Deakin University
Bachelor of Occupational Therapy
Geelong Waterfront Campus, Victoria, Australia
Level
Bachelor
Duration
4.0F/P
Campus
Warrnambool Campus (VIC)
Intl. Tuition
A$48,800 (2027-28)
Home Tuition
A$9,880 (maximum student contribution 2027 (indicative))
Intake
TBD
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Course Overview
Bachelor of Occupational Therapy at Deakin University in Geelong Waterfront Campus, Victoria, Australia is a bachelor programme designed to give you both rigorous academic grounding and exposure to current practice in the field.
- Study with academics who are active researchers and industry practitioners, with regular contact through seminars, tutorials, and project work.
- Develop core knowledge in your first year before specialising through optional modules in later years tailored to your interests and career goals.
- Build practical, transferable skills — analysis, communication, teamwork, and project delivery — that employers across sectors actively look for.
- Access dedicated employability support including internships, placements, alumni mentoring, and a careers service that connects students to graduate roles.
- Join a global student community with extracurricular societies, sports, volunteering, and study-abroad opportunities to round out your university experience.
Career snapshot (indicative)
Occupational therapy graduates register with the HCPC and work across NHS, social care and private settings helping clients recover, develop or maintain skills for daily living. Strong demand driven by an ageing population.
Student life (indicative)
Geelong offers a great outdoor-focused student lifestyle with beaches, cafés and a welcoming community.
The University at a Glance
Student Population
59,359
Staff Ratio
18.0:1
International
27.0%
Career Prospects
Employment Rate
75.0%
of graduates employed
Avg Starting Salary
£36,340
First-year earnings
Placement Year
✓ Available
Work experience option
Costs & Living
City & Location
Major metropolitan (>1m inhabitants)
Course Curriculum
Year 1
- Foundations of Bachelor of Occupational Therapy
- Academic and Research Skills
- Quantitative Methods
- Introduction to Theory and Practice
- Optional language or breadth module.
Year 2
- Intermediate Bachelor of Occupational Therapy topics
- Applied Methods and Tools
- Group Project
- Two optional pathway modules
- Career and Industry Insights.
Year 3
- Advanced Bachelor of Occupational Therapy
- Independent Dissertation or Capstone Project
- Two specialist optional modules aligned with your interests
- Employability and Professional Development.
Entry Requirements
Subjects
- Year 12 prerequisites Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 30 in English as an Additional Language or at least 25 in English other than EAL.
- Non-Year 12 prerequisites As for Year 12 or equivalent, see: www.deakin.edu.au/undergrad-entry. | Current Year 12 graduates ATAR This course uses the ATAR as part of its selection considerations.
- Subject adjustment A study score of 35 in Biology, Health and Human Development or any Mathematics equals 3 aggregate points per study.
- A study score of 30 in Biology, Health and Human Development or any Mathematics equals 2 aggregate points per study.
- Overall maximum of 12 points.
- SEAS (Special Entry Access Scheme) Applicants who have experienced educational disadvantage are encouraged to apply for equity schemes.
- Depending on eligibility and your circumstances, an equity schemes application may provide support for your course application.
- For further information go to Deakin University Equity schemes information and the Deakin University website Recent Year 12 graduates ATAR This course uses the ATAR as part of its selection considerations.
- Subject adjustment A study score of 35 in Biology, Health and Human Development or any Mathematics equals 3 aggregate points per study.
- A study score of 30 in Biology, Health and Human Development or any Mathematics equals 2 aggregate points per study.
- Overall maximum of 12 points.
- SEAS (Special Entry Access Scheme) Applicants who have experienced educational disadvantage are encouraged to apply for equity schemes.
- Depending on eligibility and your circumstances, an equity schemes application may provide support for your course application.
- For further information go to Deakin University Equity schemes information and the Deakin University website Applicants with Higher Education study Entire academic record This course uses the entire academic record as part of its selection considerations.
- VTAC Personal Statement Applicants who wish experience to be considered should include this information on their VTAC Personal Statement.
- Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) If you don't meet the academic entry requirements, or haven't completed Year 12, or don't hold any relevant qualifications, the STAT (Skills for Tertiary Admissions Test) may be an option for you to meet course entry requirements.
- SEAS (Special Entry Access Scheme) Applicants who have experienced educational disadvantage are encouraged to apply for equity schemes.
- Depending on eligibility and your circumstances, an equity schemes application may provide support for your course application.
- For further information go to Deakin University Equity schemes information and the Deakin University website Applicants with VET study Entire academic record This course uses the entire academic record as part of its selection considerations.
- VTAC Personal Statement Applicants who wish experience to be considered should include this information on their VTAC Personal Statement.
- Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) If you don't meet the academic entry requirements, or haven't completed Year 12, or don't hold any relevant qualifications, the STAT (Skills for Tertiary Admissions Test) may be an option for you to meet course entry requirements.
- SEAS (Special Entry Access Scheme) Applicants who have experienced educational disadvantage are encouraged to apply for equity schemes.
- Depending on eligibility and your circumstances, an equity schemes application may provide support for your course application.
- For further information go to Deakin University Equity schemes information and the Deakin University website Applicants with work and life experience Entire academic record This course uses the entire academic record as part of its selection considerations.
- VTAC Personal Statement Applicants who wish experience to be considered should include this information on their VTAC Personal Statement.
- Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) If you don't meet the academic entry requirements, or haven't completed Year 12, or don't hold any relevant qualifications, the STAT (Skills for Tertiary Admissions Test) may be an option for you to meet course entry requirements.
- SEAS (Special Entry Access Scheme) Applicants who have experienced educational disadvantage are encouraged to apply for equity schemes.
- Depending on eligibility and your circumstances, an equity schemes application may provide support for your course application.
- For further information go to Deakin University Equity schemes information and the Deakin University website | Current Year 12 graduates Working with children check Applicants will be required to hold a valid Working with Children (WWC) Check for the relevant state prior to undertaking professional placements as part of this course.
- For more information see: Deakin University WWCC information and Working with Children in Victoria Police record check Applicants will be required to hold a valid National Police Record Check for professional placements as part of this course.
- For more information see: Deakin University police record check information and Victoria Police national police record checks Immunisations Students are required to declare their immunisation status to satisfy the requirements of health and community organisations where they will be undertaking their practice education.
- An organisation may refuse to accept a student for practice education if the student’s immunisation status does not align with their requirements, impeding the student’s progression in the course.
- NDIS Worker Screening Check All domestic students are requited to undertake a NDIS Worker Screening check at the commencement of the course.
- International students are required to undertake a NDIS Worker Screening check by the commencement of second year.
- This is an assessment of whether a person poses a risk to NDIS participants.
- Students who fail to obtain a NDIS Worker Screening check may not be able to undertake occupational therapy practice education, impeding their progression in the course.
- Recent Year 12 graduates Working with children check Applicants will be required to hold a valid Working with Children (WWC) Check for the relevant state prior to undertaking professional placements as part of this course.
- For more information see: Deakin University WWCC information and Working with Children in Victoria Police record check Applicants will be required to hold a valid National Police Record Check for professional placements as part of this course.
- For more information see: Deakin University police record check information and Victoria Police national police record checks Immunisations Students are required to declare their immunisation status to satisfy the requirements of health and community organisations where they will be undertaking their practice education.
- An organisation may refuse to accept a student for practice education if the student’s immunisation status does not align with their requirements, impeding the student’s progression in the course.
- NDIS Worker Screening Check All domestic students are requited to undertake a NDIS Worker Screening check at the commencement of the course.
- International students are required to undertake a NDIS Worker Screening check by the commencement of second year.
- This is an assessment of whether a person poses a risk to NDIS participants.
- Students who fail to obtain a NDIS Worker Screening check may not be able to undertake occupational therapy practice education, impeding their progression in the course.
- Applicants with Higher Education study Working with children check Applicants will be required to hold a valid Working with Children (WWC) Check for the relevant state prior to undertaking professional placements as part of this course.
- For more information see: Deakin University WWCC information and Working with Children in Victoria Police record check Applicants will be required to hold a valid National Police Record Check for professional placements as part of this course.
- For more information see: Deakin University police record check information and Victoria Police national police record checks Immunisations Students are required to declare their immunisation status to satisfy the requirements of health and community organisations where they will be undertaking their practice education.
- An organisation may refuse to accept a student for practice education if the student’s immunisation status does not align with their requirements, impeding the student’s progression in the course.
- NDIS Worker Screening Check All domestic students are requited to undertake a NDIS Worker Screening check at the commencement of the course.
- International students are required to undertake a NDIS Worker Screening check by the commencement of second year.
- This is an assessment of whether a person poses a risk to NDIS participants.
- Students who fail to obtain a NDIS Worker Screening check may not be able to undertake occupational therapy practice education, impeding their progression in the course.
- Applicants with VET study Working with children check Applicants will be required to hold a valid Working with Children (WWC) Check for the relevant state prior to undertaking professional placements as part of this course.
- For more information see: Deakin University WWCC information and Working with Children in Victoria Police record check Applicants will be required to hold a valid National Police Record Check for professional placements as part of this course.
- For more information see: Deakin University police record check information and Victoria Police national police record checks Immunisations Students are required to declare their immunisation status to satisfy the requirements of health and community organisations where they will be undertaking their practice education.
- An organisation may refuse to accept a student for practice education if the student’s immunisation status does not align with their requirements, impeding the student’s progression in the course.
- NDIS Worker Screening Check All domestic students are requited to undertake a NDIS Worker Screening check at the commencement of the course.
- International students are required to undertake a NDIS Worker Screening check by the commencement of second year.
- This is an assessment of whether a person poses a risk to NDIS participants.
- Students who fail to obtain a NDIS Worker Screening check may not be able to undertake occupational therapy practice education, impeding their progression in the course.
- Applicants with work and life experience Working with children check Applicants will be required to hold a valid Working with Children (WWC) Check for the relevant state prior to undertaking professional placements as part of this course.
- For more information see: Deakin University WWCC information and Working with Children in Victoria Police record check Applicants will be required to hold a valid National Police Record Check for professional placements as part of this course.
- For more information see: Deakin University police record check information and Victoria Police national police record checks Immunisations Students are required to declare their immunisation status to satisfy the requirements of health and community organisations where they will be undertaking their practice education.
- An organisation may refuse to accept a student for practice education if the student’s immunisation status does not align with their requirements, impeding the student’s progression in the course.
- NDIS Worker Screening Check All domestic students are requited to undertake a NDIS Worker Screening check at the commencement of the course.
- International students are required to undertake a NDIS Worker Screening check by the commencement of second year.
- This is an assessment of whether a person poses a risk to NDIS participants.
- Students who fail to obtain a NDIS Worker Screening check may not be able to undertake occupational therapy practice education, impeding their progression in the course.
Source: CourseSeeker (Australian Government), retrieved September 2026. Always confirm the current requirements with the university.
Assessment Methods
Assessment is varied across the programme and may include: Written examinations across foundational modules; Coursework essays and analytical reports; Group and individual projects with presentations; Practical lab, studio, or fieldwork assessments where relevant; A final-year dissertation or capstone project that lets you specialise in a topic of your choice.
Campus & City Life
Student Population
59,359
Total students
Staff Ratio
18:1
Students per staff
International Students
27%
Of student body
Campus at a Glance
City Size
Major metropolitan (>1m inhabitants)
Climate (indicative)
Four seasons
Safety Index (indicative)
8.0/10
Transport
Good (close to station or regional airport)
Social Scene
Friendly community
Student Life & City (indicative)
Geelong offers a great outdoor-focused student lifestyle with beaches, cafés and a welcoming community.
- Geelong offers a great outdoor-focused student lifestyle with beaches, cafés and a welcoming community.
What Students Love
- Beach lifestyle
- Great café culture
- Thriving student social scene
- Parks & green spaces
University Stats
Total Students59,359
Student-to-Staff Ratio18:1
International Students27%
Safety Index (indicative)8.0/10
Career & Outcomes
Graduate Employment
75%
Employed after graduation
Avg Starting Salary
£36,340
Average first-year salary
Placement Year
✓ Available
Industry work experience
Career Outcomes Overview (indicative)
Occupational therapy graduates register with the HCPC and work across NHS, social care and private settings helping clients recover, develop or maintain skills for daily living. Strong demand driven by an ageing population.
- Occupational therapy graduates register with the HCPC and work across NHS, social care and private settings helping clients recover, develop or maintain skills for daily living.
- Strong demand driven by an ageing population.
Top Industries for Graduates
- Healthcare
- Education
- Business
Study Abroad Opportunities
Y
- Y
Costs & Living Expenses
Total Programme Cost
A$195,200
For full 4.0F/P
Overall Cost of Living (indicative)
HIGH
This location has a higher cost of living. Budget accordingly for accommodation, food, and general expenses.
Estimated Annual Costs
Tuition (International)A$48,800per year, 2027-28 Official fee page
Tuition (Home)A$9,880per year, maximum student contribution 2027 (indicative) Official fee page
Monthly Student Budget (indicative)
Housing£821/mo
Food & Groceries£331/mo
Transport£86/mo
Estimated Monthly Total£1,429
Annual living costs£17,158/yr
Cost Overview (indicative)
Like most major Australian cities, Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus carries a moderate-to-high cost of living — expect around $1,810/month (housing $1,040, food $420, transport $110). Deakin's multi-campus model means costs vary — Geelong and regional campuses are notably cheaper than Melbourne.
- Like most major Australian cities, Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus carries a moderate-to-high cost of living — expect around $1,810/month (housing $1,040, food $420, transport $110).
- Deakin's multi-campus model means costs vary — Geelong and regional campuses are notably cheaper than Melbourne.