Education in Occupational Therapy

The Division of Occupational Therapy provides educational programmes (Occupational Therapist Programme), as well as courses at undergraduate, advanced and doctoral levels.

The Occupational Therapist Programme

As an occupational therapist, your role is to support people to develop strategies for a functioning daily life and involvement in society. Occupational therapy is also conducted at societal level, for example to make public environments accessible and to design a society that fits everyone’s needs. Occupational therapists work for example in health care, prison care, occupational health care, employment services and assistive technology companies. The work is very independent. The number of occupational therapists in Sweden amounts to about 10,000.

The Occupational Therapist Programme at KI is characterized by an exploratory pedagogy that addresses societal challenges. Throughout the program, you learn about the interaction between people, environment and activity and you develop skills to create solutions based on theory, research and proven experience. As a student, you also have the opportunity to take part in exchange studies and to gain international experience. The Occupational Therapist Programme provides clinical placement training in various arenas.

The education program for occupational therapists (180 credits) at Karolinska Institute in Stockholm gives access to a vocational degree and a bachelor's degree.

More information about the Occupational Therapist Programme at KI is available in Swedish on KI’s Education webpage and on the Occupational Therapist Programme's webpage.

Freestanding courses

In addition to undergraduate education in occupational therapy, freestanding courses and supplementary courses at the level 61-80p are also given in the subject occupational therapy. There is also an opportunity for doctoral studies.

Master's degree in Occupational Therapy

Karolinska Institute offers a combination of courses at the advanced level to obtain a Master's degree in occupational therapy. The courses combine interprofessional courses (e.g. an introductory course in scientific theory and research with physiotherapy and nursing) with subject-specific courses. Read more about the Master's degree in Occupational Therapy.

European Master of Science in Occupational Therapy

The Division of Occupational Therapy at Karolinska Insititute is one of five European partners that provide the "Master of Science Programme in Occupational Therapy ".The programme leads to a "Master of Science Degree in Occupational Therapy"

The programme has become one of the 10 Master's programmes that received excellence for internationalization from the Dutch Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders.

Master's courses in dementia care for occupational therapists

The Division of Occupational Therapy together with the Division of Physiotherapy at Karolinska Institute provide a unique web-based master's education in dementia care. The master's education is a professional education.

During the courses, occupational therapists and physiotherapists study together. However, some courses are profession-specific.

Read more about the Master's Courses in Dementia Care for Occupational therapists and Physiotherapists (60 credits, distance)

Doctoral Courses

The Division of Occupational Therapy offers the following doctoral courses:

Information about doctoral courses at the Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society (NVS) is also available in the course catalogue for doctoral education.

Exchange studies

The Occupational Therapist Programme gives the opportunity for studies abroad. The Occupational Therapist Programme and NVS international committee have signed student exchange agreements with a number of foreign universities which allow these exchanges. The agreements are reciprocal and the universities both send and receive students.