Course Overview
The MSc Occupational Therapy (Pre-Registration) at Portobello Institute is a two-year, full-time Master’s programme designed for graduates seeking to qualify as Occupational Therapists. Delivered in Dublin and awarded by Health Sciences University, this contemporary and innovative programme combines academic rigour with extensive clinical placements to prepare students for professional practice across physical health, mental health, and social care settings.
Subject to HCPC approval, graduates may pursue the “Qualified Abroad” registration route in Ireland through CORU. This Occupational Therapy (Pre-registration) equips you with the knowledge and practical experience to become a highly skilled, evidence-based occupational therapist.
Information Evening: Register here for our upcoming online webinar on Monday, August 24th to learn everything you need to know about this course from Programme Lead, Yvonne Phelan.
OT Information Evening 24th August
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).
Credits Displayed as CATS/ECTS. Module timeline delivery is subject to change.
The unit sets out the required Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) Standards of conduct, performance and ethics and professional behaviours, including how the core values, philosophy, skills, and knowledge base of the profession will be reflected throughout the course. You will begin to develop the core skills and knowledge to underpin occupational therapy practice including professional reasoning, autonomous and reflective practice and thinking, evidence-based practice, communication, and the importance of learning with and from other professionals and learners, for collaborative practice. Finally, you will begin to develop an understanding of how the required academic and practice-based skills will be integrated for progression within and completion of the course.
The unit will introduce the occupational therapy process, developing your critical and professional reasoning skills, and further introduce some of the core skills required of safe and inclusive occupational therapy practice. You will continue to develop a theoretical foundation in relation to occupational science, theories of human occupation, as they apply to the occupational therapy process (focus towards assessment practice).
In addition, you will explore wider frameworks that influence the practice of occupational therapy, considering the restorative power of occupation and occupational therapy for individual health, wellbeing and participation.
In this unit you will learn a relevant range of informing sciences as they relate to the underlying structure and functions of the human body and the biopsychosocial model. In keeping with the philosophy and purpose of the profession, the unit develops an understanding and knowledge of informing sciences (non profession specific knowledge) in an integrated and holistic way, as they relate to occupational science, theories and models of occupation and thus to evidence based, client- centered and inclusive practice.
The relationship between human function, occupational performance and participation is explored through the development of the knowledge of body structures, systems, and functions and in the context of how the impact of dysfunction or disruption impacts occupational performance, engagement, and participation in life roles. Informing knowledge therefore informs activity analysis, professional reasoning and all stages of the OT process. A key feature of this unit will be the integration and application of foundation knowledge and opportunities to practice the analysis of occupational performance, and the performance of a range of occupations which may involve the use of equipment, wheelchairs and other aspects of daily living and participation.
In this unit you will gain practical work-based experience working with a range of patients, clients or service users. You will have the opportunity to apply your theoretical knowledge and practice and transferable skills that have been developed while studying other units on this course, applying them in practice placement environments. This practice placement unit is composed of two separate placements focused on a specific area of occupational therapy practice. In the unit you will actively contribute to the assessment and treatment of service users, relating these processes to the OT process. You will also have the opportunity to engage in interprofessional learning experiences that each placement offers and begin to build your Continuing Professional Development portfolio.
This unit comprises of your first and second practice-based learning experiences.
In this unit you will gain practice-based experience working with a range of patients, clients, teams and settings, under the supervision of a qualified occupational therapist who is also your practice educator. Through practice placement experience you will have the opportunity to further develop and integrate your theoretical knowledge, core OT professional practice skills and ways of thinking that you have been studying in course units.
You will also have the opportunity to demonstrate your developing professional reasoning and reflective practice skills and knowledge of theory/frames of reference as they apply to identifying the occupational needs of your service users/clients and their individual circumstances, within the practice context and environment.
This unit explores ways in which occupational therapy uses occupation to promote health and well-being from theoretical, evidence and practice based perspectives. Students continue to develop their knowledge and understanding of theories and models influencing Occupational Therapy practice and exploring how the evidence base and client centred practice may inform decision making. The core concepts of diversity, inclusion and occupational justice will be explored to develop knowledge and understanding of the potential for occupational therapy to influence and promote health and wellbeing and participation.
You will continue to build fundamental skills to underpin knowledge and understanding of the occupational therapy process including the justification, rationale and selection of assessments, clinical reasoning and judgement, and decision-making.
This unit facilitates greater critical depth and understanding of how the application of occupation focused practice can promote health and well-being from theoretical, evidence and practice based perspectives. Students will continue to develop their knowledge and understanding of theories and models influencing Occupational Therapy practice, exploring how the evidence base and client centred practice may inform decision making. Students will explore more complex cases and scenarios and seek to further enhance their professional reasoning, critical decision-making and OT process skills through the use of problem-based learning (hybrid).
You will continue to build fundamental skills to underpin knowledge and understanding of the occupational therapy process including the justification, rationale and selection of assessments, interventions, and evaluation processes, clinical reasoning and professional judgement. Describing and, justifying and applying professional reasoning and critical decision-making skills to more complex and advanced cases and scenarios.
This unit will provide you with the opportunity to critically explore the potential role of occupational therapy theory and practice in the transformation of health and wellbeing for individuals, local communities and society.
This unit brings together learning and practice experiences from previous units with a view to extending knowledge, core skills and understanding of scope of practice into areas concerning the future of the profession and its place in society. The unit seeks to facilitate a deeper and more forward looking exploration of how the future of occupational therapy practice might be shaped, whether through research, local transformation strategies, leadership of self and others or change. The key issue of how occupational engagement is central to wellbeing, and how individuals have the human right to engage in occupations that contribute positively to their own health and well being human rights, will underpin this unit. The unit is guided by the The Career Development Framework (RCOT 2017) and the principles of CPD and lifelong learning.
This unit will develop your understanding of the principles and techniques of research methods typically used in the analysis of research. After exploring the philosophical underpinnings of research approaches, you will explore research design and data collection strategies through the contextualization of the ‘research process’. The detailed tools of both qualitative and quantitative design and data analysis will be explored and applied to the types of data typically collected in health science-focused research. You will also explore more advanced methodologies and analyses. In addition, you will develop an understanding of and ethical considerations in conducting research and be able to identify and describe ethical challenges facing the postgraduate researcher.
This unit builds on your practice-based experience gained in OCC6001.
In this unit you will gain further practice-based experience working with a range of patients, clients, and teams. You will have the opportunity to integrate your theoretical knowledge and core practice skills that have been developed while studying other units on this course, applying them in practice-based environments and utilising your collaborative and transferable skills. This practice placement unit is composed of two separate placements focused on a specific area of occupational therapy practice. In the unit you will actively contribute to the assessment and treatment of service users.
This unit will provide you with the opportunity to undertake an in-depth and independent empirical study in a topic of interest related to occupational therapy practice. You will be expected to demonstrate originality in the development and application of knowledge and research skills. A research proposal will initially be produced that will outline the chosen focus for the research, the research question, and the specific method/methodology to be adopted. No data collection will be permitted without ethics approval, which forms part of the proposal submission.
Completion of the M level research dissertation will demonstrate your deep and systematic understanding of the research process, including data collection and ethics, and an ability to analyse, reason through and manage complex issues. Additionally, you will communicate outcomes effectively, presenting information in a clear, concise, and scholarly way. This unit is guided by the Career Development Framework (RCOT) – Evidence, Research and Development Pillar.
Yvonne Phelan
As Programme Development Lead for the MSc Occupational Therapy (Pre-registration) at Portobello Institute and a practising occupational therapist (OT) specialising in paediatrics, Yvonne Phelan is passionate about educating and inspiring future occupational therapists while showcasing the diverse career opportunities the profession offers, both here in Ireland and around the world.
Industry Experience & Career Outcomes
- CORU-registered paediatric occupational therapist
- Founder and owner of a private paediatric occupational therapy practice
- Clinical experience across schools, clinics, and specialist services
- Conducts autism and HSE assessments
- Extensive experience developing services, processes, and clinics from the ground up
Yvonne’s Pathway in Occupational Therapy
At just nine years old, Yvonne attended occupational therapy sessions and knew she had found her calling. Her immediate reaction was: “This is the career for me. I want to do this.”
She studied a degree in Social Sciences before progressing to a MSc Occupational Therapy programme. Since qualifying, Yvonne has dedicated her career to paediatric occupational therapy.
Following a period working in London, she returned to Ireland and further honed her clinical expertise at Irish social enterprise and charity Sensational Kids before going on to work across schools, clinics, and specialist services. Today, she runs her own private paediatric occupational therapy practice.
Throughout her career, Yvonne has developed services, built processes, and established clinics from the ground up. Now, as Programme Development Lead for the MSc Occupational Therapy (Pre-registration) at Portobello Institute, she is bringing that experience into higher education, helping to shape a programme that prepares graduates to enter the profession with confidence and real-world readiness.
Teaching & Supporting Students
The MSc Occupational Therapy (Pre-registration) programme at Portobello Institute is very hands-on, with case studies, practical activities, and lots of opportunities to work through real-world scenarios.
“Placements are a huge part of that learning process because they allow students to put theory into practice and develop confidence in real clinical environments,” explains Yvonne.
One of the most important things taught, she says, is clinical reasoning.
“Occupational therapy is constantly evolving. There isn’t one intervention that works for everyone, and two occupational therapists may approach the same person in completely different ways.
“What we can do is build confidence in understanding what’s happening physiologically, developing problem-solving skills, and applying clinical reasoning.”
Career Opportunities in Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy offers graduates exceptional career flexibility, strong employment prospects, and opportunities to work around the world.
Occupational therapists remain on high-demand skills lists in countries including Australia and New Zealand, with significant recruitment activity across Europe, and Irish OTs are particularly well regarded.
Yvonne explains: “People do make a distinction when it comes to Master’s graduates because they recognise the maturity and commitment involved in making a career change and returning to study. That experience can be a real advantage.”
The sheer breadth of career opportunities is one of the profession’s greatest strengths. Graduates can work across paediatrics, mental health, physical rehabilitation, older adult care, community services, prison services, refugee support programmes, education, and private practice.
As Yvonne explains: “People often see one version of occupational therapy – usually paediatrics – and think that’s everything. But it’s not. There is so much you can do within this profession.
“I always say that if something occupies a person’s time, occupational therapy can help with it. That’s really the breadth of the profession.”
Her own career journey demonstrates the flexibility occupational therapy can offer. After having her daughter, Yvonne launched her own occupational therapy business just three months later, creating a career that could evolve alongside her personal and professional goals.
“That’s one of the things I love about occupational therapy – it’s incredibly flexible. You can adapt your workload and your career as your needs change.”
Professional Impact
For Yvonne, the most rewarding part of occupational therapy is seeing people achieve things they never thought possible. One moment that has stayed with her involved a non-verbal child who spoke for the first time during a play-based therapy session.
She reflects: “We went more towards play, regulation, and fun, and then suddenly, ‘ready, steady, go’ comes out of his mouth. Myself and the child’s mum just burst out crying.”
Advice for Students
The MSc Occupational Therapy (Pre-registration) programme at Portobello Institute is designed for aspiring occupational therapists from a range of academic and professional backgrounds, including career changers and mature learners returning to education.
Yvonne understands that taking the step back into study can feel daunting, but she encourages prospective students not to underestimate the support available or the practical nature of the profession.
“People often worry about anatomy, physiology, and the academic side of things, but what I love about occupational therapy is that learning isn’t static.
“You’re not just memorising information. You’re moving, talking through concepts and learning through practical, hands-on experiences.”
Why Portobello
For Yvonne, joining Portobello Institute is an opportunity to help inspire and prepare the next generation of occupational therapists through a programme that is practical, supportive, and closely connected to the realities of professional practice.
“Portobello has a strong community feel. Students are encouraged to communicate openly, and staff are proactive in reaching out and offering support. It’s a very collaborative environment.”
She believes one of the programme’s greatest strengths is its student-centred approach, where smaller cohort sizes allow learners to build meaningful relationships with their tutors.
Looking ahead, Yvonne is excited about the learning experience students can expect.
She concludes: “This Master’s is going to be diverse, information-filled, very hands-on, dynamic, and ever-changing. It’s going to be information-heavy, but in a really accessible way.”
Explore Occupational Therapy at Portobello
Thinking about a future in occupational therapy? Learn how Yvonne Phelan and the MSc Occupational Therapy (Pre-registration) programme can prepare you for a rewarding and impactful career.
Autumn ’26 In-Person Delivery Mode
Teaching for this programme is delivered through scheduled weekday daytime classes in person.
Semester 1: Running from 5th October 2026 to 22nd January 2027, teaching is typically held in person on Wednesdays and Thursdays, with classes covering Introduction to Professional Practice, Occupation, Health and Wellbeing 1, and Foundation Sciences for Health, Wellbeing and Participation.
Semester 2: Running from 25th January 2027 to 7th May 2027, this semester focuses on Practice Placement 1, which runs across the working week from Monday to Friday.
Semester 3: Running from 10th May 2027 to 21st August 2027, teaching is typically held in person on Thursdays and Fridays, with classes covering Occupation, Health and Wellbeing 2 and Occupation, Health and Wellbeing 3.
A provisional class schedule is available here. These dates are subject to change and offer a broad illustration of the semester calendar. A similar schedule will run for year 2 of the programme.
This MSc Occupational Therapy (Pre-registration) utilises a mix of learning environments including online lectures, practical work experience, problem-based learning, common and complex case studies.
You are normally expected to attend all elements of the course and will require a minimum of 80% attendance across all modules.
Formal teaching methods will vary depending on the relevant learning outcomes of specific units, but will include the following activity types: Lectures (Scheduled) Seminars (Scheduled) Tutorials (Scheduled) Project Supervision (Scheduled) Practical Classes and Workshops (Scheduled) Guided Independent Study (Independent).
Autumn ’26 Blended Learning Delivery Mode
The induction day for this programme will take place in person on Saturday, October 10th 2026.
Classes are delivered through a combination of weekday evening online classes and scheduled Saturday in-person teaching days.
Semester 1: Online classes take place on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, with regular Saturday onsite practical teaching days.
Semester 2: This semester focuses on Practice Placement 1, including onsite preparation days and scheduled 36-hour placement weeks Monday – Friday.
Semester 3: Teaching returns to a blended format, with online classes on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and regular Saturday onsite practical teaching days.
A provisional class schedule is available here. These dates are subject to change and offer a broad illustration of the semester calendar. A similar schedule will run for year 2 of the programme.
This MSc Dietetics (Pre-registration) utilises a mix of learning environments including online lectures, practical work experience, problem-based learning, common and complex case studies.
You are normally expected to attend all elements of the course and will require a minimum of 80% attendance across all modules.
Formal teaching methods will vary depending on the relevant learning outcomes of specific units, but will include the following activity types: Lectures (Scheduled) Seminars (Scheduled) Tutorials (Scheduled) Project Supervision (Scheduled) Practical Classes and Workshops (Scheduled) Guided Independent Study (Independent).
Work Placement
The MSc Occupational Therapy (Pre-Registration) programme at Portobello Institute offers a structured, innovative, and professionally aligned approach to practice-based learning, designed to meet and exceed HCPC practice education standards and support eligibility for CORU registration in Ireland.
Students complete four supervised blocks of occupational therapy practice education across the two-year programme, enabling them to progressively develop professional competence, clinical reasoning, and occupational therapy identity.
Placement Structure
Students undertake two placement blocks in each academic year:
Year 1
- Practice Placement 1A – 6 weeks
- Practice Placement 1B – 7 weeks
Year 2
- Practice Placement 2A – 8 weeks
- Practice Placement 2B – 10 weeks
Across the programme, students complete a minimum of 1,000 hours of supervised occupational therapy practice, in line with international professional and regulatory requirements.
An Innovative Occupational Therapy Placement Model
Rather than relying solely on traditional hospital-based placements, Portobello Institute has developed a dedicated occupational therapy placement hub model, designed to provide structured learning, consistent supervision, and meaningful engagement with occupation-focused practice.
Within the placement hubs, students work with individuals who require ongoing occupational therapy intervention across areas such as:
- Physical rehabilitation and functional recovery
- Mental health and psychosocial practice
- Neurological conditions and long-term disability
- Cognitive rehabilitation and dementia care
- Environmental adaptation and assistive technology
This model supports continuity of care and allows students to follow service users over time, deepening understanding of occupational performance, participation, and outcomes.
Supervision, Support, and Learning Environment
Each placement hub is supported by a permanently employed Portobello practice educator, ensuring:
- Continuous clinical supervision
- Structured skills development
- Regular formative assessment and feedback
Placements are limited to a maximum of six students per site, allowing for enhanced supervision, one-to-one teaching opportunities, and a supportive learning environment in which students can safely develop competence and confidence.
Because service users are consistently attached to each hub, students gain valuable experience in:
- Longitudinal goal setting and review
- Evaluating occupational outcomes over time
- Adapting interventions based on lived experience and progress
This offers a significant advantage over placements where client contact may be short-term or episodic.
Specialist and External Placements
In addition to hub-based placements, students may complete specialist placements outside the core hubs, providing broader exposure to occupational therapy practice across diverse settings and populations. These experiences further support readiness for professional practice and graduate employment.
Why Our Occupational Therapy Placement Model Is Different
Key Advantages for Students
- Accredited practice-based learning aligned with HCPC standards
- Minimum of 1,000 supervised practice hours across two academic years
- Dedicated occupational therapy placement hubs in Ireland
- Resident service-user model supporting continuity of care and deeper occupational reasoning
- Permanently employed Portobello practice educators at placement sites
- Maximum of six students per placement for enhanced supervision
- One-to-one clinical teaching in a safe, structured environment
- Experience across physical health, mental health, rehabilitation, and community practice
- Opportunities for specialist placements beyond the core hubs
- Strong preparation for professional registration and graduate employment
Garda Vetting
Before starting clinical placements, students on this programme must complete up-to-date Garda Vetting, which is conducted through Portobello Institute.
Carried out by the National Vetting Bureau of An Garda Síochána, Garda Vetting is a legal requirement for anyone undertaking work or activities involving children or vulnerable adults.
Vetting checks whether an individual has a criminal record or any relevant information that may need to be considered before they begin placement.
Learn about the Garda Vetting process at Portobello Institute here.
Graduates of the MSc Occupational Therapy (Pre-reg) at Portobello Institute have strong career opportunities across healthcare, education, and community services in Ireland, the UK, and internationally.
The programme prepares you to work as a registered Occupational Therapist (pending HCPC approval and subject to CORU registration), supporting individuals to live as independently, safely, and meaningfully as possible.
Occupational Therapy Career Opportunities
This programme prepares you for roles across physical health, mental health, and community-based services.
Typical career pathways include:
- Occupational Therapist within public healthcare services (HSE, NHS)
- Therapist in private hospitals, clinics, and rehabilitation services
- Community-based Occupational Therapist within primary care teams
- Roles in rehabilitation centres (neurology, stroke, brain injury, orthopaedics)
- Mental health and psychosocial support services
- Older persons’ services and dementia care
- Paediatric services, including schools, early intervention, and disability settings
These roles involve supporting individuals to develop, recover, or maintain the skills needed for daily living and participation.
Employers Recruiting Our Graduates
Graduates work across a wide range of settings, including:
- Public healthcare services
- Private hospitals and rehabilitation centres
- Community health and primary care teams
- Mental health and disability services
- Schools and paediatric support services
These employers value professionals who can support independence, participation, and quality of life across diverse populations.
Why Occupational Therapy Graduates Are in Demand
There is strong and growing demand for Occupational Therapists across healthcare and community services.
This demand is driven by:
- Ageing populations
- Increased focus on mental health and wellbeing
- Expansion of community-based and integrated care
- Greater emphasis on disability inclusion and accessibility
Occupational Therapists play a key role in supporting individuals to live independently and participate fully in daily life.
What You Will Develop
Through this programme, you will develop:
- Clinical skills in assessment and intervention
- Knowledge of physical and mental health conditions
- Experience working with individuals across the lifespan
- Skills in rehabilitation, adaptation, and support planning
- Evidence-based practice and clinical decision-making
This prepares you to work across a wide range of healthcare and community environments.
Career Development and Specialisation
With experience, you may progress into specialist and advanced areas such as:
- Paediatrics, including sensory integration and autism support
- Mental health and recovery-focused practice
- Neurology and acquired brain injury
- Hand therapy and upper limb rehabilitation
- Geriatrics, falls prevention, and ageing services
- Assistive technology and environmental adaptation
- Vocational rehabilitation and return-to-work services
Wider Career Opportunities
Occupational therapy skills are highly transferable and support careers beyond traditional clinical roles, including:
- Case management and care coordination
- Disability consultancy and accessibility advisory roles
- Workplace ergonomics and occupational health
- Driving assessment and mobility services
- Health promotion and wellbeing roles
- Telehealth and digital health services
- NGO, community development, and advocacy work
Leadership, Education and Research
This programme provides a strong foundation for long-term career development and progression into:
- Senior and specialist clinical roles
- Clinical leadership and service management
- Teaching, supervision, and practice education
- Research roles and doctoral (PhD) pathways
- Policy development, service design, and quality improvement
International Opportunities
Occupational therapy is an internationally recognised profession, offering strong mobility and long-term job security.
Graduates may pursue opportunities in:
- Ireland
- The UK
- Australia
- Canada
- New Zealand and other international healthcare systems
Career Outlook
An MSc in Occupational Therapy supports a people-centred career offering:
- Strong graduate employability
- Diverse practice settings
- Clear progression and specialisation pathways
- Opportunities for leadership, innovation, and research
This provides the opportunity to make a meaningful and lasting impact on individuals, families, and communities.
Industry Partners
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1Applications for the 2026 October start are open from April 22nd - May 8th. Interviews will take place in May and June.
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2Complete the online application form.
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3An interview will be conducted via MS Teams to verify suitability for this programme.
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4Confirmation of the interview outcome will be given within 7 – 10 working days. To confirm acceptance of offer, successful applicants will be required to formally accept their offer and pay the required deposit – there will be a 14 day time allowance to complete this part of the process.
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5Please note places on this course are only confirmed once tuition fees have been received. We are unable to hold places open for applicants unable to complete the final stage of the process.
*Please note that additional costs will apply to students who undertake this course including but not limited to costs associated with equipment, placement, clothing requirements and health checks. More information is available from the course advisor upon request.
Course: €16,896
*Please note that additional costs will apply to students who undertake this course including but not limited to costs associated with equipment, placement, clothing requirements and health checks. More information is available from the course advisor upon request.
Course: €16,896
Additional Fees
*Please note that additional costs will apply to students who undertake this course including but not limited to costs associated with equipment, placement, clothing requirements and health checks. More information is available from the course advisor upon request.
Option 1
33% deposit payment (€5,706.03), followed by 4 scheduled payments on the first of each month, commencing the 1st of the month after the start date of the course. Includes one off instalment fee of €395.
- €2,896.24 due in month 1
- €2,896.24 due in month 2
- €2,896.24 due in month 3
- €2,896.24 due in month 4
Option 2
40% deposit payment (€6,758.40) due on application of your course. Final balance (€10,137.60) due before the course start date.
Option 3
30% deposit payment (€5,307.30), followed by 10 scheduled payments on the first of each month, commencing the 1st of the month after the start date of the course. Includes one off instalment fee of €795.
- €1,238.37 due in month 1
- €1,238.37 due in month 2
- €1,238.37 due in month 3
- €1,238.37 due in month 4
- €1,238.37 due in month 5
- €1,238.37 due in month 6
- €1,238.37 due in month 7
- €1,238.37 due in month 8
- €1,238.37 due in month 9
- €1,238.37 due in month 10
*Please note that additional costs will apply to students who undertake this course including but not limited to costs associated with equipment, placement, clothing requirements and health checks. More information is available from the course advisor upon request.
Option 1
40% deposit payment (€6,758.40) due on application of your course. Final balance (€10,137.60) due before the course start date.
Option 2
33% deposit payment (€5,706.03), followed by 4 scheduled payments on the first of each month, commencing the 1st of the month after the start date of the course. Includes one off instalment fee of €395.
- €2,896.24 due in month 1
- €2,896.24 due in month 2
- €2,896.24 due in month 3
- €2,896.24 due in month 4
Option 3
30% deposit payment (€5,307.30), followed by 10 scheduled payments on the first of each month, commencing the 1st of the month after the start date of the course. Includes one off instalment fee of €795.
- €1,238.37 due in month 1
- €1,238.37 due in month 2
- €1,238.37 due in month 3
- €1,238.37 due in month 4
- €1,238.37 due in month 5
- €1,238.37 due in month 6
- €1,238.37 due in month 7
- €1,238.37 due in month 8
- €1,238.37 due in month 9
- €1,238.37 due in month 10
