Selection and recruitment of pre-registration occupational therapy students in the United Kingdom: Exploring entry criteria across education providers.
Sarah Louise McGinley, Sukhbinder Hamilton, Alexander Bradley
PMID 40336520WHAT IT FOUND
UK occupational therapy admissions lack standardisation.
Candidates with non-traditional qualifications face inconsistent entry criteria and few part-time options. Traditional routes and interviews dominate, potentially excluding diverse applicants who lack prior exposure to the profession.
Key findings
01Most programmes require professional skills evidence at application, but only a minority explicitly state this on websites, creating transparency issues.
02Entry criteria for non-traditional qualifications like Access to HE and BTECs are inconsistently published and often set at higher tariff points than A-Levels.
03Part-time study options are scarce, with only 15% of programmes offering them, limiting access for candidates with caring or financial commitments.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study relied solely on public website data, which may not reflect internal admissions policies or recent updates. It did not capture the experiences or perspectives of applicants, students, or admissions staff. Data was collected over a six-month period during the pandemic, which may have influenced some recruitment processes. The analysis is descriptive and cannot determine the actual impact of these criteria on student diversity or success.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that published entry criteria are the only way in. The study found significant inconsistency and lack of transparency, meaning some candidates may be excluded by unclear requirements rather than actual academic inability. Furthermore, the lack of part-time options is a structural barrier, not a reflection of student demand.