Occupational Therapy is a healthcare profession focused on improving the functional capacity of individuals across the lifespan who experience limitations due to injury, illness, developmental delays, sensory processing challenges, mental health issues, cognitive impairments or other physical, psychological, or environmental factors. Through the application of purposeful occupations, therapeutic interventions, and environmental adaptations, occupational therapy fosters autonomy, health, and well-being, while also playing a critical role in preventing functional decline in individuals at risk.
The Degree programme, grounded in occupational science, equips students with the essential knowledge and skills to practice as occupational therapists. It offers a comprehensive foundation in human development, functional ability, and participation throughout the lifespan. The curriculum examines the impacts of physical, cognitive, and psychosocial conditions on daily functioning, while incorporating essential disciplines such as psychology, sociology, and biomedical sciences. This approach fosters a comprehensive understanding of the complexities involved in advancing health and well-being through occupational therapy.
The Degree also offers hands-on experience through active observation and participation during supervised practice placements, where students work alongside qualified occupational therapists in a variety of settings, including hospitals, schools, paediatric clinics, mental health facilities, and community environments. Additionally, students may have the opportunity to study abroad through the Erasmus + programme. By graduation, students will be autonomous and competent professionals fully prepared to meet the registration standards set by the Council for the Professions Complementary to Medicine in Malta, as well as other relevant professional bodies internationally.
Communication and Academic Skills Programme
The communication and academic skills programme complements students’ main course of study. It introduces them to writing and presenting as situated within academic contexts sensitive to specific disciplines and develops their competences for future careers.
| Year (This/these unit/s start/s in Semester 1 and continue/s in Semester 2) | |||||||||||
| Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) | |||||||||||
| HSC1002 | Disease Prevention and Control | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
| PSY1313 | An Overview of Psychology | 6 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
| PSY1615 | Developmental Psychology - Child and Adolescent | 6 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
| Semester 1 | |||||||||||
| Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) | |||||||||||
| ANA1500 | General Anatomy 1 | 2 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
| ANA1503 | Regional Anatomy: Thorax | 2 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
| ANA1505 | Regional Anatomy: Upper Limb | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
| LIN1063 | Academic Reading and Writing in English | 2 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
| NUR1144 | First Aid and Basic Life Support | 2 ECTS | |||||||||
| OCT1000 | Communicating through the Creative Arts: Skills for Self-Development in Occupational Therapy Practice | 2 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
| OCT1035 | Foundations of Occupational Therapy 1: Professional Identity, History and Paradigms | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
| PHB1101 | Body Fluids, Cells, Cardiovascular and Respiratory Physiology | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
| Semester 2 | |||||||||||
| Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) | |||||||||||
| ANA1506 | Regional Anatomy: Lower Limb | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
| DBS1001 | Disability Issues for Health Professionals | 2 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
| IHC2013 | Health Promotion and Health Education | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
| OCT1012 | Human Occupation Across the Lifespan | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
| OCT1015 | Orientation Placement | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
| PHB1102 | Renal Physiology and Haematology | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
| Year (This/these unit/s start/s in Semester 1 and continue/s in Semester 2) | |||||||||||
| Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) | |||||||||||
| OCT2023 | Introduction to Psychosocial Dysfunction | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
| Semester 1 | |||||||||||
| Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) | |||||||||||
| CPH2402 | Pharmacology for Allied Health Care Professionals | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
| OCT2014 | Practice Placement and Seminar 1 | 3 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
| OCT2021 | Foundations of Occupational Therapy 2: Terminology Theories and Practice Frameworks | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
| OCT2043 | Kinesiology: Application to Human Movement in the Context of Activity | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
| PAT2121 | Pathology | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
| PSY2405 | Psychology of Learning for Health Carers | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
| PSY2641 | Psychology of Helping | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
| Semester 2 | |||||||||||
| Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) | |||||||||||
| ANA1508 | Regional Anatomy: Neuroanatomy (including Dissection) | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
| ANA2509 | Regional Anatomy: Head, Neck and Vertebral Column | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
| OCT2000 | Application of the Creative Arts in Occupational Therapy Practice | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
| OCT2015 | Practice Placement and Seminar 2 | 3 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
| OCT2022 | Introductory Concepts to Physical and Paediatric Practice | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
| OCT2026 | Basic Clinical Skills | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
| OCT2044 | Conceptualising Inquiry and Discovering Evidence within Occupational Therapy | 2 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
| Summer Period | |||||||||||
| Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) | |||||||||||
| OCT2010 | Block Practice Placement | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
| Year (This/these unit/s start/s in Semester 1 and continue/s in Semester 2) | |||||||||||
| Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) | |||||||||||
| OCT3022 | Advanced Psychosocial Clinical Skills | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
| Semester 1 | |||||||||||
| Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) | |||||||||||
| HSC3002 | Research Methods in the Health Sciences | 2 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
| OCT3015 | Practice Placement and Seminar 1 | 3 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
| OCT3023 | Conditions in Psychosocial Dysfunction | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
| OCT3027 | Performance Skills and Client Factors in Neurorehabilitation | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
| OCT3028 | Occupational Performance Areas and Contexts | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
| OCT3055 | Psychopathology | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
| OCT3057 | Medical Speciality Area: Neurology | 2 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
| OCT3058 | Medical Speciality Area: Orthopaedics | 2 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
| OCT3059 | Medical Speciality Area: Paediatrics | 2 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
| Semester 2 | |||||||||||
| Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) | |||||||||||
| OCT3016 | Practice Placement and Seminar 2 | 3 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
| OCT3026 | Advanced Application of Theory in Paediatric Practice | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
| OCT3029 | Occupational Therapy in Upper Extremity Rehabilitation | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
| OCT3046 | Conditions of Human Physical Dysfunction | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
| OCT3047 | Occupational Therapy Practice in Geriatrics | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
| OCT3060 | Interventions in Acute and Sub-acute Medical Care | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
| OCT3102 | Psychosocial Aspects of Physical Disability | 2 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
| Summer Period | |||||||||||
| Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) | |||||||||||
| OCT3014 | Block Practice Placement | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
| Year (This/these unit/s start/s in Semester 1 and continue/s in Semester 2) | |||||||||||
| Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) | |||||||||||
| OCT4100 | Dissertation | 12 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
| Semester 1 | |||||||||||
| Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) | |||||||||||
| OCT4021 | Advanced Skills Laboratories - Upper Limb Rehabilitation and Arthritic Conditions | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
| OCT4022 | Advanced Skills Laboratories - Neurorehabilitation | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
| OCT4024 | Advanced Skills Laboratories - Psychosocial Practice | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
| OCT4027 | Professional Behaviour and Leadership for Occupational Therapists | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
| OCT4028 | Advanced Skills Labortories - Paediatric Practise | 6 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
| OCT4038 | Aspects of Person-Environment Fit in relation to Occupational Performance | 2 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
| Semester 2 | |||||||||||
| Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) | |||||||||||
| DBS3001 | Universal Design: Access for All | 2 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
| OCT4010 | Block Practice Placement | 10 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
| OCT4019 | Assistive Technology | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
| OCT4025 | Occupation Focused Role Emerging Practice | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
| OCT4026 | Framing Practice through an Occupation-based Perspective | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||||||||
Requirement for award of B.Sc. (Hons) in Occupational Therapy: 240 ECTS credits
This programme of study is governed by The General Regulations for University Undergraduate Awards, 2019 and by the Bye-Laws for the award of Bachelor of Science (Honours) - B.Sc. (Hons) - under the auspices of the Faculty of Health Sciences.
