Swinburne University of Technology
Master of Occupational Therapy
- Delivery: Face to Face
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 12 months
Equips you with the skills to enhance your professional healthcare knowledge and positively impact the lives of individuals with neurological, musculoskeletal or mental health conditions.
Course overview
The Master of Occupational Therapy program prepares self-directed practitioners for community, acute and rehabilitation settings. Graduates will be eligible to practice as qualified occupational therapists.
The Master of Occupational Therapy is accredited by the Occupational Therapy Council of Australia Ltd (OTC) and approved by the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia (OTBA). Graduates will be eligible to apply for registration as an occupational therapist with the OTBA. The program is also approved by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists.
CSP Subsidised Fees Available
This program has a limited quota of Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP). The indicative CSP price is calculated based on first year fees for EFT. The actual fee may vary if there are choices in electives or majors.
Key facts
From $1,192 (CSP)
What you will study
To qualify for the award of Master of Occupational Therapy, students must complete 200 credit points comprising eleven core units of study (137.5 credit points) and three professional practice units of study (62.5 credit points) – 1,000 hours in total. Unless otherwise indicated, each unit is worth 12.5 credit points.
Core units
- Enabling Participation: Complex Conditions and Populations
- Enabling Participation: Mental Health 1
- Enabling Participation: Mental Health 2
- Enabling Participation: Children
- Enabling Participation: Musculoskeletal and Neurological 2
- Evidence Review
- DFM Toolbox: Innovation and Interdisciplinary Collaboration 1
- An Occupational Perspective of Health
- Enabling Participation: Musculoskeletal and Neurological 1
- DFM Practice: Innovation & Interdisciplinary Collaboration 2
- Enabling Participation: Advanced Practice
Placement units
- Professional Practice 1
- Professional Practice 2 (25 credit points)
- Professional Practice 3 (25 credit points)
Entry requirements
Applicants are required to have completed one of the following in the last 10 years with a GPA of 65%:
- A bachelor's degree (or higher award); OR
- A Postgraduate degree; AND
- Completed at least one anatomy and physiology undergraduate unit (such as BIO10004 Anatomy and Physiology); OR
- An equivalent anatomy and physiology bridging course.
Applicants who are already registered Occupational Therapists in Australia or overseas are not eligible to be considered for this course, unless the World Federation of Occupational Therapists does not recognise their qualification.
Other requirements
Students enrolled in this course may be required to complete an annual N95 Mask Fit Test prior to commencing placement. The student is responsible for the relevant fee.
Successful applicants must maintain a current Working with Children Check (from the Appropriate State Authority), NDIS worker screen and a current Police Check throughout the duration of the course. Students of this course are required to provide up-to-date evidence of immunisations prior to attending the placements necessary in this course. Additional immunisations in compliance with government policy or the specific requirements of the organisation you attend for your placement. Applicants are required to provide an academic transcript with their application.
Recognition of Prior Learning
If you have gained extensive and relevant knowledge through formal training or acquired relevant skills through work or through life experience, you may be eligible for recognition of prior learning (RPL).
Contact the university or visit their website for more information.
Outcomes
Learning outcomes
- Construct occupational performance profiles in collaboration with individuals, groups or communities, identify the impacts of occupation on health and wellbeing and apply these in a range of contexts.
- Critically analyse and apply contemporary theory, practice, knowledge and evidence to inform sound clinical reasoning in assessment, planning, intervention and evaluation of outcomes within the occupational therapy curriculum and in clinical practice.
- Apply well-developed independent research skills to critically review literature and produce an evidence review report that accurately summarises findings from contemporary research regarding a health assessment or intervention.
- Collaborate with clients to produce and competently implement an occupationally-focused intervention plan that supports health and wellbeing, considers the person and their environment and is safe, ethical, culturally responsive, culturally safe, lawful and accountable.
- Communicate openly, responsively and appropriately with individuals and groups across a variety of settings, adapting written, verbal and non-verbal communication to the client and practice context.
- Analyse, plan, produce, communicate and evaluate a design, technology, or device solution to a complex problem impeding occupational participation, as identified by an external partner in the disability sector.
- Implement reflective practice and demonstrate the ability to critically and accurately evaluate one's own and peers’ skills, learning styles and capacity for self-direction.
Career outcomes
Potential career in the following settings:
- Careers in rehabilitation
- Careers in private practice
- Mental health settings
- Community health settings
- Forensic settings
Fees and CSP
Estimated yearly fees in 2026:
- $9,537 (Commonwealth Supported Place)
- $36,690 (domestic full-fee paying place)
Estimated total fees in 2026:
- $19,074 (Commonwealth Supported Place)
- $73,380 (domestic full-fee paying place)
The student tuition fees as published are subject to change based on individual circumstances at the time of enrolment. These fees apply to units studied in 2026 only and may change for units studied in future years. If part-time study is permitted, annual fees will be proportionally lower based on the number of units taken per semester.
Student fees may vary in accordance with:
- The number of units studied per term.
- The choice of major or specialisation.
- Choice of units.
- Credit from previous study or work experience.
- Eligibility for government-funded loans.
You may also need to pay the student services and amenities fee.
Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.
Commonwealth Supported Places
The Australian Government allocates a certain number of CSPs to the universities each year, which are then distributed to students based on merit.
If you're a Commonwealth Supported Student (CSS), you'll only need to pay a portion of your tuition fees. This is known as the student contribution amount – the balance once the government subsidy is applied. This means your costs are much lower.
Limited CSP spaces are offered to students enrolled in selected postgraduate courses.
Your student contribution amount is:
- Calculated per the unit you're enrolled in.
- Dependent on the study areas they relate to.
- Reviewed and adjusted each year.
HECS-HELP loans are available to CSP students to pay the student contribution amount.
FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee paying domestic students with the cost of a university course.
