BSc (Hons) in Occupational Therapy
This degree prepares learners to work as competent occupational therapists across all age groups, promoting physical and mental health through occupation.
Tertiary Programme Work Experience ModuleWhy should I apply?
Students on this broad and varied Occupational Therapy course study psychology, anatomy and physiology, as well as occupational therapy theories, assessment and treatment approaches and evidence-based practice.
The UCC course stands out from other occupational therapy courses in its focus on your development – both personal and professional – which is interwoven throughout academic and practice-based modules.
Learning is different at UCC too. Complex task-based learning (TBL) is the medium through which you will study, with a lot of self-directed individual and group work. Emphasis is placed on being able to talk about what you are doing and thinking. Your knowledge, skills and abilities will be developed in a logical sequence over the course of five years.
UCC place equal emphasis on learning to work with children/young people and adults/older adults and on developing expertise in the areas of physical and mental health. On our course, we want to educate future practitioners who possess the knowledge, skills and attitudes to deliver traditional occupational therapy and are prepared to be leaders in policy development and emerging areas of practice.
What will I study?
- Year 1 - Level 5 Award - FET
- QQI Level 5 Embedded Award –Health Service Skills 5M3782.
- 5N3766– Occupational Therapy Assistant Theory
- 5N3765 – Occupational Therapy Assistant Practice
- 5N3734 – Infection Prevention & Control
- 5N0758 – Care Support
- 5N3775 – Rehabilitation Support
- 5N0749– Anatomy and Physiology
- 5N0690 – Communications
- 5N1356 – Work Experience
- Year 2 - UCC
- AN1060 Topographical Anatomy (5 credits)
- AP1024 Lifespan development (5 credits)
- OT1001 Person Environment Occupation I (15 credits)
- OT1002 Person Environment Occupation II (15 credits)
- OT1004 Becoming a Healthcare Professional (5 credits)
- OT1005 Creative Occupations and Health (5 credits)
- OT1006 Practice Education I (5 credits)
- PL1025 Fundamentals of Physiology (5 credits)
- Year 3 - UCC
- AN2060 Developmental Neuro-anatomy for Occupational Therapy (5 credits)
- AP2040 Psychology of Childhood and Adolescence (5 credits)
- CT2001 Introduction to Research Methods (5 credits)
- OT2004 Person Environment Occupation IV (10 credits)
- OT2007 Practice Education II (10 credits)
- OT2008 Personal Professional Development 1 (5 credits)
- OT2009 Personal Professional Development II (5 credits)
- OT2010 Person Environment Occupation III (15 credits)
- Year 4 - UCC
- AN3060 Applied Neuroanatomy for Occupational Therapy (5 credits)
- CT3001 Advanced Research Methods (5 credits)
- OT3006 Person Environment Occupation V (20 credits)
- OT3007 Practice Education III (10 credits)
- OT3009 Personal Professional Development III (5credits)
- OT2010 Becoming a Professional Practitioner (10 credits)
- OT3011 Applied Knowledge & Skills for Occupational Therapy (5 credits)
- Year 5 - UCC
- OT4001 Integrated Professional Practice (15 credits)
- OT4003 Practice Education IV (20 credits)
- OT4004 Research Based Project (20 credits)
- OT4005 Personal Professional Development IV (5 credits)
What are the entry requirements?
Places are awarded on the course subject to applications meeting the minimum entry requirements for the course and successfully completing all stages of the application process, culminating in writing a personal statement and a successful interview.
Both the College of Further Education and the Higher Education Institution will be represented on the interview panel. Students will be invited to write their personal statement prior to the interview, as part of the interview process.
The minimum entry requirements for the tertiary Occupational Therapy degree will align with UCC's standards:
- Leaving Certificate (or equivalent):
- Leaving Certificate with six subjects
- Minimum grade H4 in a lab science subject. Recognised Lab Science subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Physics with Chemistry, or Agricultural Science
- Minimum grade H5 in another subject.
- Minimum grade O6/H7 in four other subjects including English and Maths.
- Mature Students:
- Must be 22 years old by January 1st of the application year. There are no minimum academic entry requirements for mature students.
- QQI Level 5 Holders:
- Must have achieved the full award with an overall Merit grade.
- Must have attained a minimum of a Merit in Anatomy & Physiology (5N0749).
Applicants from the United Kingdom and overseas would need to have educational qualifications of a standard equivalent to the minimum entry requirements above in a General Certificate in Education (GCE), such as the GCE A Level.
- Applicant’s Desirable Competencies and Experience
Applicants considering the tertiary Occupational Therapy degree should want to be part of an active and changing dynamic environment. They should also enjoy working with other people and value caring for people, demonstrating compassion and empathy. In this environment, excellent problem-solving, organisational skills and creativity are a strength. Additionally, being flexible, adaptable, having physical stamina, as well as cultural competency will all be required in this role. In line with UCC’s Graduate Attributes Programme , graduates will be recognised for being well-rounded, curious, self-aware individuals who continually learn new skills, are open to new ideas, and make things happen.
- English Language Requirements
Applicants who are non-native speakers of the English language must satisfy the university of their competency in the English language, as follows:
- Irish Leaving Certificate English: Ordinary Level Grade O6
- GCE A-Level English Language: Grade D
All applicants whose first language is not English and who have not been educated through the medium of English must demonstrate CEFR proficiency at B2 for access. Evidence of English Language Proficiency must be provided through one of the following mechanisms:
English language proficiency assessment conducted by relevant ETB during the enrolment process. Minimum B2 in all skills on entry.
- A valid certificate in English language from one of the institutions listed below:
- International Examinations: Cambridge First Certificate in English (FCE), Minimum Grade – Grade B or higher
- International Examinations: Cambridge Advanced (CAE), Minimum Grade – Borderline Fail Min 170 points
- International Examinations: Cambridge Proficiency (CPE), Minimum Grade- Unsuccessful With min. 170 points
- International Examinations, IELTS, Minimum Grade 6
- Duolingo English Test DET 120 with a minimum score of 110 in each individual section
Note: IELTS certificates are only valid two years from the date of assessment. It is recommended that the same validity duration is applied to all other examinations.
What are the employment opportunities?
Occupational therapists are employed as therapists, researchers, managers and educators in Ireland and internationally.
Occupational therapy is a people profession and is all about helping people live life to the fullest. People can be prevented from living life to the fullest for lots of reasons, including ill-health, disability or other obstacles in their environment. Occupational therapists are experts in analysing everyday activities or “occupations” and helping people do the activities that they need or want to do in their day-to-day life.
Occupational therapists work in a wide range of settings, including hospitals, health centres, care homes, schools, prisons and in the community in people’s homes and workplaces.
Our course is fully accredited by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists and the Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland, meaning that your degree qualification is recognised internationally.
What's the certification?
After successfully completing Year 1
NFQ level 5 QQI Certificate in Health Service Skills (5M3782)
After successfully completing Year 2-5
NFQ level 8 Bachelor of Science (Honours) Occupational Therapy
Please Note
Students on this course are at all times subject to Garda Vetting and Fitness to Practice guidelines Fitness to Practise | University College Cork (ucc.ie)
To progress in this tertiary pathway to the four-year undergraduate degree in Occupational Therapy, students must:
Achieve the full QQI Level 5 Award. Obtain a minimum of five distinctions (excluding Work Experience). At least one of these distinctions must be from:
- Occupational Therapy Theory 5N3766
- Occupational Therapy Practice 5N3765
- Anatomy and Physiology 5N0749
- Rehabilitation Support 5N3775
Full-time Courses - FAQs
No, but if you are, you may qualify for a Training Allowance or Back to Education Allowance.
All of our employment-focused full-time day courses are fee-free and fully funded. Places are subject to an admissions interview and our course capacity - which can be as low as 14 in some cases.
Again, you don't need to be on a social welfare payment to apply or secure a place.
Our progression-focused courses are full time programmes and run from September to May each year. They provide you with the time and opportunity to explore a potential career and study path - before committing to a third level course of study.
You can achieve up to 390 points on our courses for progression which you can in turn use to access a range of third-level courses.
Kerry College has agreements in place with many Institutes of Technologies and Universities to allow our students to progress to study there.
You'll need to work hard though, achieving a full range of distinctions is often a requirement to progress.
Our employment-focused courses are full-time programmes focused on building knowledge, skill, and ability and essential qualifications to enter the jobs market.
Most have integrated work practice and/or industry placement. Many include unique, professional micro-certifications which further increase your employability.
Our courses for employment are a great choice for those wishing to career change, reskill, upskill, or start your career.
Specific entry criteria will vary depending on the course.
For most courses for employment, you must have completed a minimum of three years post-primary education or have a Junior Certificate. Some courses for employment require that you are either 18+ or 21+ before applying. Check each course page for further details.
For most courses for further study and university progression, applicants must be at least 16 years of age at course start date and ideally have a Leaving Certificate, LCVP, LCA or at the least QQI Level 4 Major Award.
Mature students (over 23) may also apply.
If you do not meet the specific entry criteria, you may be called for an information interview to secure a place, unless an interview is already part of the admissions process.
The National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) is a ten-level system (1–10) giving an academic or vocational value to qualifications obtained in Ireland.
Kerry College offers programmes at Levels 5 and 6 but also a range of industry-recognised professional certifications.
In addition, we also offer a number of pathway courses at Level 4.
A Minor award is commonly referred to as a module - but also as a component certificate or a certificate of unit credit.
These single 'modules' may be completed and certificated individually. All minor awards are linked to a major award that allows learners to collect and build their minor awards and work towards gaining a major award.
A Major award is a significant achievement and usually comprises of 8 minor awards or modules.
Gaining a major award allows progression to a range of third-level programmes or qualifies you for an entry-level job where you can build on your qualification with experience.
Our Monavalley Campus has full-time courses starting every month of the year. These courses range from 8 weeks to 56 weeks in duration. We don't do a mid-term or Easter break at Monavalley. Our Campus Locations at Clash Road, Denny Street, and Listowel run by the academic calendar - starting in September and ending in May and include breaks at mid-term and Easter. Our academic year is 38 contact weeks- so when you see 39 weeks, it's a year-long course of 38 weeks plus one week for Christmas.
Applications for all full-time programmes should be made online via the Kerry College website. Your application will be processed using FETCHCOURSES - the National FET Course Application System.
If you haven't signed up for a FETCH account, you'll need to do this first. It's free and a one-time setup.
FETCH COURSES is the national application system for all FET course applications.
All new applicants must set up a free account on www.fetchcourses.ie. You must use this to apply for all further education and training progarmmes anywhere in Ireland.
For existing FETCH COURSES account holders, login and apply as before.
You can reset your password using your email or mobile phone. When you do, make sure you keep it for future reference.
Bear in mind, FETCH uses your PPS number to identify you - so although you might be able to set up a second account - it won't work properly.
If you're still stuck, contact our Tralee Admissions team on 066-714 96 96 or Killarney Admissions team on 064-662 25 93.
We use the admissions interview to ensure minimum entry requirements are met and to pre-screen applicants for work practice and/or industry placement. We also assess which applicants will gain the most from spending some time at Kerry College.
In preparation for the interview, consider why you’ve applied for the course, know the modules and the overall award, what you need to learn, and how you plan to use your new skills. You'll need to bring a copy of your CV and any relevant certificates.
In cases where there is a high demand for a course, you need to do well at the interview to make it onto the class-list.
Sometime, applicants don't meet the minimum entry criteria but feel they have the aptitute and experience to successfully complete the course. This is often where a mature learner is returning to education without a Leaving Certificate.
Get in touch with us at the Tralee Admisisons Office on 066-714 96 96 or Killarney Admissions Office on 064- 662 25 93 where we will discuss your application with you.
Yes, you do. A lot can change in a year and we always like to catch up with you and see how we can help.
You have 3 funding routes to explore. If eligible, you may receive one of the following on a full-time Kerry College course:
Learner Payment, Back to Education Allowance, and SUSI Grant.
LEARNER PAYMENT
Also known as a Training Allowance. If you are on a qualifying DEASP payment, you may continue to receive this payment as a Learner Payment while on any full-time course at Kerry College. An F103 form is issued by Kerry College to applicants who accept a course place. This form must be completed by you and stamped and signed by DEASP/INTREO. Bring it with you on the first day of the course to have your Learner Payment processed.
BACK TO EDUCATION ALLOWANCE (BTEA)
When you have been accepted onto any full-time course at Kerry College and you feel you may qualify for a Back To Education Allowance, notify DEASP by filling in the form BTE 1 – available for download here: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/ff3e80-back-to-education-programme-sw70/
SUSI GRANT
You may qualify for a SUSI Grant (via www.susi.ie) if you have applied for a SUSI approved course. Check their website for this list which includes many Kerry College courses for third level progression.
The responsibility for researching and applying for funding and financial supports is yours. We are always available to point you in the right direction though!
If you can't take up your place, you should let our team know immediately, so we can offer your place to another applicant.
We don't have a deferral policy in place for our full-time courses.
Unfortunately, this is not possible.
Your Learner Payment payment (also called a training allowance) is payable on receipt of signed and stamped F103 form at course start. We send an individualised F103 to all successful applicants. If you are on a qualifying social welfare payment, DEASP/INTREO will stamp and sign this for you.
Our courses for employment are free. If you can attend full time, you can apply for a place. Despite not qualifying for funding or a grant, you may still get a travel payment (if you live more than 3 miles/5km away from the campus location) or an accommodation payment (if you live more than 20 miles/32km away from the campus location).
Our courses for progression are free. At present, travel or accommodation payments are not part of these courses.
Kerry College has abolished all online application fees and is working to make Further Education & Training free for everyone in County Kerry.
The NCS (National Childcare Scheme) is now in place and provides childcare supports for those on full-time education and training programmes. Full details can be found on the www.ncs.gov.ie webpage.
Get in touch with Kerry County Childcare Committee at (066) 718 1582 to discuss which childcare supports are available to you should you enroll on a full-time FET course.
Still have questions?
Contact our Kerry College Admissions Offices – Tralee on 066 714 9696, Killarney on 064 662 2593 or [email protected]