Bachelor of Occupational Therapy

Course summary for international students

Award granted Bachelor of Occupational Therapy
CampusOffered at Geelong Waterfront Campus
Off-campusNo
Length4 years full-time or part-time equivalent
Next available intake

March (Trimester 1)

Indicative annual fee 2014$24,660* AUD
LevelUndergraduate
CRICOS course code055178G
IELTS Requirement

Overall IELTS score of 6.0 with no band less than 6.0 (or equivalent). More information is available at www.ielts.org

Deakin course code H355
VTAC Codes1400415353 - Waterfront (Geelong), International full-fee paying place
Faculty contactsDeakin International
Tel +61 3 9627 4877
Online enquiry

Course structure applies to students who commenced in 2013 onwards. Students who commenced prior to 2013 should refer to previous online handbooks or consult your course enrolment officer.

Field Education: Details are available at the OT Field Education website

Course sub-headings

Course overview

Occupational therapists have specialised knowledge to promote health and wellbeing through occupation. Using their understanding of occupation and health, occupational therapists work collaboratively with people who might have limitations, including those caused by injury, health conditions, delayed development or the effects of ageing. Occupational therapy interventions are designed to enhance participation in everyday life and may include activities or assistive devices, or modification of home or work environments to facilitate active engagement in work, home, social and leisure activities.

This course draws upon Deakin’s core strengths in health education to ensure you receive a relevant, practical occupational therapy (OT) education that meets changing workforce needs. Throughout the course, you will benefit from our on-campus clinical skills laboratory which simulates real life settings and enables you to gain the knowledge and skills required to help clients manage their entire day in modified home and office environments. You will also consolidate your skills through a series of supervised placements which commence shortly after you begin your studies.


Selected students will have the opportunity to complete an honours year as part of this course.

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Professional recognition

You can travel around the world with your occupational therapy qualification from Deakin. Deakin’s Bachelor of Occupational Therapy is accredited by by OT Australia and World Federation of Occupational Therapists allows graduates of the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy to practise professionally in Australia and overseas.

 

Graduates are qualified to work as occupational therapists in private practice, hospitals, aged care, community health centres and organisations, disability support, driving rehabilitation, hand therapy, rehabilitation and schools.

Fees and charges

Fee paying place - International (IFP)
A Fee paying place is one for which the University does not receive any government funding. As such, students enrolled in these places are required to contribute the full cost of their course.

Fees for international students apply to persons living in Australia with Temporary Resident status, provided that there is no limitation on study and persons living abroad who are not Australian citizens and do not have Permanent Resident status in Australia.

Equivalent Full Time Student Load (EFTSL)
EFTSL is the standard annual full time load. Eight credit points is the standard full time load for one year of study.

* The 'indicative annual course fee' cited has been provided as a guide only. It has been calculated on the basis of a typical enrolment of a student undertaking the course in 2014, and reflects the cost involved in undertaking a full-time quota of units within the specified discipline.
The actual fees charged by Deakin University will depend upon the discipline from which each individual unit is chosen, and may vary from the indicative course fee cited, particularly if units are chosen from a number of disciplines. The cost of each unit offered in 2014 can be viewed from the Unit Search.
Please note that the fees per unit/credit point may increase annually due to rises in the cost of course delivery and service.
Deakin assumes no responsibility for persons relying on 'indicative course fees' to calculate the total future cost of their course.

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Career opportunities

Employment opportunities for occupational therapists have never been greater due to a workforce shortage of qualified practitioners in this field. As a graduate of this course you will be able to assist people of all ages to engage in any aspect of daily living. You will help them achieve independence at home, at work and in the community, and help them enhance their quality of life. You may work with children with physical or intellectual disabilities, with people who have had accidents or are suffering from medical problems (e.g. hand therapy), or in aged care. You may work in areas including acute, psychiatric or rehabilitation hospitals; schools; community health; mental health; the workplace (such as in occupational health and safety and vocational rehabilitation); government; or in private practice.

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Course rules

The Bachelor of Occupational Therapy comprises 32 credit points, including 29 credit points of core units, 1 selective unit and 2 credit points of elective units.


To be awarded the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy degree with honours a person must

Failure of a fieldwork component in the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy will normally lead to exclusion. Students will be required to complete at least one fieldwork component in a regional area of Victoria or adjacent areas.

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Course structure

Level 1

Trimester 1

HBS107 Understanding Health  

HBS109 Human Structure and Function  

HDS101 Communication and Diversity  

HSO102 Foundations of Occupational Science and Therapy A  

 

Trimester 2

HSE102 Functional Human Anatomy  

HSE208 Integrated Human Physiology  

HSO104 Foundations of Occupational Science and Therapy B  

 

plus one selective unit from the following choices:

HBS110 Health Behaviour  

HPS111 Fundamentals of Human Behaviour  

HPS121 Psychology B: Individual and Social Development  

 

Level 2

Trimester 1

HSO202 Impact of Health Conditions On Occupational Performance  

HSO205 Occupations in Childhood Development  

HSO207 Neurological Structure, Function and Plasticity  

plus one elective unit

 

Trimester 2

HBS108 Health Information and Data  

HSO206 Occupation Across the Lifespan  

HSO208 Analysis of Occupational Performance  

plus one elective unit

 

Level 3

Trimester 1

HBS345 Interprofessional Collaboration in Health Care  

HSO302 Evidence-Based Occupational Therapy Practice 1  

HSO305 Occupational Performance: Evaluation and Intervention 1  

HSO307 Psychosocial Influences on Occupational Performance  

 

Trimester 2

HSO303 Evidence-Based Occupational Therapy Practice 2  

HSO304 Work Integrated Learning A  

HSO306 Occupational Performance: Evaluation and Intervention 2  

 

Level 4 - Pass stream

Trimester 1

HSO401 OT Practice Applying Knowledge and Reasoning  

HSO403 Promoting Occupational Engagement Through Assistive Technology  

HSO405 Work Integrated Learning B  

 

Trimester 2

HSO406 Consolidating Occupational Therapy Practice  (commences 2016)

HSO408 Transition to Practice  (commences 2016)

 

Level 4 - Honours stream

 

Trimester 1

HSO403 Promoting Occupational Engagement Through Assistive Technology  

HSO405 Work Integrated Learning B  

HSO411 OT Honours Proposal Ethics and Literature  

 

Trimester 2

HSO414 OT Honours Analysis and Critique  

HSO416 Honours Research Project  (commences 2016)

 

Elective units

Elective units may be chosen from any faculty in the University provided that prerequisites are met. A maximum of two elective units may be studied at level 1.

 

Sociology elective unit:

ASC206 Sociology of Health  

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Work-Integrated Learning

You will undertake a variety of practicum placements throughout the four years of the course, commencing in your first year. Fieldwork provides you with the opportunity to gain valuable skills and experience under the supervision of qualified practitioners, which will enable you to practise confidently as an occupational therapist. You will complete a minimum of 1000 hours of practical experience. Fieldwork is conducted in a range of settings including schools, hospitals, clinics, community health organisations and industry, in metropolitan, regional and rural locations.


In a host agency, you can play a meaningful role in a variety of activities, including planning programs and events, undertaking needs assessments, developing evaluation tools, counselling, group work, completing literature reviews and producing promotional materials. Placements begin shortly after you commence your first year of study.

Department of Human Services policy and Working with Children Check

 

In accordance with Department of Human Services policy* all students are required to obtain a Police Records Check (PRC) each year prior to undertaking field placements and a Working with Children Check (WWC) at the commencement of the course.

 

* Department of Human Services Policy on Working with Children Check and Police Records Checks can be found at: http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/facs/bdb/fmu/service-agreement/4.departmental-policies-procedures-and-initiatives/4.6-police-record-check-policy-including-working-with-children-check

** Department of Justice 2007, Working with Children Act 2005, Victoria, Australia retrieved April 2012.

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Entry requirements - general

General admission requirements for entry into undergraduate courses for international students at Deakin are summarised in the undergraduate admission requirements table (194kb).
Some courses may have additional entry requirements.
Students must also meet the undergraduate English language requirements.

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Credit for prior learning - general

If you have completed previous studies which you believe may reduce the number of units you have to complete at Deakin, indicate in the appropriate section on your application that you wish to be considered for credit for prior learning. You will need to provide a certified copy of your previous course details so your credit can be determined. If you are eligible, your offer letter will then contain information about your credit for prior learning.
Your credit for prior learning is formally approved prior to your enrolment at Deakin during the Enrolment and Orientation Program. You must bring original documents relating to your previous study so that this approval can occur.

You can also refer to the Credit for Prior Learning System which outlines the credit that may be granted towards a Deakin University degree.

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How to apply

Tracking your application
If you have already applied and wish to enquire about your application please refer to the relevant area through which you originally applied.