Overview

The details

Course: Occupational Therapy

Start date: October 2026

Study mode: Full-time

Duration: 4 - 5 years

Location: Colchester Campus

Based in: Health and Social Care (School of)

Our four-year PhD in Occupational Therapy (with research and communication skills) course has been specifically designed to support students, whilst also offering additional support for UK students who do not have English as a first language. The course is designed for students who meet the academic requirements for doctoral study but would benefit from an initial year of structured, taught preparation before progressing to a PhD.

The programme combines one year of taught study with a subsequent three-year PhD, providing a clear and supportive pathway to doctoral research. During the first year, you will study core modules focused on research methods, academic communication and research skills, supporting your transition into independent doctoral study.

We recognise and understand the importance of continuing professional development for students and have designed this course for students who do not have English as a first language and may have been studying in a different country, or out of a traditional academic environment for some time.

This is a tailor-made course that seeks to combine skills and enhanced subject specific research proposals to give you the best underpinning for your doctoral studies. A core aim of the course is for students to refine English language for scholarly communication, enhance academic skills for postgraduate study, hone higher-level research skills, and master how to study and manage academic work in the UK context.

On successful completion of the taught year, students progress directly onto the PhD in Occupational Therapy, where they undertake an original programme of research under academic supervision. The PhD culminates in the submission of a doctoral thesis, which makes an original contribution to knowledge within occupational therapy and related areas of health and social care.

Throughout the programme, you will benefit from regular one-to-one supervision and access to a vibrant research environment within the School of Health and Social Care. Academic staff will support you in developing your research proposal, methodology and thesis across the duration of your studies.

You will have regular one-to-one meetings with your supervisor to develop your research topics and plan, and to discuss progress on your research. A full list of research interests can be found on our staff pages.

This four-year PhD does not include a Masters degree in its first year, like other existing Integrated PhDs offered at Essex. On this course you will enrol for a PhD in Occupational Therapy (with research and communication skills) for a PhD final award, with only a PG Dip or PG Certificate available as exit awards after the first year. You will take a number of core and compulsory modules in your first year, and the next three years will be conducting your individual research project.

Why we're great.

Taught modules help to guide and support your development of your research skills.
Gain the tools to demonstrate your expertise in both clinical practice and academic research.
Work with staff in our School who have both clinical experience and academic credibility.

Our expert staff

Our School of Health and Social Care has an excellent reputation for research and teaching.

Our educational provision meets professional regulatory requirements and achieves high standards. We do so by having multi-professional staff with both clinical and academic expertise; our staff include sociologists and social policy and management specialists as well as clinically qualified lecturers in adult and mental health nursing, oral health, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, pharmacy, speech and language therapy, social work and sports therapy.

A unique feature of our School is that many of our staff work with local National Health Service (NHS) organisations and other local agencies, which enhances our grasp of the contemporary links between academic research, the major issues of the day and practice.

We have at our heart a commitment to making a difference to local, national and international health, social care and voluntary services through education, research and knowledge transfer. Our staff operate an 'open door' policy so are available to discuss any concerns with you throughout the year.

Specialist facilities

You are encouraged to take advantage of the research seminars held within our School where you can present your research to other staff and students, discussing your work within a supportive environment

Our Proficio professional development scheme provides you with unique opportunities to acquire a set of specialist professional skills and expand your subject knowledge

Your future

We offer doctoral preparation that integrates professional expertise and academic rigor. During your time working with us you will gain the skills necessary to make significant contribution to local and national health and social care provision through critical appraisal of current practice.

The networks you develop while with us facilitate self-development. You will engage in critical reflection upon practice; work and lead within complex, multi-professional environments where you can demonstrate expert decision-making.

Entry requirements

UK entry requirements

Our Professional Doctorates are only open to UK applicants(except for the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology).

You need to be registered with a UK regulatory body (where appropriate)
You should also be currently employed in management, practice or education, or in a senior position in a health or social care organisation, and possess a Masters qualification (or equivalent)
Employment in a senior position within a health or social care organisation

complete the University's online application form
provide two academic references
provide academic transcripts/certificates
provide a language certificate (if relevant)
provide a 500 word personal statement
attach a 300-word description of:
your clinical practice (for clinical programmes)
Your managerial responsibilities (for management programmes)

International & EU entry requirements

We accept a wide range of qualifications from applicants studying in the EU and other countries. Get in touch with any questions you may have about the qualifications we accept. Remember to tell us about the qualifications you have already completed or are currently taking.

Sorry, the entry requirements for the country that you have selected are not available here. Please contact our Graduate Admissions team at pgquery@essex.ac.uk to request the entry requirements for this country.

Structure

Course structure

You can study our Professional Doctorates over 5 years.

Our Programme Specification gives more detail about the structure available to our current first-year students, including details of all optional modules.

We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision for you. We'll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities as described on our website and in line with your contract with us. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to significant disruption, we'll let our applicants and students know as soon as possible.

Components and modules explained

Components

Components are the blocks of study that make up your course. A component may have a set module which you must study, or a number of modules from which you can choose.

Each component has a status and carries a certain number of credits towards your qualification.

Status	What this means
Core	You must take the set module for this component and you must pass. No failure can be permitted.
Core with Options	You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component but you must pass. No failure can be permitted.
Compulsory	You must take the set module for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.
Compulsory with Options	You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.
Optional	You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.

The modules that are available for you to choose for each component will depend on several factors, including which modules you have chosen for other components, which modules you have completed in previous years of your course, and which term the module is taught in.

Modules

Modules are the individual units of study for your course. Each module has its own set of learning outcomes and assessment criteria and also carries a certain number of credits.

In most cases you will study one module per component, but in some cases you may need to study more than one module. For example, a 30-credit component may comprise of either one 30-credit module, or two 15-credit modules, depending on the options available.

Modules may be taught at different times of the year and by a different department or school to the one your course is primarily based in. You can find this information from the module code. For example, the module code HR100-4-FY means:

100

The department or school the module will be taught by.

In this example, the module would be taught by the Department of History.

The module number.

The UK academic level of the module.

A standard undergraduate course will comprise of level 4, 5 and 6 modules - increasing as you progress through the course.

A standard postgraduate taught course will comprise of level 7 modules.

A postgraduate research degree is a level 8 qualification.

The term the module will be taught in.

AU: Autumn term
SP: Spring term
SU: Summer term
FY: Full year
AP: Autumn and Spring terms
PS: Spring and Summer terms
AS: Autumn and Summer terms

COMPONENT 01: COMPULSORY

Health and Social Care - Research

(0 CREDITS)

You undertake a dissertation of 40,000 words on a subject relevant to your specialist area of practice. Dissertation workshops are held throughout the academic year which will help you to select a topic for your dissertation and provide guidance on writing up your research.

View Health and Social Care - Research on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 01: CORE

English Language and Communication Skills for Postgraduate Studies

(45 CREDITS)

This module provides training in English language skills for successful postgraduate study in the context of the UK generally and at the University of Essex in particular. The module focuses on developing English language proficiency through carefully graded input and scaffolded task completion, all within contexts of most relevance to those pursuing postgraduate research studies at the University of Essex.

View English Language and Communication Skills for Postgraduate Studies on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 02: CORE

Academic Skills for Postgraduate Research

(45 CREDITS)

This module is designed for international students who do not have English as their first language and who are planning to pursue a PhD at the University of Essex. It builds upon the English language skills being concurrently developed in the English Language and Communication Skills module and prior research knowledge all students on the module will have already acquired at Level 7.

View Academic Skills for Postgraduate Research on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 03: CORE

Theory and Method in Health Research

(15 CREDITS)

This module examines major perspectives in social science disciplines as they are applied to health and clinical research. Research in health and healthcare needs to evaluate and account for scientific and social scientific information produced by a wide range of methods. In this module, an in-depth understanding of research methodology is facilitated through studying the philosophical foundations of methods. Furthermore, an understanding of the links between theory and method, at different levels, is also necessary for research at postgraduate level. This module therefore additionally examines some of the philosophical foundations of health-related social research and (to a lesser extent) places the origins and development of these philosophical foundations in their historical and socio-political contexts. A range of philosophical, theoretical and applied texts are examined during the course of the module.

View Theory and Method in Health Research on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 04: CORE

Research Proposal

(15 CREDITS)

This module introduces students to the form and function of an effective PhD research proposal. The module will help students to understand the expectations of the research proposal for their own subjects/supervisors and will help them to work on how to produce a quality proposal. The module will help students to develop their skills and confidence in their own research topic as well as their ability to write and talk about their proposal to a range of different audiences. The module will provide students with an overview of the relevant academic theory and ideas about the writing process as well as practical and hands-on experience of writing their own proposals.

View Research Proposal on our Module Directory

Teaching

Taught modules underpin your research activities and meet identified deficits within your knowledge base
Create two portfolios of learning chronicling the development of expert practice
Portfolios are constructed from the specialist application of generic outcomes in areas such as risk and diagnostic reasoning
Portfolios are submitted at the end of year one and year two

Dissertation

Undertake a dissertation of 40,000 words on a subject relevant to your specialist area of practice

Fees and funding

Home/UK fee

£5,238 per year

International fee

£20,625 per year

Fees will increase for each academic year of study.

Scholarships and financial support

There may be scholarships, bursaries or discounts available to help with the cost of this course.

Fees and funding guide

Masters fees and funding information

Research (e.g. PhD) fees and funding information

What's next

We hold Open Days for all our applicants throughout the year. Our Colchester Campus events are a great way to find out more about studying at Essex, and give you the chance to:

tour our campus and accommodation
find out answers to your questions about our courses, graduate employability, student support and more
talk to our Fees and Funding team about scholarship opportunities
meet our students and staff

If the dates of our organised events aren’t suitable for you, feel free to get in touch by emailing tours@essex.ac.uk and we’ll arrange an individual campus tour for you.

2026 Open Days (Colchester Campus)

Saturday 11 April 2026 - April Open Day

Saturday 20 June 2026 - June Open Day

Find out more

You can apply for this postgraduate course online. Before you apply, please check our information about necessary documents that we'll ask you to provide as part of your application.

We encourage you to make a preliminary enquiry directly to a potential supervisor or the Graduate Administrator within your chosen Department or School. We encourage the consideration of a brief research proposal prior to the submission of a full application.

We aim to respond to applications within four weeks. If we are able to offer you a place, you will be contacted via email.

For information on our deadline to apply for this course, please see our ‘how to apply' information.

A sunny day with banners flying on Colchester Campus Square 4.

Set within 200 acres of award-winning parkland - Wivenhoe Park and located two miles from the historic city centre of Colchester – England's oldest recorded development. Our Colchester Campus is also easily reached from London and Stansted Airport in under one hour.

Find out more

View from Square 2 outside the Rab Butler Building looking towards Square 3

If you live too far away to come to Essex (or have a busy lifestyle), no problem. Our 360-degree virtual tour allows you to explore our University from the comfort of your home. Check out our Colchester virtual tour to see accommodation options, facilities and social spaces.

At Essex we pride ourselves on being a welcoming and inclusive student community. We offer a wide range of support to individuals and groups of student members who may have specific requirements, interests or responsibilities.

The University makes every effort to ensure that this information on its programme specification is accurate and up-to-date. Exceptionally it can be necessary to make changes, for example to courses, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include, but are not limited to: strikes, other industrial action, staff illness, severe weather, fire, civil commotion, riot, invasion, terrorist attack or threat of terrorist attack (whether declared or not), natural disaster, restrictions imposed by government or public authorities, epidemic or pandemic disease, failure of public utilities or transport systems or the withdrawal/reduction of funding. Changes to courses may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery of programmes, courses and other services, to discontinue programmes, courses and other services and to merge or combine programmes or courses. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications. The University would inform and engage with you if your course was to be discontinued, and would provide you with options, where appropriate, in line with our Compensation and Refund Policy.

The full Procedures, Rules and Regulations of the University governing how it operates are set out in the Charter, Statutes and Ordinances and in the University Regulations, Policy and Procedures.