Sept 2025 Entry
4 years
130 (including 24 clinical/field credits)
Students will be awarded the following degree upon completion of the graduation requirements:
- BSc (Hons) in Occupational Therapy
What's New
Programme Aims & Learning Outcomes
This programme aims to generate graduates who are forward-looking and competent occupational therapists and can promote the health and well-being of people in Hong Kong.
A combination of medical, physical, neurological, psychological, and social subjects prepares students to enhance the functional performance of community-dwelling people with disabilities in terms of self-care, leisure, and work. Students learn how to maximize occupational performance, promote health, and improve life meaningfulness and quality of life of clients and their families and caregivers.
The programme prepares students to deliver occupation-based and client-centred occupational therapy with a commitment to promoting equal opportunities for all members of the community. It also prepares students for helping careers in which they empower clients to manage their disabilities, educate the public about healthy and meaningful living and pass on their professional knowledge to new generations of therapists.
Programme Characteristics
The programme uses an outcome-based learning approach and integrates academic and clinical education. We provide numerous excellent learning resources with up-to-date technological tools, such as Web-based teaching and self-learning packages.
We also provide global learning experiences in occupational therapy: fieldwork placements and academic exchange programmes are available in the Chinese mainland and overseas.
Placement Opportunities
Clinical education is an important component of professional training and development, and it is delivered through clinical placements in various settings in Hong Kong, on the Chinese mainland, and overseas. Students undertake placements in a range of settings, including hospitals, outpatient clinics, childcare centres, elderly care homes, adult training centres and workshops, and long-stay care homes. Overseas clinical placements have been organised in partnership with various universities, such as Curtin University of Technology (Australia), the University of South Australia (Australia), the University of Toronto (Canada), McGill University (Canada), Metropolitan University College (Denmark), JAMK University of Applied Sciences (Finland), the University of Southern California (USA), Nanyang Polytechnic (Singapore) and Chang Gung University (Taiwan). Further overseas placements will be arranged for students in the coming years, to broaden their global perspectives.
Professional Recognition
The programme is a World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT)- Approved Entry-Level Education Programme for Occupational Therapists.
Graduates are eligible for registration as a registered Occupational Therapist (Part II) by the Occupational Therapists Board of Hong Kong [under Section 12(1)(a) of the Supplementary Medical Professions Ordinance, Chapter 359, Laws of Hong Kong, 1981].
Career Prospects
Graduates gain employment in a wide variety of environments, such as hospitals, rehabilitation settings, community agencies, schools, and health and welfare settings. They are also qualified for the position of Occupational Therapist II in the Hospital Authority, private organisations (private hospitals, private clinics, nursing homes, and homes for the elderly), the Department of Health, the Education Bureau (special schools, and early education and training centres), subvented non-government organisations, and the Social Welfare Department (community centres, sheltered workshops, and special childcare centres).
This is a 4-year full-time programme leading to a registrable qualification, as required by the Occupational Therapists Board of Hong Kong. The programme is also recognised by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) for training practitioners to international standards.
Year 1 of the programme includes compulsory university subjects, such as Introduction to Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics, Introduction to Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and fundamental language subjects, and Foundation Subjects, such as Human Physiology, Human Anatomy, Functional Anatomy, and Foundation Psychology for Rehabilitation Professionals. The core subject of occupational therapy is introduced in OT Theory and Process I.
Year 2 of the programme includes Foundation Subjects in occupational therapy, such as Pharmacology in Rehabilitation, Clinical Sciences, Professional Ethics and Legal Issues, and Traditional Chinese Medicine. The core occupational therapy discipline is introduced in subjects such as Human Occupations and OT Foundations in Human Performance and Enabling Occupation in Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation.
Year 3 of the programme focuses on core occupational therapy disciplines: Psychosocial Practice, Medical & Neurorehabilitation, Developmental Conditions, Environmental Issues and Assistive Technology. A subject on Primary Health and Community Care is also included in this year.
Year 4 of the programme extends to applied subjects, such as Aging and Geriatric Practice and Vocational Rehabilitation. There is also a Capstone Project, an inter-professional education and collaborative case management subject, and a subject on healthcare management and entrepreneurship in this final year.
Clinical education is an important component of the programme. It is delivered through clinical placements in various settings in Hong Kong, the Chinese mainland, and overseas. Students are required to undertake 1,000 hours of clinical placement throughout the programme, spread across five blocks.
Information on the subjects offered can be obtained at www.rs.polyu.edu.hk.
130 (including 24 clinical/field credits)
Dr Yvonne HAN
BScOT (Occupational Therapy), MPhil (Neurophysiology), PgD (Psychology), PhD (Neuropsychology)
Please click here to view the entrance requirements for non-JUPAS applicants.
For further programme information, please contact:
the General Office (tel.: 2766 6719/2766 5399; email: rs.bot@polyu.edu.hk).
Becoming an Occupational Therapist has been my dream for a long time. I think this career is meaningful and full of mission, so I want to utilize my professional knowledge to help more patients in future and lead them to a productive life.
The OT program at PolyU is fruitful and rewarding. It fully equipped me with knowledge and skills which are indispensable for a competent therapist. With subjects like functional anatomy, rehabilitation psychology and musculoskeletal rehabilitation, they allowed me to gain a holistic view of the human body and OT practices. Besides, I got numerous clinical placements in different healthcare settings, and accumulated more hands-on experiences and broadened my horizons. These invaluable opportunities not only enabled me to apply my knowledge to real-life practice, but also strengthened my soft skills and developed my professional self.
I really enjoy the learning journey at PolyU, also I am glad that I met a lot of experienced and supportive professors here. Apart from their interactive teaching, they always provide useful advice and encouragement for us. This further inspires me to pursue my passion and strive for excellence in my future profession.
職業治療是一門很有意義和多元化的專業，而我亦慶幸能夠入讀這個課程。在過去兩年的課堂和活動當中，我不但學會了不同的康復理論、治療方法和臨床技巧，亦明白到如何照顧病人的生理和心理健康。此外，我很高興能獲得實習的機會，讓我親身接觸病人、累積經驗，從而培養我作為治療師應有的態度。大學的生活多姿多彩，我很開心遇上一班知己和好老師。儘管成為職業治療師的路途並不簡單，但在他們悉心的指導和鼓勵下，我一定會好好裝備自己，希望日後以知識幫助更多有需要的人。
To evaluate applicants’ potential for the programme and the profession and to assess their language and interpersonal skills.
1.5 hours
Band A applicants may be invited for interview as needed.
Required (Please download the form here.)
Required
Optional (Any other documents to support the application)
To evaluate applicants' potential for the programme and the profession and to assess their language and interpersonal skills.
10-15 minutes
Shortlisted applicants will be invited for interview.
Required
Any other documents to support the application (optional)
