Part-time distance learning program Occupational Therapy (B.Sc.) – FHM

👉 You are a state-recognized occupational therapist and want to expand your professional and scientific competencies? The part-time Bachelor's degree programme in Occupational Therapy at FHM will give you knowledge in medicine, psychology, pedagogical fundamentals, therapeutic processes, and health management over 28 months. By crediting your training, you can shorten the study time and reduce costs. The programme is designed as a virtual live study with online lectures and few presence phases, allowing you to balance work, study, and family. The degree is awarded with 210 ECTS credits.

Occupational Therapy (B.Sc.) at a Glance

📜 Degree Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.)
⏳ Duration 28 Months
💶 Fees
from 515 € monthly
from 14920 € total
🏫 University FHM University of Applied Sciences, UAS based in Bielefeld (Germany)
The FHM University of Applied Sciences is a private, state-recognized university headquartered in Bielefeld. It offers practical Bachelor's, Master's, and Ph.D. programs in fields such as business, psychology, education, communication, health, technology, and sport. The range of courses includes on-site, distance, and virtual live study formats as well as part-time and dual models. All courses are NC-free and in some cases also accessible without a high school diploma. A special feature is FHM's practice-oriented competence model and its strong research focus on medium-sized enterprises. FHM operates nine locations in Germany and a digital campus.
📋 Study Format Part-time distance learning program
🎓 Field of Study Health SciencesOccupational Therapy
🎯 ECTS 210 Credit Points
🌍 Language of Instruction German
📖 Course contents Biomedical Basics I-II, Pathology I-III, Occupational Therapy Tools and Technical Media, Educational Didactic Basics of Occupational Therapy Practice, Psychosocial Approaches in Therapy, Occupational Therapy Treatment Approaches I-III, Clinical Psychology and Special Education, Prevention & Rehabilitation, Occupational Therapy Diagnosis & Processes, Business Administration with Business Start-Up, Health Economics and Health Systems, Legal Foundations and Profession, Medical English, Self-Management & Self-Marketing, Perspectives and Potentials of Therapeutic Health Professions, Counseling, Study in Practice (SiP) I-III, Academic Writing, Therapy Projects and Practice Transfer
📅 Enrollment Winter semester
🔗 More Info View Vendor Profile

Who is the part-time Occupational Therapy study program (B.Sc.) suitable for?

The part-time Bachelor's degree program in Occupational Therapy is specifically designed for trained occupational therapists who are already state-recognized and wish to further qualify academically alongside their profession. Through this postgraduate program, you will benefit especially if you want to expand your professional perspective to management functions, research work, or interdisciplinary fields of activity in the health and social sector. This study is also suitable if you aim to work in leadership positions, strive for independence, or want to establish yourself in facilities such as rehabilitation clinics, health centres, or in corporate health management. The study format is designed so that you can continue to work full-time and flexibly combine studies with work and family.

What formal requirements must you meet?

For admission, you need to have completed training as a state-recognized occupational therapist. A technical baccalaureate certificate or high school diploma is not necessarily required:

  • You can study without a high school diploma if you can demonstrate at least three years of professional experience in the field of occupational therapy alongside your vocational training or a relevant further education qualification.
  • General recognition of educational achievements: Many modules from your training will be recognized, reducing the duration of studies and fees.
  • Direct enrollment without a numerus clausus (NC) is possible.

In addition to the formal criteria, you should have the following personal qualifications:

  • Independent time management and organizational skills to balance work, family, and studies
  • Willingness to participate in regular live online lectures and face-to-face events (two sessions throughout the entire study period)
  • Experience in the everyday life of occupational therapy through current professional activity is advantageous
  • Interest in a scientific approach, reflective practice, as well as further development of your own professional and social skills
  • Motivation to engage with health economic, pedagogical, business, and legal topics
  • Basic digital skills to use the learning platform and participate in virtual teaching formats

 

What content does the part-time Occupational Therapy degree programme (B.Sc.) convey?

In the Occupational Therapy advanced studies, you systematically deepen your knowledge from training and professional practice. The following thematic fields are at the core:

  • Medical and biomedical basics: diseases, pathology, prevention, and rehabilitation in theory and clinical application
  • Occupational therapy methods: diagnostics, therapeutic processes, use of technical media, therapy approaches, and case work
  • Education and psychology: didactics, psychosocial approaches, clinical psychology, and special education
  • Business administration and law: health economics, structures of the health system, legal frameworks, professionalization
  • Management skills: business start-up, self-management, self-marketing, counseling, and development of perspectives in the healthcare sector
  • Research and scientific work: methodological skills, data analysis, and reflection
  • Technical language and international aspects: medical English for therapists

Part of the modules will be credited to you based on your completed training, including biomedical basics, pathology I-II, occupational therapy tools and technical media, as well as several practical projects. This allows you to focus on academic deepening during your studies and make optimal use of already acquired competences.

How is the part-time Occupational Therapy degree programme organized?

The degree programme is explicitly tailored to professionals. You can complete the programme alongside a full-time job and family obligations. Key points regarding the structure:

  • Duration: 28 months standard period of study
  • Start of studies: Annually in October at the Online University of FHM
  • Teaching format: Virtual live studies with weekly online lectures (evenings, 18:00-20:15) as well as Fridays (13:00-20:15) and occasionally on Saturdays (08:30-15:30). Two weekends per month are generally lecture-free. In addition, there are two on-site weekends during the entire course of study.
  • Examination formats: Examinations are conducted in the form of mobile e-exams, which can be taken independently of location.
  • Term breaks: Two weeks each for Easter and Christmas holidays can be scheduled.
  • Study achievements: Due to the general recognition of your training, around 50% of the study content is covered; this recognition reduces the regular study time and total costs.
  • Credit points: Upon completion, you will receive 210 ECTS points.

The study model enables you to have a high degree of planning and flexibility. Job, studies, and family remain in balance.

What professional opportunities does the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy open up?

Through the Occupational Therapy degree programme, you qualify for demanding activities at academic level. Typical fields of application include:

  • Outpatient and inpatient occupational therapy practices, including self-employment
  • Hospitals, health centres, and rehabilitation clinics
  • Facilities for disabled assistance and residential care facilities
  • Corporate health management and prevention departments in companies
  • Social and health associations, professional societies, or research institutions

With a bachelor's degree, you also create the foundation for further master's programmes, specialized consulting tasks, or management positions in the healthcare sector. The programme is particularly aimed at occupational therapists who want to work scientifically and interdisciplinarily and actively contribute to the further development of the profession.

What are the costs associated with the Occupational Therapy degree programme and what financing options are available?

The total costs for the part-time Occupational Therapy degree programme at FHM amount to 14,920 euros – spread as follows:

  • Monthly tuition fee: 515 euros over 28 months
  • Final examination fee: 500 euros (once at the end of the programme)

Thanks to the general recognition of your training, the study time and thus the financial burden are significantly reduced. Various financing options are available:

  • Payment in instalments of the tuition fees
  • Support from the employer or scholarship programmes
  • Possibly tax deduction as business expenses or special expenses in professional context
  • Educational and study loans for professionals

Compared to regular bachelor's degree programmes, you benefit from lower total costs and faster qualification.

Advisory Service

Have questions about Academic Programs Occupational Therapy? Ask your question here, even anonymously. An employee of the institution FHM University of Applied Sciences or the editorial team will answer you.

Experiences & Reviews