The University of Sydney Occupational Therapy School

Program Overview - Master of Occupational Therapy

University and Faculty:	The University of Sydney Faculty of Health Sciences
Program:	Master of Occupational Therapy
University Location:	Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
City Population:	4.5 million
Student Population:	49,000
Campus Location:	Cumberland campus (in Lidcombe, a suburb of Sydney)
Program Duration:	Two years
Semester Intake:	Semester 1 (Feb.) each year
Next Intake:	February 2013
Application Deadline:	Oct. 31, 2012
Est. Annual Tuition:	$34,080 AUD (2012 fees)
Est. Total Tuition:	$68,160 AUD (2012 fees)

The University of Sydney offers a two-year, graduate-entry Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) program. It is intended for students coming from an undergraduate degree in any field who wish to gain the requirements to become an Occupational Therapist.

The Master of Occupational Therapy aims to provide students with the professional competency requirements for occupational therapy practice. The program is a mix of core coursework- and fieldwork-based units, along with elective units. Fieldwork placements are scheduled in both years of the program, and typically take place in full-time blocks. The second year of the course is predominantly based in fieldwork settings with some on-campus attendance.

The University of Sydney encourages applications from people from a range of backgrounds into its MOT program. The program is designed to accommodate all suitably qualified candidates regardless of their prior degree. Students who already have a background in health will be able to select their program electives, while those without such experience will be required to take prescribed electives.

Unique Features of the Program

The Master of Occupational Therapy at the University of Sydney is designed to accommodate students from a wide range of educational backgrounds. Students entering the program who do not come from a health-related field are able to fill themselves in on the fundamental subjects through their elective units in the program.

Eligible students in Sydney Uni's MOT degree are given the opportunity to complete the "Faculty of Health Science (FHS) Abroad" program, in which six elective credits from the final year of study can be undertaken in South and Southeast Asia. This opportunity allows Sydney Health Sciences students to make a meaningful contribution to a community in need and gain hands-on experience in community development through a four- to six-week placement with non-government organizations and other development agencies. In past years, students were placed in destinations such as Vietnam, Cambodia, India and Nepal.

Why international students like to study at the university and this specific program:

The Faculty of Health Science has a whole campus dedicated to its programs, located on the Cumberland Campus in Lidcombe, which is 16 km from the city centre. Students entering the Master of Occupational Therapy on this campus will have access to amenities such as a Health Science Library, specialized laboratories and discipline specific equipment, on-site health clinics, a state-of-the-art sports centre and recreational and social amenities.

Professional Certification/Accreditation Information

The University of Sydney's Master of Occupational Therapy Studies program is approved by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT). The WFOT is the world-accrediting body for occupational therapists, and member countries adhere to this, including Australia and Canada. The University of Sydney's MOT program is similar to Canadian programs and contains the full 1,000 hours of clinical practicum required by WFOT. In Canada, professional registration requirements differ in each province, and OzTREKK encourages you to learn about the certification process required by your province's regulatory body.

Canadian students who wish to practice as an occupational therapist upon their return to Canada should visit the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists website for accreditation and certification information: http://www.caot.ca or or http://www.gocanadaot.com

Scholarships

Every student who applies (and accepts) via OzTREKK and commences his/her studies at an OzTREKK Australian university will receive a $500 scholarship from OzTREKK.
Click here for more info about OzTREKK's Scholarships!

Admissions Criteria/Entry Requirements for Canadians

To be eligible to apply, you must have

• completed an undergraduate degree (Applicants without a degree in a health-related area are welcome to apply; if successful, these applicants complete prescribed units of study in anatomy and/or psychology as electives.);
• achieved a minimum cumulative GPA of 4.5, which the University of Sydney states is approximately equivalent to a credit average or better. A credit average at the University of Sydney is between a 65% and 74%. Your grades assessed for admission are based on your highest-ranked university degree.

OzTREKK recommends that you apply for this program if you have achieved a minimum 65% cumulative average in your university studies.

Application Closing Date for the 2013 intake: Oct. 31, 2012

OzTREKK Admissions Officer: Shannon Tilston