University of Cape Town Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapists refer to both familiar and extraordinary things people do every day as occupations. Occupations are named as such because they require people’s resources of time, personal capacities, and ability to manage within diverse contexts. Occupational therapists believe that occupation or what people do every day has an important link with health and well-being. It is through occupation that people can draw meaning from life. Yet not everyone can do all they aspire to do in life. Illness or injury often disrupts people’s ability to engage meaningfully in everyday occupations. Sometimes people may not be able to pursue personal aspirations due to contextual barriers, even in the absence of illness or injury.
Occupational therapists enable people to overcome barriers within themselves or their environment through reducing functional limitations in the body system, or addressing barriers within contexts where people live, work, attend school, play or pursue leisure. Occupational therapists are trained to assess the person holistically, looking at all aspects of function, and to analyze the environments where people perform activities, so that they can understand how to improve function or adapt the environment in order to foster successful performance. Occupational therapy has developed various treatment modalities which help enable or enhance function. Occupational therapists also use familiar and meaningful occupations during treatment in order to help people who have been ill, injured or disabled to recover their skills, or to develop new ones.
People of all ages with a wide range of diagnoses and conditions, or those restricted from meaningful occupations by their environments, can benefit from occupational therapy services.
The Division of Occupational Therapy at the University of Cape Town’s Faculty of Health Sciences is renowned for its occupation-centered training and has developed a track record in providing a socially responsive curriculum, where students do practice learning or fieldwork in a variety of contexts including community centers, schools, vocational training units, and health facilities.
The division offers the following qualifications: BSc (Occupational Therapy), MSc (Occupational Therapy) and PhD (Occupational Therapy).
Undergraduate
Admission requirements & applications
Selection is based on an applicant’s academic achievements as well as other achievements and activities, as listed in a personal report questionnaire. If you are already studying towards any other degree at university, or if you have already obtained a degree or diploma, you are also eligible for consideration for admission. You are assessed on your school results, your university results as well as the results in the Placement Tests mentioned above. You must produce an official transcript of your results together with your application for admission.
Opportunities are created throughout the course for practice learning. Lectures take place on the Faculty of Health Sciences campus, in the Division of Occupational Therapy at Groote Schuur Hospital and on the Upper and Middle Campuses of the University. Transport may be provided between the Upper Campus and Medical School and, when possible, to the more distant practice learning sites.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
The University provides financial aid to large numbers of students who cannot afford to pay the fees. A few top applicants may also qualify for an entrance scholarship, which is automatically offered to those school-leavers that qualify. (You do not apply for one.) You will find the information about how to apply for financial aid in the application pack.
You may also request the University Handbook titled “Financial Assistance for Undergraduate Students” from the Undergraduate Funding Office.
Telephone +27 21 650-2125 or +27 21 650-3545
Application forms and further information
More information on the profession and the study courses may be obtained from:
The Division of Occupational Therapy, Groote Schuur Hospital F45
Telephone: +27 21 406-6401
Fax: at +27 21 4066323
If you have questions about the selection process or admission criteria please call:
The Admissions Officer in the Faculty of Health Sciences, Barnard Fuller Building, Anzio Road, Observatory 7925.
Telephone +27 21 406-6328/406-6347.
Postgraduate
Overview
The UCT Occupational Therapy Division is committed to developing leaders and critical thinkers in the profession. The postgraduate degrees offered are designed to optimally allow for scholarly engagement with pressing practice and societal issues. All degrees allow for exploration of the multiple realities and consideration of relevant practices, policies and research in Africa.
Postgraduate qualifications in Occupational Therapy may be undertaken at a Masters or Doctoral level.
The following programme options are currently available:
- MSc in Occupational Therapy by coursework and dissertation (MM018);
- MSc in Occupational Therapy by dissertation (MM005);
- Individual courses for non-degree purposes: a maximum of two courses may be taken without registering for the degree; See Coursework courses.
- PhD in Occupational Therapy, click here for more information.
Masters programmes are offered on a part-time or full time basis and should take a maximum of three years to complete.
The PhD may be undertaken part-time or full time, and should take a maximum of five years to complete.
Selection for all programmes is based primarily on academic merit but consideration is also given to relevant background in occupational therapy practice, leadership, research and teaching experience.
Information on programmes and entrance requirements are available in the Faculty of Health Sciences faculty handbook which you will find at: http://www.students.uct.ac.za/usr/apply/handbooks/2024/HS_PG_2024.pdf