Bachelor of Occupational Therapy

I'm a domestic student, commencingstudent, looking to commence studying in 2026.
There are no upcoming offerings for the year 2026.
This course has no domestic offering.
This course has no international offering.

If you’re looking to build a career that will enhance people's health and wellbeing, the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy from Charles Sturt University will develop and inspire your passion to rise to challenges and make a difference to people, their families and communities.

By obtaining a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy, you will have skills and knowledge to collaborate with individuals, groups and communities – to encourage participation and engagement in meaningful activities to improve health and wellbeing.

If you want to work for NSW Health after graduating, then you could be eligible for a Tertiary Health Study Subsidy. They help cover university fees, technology and travel expenses or other associated personal costs that pop up as you study. If successful, you could be one of 12,000 students supported with up to $12,000 when you work with NSW Health after graduating. 

This course is part of an articulated program of study. Articulated programs allow you to build on your study to achieve the right level of qualification for you.

Celebrating 30 years of excellence in occupational therapy education.

Key information

Study mode and sessions

On Campus
Next session start: March 2, 2026
Session 1 : March 2, 2026
On Campus
Albury-Wodonga, Port Macquarie

Duration

Minimum time - 4 year(s)
Maximum time - 8 year(s)

Entry score

70

Indicative fees

TBA

Course points and codes

Credit Points: 256
AQF: Level 7
Cricos:

Additional information

  • Charles Sturt Advantage early offer program
  • First Nations Direct Entry Program
  • Commonwealth supported places available
  • Work-integrated learning

Bachelor of Occupational Therapy

Applications close February 12

Etiam vulputate diam eget convallis maximus. Quisque pulvinar tristique magna.
Donec volutpat quis vulputate elit ac, pellentesqu nibh. Mauris tempus libero risus, non auctor justo egestas

Find out more

Why study with us?

Our four-year, full-time occupational therapy degree gives you a detailed understanding of the theoretical and practical components of the discipline. You'll study physiology and how the human anatomy works, so you can make informed decisions when you graduate and confidently step into the workforce and begin a rewarding career as an occupational therapist.

Supportive learning environment

Taught at Charles Sturt University's Albury-Wodonga and Port Macquarie campuses, you'll benefit from small class sizes, enthusiastic educators and our close ties with practitioners, health and social services, and the community.

Customise your education to suit your goals

 You can choose to exit the course following successful completion of the first year of study with the Diploma in Health Science, or the Associate Degree in Health Science after two years of study.

Integrated Honours

You could enrol in the Honours program in your third year of the course. If selected, you will complete specific Honours subjects that replace standard subjects and develop your organisational, research and academic writing skills. Selection into the Honours stream depends on academic merit, the extent to which you have considered a potential project topic and the availability of appropriate supervisors.

Industry recognition

Get recognised by international industry bodies with this course, which is approved by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT), accredited by the Occupational Therapy Council of Australia Ltd (OTC) and approved for registration purposes by the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia (OTBA).   To work as an occupational therapist, you must register for practice with the OTBA via the Allied Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra).

Professional Accreditation

This course is professionally accredited by -

  • The Occupational Therapy Council of Australia Ltd.

Please refer to the Charles Sturt Professional Accreditation resource for specific information and a link to the accreditation body.

We’re #1 in Australia for grads who get jobs

85% of our undergrads get full-time employment within 4 months of graduating.

*Good Universities Guide 2022/23

Career opportunities

Work as an occupational therapist with people of all ages in remote, rural, regional and metropolitan locations in a wide range of fields and practice settings including:

 

  • Hospitals and community health
  • Disability services (NDIS)
  • Mental health and wellbeing
  • Schools
  • Aged care sector
  • Work health and safety

What you will study

For each 8-point subject you are enrolled in, you should expect to spend 10 to 12 hours per week working on assignments and assigned readings, tutorial assistance, individual or group research/study, forum activity, workplace learning, and attending lectures, intensive schools, or examinations. If you are studying four subjects per session, this is equivalent to a full-time job. The workload for some subjects may vary as a result of approved course design.

Intensive school

You may need to attend an online or on-campus intensive school for certain subjects in this course. These schools usually involve lectures, tutorials and practicals that will give you a deeper understanding of your subject.

The course consists of 20 core subjects. At the end of second year students can choose, dependent upon satisfying minimum requirements, to complete the honours stream (eight compulsory subjects) or remain in the pass degree (five compulsory subjects and one unrestricted elective).

Core subjects168 Credit Points

Legend:
  • Intensive school
  • Workplace learning
BMS181Human Anatomy and Physiology 18 credit pts
BMS182Human Anatomy and Physiology 28 credit pts
BMS171Introduction to Functional Human Anatomy8 credit pts
BMS255Neuroscience for Health Practice8 credit pts
HIP101Introduction to Australian Society and Health8 credit pts
HIP102Research Foundations for Health, Sports and Exercise Sciences8 credit pts
IKC100Indigenous Australian Health8 credit pts
OCC103Communication for Health Practice8 credit pts
OCC104Person, Environment and Occupation Foundations8 credit pts
OCC105Occupational Therapy Practice8 credit pts
OCC200Decision-making in Occupational Therapy8 credit pts
OCC220Occupational Therapy Assessment: Principles and Practice8 credit pts
OCC204Enabling Strategies: Working with Assistive Technologies8 credit pts
OCC205Enabling Strategies: Facilitating Therapeutic Groups8 credit pts
OCC206Enabling strategies: Working with Individuals (Fundamentals)8 credit pts
OCC300Enabling Strategies: Working with Individuals (Consolidation)16 credit pts
OCC304Enabling Strategies: Working with Communities & Populations8 credit pts
PSY111Foundations of Psychology for Health and Human Services8 credit pts
HLT417Indigenous Perspectives on Health and Wellbeing8 credit pts
HIP423Transition to Allied Health Practice8 credit pts

Compulsory subjects 80 Credit Points

Legend:
  • Intensive school
  • Workplace learning
Students completing the pass degree select the following:
OCC320Occupational Therapy Workplace Learning 116 credit pts
OCC321Occupational Therapy Workplace Learning 216 credit pts
OCC404Enabling Strategies: Contemporary & Emerging Occupational Therapy Practice16 credit pts
OCC420Occupational Therapy Workplace Learning 316 credit pts
OCC421Occupational Therapy Workplace Learning 416 credit pts

Unrestricted elective8 Credit Points

Legend:
  • Intensive school
  • Workplace learning
Unrestricted elective to be chosen from level 200 or level 300 subjects.
XUN008Unrestricted elective8 credit pts
For enrolment pattern please refer to the handbook.

Graduation requirements

As a Charles Sturt University student, throughout your course you have a responsibility to continue to develop skills in English language, literacy and numeracy as appropriate to your discipline. This ongoing development will enable you to effectively participate in your course and graduate prepared to enter the workforce.

Costs

Calculate my fee

The section below is designed to allow you to select the option specific to your circumstances to discover the course fee and course offering information appropriate for you.

Reset fee calculator

How is this calculated?

This is an estimate

  • Fees calculated based on 1 year of full-time study (ETSL).
  • Fees dependant on chosen subjects.
  • Subject to annual increase each year.

Scholarships

We have scholarships and grants, totalling over $11 million annually!

They cover various areas such as academic performance, volunteering, sports achievements, community service, specific courses, on-campus living and individuals in unique circumstances.

Explore scholarships

Entry requirements

Selection rank:

70

Learn about how our selection ranks are calculated (including ATARs and adjustment factors).

View the course profile for this course.

A completed High School Certificate with a minimum ATAR of 70 (including adjustment factors);

OR

Successful completion of at least four university level subjects within a 12 month period demonstrating a reasonable prospect of success with a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 4.5 gained in these studies at the time of application.

OR

A completed Tertiary Preparation Course from an Australian University or an accredited provider demonstrating a reasonable prospect of success with a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 4.5 gained in these studies at the time of application.

Applicants must also meet English language requirements. This requires a minimum overall academic IELT score of 7 with no score below a 7 in each of the individual skill areas (listening, reading, writing and speaking) or other qualification with scores deemed equivalent.

Inherent requirements are the academic and other requirements of a course that all students must meet to achieve the course learning outcomes, and the knowledge, abilities, skills and qualities students will need to have in order to achieve them. Please visit our inherent requirements page for more general information about them.

Credit and pathways

If you’ve completed relevant tertiary study, or work experience related to your course, you could receive credit towards your degree. Which would mean completing your qualification quicker. Find out how to apply for credit and see our credit policy.

Check your eligibility for credit

We also have several admission pathways to help you take the step into your preferred course, even if you don't quite meet the entry requirements at first. Find out what admission pathways are available to you.

How to apply

Applying to Charles Sturt University is easy. Choose how you want to apply below, or get in touch with Charles Sturt University and we can help you with your application.

Apply via UAC

Important dates

Refer to key dates on the UAC website

Apply through UAC
Apply via VTAC

Important dates

Refer to key dates on the VTAC website

Apply through VTAC
Apply directly to Charles Sturt

Important dates

Check out our direct application closing dates

Check out our direct application closing dates

Check out our direct application closing dates

Apply direct

I did four lots of eight week work placements which were incredible. You get to put theory into practice and experience all the different areas you can get into.

Emma Dwyer - Bachelor of Occupational Therapy
View more alumni stories
portrait of
This page displays sessions, study modes and locations for the selected year. Please note course content is the latest approved and is subject to change. See full legal terms