Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours)
Undergraduate
2025
You're considered an Australian student if you are any of the following:
Undergraduate
2025
Year 12 (Grades-based): NA
View Guaranteed Entry Info
Year 12 (ATAR-based):
- Internal: 89.00
TAFE/RTO: Adv Dip
View full entry requirements
The admission criteria have been grouped to assist you to easily find the information most relevant to your circumstances. However, you may fit into more than one and the university will consider applicants against each of the relevant criteria.
Certain conditions apply. For more information refer to Appendix 4 of the University's Selection and Entry policy.
Applicants are required to meet one of the following criteria with a competitive result, and demonstrate that they fulfil any prerequisite requirements and essential requirements for admission:
Recent secondary education
Meet any prerequisite requirements with a minimum grade of C- or equivalent
AND
Applicants who have not achieved the Selection Rank required for automatic selection may be selected for any remaining places based on the grades of their year 12 subjects.
OR
Higher education study
OR
Vocational Education and Training (VET)
OR
Work and life experience
Develop the skills to succeed as an occupational therapist and help people of all ages maintain and improve their day-to-day activities.
Study South Australia’s first fully accredited degree in occupational therapy from a university with more than 50 years of experience in allied health education.
Graduate with an accredited, internationally recognised qualification and ready to register as an occupational therapist through the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia.1
Engage in more than 1,000 hours of real-world practice placements while you study.
Benefit from our strong partnerships and alliances with not-for-profit organisations, aged care facilities and community restorative programs, health and disability, and children’s service providers.
Learn from award-winning teaching staff, academics, practicing health professionals and researchers in the field.
Study a contemporary and culturally diverse curriculum informed by above world-class research in occupational therapy.2
UniSA is an unstoppable university for unstoppable people. As one of the World’s Top Young Universities,3 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.
1Accredited by the Occupational Therapy Council of Australia Ltd (OTC); approved by the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia for the purpose of professional registration as an occupational therapist in Australia; and approved by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists. 2Results in Clinical Sciences - 2018 Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA). 3Ranked #43, 2024 THE Young University Rankings.
Unleash your unstoppable career in occupational therapy, and be at the forefront of helping people of all ages to actively participate in society, irrespective of limitations. This four-year honours degree will teach you how to help people overcome constraints caused by injury or illness, and help them navigate and manage emotional, developmental, environmental, societal, age-related and psychological limitations.
As a registered occupational therapist, you’ll be an integral part of the allied health workforce. You’ll be able to work across a variety of areas, ranging from hospitals and private practice to aged care and schools, with strong applicability into international workforces.
As an honours degree, you will graduate with a respected qualification, and can tailor your studies to either a professional or research stream, depending on your career goals.
You can also use your qualification as a pathway to postgraduate study. This can include upskilling into areas like mental health or management, or continuing into research with a Master of Research and doctoral studies.
Students who undertake activities where interaction with patients/the public is required for their degree, such as field or clinical placements/visits and in University clinics and gyms, must demonstrate they meet mandatory pre-placement conditional requirements. These include criminal history clearance, a Working with Children Check and immunisation requirements.
Please visit the Clinical Placement Unit for information on key requirements, and to access the full student checklists.
All students enrolled in a program leading to professional registration must be registered with the relevant national board. The student registration process is undertaken by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) with the University providing notification to AHPRA following enrolment in the program. On successful completion of the program, full AHPRA registration is undertaken.
Your first year will focus on core health subjects including anatomy, physiology, and an introduction to occupational therapy practice and evidence.
From second and third year, you’ll focus on the application of your skills in mental health, occupation rehabilitation, chronic conditions, community focus, primary health care and participatory community practice.
In addition to field placements, you’ll attend workshops in a range of industry settings, which will offer first-hand insight into the scope of practice. You’ll also have the opportunity to visit regional settings in your third year on the annual Country Road Trip.
Throughout your degree, you’ll be exposed to many different hands-on activities that may be part of your future role. This includes:
You can gain an extra qualification and broaden your career prospects by completing a Diploma in Languages.
Graduating with an honours degree will set you apart from the crowd, ensuring you have a competitive edge and are well-placed for a career in industry, research or further postgraduate study.
You’ll learn from a university with more than 50 years of experience in occupational therapy education and research. You’ll spend more than 1,000 hours completing practice placements in metropolitan, rural or regional settings, providing you with the opportunity to consolidate and apply your knowledge and skills.
UniSA’s curriculum is based on innovative, current, and above-world-class research,1 meaning your degree is industry-informed and relevant for your future career. You will learn from passionate academics and industry experts, allowing you to build your industry networks while you study.
Students who successfully complete this degree will be eligible to register as an occupational therapist through the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia / the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
1Results in Clinical Sciences - 2018 Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA).
Gain insight into the rewarding careers of UniSA occupational therapy graduates, Rochelle Mutton and Jordan Liseno. Rochelle is the Owner and Director at Motivate Kids and employs Jordan as part of her growing team.
Occupational therapists can make a real difference in people’s lives. You’ll help people overcome any barriers they have – whether it be physical, environmental or emotional – to doing any activity big or small, and empowering them to live their best lives.
A successful occupational therapist is professional, an excellent communicator, observant, logical, a critical thinker, and evidence based. You’ll be the type of person who enjoys working with people; and be mentally, emotionally and physically capable. This field of work is immensely rewarding and can offer exciting challenges, assisting people in the everyday occupations of life.
You can gain employment in a range of settings, including:
Some key areas of activity where occupational therapists provide support include:
This degree prepares you to work overseas, as the qualification is recognised in most countries.
Your research honours degree will also prepare you for a career in research or academia.
This program is accredited by the Occupational Therapy Council of Australia Ltd (OTC).
This program is approved by the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia for the purpose of professional registration as an occupational therapist in Australia.
This program is approved by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists
Applying to study with us:
Please note that all pathways are competitive and no guaranteed due to limited places. A competitive Grade Point Average (GPA) and other entry criteria (including prerequisites) apply. For more information, visit unisa.edu.au/study or contact our Future Student Enquiries Team at unisa.edu.au/enquire or on (08) 8302 2376.
Australian-
There are other pathways you can follow to study this degree, including:
This degree is available for deferment. This option is made available by responding to your offer during the application process via the SATAC website. Applicants who receive an offer into a midyear degree are eligible to defer for six months.
Every year, over 2,500 UniSA students are supported in their studies through scholarships and grants worth millions of dollars. Check out the scholarships below. One of them may be perfect for you. Visit our scholarships page for more.
$5,000 scholarship for South Australian students with an ATAR of 99 who enrol to study a UniSA undergraduate degree.
Up to $10,000 per annum (full time) for South Australian students who obtain an ATAR of 99.95 or IB equivalent and enrol to study at UniSA.
Our campuses are home to fantastic facilities including modern lecture theatres, libraries, workshops and laboratories, as well as spaces that simulate real work environments. But you’ll also discover that your journey at UniSA is about social experiences, healthy living and getting involved. You’ll find student sports and fitness facilities, community clinics, tech zones and chill-out spaces. There are campus sport activities to keep you active, and if you are keen to explore the social side of university life, there are movies, cooking demonstrations, parties and loads more.
Adelaide also has a variety of accommodation options to suit different requirements and budgets. Options include dedicated student accommodation and private rentals. See our long-term accommodation pages, or explore our student accommodation by Scape on Bank Street in Adelaide’s lively cultural precinct, an ideal location for students. It is within easy reach of UniSA’s city and metropolitan campuses, Rundle Mall shopping, the Central Market, Chinatown, and the West End’s vibrant nightlife. It is also across the road from the Adelaide train station, and on bus and tram routes.
As an occupational therapy student, you'll have access to:
You’ll also get to use a range of on-campus spaces including modern lecture theatres, libraries, collaborative teaching rooms, and relaxed student lounges.
With over twenty years of knowledge and research experience in Occupational Therapy, I make sure students learn with the latest information to support innovative and responsive practice. With a strong focus on primary health care, my teaching combines the theory and practice of the field, preparing students to understand the full scope of their future role. I aim to have all students graduate confident to face challenges raised by clients, families, health services and policymakers alike when they step into their careers.
The way you apply for UniSA will depend on the undergraduate or postgraduate coursework degree you're interested in studying.
The majority of applications are made via the South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre (SATAC). Check out more information on the SATAC website and follow the appropriate process for your degree of interest.
There are a small number of degrees that you need to apply for through direct application processes. The process you need to follow will be listed on the 'How to Apply' section of the degree homepage, but you'll also be taken to where you need to go if you hit the 'apply' button.
If you are interested in studying one of our 100% online degrees you'll need to apply directly to UniSA Online.
You can find more information about the application processes for UniSA on our How to Apply webpage.
If you're more interested in applying for a postgraduate degree by research, check out and follow the information in our step by step guide to applying.
Applications for all degrees will close ahead of study commencing, but the timelines may vary for undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.
The deadline to apply to study a degree at UniSA for semester one (commencing late February) and be guaranteed equal consideration is generally in very late November or early December. While you may be able to apply after this date, you are not guaranteed to be considered equally with other applicants and your application may not be assessed in time for the main round of offers. More competitive degrees may not make any offers after the main offer round. Find more information on the Key Dates section of the SATAC website, but you can also call the Future Student Enquiries team for more information on 08 8302 376.
Many postgraduate by coursework degrees do not have set closing dates. The exceptions are highly competitive degrees, so it is best to check – either on the degree homepage on the SATAC website or by checking with our Future Student Enquiries team.
As most postgraduate applications are assessed as they are submitted and offers are continuous, there are no set closing dates for applications. Degrees can be filled and closed with little notice so it is best to apply as soon as possible to avoid missing out on a place. For more information, please contact our Future Student Enquires team on (08) 8302 2376 or submit an enquiry.
You may be eligible for credit or advanced standing for your chosen UniSA degree based on your previous studies, if they are in a related area and completed within a certain timeframe. Receiving credit or RPL will reduce the number of courses you undertake within the degree, and may also reduce the overall duration of your degree. You can read more about our pre-existing credit agreements through our online Credit Assessor. If you have related industry experience, you may also be eligible to receive recognised prior learning (RPL) for this experience. Credit and RPL is assessed by the Program Director once you've received an offer, and you apply through UniSA's current student experts, Campus Central.
Future Student Enquiries welcomes the opportunity to meet with you to discuss your study options at UniSA. We can discuss degree information, entry requirements and pathways, applications, general career outcomes and student life, so you have the information to make the best study decision for your future. Head to our Book an Appointment webpage to find a date and time to speak with us, and take your next steps on journey to university study.
Bachelor of Occupational Therapy students Rachel and Tyla share their experiences of their rural placement project in Clare Valley, supported by UniSA’s Department of Rural Health.