Programme Information
Block Course Duration
Fieldwork 1 - 4 weeks
Fieldwork 3 - 8 weeks
Fieldwork 4 - 8 weeks
Programme Structure
Fieldwork placements give ākonga | learners the opportunity to apply theory in real-world contexts of whakaora ngangahau | occupational therapy practice. These placements take place across a wide range of settings throughout Aotearoa New Zealand and are carefully matched to support ākonga with their learning needs.
Supervision is provided by experienced whakaora ngangahau | occupational therapists, with additional support from the fieldwork team. Across the three years of study, ākonga complete five fieldwork placements, each guided and facilitated by registered kaiwhakaora ngangahau who hold a current Annual Practising Certificate.
During placements, ākonga:
Work in client-centred ways with diverse individuals and whānau.
Develop professional relationships with a range of health and social care practitioners.
Receive structured feedback to support their growth and competence.
The curriculum is designed to ensure that every ākonga achieves a minimum of 1,100 fieldwork hours, exceeding the 1,000 hours required by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT, 2016) and the Occupational Therapy Board of New Zealand (OTBNZ). The additional hours safeguard against unforeseen circumstances, such as illness, that may otherwise prevent completion of the requirement.
Fieldwork placements also include dedicated study hours, giving ākonga the chance to reflect, identify their learning needs, and engage with opportunities that align with their individual goals.
In addition to placements, authentic and simulated fieldwork experiences are built into courses across all three years of the programme. These experiences form an essential part of the total fieldwork hours required.
The breakdown of hours across both the programme and placements is outlined in the table below.
Division of fieldwork hours
The Bachelor of Occupational Therapy Programme Structure
The Bachelor of Occupational Therapy is an applied pre-registration degree completed over three years of full-time study. The full-time academic semesters for both the campus-based delivery and the work augmented delivery are organised as outlined in the table below. The structure of the programme together with the small number of prerequisites enable flexible pathways to be developed to meet ākonga needs.
Programme Structure – Campus-based delivery model
Work Augmented Learning (WAL)
About the programme
The Bachelor of Occupational Therapy – Work Augmented Learner Pathway leads to the same qualification as our on-site programmes in Dunedin and at Wintec. The difference is that it offers a more flexible way to study.
Ākonga on this pathway:
Work at least 15 hours a week in a health and hauora | wellbeing or social service setting where they work directly with people, for example as kaiāwhina, teacher aides or fitness instructors. This work grounds their study in a real-world context and helps them reflect on and deepen what they are learning.
Attend one on-campus day each teaching week.
Join an evening class one night each teaching week.
Attend four noho marae during Year One. These marae-based wānanga help ākonga grow their mātauranga Māori and include hands-on skills workshops.
Programme Structure Work Augmented Delivery Model
The work augmented model of delivery commences in the second half of the year with the second semester being at the start of the next calendar year.
