The European MSc in Occupational Therapy allows you to study in five different countries. The awarding university is the University of Applied Sciences (HvA) in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
The aim of this course is to give you, as an occupational therapist, the tools to get ahead of current developments and meet the demands of today's clients. With an increase in the average age, the number of people who have disabilities and those with chronic conditions, there is a need for highly qualified occupational therapists who are equipped to innovatively deal with complex situations in therapy and health promotion. On completion you will be able to offer a high quality service geared to individual needs.
Studying across different European countries will allow you to explore the development of occupational therapy theories by looking at the similarities and differences between cultures. This can facilitate the study of effects of the environment in the shaping of human beings' everyday occupations and social participation.
The institutions where you will be studying:
Find out about postgraduate events
Location Five European locations
Part-time 24 months
Apply directly to the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences.
Entry requirements
Find out more about the entry requirements and information on how to apply on the .
What to expect
In 2023 the European MSc in Occupational therapy received the according to the standards of the European Consortium for Accreditation in Higher Education.
Please enable targeting cookies in order to view this video content on our website, or you can .
Course structure
The programme starts in September and lasts 24 months. Hours of study per week will be approximately 28 and there will be six modules including a thesis.*
Each module consists of 280 study hours and has three phases at one of the participating universities.
Each phase consists of preparatory work in your own country (56 hours), class work in the country hosting the module (10 working days / 80 hours), and independent study in your own country (200 hours).
In your home country you work under supervision on your thesis. You support and review each other's work in action learning groups at a distance (840 hours).
During the first year you will have four modules, in each module you have two weeks of intensive classes and nine weeks for making assignments.
Each module combines theoretical topics within Occupational Therapy and Occupational Science with scientific method and theory.
Timetable
Module 1
Exploration of Concepts of Occupation and Research
Preparatory work at home
Contact hours in 91¶¶Òõ
Assignments at home
Weeks 35 and 36
Weeks 37 and 38
Submission in week 46Resubmissions
Module 2
Qualitative Research Methods and Human Occupation, Diversity, Culture and Participation
Contact hours in Amsterdam
Weeks 47 and 48
Weeks 49 and 50
Submission in week 8
Resubmissions
Module 3
Quantitative Research Methods in Relation to Evaluating and Enhancing Occupational Performance
Contact hours in Winterthur
Weeks 9 and 10
Weeks 11 and 12
Submission in week 20Resubmissions
Module 4
Socio-cultural Perspectives of Human Occupation
Contact hours in Naestved
Assignment at home
Weeks 21 and 22
Weeks 23 and 24
Submission in week 32
Module 5
Planning a Research project within the Body of Knowledge of the OT Discipline
Independent study at home
Submit draft research plan for final feedback by supervisor
Submit research plan for marking by examiners
Examination of research plan by oral presentation and Master classes on research methods in Stockholm
Week 35 until 45
Week 45
Submission in week 43
Week 46
Resubmissions of research plan
Module 6
Conducting a Research Project within the OT Discipline
Submit thesis to Director education
Marking and feedback sent to student
Oral presentation of thesis and graduation in 91¶¶Òõ
Week 47 until 24
Week 25 submit
Week 33
Week 38
Resubmit
Submissions and resubmissions are always due on the Wednesday of the mentioned week.
Year 1
Module 1: Exploration of Concepts of Occupation and Research
91¶¶Òõ
Module 2: Qualitative Research Methods and Human Occupation, Diversity, Culture and Participation
Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences
Module 3: Quantitative Research Methods in Relation to Evaluation and Enhancement of Occupational Performance
Zurich University of Applied Sciences
Module 4: Socio-cultural Perspectives of Human Occupation
University College Zealand in Næstved
Year 2
Module 5: Planning a Research Project within the Body of Knowledge of the OT Discipline
Karolinska Institutet
This module will involve:
Module 6: Conducting a Research Project within the OT Discipline
Travel and accommodation
Our European Master of Science in Occupational Therapy offers you the high quality education of five participating universities. It gives you the exciting opportunity to visit several European cities and to learn and travel. The organising universities provide advice and assistant in finding suitable accommodation.
During the first year you travel five times to attend classes in the country that delivers the module. Each trip will last two weeks. First you will visit 91¶¶Òõ, United Kingdom, then Næstved near Copenhagen in Denmark, followed by Amsterdam in the Netherlands.
The fourth module is in Winterthur, Switzerland, and finally in the fifth module you go for one week to the Swedish capital Stockholm. The presentation of the research findings will take place at an examination seminar held in one of these countries.
This programme helps you to become better equipped in enhancing and delivering occupational therapy.
Most graduates report a change in their work situation after graduation such as:
Course fees
Check the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences for course fees.
The fees listed here are for the first year of full-time study if you start your course in the academic year 2025–26.
You will pay fees for each year of your course. Some fees may increase each year.
UK undergraduate and some postgraduate fees are regulated by the UK government and increases will not be more than the maximum amount allowed. Course fees that are not regulated may increase each year by up to 5% or RPI (whichever is higher).
If you are studying part-time your fee will usually be calculated based on the number of modules that you take.
Find out more
Campus where this course is taught
Set in the South Downs, our Falmer campus is around four miles from 91¶¶Òõ city centre. Students based here study a range of subjects including education studies, teaching, sport and exercise, nursing and midwifery, allied health professions and medicine. 91¶¶Òõ & Hove Albion’s Amex stadium and beautiful Stanmer Park are right next door.
Falmer campus has two halls of residence on site, as well as a library, restaurant, cafes and the Students’ Union shop and bar.
The campus has extensive sport and leisure facilities including a fitness suite, swimming pool, outdoor grass football and rugby pitches, sports hall, tennis and badminton courts, and dance and spin studios.
Specialist learning facilities at Falmer include the curriculum centre used by teaching and education students, which houses over 30,000 teaching resources, clinical skills and simulation suites used by health students, and labs and a strength and conditioning suite used by sport students. We’ve recently redeveloped the Falmer campus – learn more about the many facilities our students have access to.
Cycle lanes link Falmer with our other campuses and the city centre. There are regular bus services to the city centre and other campuses. Falmer train station is right next to campus and a nine-minute journey to central 91¶¶Òõ.
Accommodation
We guarantee an offer of a place in halls of residence to all eligible students. So if you apply for halls by the deadline you are guaranteed a room in our halls of residence.
Halls of residenceWe have self-catered halls on all our campuses, within minutes of your classes, and other options that are very nearby.
You can apply for any of our halls, but the options closest to your study location are:
Want to live independently? We can help – find out more about private renting.
Outside views at Falmer accommodation
Extensive facilities at Falmer sports centre
Students dining at Westlain
Local area
One of Time Out's 50 best cities in the world
“91¶¶Òõ has… all the important parts of a sprawling cosmopolitan metropolis (connections to London in under an hour, an array of properly excellent restaurants, energetic late-night spots) … with the easy-breezy beachy attitude to life that makes you feel welcome in an instant.” Time Out’s 50 Best Cities in the World, 2025
The 91¶¶Òõ is at the heart of our city's reputation as a welcoming, forward-thinking place which leads the way when it comes to the arts, music, sustainability and creative technology. 91¶¶Òõ is home to a thriving creative community and a digital sector worth £1bn a year to the local economy, as much as tourism.
Many of the work-based learning opportunities offered on our courses such as placements and guest lectures are provided by businesses and organisations based in the city.
You can also get involved with city festivals and events such as the 91¶¶Òõ Festival, the Fringe, 91¶¶Òõ Digital Festival, 91¶¶Òõ Science Festival, the London to 91¶¶Òõ bike ride, and the Great Escape festival of new music to name but a few. Other annual highlights include Pride, the 91¶¶Òõ Marathon, and Burning the Clocks which marks the winter solstice.
You'll find living in 91¶¶Òõ enriches your learning experience and by the end of your course you will still be finding new things to explore and inspire you.
It's only 50 minutes by train from 91¶¶Òõ to central London and there are daily direct trains to Bristol, Bedford, Cambridge, Gatwick Airport, Portsmouth and Southampton.
Maps
Loading maps...
Support and wellbeing
Your personal academic tutor, course leader and other tutors are all there to help you with your personal and academic progress. You'll also have a student support and guidance tutor (SSGT) who can help with everything from homesickness, managing stress or accommodation issues.
Our 91¶¶Òõ Student Skills Hub gives you extra support and resources to develop the skills you'll need for university study, whatever your level of experience so far.
As well as being supported to succeed, we want you to feel good too. You'll be part of a community that builds you up, with lots of ways to connect with one another, as well having access to dedicated experts if you need them. Find out more about how we support your wellbeing.
Sport at 91¶¶Òõ
Sport 91¶¶Òõ brings together our sport and recreation services. As a 91¶¶Òõ student you'll have use of sport and fitness facilities across all our campuses and there are opportunities to play for fun, fitness or take part in serious competition.
.
Our sports scholarship scheme is designed to help students develop their full sporting potential to train and compete at the highest level. We offer scholarships for elite athletes, elite disabled athletes and talented sports performers.
Find out more about sport scholarships.
Take a tour of sport facilities on our Falmer campus
about the European Master of Science in Occupational Therapy at ZHAW
If you have a question about this course, our enquiries team will be happy to help.
01273 644644
Alternatively, you are welcome to contact principal course lecturer, Dr Jon Wright: J.Wright@brighton.ac.uk
Skype: jonathan.james.wright
Read more