Ergotherapie (B.Sc.)
DIPLOMA Hochschule Hamburg · Hamburg, Germany
QS World University Ranking: N/A
Quick Overview
Apply Now📘 Program Overview
The Bachelor’s degree program Ergotherapie (B.Sc.) at DIPLOMA Hochschule supports you in expanding your occupational therapy training with scientific, psychosocial, pedagogical, and business-related content.
The program is offered with different study formats, including an up to 5-semester top-up study (for trained occupational therapists) and an education-accompanying study option, with study starts in April and October.
🎯 Course & Curriculum
Course structure
- You build advanced occupational therapy knowledge through online teaching and study materials.
- You deepen evidence-based therapy and scientific working methods as part of your academic occupational therapy profile.
- You develop psychosocial, pedagogical, and health-related management competences aligned with the program focus areas.
- Your learning includes assessments such as written exams, assignments, presentations, or project work as published for the program format.
- You complete the Bachelor thesis at the end of the program.
- You present your thesis in a concluding colloquium format as described for the study program.
Curriculum
The five-semester Aufbau-Fernstudium comprises 210 ECTS: 90 ECTS are recognised from the completed state-approved occupational therapy qualification, and 120 ECTS are earned through university modules. The official sequencing differs between winter-start and summer-start cohorts; one of the three 10-ECTS Wahlpflichtmodule must be selected. ([DIPLOMA Hochschule][1])
| Semester | No. of modules | Module / subject category | ECTS / CP | Semester total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recognition of prior professional qualification | 1 recognised qualification component | Modul A: Anrechnung der Ausbildung zur staatlich anerkannten Ergotherapeutin / zum staatlich anerkannten Ergotherapeuten | 90 | 90 ECTS |
| Semester 1 | 1 module, 3 course components | Modul 1: Wissenschaftliches Arbeiten | 8 | 8 ECTS |
| Ankommen im Studium und in der Profession | ||||
| Methodenlehre | ||||
| Empirische Sozialforschung | ||||
| Semester 1 | 1 module, 1 course component | Modul 2: Statistik | 6 | 6 ECTS |
| Statistik | ||||
| Semesters 1–2 | 1 module, 3 course components | Modul 3: Innovative mediale und technische Ansätze in der Therapie | 6 | 6 ECTS across Semesters 1–2 |
| Neue Technik und Applikationen in der Therapie | ||||
| Digitale Aspekte eines Therapiealignment | ||||
| Praxissoftware im Therapiemanagement | ||||
| Winter start: Semester 1; summer start: Semester 2 | 1 module, 4 course components | Modul 4: Clinical Reasoning I | 8 | 8 ECTS |
| Grundlagen des Clinical Reasoning | ||||
| Formen des Clinical Reasoning | ||||
| Multigrade Clinical Reasoning | ||||
| Anwendung des Multigrade Clinical Reasoning | ||||
| Winter start: Semesters 2–3; summer start: Semesters 3–4 | 1 module, 3 course components | Modul 5: Vertiefende ergotherapeutische Methodik | 8 | 8 ECTS across the stated semesters |
| Neurowissenschaften | ||||
| Betätigungszentrierte Interventionen in verschiedenen Lebensbereichen bzw. -kontexten | ||||
| Neurologische Rehabilitation in der Ergotherapie | ||||
| Winter start: Semester 2; summer start: Semester 3 | 1 module, 2 course components | Modul 6: Clinical Reasoning II | 8 | 8 ECTS |
| Therapieprozesse bei spezifischen Erkrankungen & Differentialdiagnostik | ||||
| Betätigungsfelder der Therapie im Kontext der Hospizarbeit und Palliative Care | ||||
| Winter start: Semester 2; summer start: Semester 1 | 1 module, 2 course components | Modul 7: (Re-)Evaluation in der Ergotherapie | 6 | 6 ECTS |
| Assessments in der Ergotherapie | ||||
| Testgütekriterien von Diagnostikmaterial | ||||
| Winter start: Semester 3; summer start: Semester 2 | 1 module, 3 course components | Modul 8: Status Quo Ergotherapie | 7 | 7 ECTS |
| Professionalisierung – Ergotherapeutische Kompetenz | ||||
| Berufspraxis und Wissenschaft: Akademisierung, Evidenzbasierung, Multiprofessionalität | ||||
| Betätigung in Ergotherapie und Occupational Science | ||||
| Winter start: Semesters 2–3; summer start: Semesters 3–4 | 1 module, 4 course components | Modul 9: Vertiefende Kompetenzen | 10 | 10 ECTS across the stated semesters |
| Einführung in die empirische Forschung für Gesundheits- und Therapieberufe | ||||
| Evidenzbasierte Praxis I | ||||
| Evidenzbasierte Praxis II – Zukunftswerkstatt | ||||
| Ergotherapeutische Leitlinien | ||||
| Winter start: Semesters 3–4; summer start: Semesters 2–3 | 1 module, 3 course components | Modul 10: Gesundheitsförderung, Gemeinwesenorientierung und Prävention | 8 | 8 ECTS across the stated semesters |
| Gemeinwesenorientierte Ergotherapie | ||||
| Gesundheitsförderung und Prävention in der Ergotherapie | ||||
| Projektentwicklung Gesundheitsförderung & Prävention unter Alltagsberücksichtigung | ||||
| Winter start: Semester 4; summer start: Semester 5 | 1 module, 3 course components | Modul 11: Allgemeine Wirtschaftskompetenz | 13 | 13 ECTS |
| Betriebswirtschaftslehre im Gesundheitswesen | ||||
| Recht und Ethik in Gesundheit/Medizin | ||||
| Existenzgründung und Betriebsführung – Grundlagen und Verfahrensschritte | ||||
| Winter start: Semesters 4–5; summer start: Semesters 3–4 | 1 module, 3 course components | Modul 12: Inklusion, Diversität und Teilhabe | 10 | 10 ECTS across the stated semesters |
| Diversität und Transkulturelle Aspekte in der Ergotherapie | ||||
| Selbstständigkeit und Partizipation im arbeitstherapeutischen und lebenspraktischen Umfeld | ||||
| Inklusion im schulischen Kontext | ||||
| Winter start: Semesters 4–5; summer start: Semesters 3–4 | Choose 1 of 3 elective modules; 9 published course components | Modul 13a: Unternehmensführung und Management (Wahlpflichtmodul) | 10 | 10 ECTS from one selected Wahlpflichtmodul |
| Unternehmensführung und Personalmanagement | ||||
| Controlling und Abrechnungsverfahrensmodelle | ||||
| Grundzüge des Qualitätsmanagements | ||||
| Modul 13b: Psychosoziale Beratung im Rahmen der Ergotherapie (Wahlpflichtmodul) | 10 | |||
| Gesundheitspsychologie und Psychosoziale Prävention | ||||
| Systemtheorien, Selbst- und Fremdbeobachtung in Beratungssituationen | ||||
| Narrative in der psychosozialen Beratung: Storytelling und Storymaking | ||||
| Modul 13c: Gesundheitspädagogik (Wahlpflichtmodul) | 10 | |||
| Schulrecht, Schulverwaltung | ||||
| Erziehungswissenschaftliche und pädagogische Grundlagen | ||||
| Unterricht in methodischer Theorie und Praxiserprobung | ||||
| Semesters 4–5 | 1 final module | Modul 14: Bachelor-Thesis und Kolloquium | 12 | 12 ECTS |
| Bachelor-Thesis und Kolloquium | ||||
| Total | 90 ECTS recognised professional training, 13 compulsory academic modules, and 1 of 3 elective modules | 210 ECTS | ||
Career outcomes
- You upgrade your occupational therapy qualification with a Bachelor of Science degree, helping you access broader professional and responsibility levels.
- You strengthen evidence-based, scientific working skills so you can support modern, research-informed therapy practice in clinical and rehabilitation settings.
- You gain additional competencies in psychosocial and pedagogical areas, supporting work with clients across different life situations and participation goals.
- You build health-related management knowledge, which can support career development toward leadership and coordination roles in therapy services.
- You can qualify for roles connected to teaching and research pathways after graduation, expanding your long-term professional options.
Employability rate
Occupational therapy graduates in Germany typically see an employability rate of around 90% and an unemployment rate of about 10%, reflecting continuing hiring demand for qualified therapy professionals.
Together, these figures indicate a comparatively stable career outlook in healthcare and rehabilitation settings where services remain necessary.
✅ Entry Requirements
Academic qualification
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| University entrance qualification for applicants educated abroad | International applicants must meet the university entrance qualification (Hochschulzugangsberechtigung). The DIPLOMA states that equivalent educational qualifications acquired abroad can also qualify, and their study service supports checking equivalence for foreign school or vocational qualifications. |
| Completed 3-year ergotherapy vocational training | For the Ergotherapie (B.Sc.) as an Aufbau (top-up) path, DIPLOMA states that you need a completed three-year vocational training as a state-recognised occupational therapist (Ergotherapeut:in). They also state that this training is credited as part of the study programme. |
Module matching by study area
| Study area | Match possible? | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Health Education | Conditional match | For entry via the Aufbau route, DIPLOMA requires completion of three-year ergotherapy vocational training; other foreign academic backgrounds may only be considered to the extent they support the required admission conditions and eligibility review. |
Language requirements
International applicants must provide proof of the required language skills for the study programme. On the Ergotherapie (B.Sc.) programme pages, the published entry language requirement is not stated with a specific minimum score, so you should verify your language route during the application with the DIPLOMA study service.
💶 Fees & Funding
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | EUR 0 / per year | The program uses flexible monthly instalment models for study fees starting from EUR 147 per month; the page also states an additional one-time EUR 695 examination fee. |
| Examination fee | EUR 695 / one time | One-time EUR 695 examination fee is stated as an additional charge in the program’s fees information. |
Proof of financial resources
For Germany student visas, you must demonstrate that you can cover your living costs for the required period. DIPLOMA does not publish a single programme-specific blocked-account amount on the Ergotherapie (B.Sc.) page, so you should use the official German immigration guidance for the current required amount and prepare the documentation accordingly.
- Proof of sufficient funds for living costs for your stay in Germany (use the current official German immigration guidance for the required amount and format)
- If your own financing plan is different, provide the supporting official documents (for example scholarship/loan documentation or bank statements) as required by the visa or residence-permit process
Important dates
Application window
| Milestone | October - Winter intake |
|---|---|
| Application portal opens | N/A |
| Application deadline (final submit) | N/A |
| Application deadline (EU students) | N/A |
| Application deadline (Non-EU students) | N/A |
| Recommended apply-by | N/A |
| Semester begins | October 01, 2026 |
Pre-application & reviews
| Milestone | October - Winter intake |
|---|---|
| VPD request - recommended | N/A |
| VPD result expected | N/A |
| APS - recommended | N/A |
| Start eligibility check | N/A |
Document submission deadlines
| Milestone | October - Winter intake |
|---|---|
| Application submission deadline | N/A |
| Document submission deadline (EU students) | N/A |
| Document submission deadline (Non-EU students) | N/A |
| Language certificate deadline | N/A |
| Official transcripts deadline | N/A |
| Certified translations deadline | N/A |
| Postal / hard-copy documents deadline | N/A |
| Missing documents (if requested) | N/A |
📝 How to Apply
Prepare your eligibility documents
International applicants should gather their foreign educational documents needed for admission to the degree and for equivalence review. For this programme, DIPLOMA also requires proof of the completed three-year ergotherapy vocational training (state-recognised occupational therapist training). If anything is unclear about equivalence, request support from the DIPLOMA study service before submitting your final application.
Apply during the published intake window
Submit your application online using the DIPLOMA application process for the degree. Ensure your uploaded documents match the admission requirements for international applicants and that you complete all required fields before final submission. Keep copies of your submitted documents for your residence and visa process.
Credential review and admission decision
DIPLOMA reviews whether your foreign educational qualifications meet the university entrance requirements. If your qualifications require additional checks for equivalence, the study service supports the review process. After your decision, follow the instructions provided for the next steps toward enrolment.