University of South Australia
Master of Occupational Therapy (Graduate Entry)
- Delivery: Face to Face
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 24 months
Designed for students who have already completed a bachelor’s degree and meet entry requirements, this intensive master’s degree will qualify you to practise as a registered occupational therapist with two extra years of study.
Course overview
Degree overview
- Take your bachelor’s degree to the next level and gain the required practice as a registered occupational therapist with two extra years of study.
- Be part of a university with more than 50 years' experience in occupational therapy education and research.
- Study at the No.1 university in South Australia for graduate careers.
- Benefit from UniSA's strong industry alliances with not-for-profit organisations, aged care facilities, community programs, disability and children’s service providers.
- Take part in real-world industry placements as part of your study.
- Learn from award-winning teaching staff, academics, practising health professionals and researchers in the field.
- Learn from a university with world-class research in occupational therapy.
- UniSA is an unstoppable university for unstoppable people. As one of the World’s Top Young Universities, we’ll ensure you get the experience your future profession demands, so it’ll feel like you’re studying one minute and in a career the next.
Occupational therapists empower people to live whole and rewarding lives. They help people of all ages achieve their goals, optimise their lifestyles and actively participate in society irrespective of limitations.
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
What you will study
To complete the Master of Occupational Therapy (Graduate Entry), students must take 72 units or 15 courses. Unless otherwise indicated, each course is worth 4.5 units.
Core courses
Complete the following courses:
- Introduction to Occupational Therapy Practice GE
- Enabling Occupation 1
- Occupational Therapy Field Placement 1
- Evidence-Based Practice Skills
- Human Neuroscience GE
- Enabling Occupation 2
- Occupational Science (GE)
- Occupational Therapy Field Placement 2
- Enabling Occupation 3
- Enabling Occupation 4
- Participatory Community Practice GE: Planning
- Evidence-Based Practice GE
- Enabling Occupation 5
- Participatory Community Practice GE: Implementation
- Occupational Therapy Field Placement 4 (9 units)
Entry requirements
Applicants must:
- Have completed a recognised Bachelor's Degree or higher within the past 10 years with a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 5.0.
- Have completed the prerequisite courses at a Bachelor's level or higher within the last 10 years.
All applicants must demonstrate their eligibility by completing the Additional Information Form and providing supporting evidence.
Prerequisite courses
Applicants are required to provide evidence of satisfactory completion of the following prerequisite courses:
- 0.125 EFTSL of Human Anatomy that includes musculoskeletal and systems anatomy.
- 0.125 EFTSL of Human Physiology.
- 0.125 EFTSL of either Human Psychology or Sociology/Anthropology.
- 0.125 EFTSL of Research Methodologies.
Note: Applicants who are overseas-trained occupational therapists and are eligible to apply for assessment by the Occupational Therapy Council of Australia to meet the qualification requirements for registration by the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia are not eligible to apply for this program.
Recognition of Prior Learning
Credit transfer (study credit) formally recognises your prior learning and work/life experience. It can be granted for specific courses (subjects) or a block of courses where your previous qualification or experience is equivalent to the learning.
So, what counts as prior learning? It can be from one of the following providers:
- Recognised higher education provider.
- TAFE or other recognised VET provider.
- A professional body, enterprise, private educational institution, or other similar body.
- Work experience.
Contact the university for more information.
Outcomes
Career outcomes
A successful occupational therapist is professional, an excellent communicator, observant, logical, a critical thinker and evidence-based. You’ll enjoy working with people and be mentally, emotionally and physically capable. This field of work is advantageous and can offer exciting challenges, assisting people in the everyday occupations of life.
You can gain employment in a range of settings, including:
- Public and private hospitals
- Private practice
- Community mental health services
- Ambulatory and rehabilitation services
- Aged care facilities
- Home-based services
- Local council services
- Government departments
- Schools
- Not-for-profit and non-government sector
Fees and CSP
Estimated first-year fee in 2025: $9,314 (Commonwealth Supported Place)
The estimated first-year fee is calculated based on 1.0 EFTSL (Equivalent Full-Time Study Load).
Student fees may vary per:
- 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.
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 only need to pay some of your tuition fees. The student contribution amount is 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 unit you're enrolled in.
- Depending 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.
