Theory will prepare you for practice learning, experiences are designed to help you not only to apply theory to practice, but to develop critical and ethical approaches to your practice in order to become life-long, competent professionals. You are required to attend the practice learning experiences provided on the course to achieve the course practice learning outcomes.

You’ll undertake a range of practice learning experiences, helping you to build your skills, confidence, creativity, resilience, integrity and curiosity. This will take place in different practice learning environments, reflecting the range of ways in which services are currently delivered. This might include simulated learning and virtual placements alongside real world experience of services delivered face to face to service users. 

The university will ensure that the practice learning element of your course will be compliant with the requirements of the Professional and Statutory Regulatory Body (PSRB) governing your chosen profession. This is so that by the end of your course, you will have been provided with the opportunity to demonstrate attainment of the requirements to register as a professional with your chosen profession.

All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.

On this course you'll benefit from an eclectic teaching approach. The combination of active learning, problem-based learning and enquiry-based learning approaches simulate authentic, real life scenarios across the modules. There are no exams within this course. We focus on your personal development through reflective practice and skill attainment to enhance your employability.

You learn through

• practice based learning in a variety of different health and social care settings
• group work
• lectures and seminars
• simulated and practical workshops
• academic study and coursework
• conducting research through a planned dissertation
• action learning sets

This course allows you to apply for registration with the UK Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and find careers as an occupational therapist in a wide range of health, social care, voluntary and independent sector environments. Graduates have secured positions across the UK and international locations.

Previous graduates for this course have gone on to work for

• NHS
• The Education Authority
• charities
• independent private sector
• RCOT

We’ve invested over £100m in new facilities to help you study how and when you want. This means 24-hour libraries, a clinical simulation suite and study spaces designed by our students.

You need a first degree recognised in the UK at 2:1 or above in a related subject for example psychology, sociology, biology, health sciences and humanities. Applicants with a 2:2 in the above subjects will be considered on an individual basis. Applicants who have a 2:1 in a subject other than those above will also be considered on an individual basis which would take into relevant subjects studied at level 3.

or

a professional qualification at degree level such as teaching, nursing, social work or an allied health profession

and

GCSEs in

• Science at grade C or 4 or equivalents
• Maths at grade C or 4 or equivalents
• English Language or Literature at grade C or 4 or equivalents

GCSE Science equivalents

• OCR Science level 2
• Science units gained on a level 3 BTEC or OCR National Diploma or Extended Diploma quualification
• Science credits gained on Access to Higher Education Diplomas (at least 12 credits at level 2 or 6 credits gained at level 3)
• Science equivalency test from www.equivalencytesting.co.uk

GCSE Maths equivalents

• Level 2 Key Skills/ Application of Number/ Grade D at GSCE Maths/ Level 2 Maths credits from an Access course
• Maths equivalency test from www.equivalencytesting.co.uk

GCSE English equivalents

• Level 2 Literacy
• Level 2 Key Skills

IELTS

If English is not your first language you will need an IELTS score of 7.0 overall and a minimum of 5.5 in all skills, or a recognised equivalent. If your level of English language is currently below IELTS 7.0 we recommend you consider an appropriate Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve the required level of English.

Helping your application succeed

Experience

Experience of interacting with members of the public from a range of backgrounds in different settings is essential when applying to a health or social care course. This is so you will have an understanding of the diversity of the population who access health and social care.  It is important to be able to understand and explain how your experiences relate to the activities and qualities which are required for the profession at your interview.

Reference

You must provide a reference from a current or recent employer or educational institution.

Interview

If you are shortlisted, we will invite you to an online interview. To confirm your identity on the day please bring a valid form of photo ID with you, preferably a passport or photo driving licence.

View our interview guidance to ensure you understand the interviews process and how you can prepare for this.   

Course enrolment - professional requirements

Before enrolling you must fully declare the following information on the pre-admission declaration form provided during the admissions process:

• unfiltered criminal convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings. For further information on unfiltered offences please see the Disclosure and Barring Service website.
• involvement in disciplinary proceedings during paid or voluntary employment or education establishments
• involvement with safeguarding proceedings, social services or related organisations
• enrolment on a health or social work professional course at another University

In addition

Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Criminal Record Check

• you will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) criminal record check prior to or during the enrolment week of your course. This will be provided by the University free of charge.
• you will need to present valid identity documents (PDF) as part of the application process
• if you have lived outside of the UK for more than six consecutive months in the last five years you must provide an overseas criminal record check. Further information on obtaining an overseas criminal record check.
• where your DBS Enhanced Disclosure certificate contains any recorded information you must present this to the Professional Issues Team within ten working days of receipt of the certificate.

Occupational Health Screening

You will need to undertake occupational health screening to determine your suitability to undertake the course. This will be provided by the University free of charge. As part of this assessment you are expected to provide all relevant, truthful and accurate information to ensure a safe environment for yourself and service users.

Immunisations

You must undertake a programme of immunisations as required by the Department of Health and meet the immunisation and immunity requirements of placement providers. This will be provided by the University free of charge. Please obtain details of your immunisation history from your doctor so you can submit this during your Occupational Health Screening.

Pre-course Day

After completing the above professional checks, if you reside in the UK it is important for you to make every reasonable attempt to attend a Pre-Course Day event to undertake the next stage of the professional requirements for your course. The pre-course day is also a good opportunity to meet fellow applicants on the health & social care courses who will be starting their studies at the same time as you, as well as some current students and teaching staff. We will look forward to welcoming you on the day.

Other professional suitability information

Your full enrolment on your course will be confirmed when the Professional Issues Team have verified that your Enhanced DBS Disclosure (and overseas criminal record check where relevant) indicates that you are suitable to work with vulnerable groups including children and clearance from your health screening has been received. 

If your personal circumstances change in relation to any of the professional requirements, from when you apply to the end of your course, please tell the Professional Issues team immediately by calling 0114 225 5637 or emailing HWB-Professional-Issues@shu.ac.uk.

Disability support

We strongly recommend that you tell us about any long term health conditions, learning difficulty or disability you may have. This is so we can assess whether we can deliver the course in such a way that you can meet the Health and Care Professions Council standards of proficiency and take part without disadvantage both in University and on placement.

You can contact our disability coordinator on 0114 225 2588 to explore any issues you may have, or you can contact our university disabled student support team on 0114 225 3964 (voice and Minicom).

The Disability Disclosure booklet provides information for students on health and social care courses and will help you understand the importance of disclosing your disability at the earliest possible stage. This is so you can be assessed for the support you may require to succeed on the course.

Open day

Our online open days give you an opportunity to chat live to our teaching staff and current students. You can explore the campus and view our facilities virtually as well as asking any questions you may have. To book your place at one of our online open days please follow this link: University open days.

Important notice:

The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page.