- Location
- Langside Campus
- SCQF Level
- 7
- Start Date
- 25 Aug 2025
- Qualification Type
- HNC
- Course Type
- Full-Time
- Duration
- 1 Year (August to June)
Applications open 15th January 2025
HNC Occupational Therapy Support is designed to develop and enhance knowledge and skills in occupational therapy for employment in an occupational therapy setting or for progression to relevant degree programmes. This course is aimed at those with no previous experience or those who have a specific interest in the role of occupational therapy as part of the overall treatment and recovery process.
You will benefit from an understanding of how to improve overall occupational performance and function, enabling people to live more independently and to self-manage any long-term conditions to enhance their quality of life. The full-time course includes a placement in children/adult services, enhancing learning in a practical setting.
What will I learn?
The HNC Occupational Therapy Support course includes:
- Context and development of occupational therapy
- Needs and rights of service users
- Policies, procedures and professional standards of occupational therapy
- Philosophy and theory of occupational therapy
- Anatomy and physiology
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Audit and quality assurance
- Graded unit
Assessment is continuous, with a mix of practical and theoretical assessments.
On the full-time course an extensive workplace element is also included to assist understanding of how to apply knowledge from the class setting to real life practice in healthcare, social services and supported education.
The course is also available to study as a distance learning online course. Distance learning online students are already in the workplace so there is no practice placement as part of the part-time distance learning course.
Entry requirements (minimum)
- You will require two Highers, preferably one in English and one in a science-based subject; OR
- A relevant NC / NQ in a health or care related subject at SCQF Level 6; OR
- A Foundation Apprenticeship in Social Services and Healthcare along with one Higher, preferably in English
- We also welcome applications from those who have no formal qualifications but who can evidence significant relevant life and/or work experience and interest and understanding of occupational therapy
- You should be 18 years of age by the end of October as you will begin work placement in January.
- Applicants for the distance learning online course - you should be employed / supervised in a setting where you work alongside a Registered Occupational Therapist
- In the personal statement section of the application you should demonstrate a detailed interest in and understanding of occupational therapy
- Due to the high level of demand for this course you should be able to demonstrate experience gained of working with children or adults with a support requirement
- Placement is subject to Protection of Vulnerable People Disclosure (PVG) criteria, and NHS Occupational Health check. Vaccines will also be required for NHS placements.
- Please note that due to the high demand for places, the specialist nature of the programme and placement requirements, not all candidates who meet the entry criteria will be called for interview.
Entry requirement equivalency table
- If you do not meet the entry criteria for your chosen course, you may be offered an alternative course in the same subject area.
Employer and industry links
The course is supported by employers across the health, social care and supported education in statutory and third sector services through provision of placements and work place supervision.
Work placement for full-time students will be in a wide range of areas e.g. social care settings, community services, residential and care homes, supported education and the NHS across a range of groups including mental health, learning disability, physical disability, rehabilitation, recovery and re-ablement covering all age categories.
The work placement provides extensive experience to understand how theory relates to practice, and will take place for two days per week in teaching blocks 2 and 3.
Articulation Routes
We have articulation agreements to Occupational Therapy degree programmes at:
- Glasgow Caledonian University (2nd year entry with interview and depends on academic progress)
- Queen Margaret University (2nd year entry with interview and depends on academic progress)
Jobs and further study
The College supports students with the UCAS process and application for university as part of the course.
Options for further study include:
- BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy
- Masters Occupational Therapy
- BA (Hons) Integrated Health and Social Care
- BA (Hons) Higher Education: Education and Social Services
- Students may also choose to apply for any other degree programme that links to care or health, e.g. social work or nursing
- Employment as a support worker within occupational therapy or related areas of health, social services or supported education in a wide range of adult and children/young people areas e.g. learning disability, mental health, physical health, rehabilitation reablement and community support.
Take a look at the course progression map for health care courses.
Making an application
For courses starting in August, you can make up to two applications.
Applications are made to a course and a first choice of campus. If the course is oversubscribed at your first choice you will be automatically considered for alternative sites and may be made an offer without a further application.
I've applied — what happens next?
When you apply
You will receive an automated email confirming that we have received your application (remember to check your SPAM folder).
Your application will be reviewed by the admissions team and you will be:
- Full Time applicants - You will be invited to book a group interview and information session. You will be asked to provide proof of qualifications at this session. Interviews will take place from February to May. You will only be offered one alternative interview date if you advise us in advance that you cannot attend the initial interview.
- Distance Learning online applicants – a suitable interview platform either in person or online will be arranged for you.
- Advised that your application is unsuccessful – you have not met the entry requirements for this course and are advised to contact the College Student Advice Centres to discuss alternative options which may be available to you.
- We aim not to reject an application and if you don’t meet the entry requirements you may be referred to a different course or level.
If you are invited to interview, you will be informed of the outcome of your interview by email within 14 working days. The outcome will be one of the following:
- Unconditional offer of a place – you have met all the entry requirements and your place is guaranteed. You will be required to accept this offer to secure your place.
- Conditional offer of a place – your place is secured pending you meeting the entry requirements. This may mean achieving school or college qualifications which you may not be able to provide to us yet. You will be required to accept this offer to secure your conditional place. Once your conditions are met this will change to an unconditional offer of a place which you must accept before you can enrol on the course.
- Waiting list – you have met all entry requirements, and have been interviewed however, the course is now full so you have been placed on a waiting list. If any spaces become available you may be contacted, usually around the course start date. We would advise that you also consider other application options.
- Reserve list – following your interview, you have unfortunately not been successful in this round of recruitment. We have placed your name on a Reserve list and your application may be reconsidered at a later date. This could happen any time up to the start date of the course but it is very possible that you will not be offered a place. We would advise that you also consider other application options.
- Unsuccessful – your interview has been unsuccessful. You may be offered a place on a course at a different level, or advised to contact the College Student Advice Centres to discuss alternative options which may be available to you.
Once an offer is received, you must reply within 14 working days or risk losing your place, as the system will automatically decline your offer after 14 days.
Once you have accepted your offer, you will be sent out instructions about student funding, joining instructions and induction date. This will normally be sent out in June.