Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy is a healthcare profession concerned with enabling people to participate in the activities of daily life, the occupations that give life meaning, structure, and purpose, when illness, injury, disability, or life circumstances have made this difficult or impossible. Occupational therapists work with people across the full range of human experience, from children with developmental disabilities and adults recovering from stroke or injury to older people managing the effects of ageing and people living with mental illness. The profession is founded on the belief that occupation, the things people do, is central to health and wellbeing, and that supporting participation in meaningful activity is itself a therapeutic intervention.

At the University of Essex, this three-year full-time programme leads to qualification as an occupational therapist and registration with the Health and Care Professions Council, which is the regulatory body for the profession. The degree combines academic study with substantial clinical placement experience, which is essential because occupational therapy is a practice-based profession where competence can only be developed through supervised work with real clients. You will study anatomy and physiology, psychology, the theory and practice of occupational therapy, assessment methods, the impact of disability and illness on occupation, and the ethical frameworks that govern clinical practice.

Clinical placements take you into a range of settings, including acute hospitals, community services, mental health units, and social care environments.

Essex has connections with NHS trusts and social care organisations in the East of England, supporting the placement network that is central to the degree. Colchester and the surrounding area provide a range of clinical settings that give you broad professional experience across the programme.

Occupational therapy graduates enter a profession with strong employment prospects and clear opportunities for specialisation and career development within the NHS, social care, and the independent sector.