University of Canberra
Master of Occupational Therapy
- Delivery: Face to Face
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 24 months
Build the professional knowledge and practical experience required for occupational therapy practice through a two-year postgraduate program that includes more than 1,000 hours of Work Integrated Learning.
Course overview
The University of Canberra’s Master of Occupational Therapy is a postgraduate pathway into occupational therapy, combining academic study with extensive professional learning. The course is designed to develop the knowledge and skills needed to support people to participate in meaningful everyday activities across health and community contexts.
Practical experience is a major component of the degree. UC’s 2027 course guide identifies the Master of Occupational Therapy as including more than 1,000 hours of Work Integrated Learning, giving students substantial exposure to professional practice before graduation.
The course is designed as a two-year full-time program, providing an intensive postgraduate pathway for students preparing to enter occupational therapy practice. The combination of university study and extensive work-integrated learning allows students to develop and apply professional skills in authentic practice environments.
For 2027, UC lists the Master of Occupational Therapy under course code 132JA, with Semester 2 commencement and UAC code 880820. I have kept this description deliberately conservative because the searchable 2027 UC course guides confirm the current structure, duration and placement volume, while I have not used the older 2025 handbook copy to fill in additional details.
Key facts
7th August, 2028
What you will study
To earn the Master of Occupational Therapy course, students must complete 48 credit points. Unless otherwise indicated, each unit is worth three credit points.
Required
Students must pass 48 credit points from the following:
- Research Planning
- Counselling Skills and Models
- Foundations of Occupational Therapy
- Humans as Occupational Beings 1
- Humans as Occupational Beings 2
- Occupation in Context
- Occupational Therapy Toolbox 1
- Occupational Therapy Toolbox 2
- Epidemiology and Principles of Research
- Foundations of Anatomy and Physiology
- Professional Reasoning in Occupational Therapy
- Occupational Therapy and Mental Health
- OTPP 1: Foundations of Professional Practice
- OTPP 2: Developing Practice Competency
- OTPP 3: Transition to Professional Practice (six credit points)
Entry requirements
A completed bachelor's degree in any discipline with a credit average or higher.
English language requirements
There are non-standard English language requirements for this course. To be eligible, you must have an overall IELTS Academic score (or equivalent) of 7.0, with no band score below 7.0. For alternate/equivalent ways of meeting the English requirements for this course, please view the English Proficiency Requirements document on the university website.
Recognition of Prior Learning
There are currently no formal credit transfer arrangements for entry to this course. Previous study or work experience may only be considered as part of the application process in accordance with current course rules and University policy.
Outcomes
Learning outcomes
- Consolidate skills that support lifelong learning through the integration of complex ideas, different systems of knowledge and creative use of technologies.
- Develop culturally responsive practice and an understanding of lived experience and diverse perspectives to work equitably in cross-cultural contexts, including with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
- Critically evaluate and enact ethical and culturally responsive occupational therapy, supported by reflective practice.
- Communicate in a respectful, responsive and effective manner to maximise the occupational participation of individuals and communities.
- Implement evidence-based occupational therapy service planning, assessment, intervention and review based on the needs of individuals and communities.
Once graduated, students can choose to continue with further study or move into a variety of jobs in a range of public, private and voluntary sectors, including:
- Homes, schools and workplaces
- Health and rehabilitation centres
- Supported accommodation
- Aged care
- Hospitals
Fees, CSP and FEE-HELP
Indicative CSP fee in 2027: $1,235 per standard 3-credit-point unit
Indicative annual CSP fee in 2027: $9,880
Limited Commonwealth Supported Places are available for the Master of Occupational Therapy and are awarded on academic merit. UC also issues domestic fee-paying offers for this course.
The CSP student contribution is calculated according to the units studied and their EFTSL. Units with a higher credit-point value may have a higher fee.
Eligible Commonwealth supported students may be able to use HECS-HELP. Eligible domestic full-fee paying students may be able to use FEE-HELP.
