Bachelor's Program in Occupational Therapy

Empowering and enabling people to engage in meaningful activities is at the heart of occupational therapy. With your training, you’ll help individuals who, due to illness, injury, or disability, struggle to independently carry out daily tasks. But occupational therapy is much more than a method to improve physical functions. 

In the Bachelor’s program in Occupational Therapy, you’ll develop the skills needed to support individuals with chronic conditions in maintaining or enhancing their independence. You’ll also learn how to help them reintegrate into work or school life. The ultimate goal is to improve their quality of life. 

Program at a Glance

Degree
Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy (180 ECTS) with Professional Qualification

Start of Program Studies
Each September during week 38 (orientation in week 37)

Admission Requirements
Dependent on field-specific or non-field-specific prior qualifications.

Practical Component
Starting from the first semester, there is a regular integration of theory and practice.
Our cooperation partner is the Valens Clinics. 

Duration of Studies
6 semesters full-time (plus workplace experience* depending on prior qualifications)
8 semesters part-time

Tuition
CHF 1,000 per semester

Campus
Buchs campus

Registration Deadline
For the fall semester 2025, you can apply until Friday, January 31, 2025. 
The entrance exam will take place on Friday, February 28, 2025.

Good to Know
Since the courses are taught in German, we kindly refer you to the German pages for more detailed information.

*Depending on prior qualifications, a workplace internship in a healthcare institution or private practice may be required for professional certification. 

Advantages of a Bachelor in Occupational Therapy at OST

• Close to Practice: At our university, education and practical experience are closely linked. We collaborate with diverse practice partners across and beyond eastern Switzerland. Together with our key partner, the Valens Clinics, we shape the curriculum and initiate the first clinical activities. Starting from the first semester, theoretical knowledge is integrated with practical work in clinical settings. 
   
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Engage in interdisciplinary exchange with students from programs like Mechatronics and Digital Design during specialization courses. Additionally, joint teaching and learning sessions with Nursing and Physiotherapy students in the School of Health Sciences foster early collaboration between disciplines. This exchange enhances understanding and promotes teamwork to develop comprehensive solutions for patients. 
   
• Technical Specializations: The specializations «Health Technologies» and «Digital-Assisted Training» are unique in Switzerland. Using cutting-edge technologies such as sensors, virtual reality, gaming, and robotics, you’ll learn to support patients optimally in their rehabilitation. These skills enable you to complement traditional occupational therapy approaches by developing technology-supported solutions or pursuing new career paths in health promotion. 
   
• Health Promotion: The specialization «Holistic Health and Preventive Health Care» strengthens interdisciplinary collaboration with physiotherapy and psychosomatics, focusing on population groups with health-related risk factors.
   
• Holistic Approach: In the Occupational Therapy program, you’ll learn to focus on individuals and their environments. You’ll develop the skills to view clients holistically, incorporating their social environment into treatment or making environmental adaptations. You’ll internalize the principle that the ultimate goal of therapy is always to improve quality of life—empowering clients to return to the activities that matter most to them in their daily lives.

Program Focus

The Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy at OST includes technology- and IT-based specializations, aligning with future developments in occupational therapy. Our specializations—«Health Technologies,» «Digital-Assisted Training,» and «Holistic Health and Preventive Health Care»—are uniquely offered in Switzerland.