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Postgraduate Taught

Advancing Practice in Occupational Therapy (Post-Registration) - MSc

This course is due for re-validation in Spring 2025 and it's likely that some of the information outlined on this page will change. Please check back here for updates.

Are you a qualified occupational therapist looking to develop your knowledge and evolve or change your career direction? This MSc in Advancing Practice in Occupational Therapy (Post-Registration) course will suit occupational therapists from a wide range of settings and give you the support you need to redefine your career as an advanced practitioner in education, research, leadership, policy or practice.

This highly respected course offers an excellent opportunity to help you fulfil your career goals and you can study full time or part time to fit in with your current commitments. 

Why QMU?

  • Unique: This is the only post-registration course specific to occupational therapy practice in Scotland.
  • Tailor your studies: You can select specific modules for your continuing professional development studies and you can direct your own learning, focusing on aspects relevant to your own practice or specialist interest as topics most of the modules on the course.
  • Flexible study options: You can structure the delivery and duration of this highly flexible course around your own study and work goals and continuing professional development.
  • Staff expertise: QMU’s occupational therapy teaching team work across all occupational therapy courses with the aim of establishing a learning community at undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral studies. Joining the MSc Advancing Practice in Occupational Therapy you will be part of this learning community and contribute to it’s growing wealth of expertise and experience.
  • Industry links: There are opportunities to apply your own learning to practice, and the final dissertation offers the opportunity to investigate or evaluate a question arising from your own specialist interest or practice area.

Advancing Practice in Occupational Therapy: Post-Registration (MSc): More information and what you will achieve

This course is designed to support practitioners to develop and advance their practice across a variety of contexts. The course highlights the transformational role of education that will equip occupational therapists to develop and promote sustainable and progressive practice.

As a student on this course you will develop your knowledge of the evidence base for/of practice and deepen your critical thinking, professional reasoning and research skills.

Specifically, the course aims to ensure the centrality of occupation as part of therapists’ postgraduate education and, in so doing, responds to the strategic drivers for change towards advanced and person-centred practice in global health and social care. 

How will I be taught?

Structure and exit awards

You can opt to study for the MSc (180 credits), a PgDip (120 credits) or a PgCert (60 credits).

You can also register as an associate student to undertake one or two modules as part of continuing professional development. On completion of a single module, you may wish to complete further modules and progress your studies to a named award.ÌýContact Susan PriorÌýfor more information on single module study.Ìý

Teaching, learning and assessment

From 2025, following revalidation it is likely all modules will be delivered online and can be studied from a distance. Additional support is available for those new to or returning to master’s level study. If you are interested in studying full time on campus please contactÌýcontact Susan Prior to discuss.

There are a variety of assessment methods including critical and reflective coursework, ePortfolios, presentations and practice-based assessments.

Teaching hours and attendance

We are currently revalidating the programme and are likely to move towards a fully online delivery from 2025, if you are interested in studying full time on campus please contact Susan Prior to discuss.Ìý

Class sizes

Normally, there are around 15-20 students undertaking the course each year.

Teaching staff

You can read more about the teaching staff on this course at the bottom of this page. Please note that teaching staff is subject to change.

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Modules

The modules for this course will be listed on this page following the re-validation in Spring 2025. Going forward, the modules are likely reflect the modules currently structured under the MSc Advancing Practice in Health, with some contemporary additions.

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