Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (B OCC THER) Course Requirements at SMU
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University · School of Health Care Sciences
The Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (B OCC THER) is a bachelor's Degree offered by SMU for 2027 learners, taking 4 years to complete. This page covers the Grade 12 subjects and admission score you need to qualify, what the course involves, where you can study it, the careers it leads to, and how to apply.
Grade 12 Required Subjects to study Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (B OCC THER) at SMU
- Applicants need the National Senior Certificate with Mathematics, Physical Sciences, Life Sciences and English each at level 4, two additional subjects at level 3 each, and Life Orientation at level 3
- English must be at least level 4 and Life Orientation at least level 3, in line with general University admission rules
About this course
Occupational therapy helps people regain or build the everyday skills needed to live meaningful, independent lives, particularly when illness, injury or disability gets in the way. Students train across four core professional areas covering intervention theory, therapeutic activities, applied clinical practice and the foundations of the profession, with clinical exposure to patients from their very first year across hospitals, psychiatric institutions, special schools and community settings. On graduating, students register with the Health Professions Council of South Africa and can later pursue postgraduate study up to doctoral level.
Possible careers
Community Rehabilitation Practitioner, Mental Health Occupational Therapist, Occupational Therapist, Occupational Therapy Lecturer Or Researcher, Paediatric Occupational Therapist
Course intelligence for Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (B OCC THER)
Data-driven planning insights for this specific course: job market outlook, NSFAS funding, and how competitive admission is likely to be.
Job market outlook
Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (B OCC THER) doesn’t currently appear on the national scarce-skills list as a Community Rehabilitation Practitioner. That’s not a red flag on its own, most jobs in South Africa aren’t on that list, it just tracks where employers reported the strongest hiring pressure. Your own results, experience and network will matter more here than national demand trends.
NSFAS funding
As a Bachelor's Degree at SMU, a public institution, this course generally falls within NSFAS’s undergraduate funding scope. Funding is means-tested and not automatic, so confirm your own eligibility at nsfas.org.za before relying on it.
Admission chances
SMU’s intake and this course’s requirements with its published admission requirements generally leave more room than the most sought-after courses, so you likely have a reasonable window to apply without rushing, though applying early is always the safer bet.
These insights are estimates generated from South Africa’s National List of Occupations in High Demand (DHET, November 2023 draft), NSFAS’s published funding rules, and this university’s general applicant demand. They’re planning guidance, not a guarantee. Always confirm funding and admission specifics directly with SMU and NSFAS.
How to apply for 2027 studies
Apply directly through SMU's online e-Student Recruitment Portal (https://www.smu.ac.za/e-student-recruitment-portal/) between 1 April and 31 July of the year before intake; a non-refundable R300 application fee is payable.
Ready to apply? This takes you straight to Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University’s own official application page.
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- Duration
- 4 years
- NQF Level
- 8
- APS / Points
- Total minimum 25 admission points (Mathematics 4, Physical Sciences 4, Life Sciences 4, English 4, two additional subjects at 3 each, Life Orientation 3)
- Campus
- Ga-Rankuwa Campus, Ga-Rankuwa, Pretoria
What Courses Do I Qualify For in South Africa?
Enter your own subject marks and we'll show you real courses you're likely to qualify for, right now, plus what those courses tend to lead to: how in-demand the work is, whether NSFAS is likely to fund it, and how competitive admission is.
Related courses
Source: sefako-makgatho-health-sciences-university.json, last verified 2026-08-22. Requirements and fees change. Always confirm current details directly with Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University before applying.