Overview

First Year - Occupational Therapy

To be admitted to the First University Examination in Occupational Therapy a student must have satisfactorily attended modules to the value of 60 credits.

Second Year - Occupational Therapy

No student may register for the Second Year programme of study until the First University Examination has been passed. To be admitted to the Second University Examination in Occupational Therapy a student must have satisfactorily attended modules to the value of 60 credits.

Non-clinical Exit Pathway for students not proceeding to Third Year Occupational Therapy

1. The BSc (Ordinary) (Occupational Studies), NFQ Level 7, is a non-clinical exit pathway for students who satisfy the pass and progression standards of Second Year Occupational Therapy, but who, following consultation with the Programme Leader, do not continue with their clinical education. Such students may register instead for the non-clinical BSc (Occupational Studies) in their Third Year, for one further year. Programme requirements are outlined on the corresponding page. The BSc (Ordinary) (Occupational Studies) does not confer eligibility to practice as an Occupational Therapist.
2. The BSc (Hons) (Occupational Studies), NFQ Level 8, is a non-clinical exit pathway for students who satisfy the pass and progression standards of the Second Year Occupational Therapy Examination, but who, following consultation with the Programme Leader, do not continue with their clinical education leading to the qualification to practice in the BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy. Such students may register instead for the non-clinical BSc (Hons) for a further two years. Programme requirements are outlined on the corresponding page. The BSc (Hons) (Occupational Studies) is a non-clinical degree and does not confer eligibility to practice as an Occupational Therapist.

Students who satisfy the pass standard for Year 3 - the BSc (Ordinary) (Occupational Studies) may opt not to be conferred with the Ordinary degree and may instead transfer to the Fourth Year BSc (Hons) (Occupational Studies) programme.

Third Year - Occupational Therapy

No student may register for the Third Year programme of study until the Second University Examination has been passed. To be admitted to the Third University Examination in Occupational Therapy, a student must have satisfactorily attended modules to the value of 60 credits.

Non-Clinical Exit Pathway for students not completing Third Year Occupational Therapy

The BSc (Ordinary) (Occupational Studies), NFQ Level 7 is a non-clinical Ordinary degree pathway for students who do not satisfy the pass standard for the placement module (OT3007 Practice Education III) in Year 3 of the BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy in the Summer Examinations and/or the Autumn Supplemental Examinations, or who do not wish to continue with their clinical education. Such students may, following consultation with the Programme Leader, register instead for the non-clinical BSc (Ordinary) (Occupational Studies) degree. Programme requirements are outlined on the corresponding page. The BSc (Ordinary) (Occupational Studies) does not confer eligibility to practice as an Occupational Therapist.

Students who pass the replacement module OT3008 Independent Project in Occupational Studies (in place of OT3007 Practice Education III), at the first or the second attempt, and have passed all other modules in Third Year Occupational Studies may, following consultation with the Programme Leader, progress to the Fourth Year BSc (Hons) Occupational Studies degree, NFQ Level 8. Students continue with their registration on the non-clinical pathway, taking module OT4007 Independent Project in Occupational Studies (in place of OT4003 Practice Education IV) and all other fourth year modules. The BSc (Hons) Occupational Studies does not confer eligibility to practice as an Occupational Therapist.

Non-Clinical Exit Pathway for Students not proceeding to Fourth Year Occupational Therapy

The BSc (Hons) Occupational Studies, NFQ Level 8, is a non-clinical Honours degree pathway for students who satisfy the pass and progression standards of Third Year Occupational Therapy, but who, following consultation with the Programme Leader, do not to continue with their clinical education. Such students may register instead for the non-clinical BSc (Hons) Occupational Studies, commencing in Fourth Year. Programme requirements are outlined on the corresponding page. The BSc (Hons) (Occupational Studies) does not confer eligibility to practice as an Occupational Therapist.

Fourth Year - Occupational Therapy

No student may register for the Fourth Year programme of study until the Third University Examination has been passed. To be admitted to the Fourth University Examination in Occupational Therapy, a student must have satisfactorily attended modules to the value of 60 credits.

Non-Clinical Exit Pathway for Students not Completing Fourth Year Occupational Therapy

The BSc (Hons) Occupational Studies is a non-clinical Honours degree for students who do not satisfy the pass standard for the placement module (OT4003 Practice Education IV) in Year 4 of the BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy in the Summer Examinations and/or the Autumn Supplemental Examinations, or who following consultation with the Programme Leader do not to continue with their clinical education. Such students may register instead for the non-clinical BSc (Hons) Occupational Studies degree and complete Year 4 of the programme. Programme requirements are outlined on the corresponding page. The BSc (Hons) Occupational Studies does not confer eligibility to practice as an Occupational Therapist.

Programme Requirements

For information about modules, module choice, options and credit weightings, please go to Programme Requirements. 

Programme Requirements

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Module List

Code	Title	Credits
Year 1
Students take 60 credits as follows:
Core Modules
AN1060	Topographical Anatomy	5
AP1024	Lifespan development	5
OT1001	Person Environment Occupation I	15
OT1002	Person Environment Occupation II	15
OT1004	Becoming a Healthcare Professional	5
OT1005	Creative Occupations and Health	5
OT1006	Practice Education I	5
PL1025	Fundamentals of Physiology	5
Year 2
Students take 60 credits as follows:
Core Modules
AN2060	Developmental Neuro-anatomy for Occupational Therapy	5
AP2040	Psychology of Childhood and Adolescence	5
CT2001	Introduction to Research Methods	5
OT2004	Person Environment Occupation IV	10
OT2007	Practice Education II	10
OT2008	Personal Professional Development I	5
OT2009	Personal Professional Development II	5
OT2010	Person Environment Occupation III	15
Year 3
Students take 60 credits as follows:
Core Modules
AN3060	Applied Neuroanatomy for Occupational Therapy	5
CT3001	Advanced Research Methods	5
OT3006	Person Environment Occupation V	20
OT3007	Practice Education III	10
OT3009	Personal Professional Development III	5
OT3010	Becoming a Professional Practitioner	10
OT3011	Applied Knowledge and Skills for Occupational Therapy	5
Year 4
Students take 60 credits as follows:
Core Modules
OT4001	Integrated Professional Practice	15
OT4003	Practice Education IV	20
OT4004	Research-Based Project	20
OT4005	Personal Professional Development IV	5
Total Credits		240

Examinations

Full details and regulations governing Examinations for each programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards Book and for each module in the Book of Modules.

Programme Learning Outcomes

Programme Learning Outcomes for BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy (NFQ Level 8, Major Award)

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

1
1-1
Promote health and wellbeing through participation in occupation across the lifespan;
1-2
2
Practise occupational therapy in accordance with the World Federation of Occupational Therapists Revised Minimum Standards for the Education of Occupational Therapists (2002) ensuring their practice is occupation-based, evidence-based, person-centred and culturally sensitive;
1-3
3
Apply the occupational therapy process to individuals, groups and communities of all age groups in context, based on strong theory and evidence;
1-4
4
Practise in adherence with legal, ethical and best practice guidelines;
1-5
5
Establish and maintain therapeutic and professional relationships in a range of practice settings;
1-6
6
Demonstrate professional reasoning skills and reflective practice in a broad range of practice settings;
1-7
7
Value the context of professional practice, demonstrating a critical awareness of health and social policies and legislation;
1-8
8
Demonstrate a commitment to continuing professional education and lifelong learning, for self and others;
1-9
9
Engage in research to advance knowledge and practice development in Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy.

*** Only for Incoming First Years and Repeat First Years 2024/2025 ***
*** Click here for Marks and Standards for all other years ***

Marks and Standards

These Marks and Standards should be read in conjunction with the Programme Requirements and the Book of Modules.

Fitness to Practise

All students on programmes subject to Fitness to Practise in UCC will be required to comply with the Fitness to Practise Policy and meet the relevant Fitness to Practise standards, in order to progress to the next year of his/her/their programme. Click here for a list of programmes subject to the Fitness to Practise Policy.

Marks and Credits

Students are required to take modules to the value of 60 credits.
Total Marks for year: 1200.

First Year - Pass and Progression Criteria

To pass first year and progress to second year, students must have satisfied the Fitness to Practise requirements and must achieve:

1. An aggregate mark of 50% across all modules, and
2. A pass mark in modules to the value of 60 credits.

Award of Honours in the Degree Award

An honours classification is awarded for the final degree using the final year examination results and marks carried forward from the penultimate year. The aggregate of 33.33% of the penultimate year marks plus 66.67% of the final year marks will be used to calculate the final degree award.

Honours will be awarded as follows:

1. First Class Honours: ≥ 70%
2. Second Class Honours, Grade I: ≥ 60% and <70%
3. Second Class Honours, Grade II: ≥ 55% and <60%
4. Pass: ≥ 50% and <55%

Examination Boards

• Provisional marks for Semester 1 examinations are released in January/February of each year. These marks are subject to approval at the University Examination Board.
• Marks for all modules taken in Semester 1 and 2, including those wholly assessed by Continuous Assessment, will be presented to the University Examination Board at the end of Semester 2.

Supplemental Examinations and Assessment

• Students who fail to achieve the progression standard for the year at the Summer Examination Board must complete Supplemental Examinations and/or Continuous Assessment for those specific module(s), where there is provision to do so.
• Please refer to the Book of Modules for requirements governing the Supplemental Examination and Assessment for individual modules. Note: For some modules there is no Supplemental Examination and Assessment.
• The marks achieved in the Supplemental Examinations and/or Continuous Assessment of a repeat module are considered at the Autumn Examination Board.
• The actual mark achieved by the candidate in the Supplemental or Repeat Year Examination will be recorded on the student record (Academic Transcript).
• The maximum mark that will be taken into account for aggregation and progression purposes is a pass level, unless the student has been granted a cap waiver or deferral by the University Mitigation Committee, or a University Examination Board, or has been approved to defer the previous attempt by the University Mitigation Committee.
• At the Autumn Examination Board, marks from all passed modules approved at the Summer Examination Board are carried forward and are combined with the marks achieved in Supplemental Examinations and/or Assessments. The pass and progression criteria are applied to the aggregate mark achieved.

Note: The mark achieved at the last examination/assessment attempt is the mark that is included in the calculation of the aggregate mark for pass and progression purposes.

Exemptions

All passed modules carry an exemption, which is limited to a period of five academic years (or two in the case of Computer Science modules) subsequent to the award of the exemption.

Repeat Year Examinations

Students retain module exemptions, if any, and must repeat all failed/absent modules, including those modules where the failing mark previously achieved was greater than the level of compensation (≥ 45%) but who failed to achieve the progression standard for the year (see above). The pass and progression criteria are then applied to the combination of full marks achieved in modules passed at the first attempt, plus capped marks achieved in modules in the Repeat Year Examinations.​

Note: For students selecting different modules not previously taken, there are no restrictions on the marks awarded for those modules at the first attempt in a repeat year. The selection of different modules by the student means that the student foregoes any previous marks achieved in the original modules (including previously passed modules).

Two Year Rule

Students must pass/progress within two academic years of the date of first registration for a year, otherwise they cannot continue in the programme.

Terms and Definitions

Programme Description

• The programme description is outlined in the Programme Requirements tab.

Module Descriptions/Assessment

• Module descriptions, including the pass standard for a module, special requirements to pass a module, and assessment elements and their weightings, are contained in the Book of Modules.

Marks and Credits

• A maximum of 100 marks may be awarded for every five credits of a programme.
• Some modules are assessed on a Pass/Fail basis only, i.e. marks are not awarded.

Pass and Progression

• Progression is defined as the permission granted to a student to register in the subsequent academic year for the next set of modules within his/her/their programme of study.
• Compensation is defined as the process by which a student, who fails to satisfy some of the regulations for credit in a specific module, is nevertheless recommended for credit to be awarded on the grounds that the failure is offset by his/her/their performance in the other modules on his/her/their programme of study.