Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) (Whyalla)
Degree Level Undergraduate
Year 2024
This degree is only available to Australian students
You're considered an Australian student if you are any of the following:
- Australian or New Zealand Citizen
- Australian Permanent Resident (including Permanent Humanitarian Visa holders)
Prerequisites
None
Assumed Knowledge
None
Entry Scores
2024 Guaranteed Entry
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2023 Cut-Offs
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Entry requirements
Admission criteria
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- Qualify for the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE), and achieved a competitive Selection Rank (ATAR), or
- Complete secondary qualifications equivalent to SACE, or
- Complete the International Baccalaureate Diploma with a minimum score of 24 points
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- Complete or partially complete a recognised higher education program at Bachelor or higher level at a recognised higher education institution, or
- Complete a Diploma level program at a recognised higher education institution
OR
Vocational Education and Training (VET)- Complete an award from a registered training organisation at Advanced Diploma level or above
OR
Work and life experience- Qualify for Special Entry, or
- Complete a 12-month UniSA Foundation Studies program or equivalent, or
- Hold completed secondary qualifications equivalent to SACE obtained more than 2 years in the past
Essential requirements for admission
Prerequisites
NoneAssumed Knowledge
None
New program available from 2024, and applications are now open. If looking to transfer from a similar program, only first year courses will be taught in 2024 so available credit will be limited.
Degree overview
- 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 ready to register as an occupational therapist through the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia.
- Engage in more than 1,000 hours of real-world practice placements and immerse yourself in the local workforce while studying.
- 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 on-campus from award-winning teaching staff, academics, practicing health professionals and researchers in the field.
- Experience quality teaching with the benefits of a relaxed campus environment, small class sizes, and strong community connections.
- Study a contemporary and culturally diverse curriculum informed by above world-class research in occupational therapy.1
- UniSA is an unstoppable university for unstoppable people. As one of the World’s Top Young Universities,2 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.
1Results in Clinical Sciences - 2018 Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA). 2Ranked #52, 2023 THE Young University Rankings.
Snapshot
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 working to improve the health and wellbeing of regional South Australians.1 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.
1SA Rural Allied and Scientific Health Workforce Plan 2021–26, Government of South Australia
What you'll need
Students who undertake clinical placements in University clinics and gyms, or with external clinical partners, must 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.
What you'll learn
Your first year will focus on core health subjects including anatomy, physiology, and an introduction to occupational therapy practice and evidence in acute settings.
From second and third year, you’ll focus on the application of your skills in mental health, occupational rehabilitation, chronic conditions, community health, 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.
Throughout your degree, you’ll be exposed to many different hands-on activities that may be part of your future role. This includes:
- adult neurological rehabilitation techniques
- communication and group work techniques
- designing home modification and environmental adaptations
- trialing and adapting assistive technology
- splint making
- dressing adaptations for people with self-care impairments
- wheelchair measurement tutorials
- completing skill demonstrations to become familiar with contemporary occupational therapy scenarios
You can gain an extra qualification and broaden your career prospects by completing a Diploma in Languages.
Study hours
For each course you study, you will need to allocate time for various classes such as lectures, tutorials, workshops, seminars and practicals. Plus you will need additional hours to study in your own time to complete assignments, readings and projects, as well as to contribute to online discussion forums (independent study). So as a general rule, if you are studying full-time you would need to allocate 12–26 hours of study when at university and 14–28 hours of independent study per week.
Assessment
Your studies at UniSA will incorporate practical, professionally focused and research-based learning, so assessment types will vary. You can expect them to include:
- group assignments
- practical tests
- quizzes
- group and individual presentations
- skill demonstrations
- essays and assignments
- examinations
- evidence based practice reviews
- case studies and industry style reports
- portfolios
- research project and thesis
Honours
This is a four-year professional degree with honours. You’ll graduate with industry experience and connections, and a higher-level qualification than a bachelor’s degree.
The honours component includes a minimum of one year of either a research stream or a professional stream.
The professional stream option includes a range of advanced courses where you‘ll develop advanced skills in evidenced based practice and a broad range of professional development opportunities. This will give you the ability to innovate in your practice as an occupational therapist.
The research stream option is offered to high achieving students as part of their honours studies and involves an honours thesis course where you’ll undertake a research project. You’ll get to consult, discuss and problem-solve your research project with a group of experienced researchers, and make a true contribution to scientific knowledge.
Previous honours projects have included:
- Developing an intake questionnaire to support consistent data collection in private practices
- Exploring how quality rehabilitation is represented and promoted within stroke clinical guidelines
- Considering how international placement experiences influence graduate practice
- Reviewing sensory approaches used by Australian occupational therapists working in mental health settings
- Developing and evaluating a research tool for assessing work and leisure in assistance dogs
- Increasing community engagement with, and ownership of, a behaviour change intervention among rural South Australians
- Establishing a profile of theoretical models and approaches used by Australian occupational therapists working in aged care
- Evaluating the use of video modelling to support children at a specialist school
- Exploring whether virtual reality guided motor imagery increases brain plasticity.
Graduates from both streams are eligible to register with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency Occupational Therapy Board of Australia.
Why Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) (Whyalla)
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 and spend 1,000 hours completing practice placements in 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).
Your career
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:
- 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
Some key areas of activity where occupational therapists provide support include:
- daily living activities such as showering, dressing, grooming and eating
- activities which involve caring for others such as household management activities, shopping, childcare, budgeting, banking, financial
- management, home maintenance and driving
- education activities which allow a person to participate in a learning environment.
- leisure and play activities
- social participation
- work (paid and voluntary)
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.
Applying to study with us:
- go to the top of this page and make note of the SATAC code, then click Apply
- you will be redirected through to the SATAC website to continue your application
Alternative Pathways
Australian
There are other pathways you can follow to study this degree, including:
- UniSA College Diploma in Health (Allied Health and Human Performance)
Deferment
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.
Scholarships
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.
UniSA Excellence Scholarships
$5,000 scholarship for South Australian students with an ATAR of 99 who enrol to study a UniSA undergraduate degree.
UniSA Outstanding Achievement Scholarship
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.
Your study experience and support
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.
Student services
Our student services provide you with all the support you need at university. We want you to succeed, and if you need help, we're here to assist. You can access a full range of support services, including:
- academic counselling
- personal counselling
- social support services, including family support and nearby childcare
- common rooms
- prayer rooms
- security officers
- career services and mentoring
- Wirringka Student Services, offering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students a supportive place to study
- as well as services offered through our student association, USASA.
When you become a UniSA student, you can also contact Campus Central for help with anything related to your degree. They will help you with your enrolment, ID cards, fees, timetables and more.
24/7 digital environment
Our learnonline facilities include a personal learning environment with virtual classrooms, lecture recordings, emails, learning support, administration, library access and results. The environment is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so you can tailor your learning to your life. We are continually investing in innovative digital technologies for a high-quality student learning experience.
Your study spaces
As an occupational therapy student, you'll have access to:
- Allied health laboratories
- anatomy and physiology laboratories
You’ll also get to use a range of on-campus spaces including the library, collaborative teaching rooms, and student lounge.
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How do I apply?
There are a number of ways to apply to study UniSA's undergraduate and postgraduate coursework degrees.
Applications for admission into the University of South Australia’s undergraduate and most postgraduate degrees are made via the South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre (SATAC). Visit satac.edu.au and follow the links.
For the MBA degrees please apply through the UniSA MBA Application Portal. Applications for a small number of degrees are submitted direct to UniSA through our Apply Online portal. It will be noted on the degree page if you need to apply via Apply Online.
Postgraduate study by research
For information on applying to do postgraduate study by research, including Master of Research, PhDs or Doctorates, please visit unisa.edu.au/resdegrees. -
Is there a closing date for applications?
Undergraduate
Yes. The deadline to apply to study a degree at UniSA for semester one (commencing late February) and be given equal consideration is in 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 (mid January). Some degrees will not make any offers after the main offer round. Please click here find all of the key dates for applications here.Postgraduate
Most postgraduate degrees do not have a closing date for applications. However, there are exceptions, so it is best to check – either on the SATAC website, Apply Online or the degree homepage. Postgraduate offers are normally ‘rolling’, meaning they may be sent out at any time up until the program starts. This also means that applications may close at any time without warning, if the quota is filled earlier. For this reason, postgraduate applications should be submitted without delay. For more information, please contact our Future Student Enquiries team on (08) 8302 2376 or via the online enquiry form. -
What credit can I receive for previous studies?
Credit transfer or advanced standing
You may be eligible to receive a credit transfer or advanced standing for your chosen UniSA degree based on your previous studies, if they are in a related area at an equivalent or higher level. Receiving a credit transfer will reduce the number of courses you undertake within the degree, and may also reduce the overall duration of your degree.
Recognised prior learning
If you have related industry experience, you may also be eligible to receive recognised prior learning for this experience. Receiving recognised prior learning will normally reduce the number of courses you undertake within the degree, and can reduce the duration of the degree.
How do I get credit?
Credit transfer and recognition of prior learning is assessed on a case-by-case basis by the Program Director who will discuss your prior learning and experience with you to ascertain what credit you may be eligible for.
Many of our credit transfer arrangements are listed on our online Credit Assessor.
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Can I speak to someone regarding my study options?
UniSA welcomes the opportunity to speak with you regarding your study options. Our staff are able to talk to you about degree information, career outcomes and pathways, entry requirements, applications, and student life, so that you are able to make the best study decision for your future.
Click here to book a 1:1 appointment with one of our enquiries team.
If you are interested in studying an MBA please contact admissions@unisa.edu.au and our Future Student Enquiries team will contact you regarding your enquiry.
Alternatively, you can complete a MyCareerMatch career profile. MyCareerMatch is an online career profiling tool that you can use free-of-charge through UniSA. MyCareerMatch specialises in career profiles and provides you with a personalised career report outlining information about your personality style and a list of career options, which are complementary to your natural strengths and talents.
We have many events throughout the year where you can speak with a lecturer or tutor about your degrees of interest. You can find out what is happening at UniSA by visiting our events page or by signing up to our mailing list, so you're the first to know about careers events, information sessions, degree requirements, scholarships and more!
There are also many career counsellors external to the University that you can discuss your career options with. If you are unsure where to start your search, you can contact the Government's Work Ready team (formally Skills for All). Visit skills.sa.gov.au or call 1800 506 266.
You may also find Job Outlook a helpful resource in your decision-making.
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Where can I get further information?
It can be difficult to decide what degree you would like to do and where. You might find information from government organisations will help to weigh up your degree and provider options.
Find a course or a provider
TEQSA is a regulatory body for higher education providers. Use the TEQSA national register of higher education providers to search for a course or a provider. Compare courses and providers for undergraduates and postgraduates using the Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT) online comparison tool.
More information on university admission
Visit the SATAC website to find out important news, events and information on applying to university in South Australia. Visit Study with Us to find out everything you need to know about studying at UniSA, admissions and the application process.
Questions about your application
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your application you should contact the Future Students Enquiries team in the first instance.
