Fast Facts
Location
Commencing
- Townsville: January
Fees
$42,477+
+
estimated annual tuition and student services and amenities fee for a full-time study load
Scholarships and financial aid available if eligible
Currently displaying fees for 2026, which are subject to change in following years.
Duration
4 years full-time
Entry Requirements
English (Units 3/4,C); One of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Health, Psychology or Physical Education (Units 3/4,C)
English language requirements
Band 3a
If your native language is not English, you must meet the minimum English language requirements for this course.
View the international entry requirements for this course
CRICOS Code
094677K
Course detail
Gain the knowledge, skills and confidence you’ll need to help individuals achieve their goals in relation to the activities that they need, want or are expected to do in their daily lives. When you study the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy at JCU, you’ll learn how to identify your future clients’ potential and how to use therapeutic approaches to help them maximise their participation and engagement in the activities that matter to them.
Occupational therapists are primarily concerned with helping their clients develop or regain the abilities required for a variety of occupations, including those relating to self-care, work, school, play or leisure. JCU Occupational Therapy will help you understand how the human body works from the inside out. You’ll build on your core knowledge of human anatomy and physiology through learning about the psychosocial, biomechanical, neurological and contextual determinants of occupation. You will also acquire a strong understanding of lifespan development, health promotion and health care.
Be prepared to engage in effective healthcare practice from your first year as you learn fundamental communication and practical skills for occupational therapists and allied health service delivery. You will develop a deeper understanding of the role of occupational therapists within the health sector and how their work contributes to the bigger picture of health care through engagements with community.
Benefit from hands-on experience throughout your degree. You’ll hone vital skills while you study and train, whether alongside your expert lecturers and tutors at the JCU Health Occupational Therapy Clinic in Townsville or while on placement with one of JCU’s industry partners. Go beyond the Townsville clinical setting through professional work placements in urban, rural and remote areas. Rural and remote training will give you the advantage of practical experience and the opportunity to develop a wide range of generalist skills. You’ll graduate with confidence after undertaking over 1,000 hours of professional work experience across the course of your degree.
This course is accredited by Occupational Therapy Council (Australia and New Zealand) Ltd (OTC). Upon graduation, you can become a registered occupational therapy professional through a simple application process.
Consult the handbook for specific admission requirements and further information.
Inherent requirements
Inherent requirements are the identified abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours that must be demonstrated, during the learning experience, to successfully complete a course. These abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours preserve the academic integrity of the University’s learning, assessment, and accreditation processes, and where applicable, meet the standards of a profession. For more information please review the inherent requirements for the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours).
Work Integrated Learning
This course requires work-integrated learning (WIL) activities, such as placements, fieldwork, internships or industry-partnered projects. During the course, you will be required to complete a minimum of 960 hours of WIL.
Honours
An Honours degree is available for high-achieving students. It consists of extra study and the development of a personal research project and thesis. An Honours degree is usually essential for entry to research higher degrees.
Students will be eligible to be offered a position in the research honours major by the Head of Academic Group if they have achieved an average GPA of 5.5 across level one and level two of the program. Students who are not offered a position in the research major, or who are offered a position in the research major but decline this offer, will continue in the professional honours major for levels three and four. A quota on entry into the research major may be applied depending on the availability of supervisors.
Students graduating with the research honours major undertake a research project in an area of specialisation, while students graduating with the professional honours major undertake a professional project.
Note: Depending on where you complete your Professional Experience Placement activities, you will have to comply with the pre-placement requirements of JCU and your host facility.
You must complete all Professional Experience Placement requirements by the set deadlines and ensure all requirements are kept up to date throughout your course enrolment.
The need for allied health professionals is growing rapidly as demands increases across a range of areas, both within and outside of the health sector. As a graduate of the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours), your career could lead you to work as an occupational therapist in public and private hospitals, rehabilitation units, community health centres, aged care facilities, mental health services, schools, independent living centres and in private practice. You can also work in research, education and training.
Upon graduation, you can apply for registration for practice in Australia with the Occupational Therapists Board of Australia Health Professional Registration Agency (AHPRA) and become a member of Occupational Therapy Australia — The Australian Association of Occupational Therapists. Graduates may also apply to register to practice in New Zealand and apply to practice internationally.
Estimated annual tuition fee: $AUD42,477.00
Courses are charged per year of full-time study. International course fees are reviewed annually and subject to change.
A Student Services and Amenities Fee is payable per subject up to a maximum amount per year.
Student Visa holders must have Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of their Student Visa (except Norwegian, Swedish and Belgian citizens). Costs depend on the length of study and the number of dependants accompanying the student. For more information see Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC).
Scholarships and financial aid are also available for international students.
JCU offers multiple Pathways to University. If you do not meet the entry requirements for this Diploma, consider exploring our available Pathways options.
Contact our friendly team today to discover which pathway is right for you.
Application dates vary between courses, whether they're delivered in semester, trimester or carousel study modes. View our Application due dates page for more information.
Gather the documents you need to apply and submit an application via JCU's online application portal.
Real stories
-
Student
Cheyenne Gamble
Bachelor of Occupational Therapy
Studying here has opened up so many opportunities for me to join associations that I never would have if I wasn’t at JCU. I have made friends and gained connections all over Australia. It has given me knowledge and inspiration on how to help my community and other rural and remote communities
-
Student
Mackenzie Mete
Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours)
Studying at JCU has provided me with so many valuable learning experiences that have expanded my knowledge and professional development. I love all that this degree has had to offer including the opportunity to complete my practical placements within rural and remote communities.
-
Alumni
Diane Bakon
Bachelor of Occupational Therapy
As a student, I was provided with countless opportunities to develop my skills, knowledge and practices. The lecturers were engaged in my learning and progress and negotiated placements across a range of settings to ensure that I gained experiences relevant to my learning, interests and career goals.
-
Lecturer
Daniel Lowrie
Deputy Head of Occupational Therapy
Our emphasis on rural and remote practice, in both our teaching and clinical placement opportunities, equips our students with a wide array of professional skills and knowledge. This results in our graduates being highly employable, not just throughout Australia but also internationally.
-
Employer
Nicole Brown
Townsville Occupational Therapy
Graduates from Occupational Therapy at JCU are equipped with strong theoretical knowledge and the ability to apply theory to practice. The graduates are passionate, evidence-informed therapists guiding the individuals they work with to help achieve their potential.