- Location
Online with compulsory block courses
- Duration
- One year full-time
- Delivery
Online with four compulsory block courses (two to three days each) in Dunedin
- Credits
- 120
- Level
- 8
- Start
- February
- Apply
- By January
-
LocationIntakeStudy breaks
-
Distance1 February 202128 June 2021 - 16 July 2021
Are you keen to deepen your understanding of occupational therapy practice and develop your research skills?
Enhance your professional practice and increase your employment potential with this postgraduate qualification that will prepare you for jobs in research-focused positions or higher-level practice roles. If you want to pursue an academic career, this honours degree provides a pathway to take you to the top of your field.
Why study occupational therapy with us?
You'll achieve a significant understanding of professional and practice issues in terms of their social, political, cultural and historical contexts, and analyse professional and practice issues from a sound theoretical basis. You'll critically evaluate research in professional literature and gain the confidence to engage in evidence-based practice. You'll conduct small-scale research projects Take advantage of the online, flexible delivery that enables you to fit study around other commitments, and enjoy the chance to meet fellow students and staff at the multi-day schools held at the Dunedin campus.
Entry requirements
- You must have successfully completed a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy with a grade point average of 5.0 or less across the three years of study OR equivalent.
- You must commence the honours programme within three years of completing the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy.
- International students will be individually assessed to ensure they meet the entry requirements.
- If English is not your first language, you must provide:
- New Zealand University Entrance OR
- Overall Academic IELTS 6.5 with no individual band score lower than 6.5 (achieved in one test completed in the last two years), OR
- Acceptable alternative evidence of the required IELTS (see here for NZQA proficiency table and here for list of recognised proficiency tests).
If you need to improve your English Language skills, we offer a wide range of English programmes.
COVID-19 vaccination information
If you want to apply for this programme, we’ll need to see evidence of your Covid-19 vaccinations (including types and dates). You need to have had three doses. We’re legally obliged to collect this additional information from you as this programme is covered by the Covid-19 Public Health Response (Vaccination) Order 2021.
Please just complete our online application process as normal. As part of the application process, you’ll be asked to provide your vaccination record.
The Government have advised that the only proof of vaccination that we can accept is a vaccination record PDF from your My Covid Record.
Additional documentation
If you are not a graduate from the Otago Polytechnic School of Occupational Therapy and you do not have New Zealand registration you will need to provide a certified copy of your academic transcript.
Selection procedure
Applicants who meet the entry requirements will be accepted into the programme. Should the number of suitable applicants exceed the available places, applicants will be placed on a waiting list in date order.
Those applicants already enrolled at Otago Polytechnic will apply for the honours programme by confirming their intention with the Honours Programme Coordinator. Special circumstances can be considered on application by the student to Postgraduate, Research & Innovation Team.
Additional costs
As this programme is taught via extensive online resources, you must budget for internet access as well as for printing of readings/course materials. There are also compulsory Honours Schools which are either online or in Dunedin. For the Dunedin Schools you are responsible for all associated costs including transport, accommodation and meals.
Further study options
Advance your skills and increase your career prospects with our Master of Occupational Therapy. If you achieve a first class honours degree, you may also be able to progress straight into a doctoral programme.
You will study
This degree is made up of two 30 credit Level 8 courses and a 60 credit dissertation, totaling 120 credits. In order to gain the qualification, it is necessary to pass both courses and the dissertation on your first attempt.
Your workload
If enrolled full time you should allocate approximately 36-40 hours per week for study. These hours cover attendance at fortnightly web-based sessions, online discussions and reading, as well as research for your assessments for each course. In the first semester, you will work on your proposal and then ethics application (if required). In the second semester, you will undertake the research project. The average hours per week for semester two are harder to stipulate as the process of completing a dissertation is based very much on the individual. If enrolled part time the process is extended over a two year period.
Qualification structure
|
SMS Code |
Course Title |
Level |
Credit |
|
|
Compulsory |
|
|
|
BH435001 |
Research for Practice |
8 |
30 |
|
BH436001 |
Research Design |
8 |
30 |
|
BH500002 |
Dissertation |
8 |
60 |
|
|
Total |
|
120 |
Postgraduate academic staff
Jackie Herkt - Academic Leader
Helen Jeffery - Senior Lecturer/Postgraduate Programmes Lead
Debbie Davie - Administrator, Postgraduate Programmes
Assoc. Prof. Linda Robertson - Associate Professor/Research Coordinator
Sian Griffiths - Principal Lecturer/Honours Coordinator
Prof. Mary Butler - Professor/Masters Coordinator
Dr Rita Robinson - Principal Lecturer
Dr Ema Tokolahi
For more details, please visit our staff page.
Student loans/allowances
Student loans and allowances are for domestic students only. For information about student loans and allowances please visit the Studylink website. It is important to apply for your student loan/allowance at the same time as you apply for this programme, due to the length of time Studylink take to process. Loan/allowance applications can be cancelled at any time if you decide to withdraw your programme application or if it is unsuccessful.
Want your existing skills recognised?
If you have extensive knowledge and skills due to practical experience in this area, enquire about our recognition of prior learning process at Capable NZ. You may have already gained credits towards this qualification.
