTS for UKVI (Academic)

The approved equivalent qualifications list includes the following:

Secure English Language Tests (SELTs)

University of Salford English language courses

Regional-based qualifications

Majority English Speaking Countries as deemed by UKVI

Medium of English Institutions

Applicants who require a Student Route visa to study in the UK may require evidence of a Secure English Language test rather than an examination or qualification due to visa requirements, as deemed by the UK Government Home Office, Visa and Immigration (UKVI).

Career Opportunities after Completing Master of Occupational Therapy (Pre-Registration)

Employment and stats

What about after uni?

After successfully completing the degree, you will be eligible to register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as an occupational therapist. As a practitioner, you will be qualified to work in a range of clinical environments, with scope for management, research, leadership and education. Occupational Therapists are employed in a range of settings.

Here are some examples of where our graduates have been employed:

Rotational posts in acute and community settings
Schools
Civil Service
GP surgeries
Charities and Third Sector Services
Government bodies
Research and Academia
Private practice

Career Links

Placements

An integral part of your learning will be provided by a series of four supervised placements amounting to over 1,000 hours in health and social care settings. These placements include hospital settings and community services. Most of our placements are currently within the Greater Manchester area.

In addition, all students have access to role-emerging, project-based, research or leadership practice experience in their third year of study, and this is supported through learning within a module to enable students to make the most of the experience. These placements involve students implementing service improvement in an organisation, which promotes the student’s professional development and facilitates innovation. Examples of role emerging placement settings, include schools, charities, and private organisations.

Further study

As a qualified occupational therapist, the University is committed to supporting your continuing professional development and offers a range of short courses and study days throughout the year to keep you at the forefront of new developments within the profession. You may also wish to pursue further academic study through a research degree on completion of this course.

Fee Information

Tuition Fee

23,556 / years