Master of Occupational Therapy
Blended learning – on-campus and digital learning
Design, technology, and business entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship are embedded in the curriculum content, which has been designed collaboratively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health professionals.
Students complete three professional work placements in community- or hospital-focused agencies that offer short-and long-term therapy, a well as an innovative project-based placement in the Design Factory Melbourne. Working in teams, students gain industry experience by developing innovative solutions to problems provided by industry partners and consumers.
Every international student application is considered for a scholarship
Whether you’re living in Australia or overseas, you’re automatically considered for a scholarship of up to 30% off your course fees. Please check our updated entry requirements.
Due to limited capacity, students will be unable to defer their place in this course.
Duration
2 Year/s
Intakes
Hawthorn (Winter) - View application and start dates
CRICOS code
089748J
Fees
A$41200 (annual for 2023)*
The indicative course fees shown in Course Search apply to international students for the relevant year only. They are based on a standard study load per year. However, please note that fees are assessed according to a student's study load in each semester, and variation to study load will result in an adjustment to tuition fees. All fees are subject to annual review and may be adjusted.
Course information in detail
- Course detail, course structure and units of study.
Course description
International students in Australia who hold student visas are required to study full-time and on campus. Courses that are taught entirely online are only available to international students studying outside Australia or those in Australia who are not on a student visa. Online courses are not available to international students in Australia who hold a student visa.
Course structure
To qualify for the award of Master of Occupational Therapy students must complete 200 credit points comprising of:
- Eleven (11) core units of study (137.5cp)
- Three (3) professional practice units of study (62.5cp) – 1,000 hours in total
The maximum level of credit that can be granted for the Master of Occupational Therapy is 100 credit points (normally eight units)
Professional placements
It is a mandated requirement of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists and the Occupational Therapy Council (Australia and New Zealand) Ltd that all students will undertake 1000 hours of professional practice training including 800 hours of work placements and at least 240 hours of other professional practice activities in other units. Work placements are organised into three full-time blocks (20 weeks total). Swinburne will organise the student placement program.
Placements will be undertaken in agencies which: provide short-term or long-term therapy, are community or hospital focused, with clients across the lifespan. Clients will experience occupational performance problems as a result of mental health, neurological or musculoskeletal impairments. Every client will be experiencing some limitation in what they need, want or expect to be able to do. It is intended that students be offered a variety of placement experiences during their enrolment.
Units of study
Careers and graduate outcomes
- Career opportunities, course aims and objectives and professional recognition.
Career opportunities
Aims and objectives
- Construct occupational performance profiles in collaboration with individuals, groups or communities, identify the impacts of occupation on health and wellbeing, and apply these in a range of contexts
- Critically analyse and apply contemporary theory, practice knowledge, and evidence to inform sound clinical reasoning in assessment, planning, intervention, and evaluation of outcomes within the occupational therapy curriculum and in clinical practice
- Apply well developed independent research skills to critically review literature and produce an evidence review report that accurately summarises findings from contemporary research regarding a health assessment or intervention
- Demonstrate safe, ethical, competent, culturally responsive, culturally safe, lawful, and accountable occupational therapy practice which supports client health and wellbeing through occupation and consideration of the person and their environment
- Communicate openly, responsively and appropriately with individuals and groups across a variety of settings, adapting written, verbal and non-verbal communication to the client and practice context
- Analyse, plan, produce, communicate, and evaluate a design, technology, or device solution to a complex problem impeding occupational participation, as identified by an external partner in the disability sector
- Implement reflective practice and demonstrate the ability to critically and accurately evaluate own and peers’ skills, learning styles, and capacity for self-direction

Professional recognition
Pathways and scholarships
- Scholarships.
Course fees and requirements
- Fees, entry requirements and English language requirements.
Course fees
Entry requirements
A prerequisite for many courses, the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) can now be done on campus in Hawthorn at Room 132, Building TD. Book now or call +61 3 9214 3584 for more information.
- a bachelor degree (or higher award); or
- a Postgraduate degree
AND - completed at least one anatomy and physiology undergraduate unit (such as BIO10004 Anatomy and Physiology); or
- n equivalent anatomy and physiology bridging course.
English language requirements
How to apply
Find out more
Tel: +61 3 9214 8444 (outside Australia)