The Doctor of Occupational Therapy (DOccT) may be taken full-time over 36 months or part-time over a maximum of 72 months from the date of first registration for the programme. Students complete taught and research elements of the programme over the period of study. The candidate's research and thesis preparation must be carried out under the supervision of a doctorally prepared staff member from the Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy. Upon successful completion of the prescribed modules and a research thesis, students will be awarded the DOccT.

The DOccT is offered to Occupational Therapists. Candidates must have:

• a professional qualification from a school approved by the World Federation of Occupational Therapy (WFOT)
  
• a Masters Degree in a professionally related subject
  or
• a 1st Class Honours Degree in the professionally qualifying degree in Occupational Therapy (exceptionally, candidates may be considered for admission to the programme with a 1st Class Honours Degree in a professionally related subject, subject to the approval of the Professor of Occupational Therapy).
  and
  a minimum of five years professional practice. Exceptionally, candidates may be considered for admission to the programme with less than five years professional practice, subject to the approval of the Professor of Occupational Therapy. A minimum of three years professional practice in occupational therapy is mandatory.

All candidates will be interviewed. In addition, applicants will be expected to submit their CV together with a written goal statement for entering the programme and an outline of their research idea (no more than 1000 words).

Students take 270 credits as follows:

Full-time route

Year 1
Students take 90 credits as follows:

Core Modules
Students take 50 credits as follows:
CT6001 Implementing Evidence in Healthcare Practice (15 credits)
CT6002 Interprofessional Education in Healthcare Settings (15 credits)
OT7001 Knowledge Utilization in Practice (10 credits)
OT7002 Professional Reasoning in Practice (10 credits)

Students undertake work on the thesis with a notional workload to the equivalence of 40 credits (i.e. 800-1200 hours). Typically at this stage of the thesis the student will conduct a literature review or other relevant research to scope the nature of the research proposal.

Year 2
Students take 90 credits as follows:

Students complete 40 credits from one of the following groups:

Group 1
CT6004 Independent Study (15 credits)
CT6006 Educating for Professional Practice (15 credits)
OT7003 Learning Together, Working Together (5 credits)
OT7004 Specialism Applied to Practice (5 credits)

or

Group 2
CT6006 Educating for Professional Practice (15 credits)
OT6011 Occupational Science (15 credits)
OT7003 Learning Together, Working Together (5 credits)
OT7005 Human Occupation and Health (5 credits)

or

Group 3
CT6004 Independent Study (15 credits)
OT6011 Occupational Science (15 credits)
OT7005 Human Occupation and Health (5 credits)
OT7004 Specialism Applied to Practice (5 credits)

Students undertake work on the thesis with a notional workload to the equivalence of 50 credits (i.e. 1000-1500 hours). Typically at this stage of the thesis the student will be developing their research methodology, seeking ethical approval if required, and commencing more detailed research and writing.

Year 3

Students undertake work on the thesis with a notional workload to the equivalence of 90 credits (i.e. 1800-2700 hours). Typically at this stage of the thesis the student will be completing their research and writing up their thesis for presentation for examination by viva voce. The thesis shall comprise 40-50,000 words.

MOccT (Master of Occupational Therapy)
In exceptional circumstances and with permission of the Professor of Occupational Therapy and College of Medicine & Health, the student may exit from the programme after successful completion of 90 credits, (normally for the taught modules) and be awarded a Master of Occupational Therapy (MOccT).

In certain circumstances, students who have successfully completed taught modules to the value of at least 50 credits and who have made good initial progress in their research, but do not wish to continue the programme, may, in consultation with the Programme Director or Professor of Occupational Therapy, opt to write up their research as a dissertation (OT7007) to the value of 40 credits, at NFQ Level 9, for consideration of the award of MOccT on the basis of a total credit of 90 credits. This will be agreed on a case-by-case basis and with the prior approval of the Programme Director or Professor of Occupational Therapy.

Part-time route

Year 1
Students take 45 credits as follows:

Students select modules to the value of 25 credits from the following:

either
CT6001 Implementing Evidence in Healthcare Practice (15 credits)
and
OT7001 Knowledge Utilization in Practice (10 credits)
or
CT6002 Interprofessional Education in Healthcare Settings (15 credits)
and
OT7002 Professional Reasoning in Practice (10 credits)

Students undertake work on the thesis with a notional workload to the equivalence of 20 credits (i.e. 400-600 hours). Typically at this stage of the thesis the student will commence a literature review or other relevant research to scope the nature of the research proposal.

Year 2
Students take 45 credits as follows:

Students select modules to the value of 25 credits from the following (not already taken in Year 1):

either
CT6001 Implementing Evidence in Healthcare Practice (15 credits)
and
OT7001 Knowledge Utilization in Practice (10 credits)
or
CT6002 Interprofessional Education in Healthcare Settings (15 credits)
and
OT7002 Professional Reasoning in Practice (10 credits)

Students undertake work on the thesis with a notional workload to the equivalence of 20 credits (i.e. 400-600 hours). Typically at this stage of the thesis the student will conduct a literature review or other relevant research to scope the nature of the research proposal.

Year 3
Students take 45 credits as follows:

Students select modules to the value of 20 credits from one of the following groups:

Group 1
CT6006 Educating for Professional Practice (15 credits)
OT7003 Learning Together, Working Together (5 credits)

or

Group 2
OT6011 Occupational Science (15 credits)
OT7005 Human Occupation and Health (5 credits)

or

Group 3
CT6004 Independent Study (15 credits)
OT7004 Specialism Applied to Practice (5 credits)

Students undertake work on the thesis with a notional workload to the equivalence of 25 credits (i.e. 500-750 hours). Typically at this stage of the thesis the student will be developing their research methodology, seeking ethical approval if required, and commencing more detailed research and writing.

Year 4
Students take 45 credits as follows:

Students select modules to the value of 20 credits from one of the following groups (not already taken in Year 3):

Group 1
CT6006 Educating for Professional Practice (15 credits)
OT7003 Learning Together, Working Together (5 credits)

or

Group 2
OT6011 Occupational Science (15 credits)
OT7005 Human Occupation and Health (5 credits)

or

Group 3
CT6004 Independent Study (15 credits)
OT7004 Specialism Applied to Practice (5 credits)

Students undertake work on the thesis with a notional workload to the equivalence of 25 credits (i.e. 500-750 hours). Typically at this stage of the thesis the student will be developing their research methodology, seeking ethical approval if required, and commencing more detailed research and writing.

Years 5 and 6

Students undertake work on the thesis with a notional workload to the equivalence of 90 credits over the two years (i.e. 1800-2700 hours). Typically at this stage of the thesis the student will be completing their research and writing up their thesis for presentation for examination by viva voce. The thesis shall comprise 40-50,000 words.

MOccT (Master of Occupational Therapy)
In exceptional circumstances and with permission of the Professor of Occupational Therapy and College of Medicine & Health, the student may exit from the programme after successful completion of 90 credits, (normally for the taught modules) and be awarded a Master of Occupational Therapy (MOccT).

In certain circumstances, students who have successfully completed taught modules to the value of at least 50 credits and who have made good initial progress in their research, but do not wish to continue the programme, may, in consultation with the Programme Director or Professor of Occupational Therapy, opt to write up their research as a minor thesis (OT7007) to the value of 40 credits, at NFQ Level 9, for consideration of the award of MOccT on the basis of a total credit of 90 credits. This will be agreed on a case-by-case basis and with the prior approval of the Programme Director or Professor of Occupational Therapy.

Examinations
Full details and regulations governing Examinations for each programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards 2020/2021 Book and for each module in the Book of Modules, 2020/2021.

Programme Learning Outcomes for DOccT (NFQ Level 10, Major Award)
On successful completion of the programme students should be able to:

• Evaluate and implement new and contemporary areas of theory and practice at an advanced level;
• Reflect critically on practice decisions and lead others in changing practice at individual and service level;
• Generate new knowledge within a defined area of theory or practice;
• Communicate in written and oral formats skilfully and with confidence with individuals and groups at an advanced level;
• Translate and apply new knowledge into contemporary therapy practice.

Programme Learning Outcomes MOccT (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)
On successful completion of the programme students should be able to:

• Evaluate and implement new and contemporary areas of theory and practice at an advanced level;
• Reflect critically on practice decisions and lead others in changing practice at individual and service level;
• Develop and use lifelong learning skills in the workplace with self and others;
• Communicate in written and oral formats skilfully and with confidence with individuals and groups at an advanced level;
• Translate, interpret and apply research findings into contemporary therapy practice.