Study at Cardiff | Undergraduate

Entry Requirements - Occupational Therapy

Minimum Entry Requirements

Programme-specific entry requirements are summarised below:

• UCAS Personal Statement
  The personal statement is an important part of the selection process and assessment of this may have implications on the conditions set for entry.
• Standard Entry Requirements
  A broad general education is required with preference given to applicants who have five GCSEs obtained in one sitting at grade C or above, to include English/Welsh language, mathematics and a science. Scottish, Irish and International applicants must offer equivalent GCSE qualifications.

In addition to the GCSE requirements, applicants are expected to have achieved:

Typical Offer

ABB from three GCE A-levels achieved in one sitting.

General Studies, Critical Thinking and Citizenship are not acceptable at GCE AS or A-level.

Welsh Baccalaureate

Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Diploma with a pass in the Core and grades AB in GCE A-level achieved in one sitting.

BTEC National Diploma

BTEC Science and BTEC Health Studies – DDM.

Scottish Certificate of Education

Advanced Highers ABB.

Irish Leaving Certificate

Six Higher level subjects with grades BBBBBC are required in one sitting, which must include English.

Access to Higher Education Diploma

Access to HE Diplomas must have a strong academic base rather than a practical skills base. Students who are pursuing a QAA (Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education) approved science and health based Access to HE Diploma e.g. Access to Science and Health, will be considered on an individual basis. The certificate must be issued by the AVA (Authorised Validating Agency) containing the relevant information and recognised logo.

You will be required to attain a pass of 60 credits, to comprise a minimum of 30 credits at level 3 at Distinction grade and 15 credits at level 3 at Merit grade. This requirement is under continual review and would be at the discretion of the Admissions Tutor.

The credits should comprise the following topic areas:

Sociology, Psychology, Biology
Transferable Skills to include I.T, Communication, Maths, Essay writing skills, presentations/group work.

Applicants not meeting Standard Entry Requirements

All applicants are considered individually and on merit. If not meeting any of the standard entry requirements applicants must provide evidence of an ability to study at the level of higher education. Applicants must be able to provide evidence of suitable learning when applying for any of the Occupational Therapy programmes, e.g. successful completion of educational qualifications not listed above or through submission of a personal portfolio of achievement. Consideration will be given to the level and recency of the qualification(s).

Overseas Applicants

Applications through UCAS from overseas students are welcomed. While the majority of applicants offer A-level subjects, some other international qualifications are acceptable.

Overseas applicants who have not been educated in the UK and for whom English is not their first language are required to offer an internationally recognised English Language qualification which must include reading, writing, speaking and listening skills:

Acceptable qualifications include:

• British Council/UCLES IELTS with a minimum score of 7.0 or above, with no element below 6.5.
• UCLES Certificate of Proficiency in English
• TOEFL (with Tests of Spoken and Written English) with a minimum score of 600.

International Baccalaureate Diploma

The School will consider applicants offering the Diploma and our requirement will be an overall total of 27 points. At least one subject must be offered at Higher Level grade 5. In addition, English, Maths and Science must be offered at Subsidiary or GCSE level.

European Baccalaureate Diploma

The School will consider applicants offering the Diploma with a final overall mark of at least 77%.

BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy – 4 year Part-time

All applicants are considered independently and on merit. Previous students have found it helpful to study GCSE, AS/A-level subjects such as Human Biology; Psychology; Sociology and English; Open University courses in Health and Social Care and BTEC.

Access to Higher Education Diploma

Access to HE Diplomas must have a strong academic base rather than a practical skills base. Students who are pursuing a QAA (Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education) approved appropriate Access to HE Diploma e.g. Access to Science, will be considered on an individual basis. The certificate must be issued by the AVA (Authorised Validating Agency) containing the relevant information and recognised logo.

You will be required to achieve a pass of 60 credits, to comprise a minimum of 30 credits at level 3 Distinction grade and 15 credits at level 3 Merit grade in relevant areas. This requirement is under continual review and would be at the discretion of the Admissions Tutor.

Students with other qualifications or experience

Tutors will be pleased to offer advice on alternative qualifications and experience. A significant number of students join us with Open University or Access qualifications, and we are actively involved in promoting these alternative routes for admission. Applications should be made in the normal way.

English Language Qualifications

In the case of applicants whose first language is not English, competence in the English language is also a criterion of admission.

Open Days

It is recommended that all prospective students visit the Department of Occupational Therapy prior to making their application. Visits must be pre-booked online. Click here to book a place.

Additional Requirements for Admission

Health Checks

All offers given by the School of Healthcare Studies will be conditional upon a satisfactory health check. A Health Declaration form will be sent to applicants when offers are made. Applicants who have decided to accept offers given by Cardiff University will be sent an 'Occupational Health Questionnaire' which they are required to complete and return to the University's Department of Occupational Health by 31st July in the year of entry.

Criminal Record Check

Admission is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974) Section 4(2) (Exemption) Order 1975 and DHSS Circular HC (88)9 guidelines regarding child protection and criminal record checks. It is also considered important to ensure that an applicant’s attitudes and values are such that he or she can reasonably be admitted to the profession. All offers given to applicants will therefore, include a condition relating to a satisfactory criminal record check. This condition must be satisfied by 31st July in the year of entry. Applicants will be required to complete the University’s own Criminal Record Disclaimer form and also to complete the Criminal Records Bureau Disclosure process (at the "Enhanced" level). CRB application forms will be sent to all applicants who decide to accept Cardiff University's offer, in May/June of their year of entry.

Enrolment on to the course cannot take place until a satisfactory disclosure has been received from the Criminal Records Bureau. Delay in returning the CRB form may also compromise an applicant's university accommodation options. Those who are known to be travelling overseas at the relevant time should endeavour to authorise another individual to deal with this correspondence on their behalf.

Detailed information will be given to successful applicants with letters offering places. Information on the Disclosure process can be found on the Criminal Records Bureau website.

All information will be treated in absolute confidence and applicants with convictions to declare will be assessed as to their suitability for the programme to be studied.

Resit Candidates

The School of Healthcare Studies will consider resit applicants on an individual basis.

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