Master of Occupational Therapy (Graduate Entry)
Degree Level Postgraduate
Year 2024
You're considered an Australian student if you are any of the following:
Degree Level Postgraduate
Year 2024
Mode
On-campus
Applicants must:
All applicants are required to 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:
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.
Preliminary assessment of pre-requisite courses is not available. See Additional Information Form for details.
International : only available to UniSA graduates with a relevant undergraduate degree within the last 10 years. Applications open for 7 days from the last Monday in November.
1ComparED (QILT) Graduate Outcomes Survey 2020-22, Health Services and Support – Full-time Employment Indicator (Domestic Postgraduate). SA public universities. 2Results in Clinical Sciences – 2018 Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA). 3UNSTOPPABLE® is a Kellogg Company trade mark used under licence. 4Ranked #52, 2023 THE Young University Rankings.
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.
Occupational therapists empower people to live full and rewarding lives. They help people of all ages achieve their goals, optimise their lifestyles and actively participate in society irrespective of limitations.
At UniSA, you’ll learn from registered occupational therapists and accomplished researchers at the top of their field. With a strong focus on practical skills, you’ll complete 1,000 hours of field placements across health, rehabilitation and community agencies, children’s centres, kindergartens, schools and aged care facilities. This prepares you for professional practice and a seamless transition from study to work.
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.
In the Master of Occupational Therapy (Graduate Entry), you’ll study the major theoretical approaches and practical skills occupational therapists use to work across all types of clients.
In the first year, you’ll focus on foundational occupational therapy knowledge and skills in the areas of:
In the second year, you’ll apply your knowledge to areas of practice such as mental health, chronic conditions and community, rehabilitation and return to work. As part of this, you’ll work on a collaborative project with a community agency.
You’ll get hands-on experience in real scenarios when you complete 1,000 hours of field placements. Emphasis is placed on preparing you to become a contemporary health professional, so with industry placements built-in to your degree, you’ll get to work on building your professional relationships and networks while you study.
This degree is a high-demand, highly intensive program with core occupational therapy knowledge condensed into two years of study.
As an occupational therapist, you’ll make a real difference in people’s lives. You’ll help people overcome any barriers they have – physical, environmental or emotional – to doing any activity big or small, and empowering them to live their best lives.
With UniSA, you’ll benefit from more than 50 years' experience in occupational therapy education and research. We’re proud of the rich knowledge base we’ve created and continue to evolve in line with industry and our above world-class research1, which means your career path is always informed by evidence-based practice.
Students who successfully complete this degree will be eligible to register as an occupational therapist through the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia/Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
12018 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.
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:
This degree prepares you for working overseas, as the qualification is recognised in most countries.
Some key areas of activity where occupational therapists provide support include:
This program is accredited by the Occupational Therapy Council (Australia & New Zealand) Ltd.
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
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.
Available for students who are interested in undertaking specified activities with the aim of enhancing the overall student experience at UniSA.
Travel Grants are available to participate in our Study Overseas Programs. UniSA has agreement with over 80 institutions globally.
Our campuses have fantastic facilities including modern lecture theatres, libraries, workshops, laboratories, tech zones, and spaces that simulate real work environments. You’ll also find student gyms and campus sport activities to keep you active. We also offer flexible study options, with online resources available for accessing lecture recordings, virtual classrooms, library resources and learning support.
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.
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.
I am a graduate of this program and bring more than 30 years of hands on and research experience to my role. I am an active member of the national occupational therapy community with excellent industry networks.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.