MSc Occupational Therapy - Blended Learning

Occupational Therapists are creative, skilled problem-solvers who support people to live meaningful, independent, and fulfilling lives. Occupational therapy focuses on enabling individuals to participate in the everyday activities (occupations) that matter to them, despite challenges arising from illness, disability, injury, trauma, or social circumstances.

Delivered by Portobello Institute in Dublin and awarded by Health Sciences University, this two-year, full-time Master’s programme prepares graduates for professional practice as registered Occupational Therapists through a rigorous blend of academic study, clinical education, and placement learning.

The programme is designed for graduates from a wide range of academic backgrounds who are motivated to pursue a career in occupational therapy and who meet the academic or experiential entry requirements.

Career Pathways in Occupational Therapy

Graduates of the MSc Occupational Therapy (Pre-Registration) are prepared for employment across a broad range of health, social care, and community settings. Occupational therapy offers a diverse and flexible career, with opportunities to work across physical health, mental health, learning disability, and social care services.

Common employment settings include:

• Acute and community healthcare services
• Rehabilitation and disability services
• Mental health services
• Older persons’ services
• Paediatric and early intervention services
• Charities, third-sector organisations, and non-profits
• Prisons, forensic services, and justice settings
• Private practice and independent consultancy

Occupational therapists work with people across the lifespan, supporting recovery, rehabilitation, participation, and independence through occupation-focused, person-centred interventions.

Teaching, Learning & Clinical Training

This programme combines strong theoretical foundations with immersive clinical education. Teaching is designed to support the development of professional competence, clinical reasoning, ethical practice, and leadership skills required for contemporary occupational therapy practice.

Students develop the knowledge, technical skills, and professional judgement needed to work confidently with individuals, families, groups, and communities across complex practice environments.

Learning Approach

The curriculum is delivered using Hybrid Problem-Based Learning (H-PBL), an evidence-informed educational approach that integrates:

• Case-based and problem-based learning
• Lectures and interactive seminars
• Skills-based workshops and simulation
• Reflective and enquiry-led learning

This approach ensures graduates are well equipped to respond to the complexity of client needs and to deliver care that is safe, ethical, integrated, and of a high standard.

Practical & Placement Experience

Clinical education is a core component of the programme. Students complete a range of supervised practice placements across diverse settings, allowing them to apply theory to real-world practice and develop professional identity.

Placements support:

• Development of clinical reasoning and assessment skills
• Person-centred intervention planning
• Interdisciplinary teamwork and communication
• Professional conduct and reflective practice

Opportunities may include placements in health, social care, and community-based services, with exposure to both physical and mental health practice.

What You Will Study

The curriculum is designed to reflect contemporary occupational therapy practice and regulatory standards. Areas of study include:

• Foundations of occupational therapy theory and practice
• Human occupation, health, and wellbeing
• Physical and mental health conditions across the lifespan
• Occupational assessment and intervention planning
• Rehabilitation and recovery-focused practice
• Environmental adaptation and assistive technology
• Ethics, professional practice, and leadership
• Health systems, policy, and interprofessional working

Learning emphasises the central role of occupation in human life and the relationship between meaningful activity, health, and participation.

Research & Evidence-Based Practice

Students are trained to become evidence-informed practitioners who can critically evaluate research and apply it to practice. The programme develops:

• Research literacy and critical appraisal skills
• Understanding of evidence-based and occupation-focused interventions
• Ability to integrate research evidence with clinical expertise and lived experience

This ensures graduates are prepared to contribute to safe, effective, and high-quality occupational therapy services.

Academic Support and Expert Teaching

Teaching is delivered by an experienced academic and clinical team with extensive professional practice backgrounds. Students benefit from:

• Specialist occupational therapy educators
• Small-group learning and academic guidance
• Structured academic and placement support
• Ongoing feedback to support progression and professional development

The programme fosters a supportive learning environment that promotes confidence, resilience, and professional growth.

Professional Accreditation and Registration

This MSc is a pre-registration programme designed to meet the professional standards required for qualification and practice as an Occupational Therapist. HCPC approval is pending, similar to that in place for our approved MSc Physiotherapy (Pre-registration) and MSc Speech and Language Therapy (Pre-registration) programmes.

Registration in Ireland

Graduates of HCPC-approved programmes can follow an established route to apply for professional registration through the “Qualified Abroad” route with CORU and gain professional registration in Ireland.

Following registration with CORU, graduates can apply to become members of the Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland (AOTI). Students will also be eligible to apply to become AOTI student members.

Award

Upon successful completion of this programme, you will be awarded an MSc Occupational Therapy (Pre-registration). This is awarded by Health Sciences University and is aligned to level 9 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ).