Functional Skills Level 2 for Occupational Therapy: University Entry Requirements, Apprenticeships and the 13th January UCAS Deadline

Occupational therapists help people get back to the everyday things that matter to them, from washing and dressing after a stroke to returning to work after an injury or managing life with a long term condition. It is a registered health profession with clear routes in, and the National Careers Service puts the starting salary at around £32,000 a year, rising to around £48,000 with experience.

If you want to start an occupational therapy degree in September 2027, the clock is already running. The UCAS equal consideration deadline for most 2027 courses is 6pm on Wednesday 13th January 2027. Almost every course page asks for English and maths at grade 4 (the old grade C) or an equivalent. If you do not have those grades, this guide explains which universities and apprenticeships accept Functional Skills Level 2, where the traps are, and how to turn the end of half term into a plan.

What does an occupational therapist do?

Occupational therapists work with children and adults who find daily life difficult because of illness, injury, disability or mental health needs. You might work in a hospital, a community team, a school, a care home or a mental health service.

To practise in the UK you must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), which means completing an HCPC approved qualification. The National Careers Service lists a typical working week of 35 to 40 hours.

Two main ways into occupational therapy

An occupational therapy degree

Most occupational therapists qualify through an HCPC approved degree. The National Careers Service says you will usually need two to three A levels, or equivalent. Many adults and career changers apply with an Access to Higher Education Diploma instead. If you already have a degree in a relevant subject, a two year postgraduate course is another option.

Universities also want to see that you understand the job. Oxford Brookes invites all applicants to a group interview and strongly advises you to observe an occupational therapist at work before applying. The University of Brighton interviews online between January and June and asks for a 500 word report on the diversity of occupational therapy.

An occupational therapy degree apprenticeship

The Occupational Therapist Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship lets you qualify while you are employed, often as a therapy assistant or support worker. The National Careers Service says it usually takes about four years, although some universities run it across three years. Entry rules vary:

• ✓ UWE Bristol, Occupational Therapist Degree Apprenticeship: asks for grade C/4 in English and maths “or equivalent (we accept Functional Skills Level 2 in Maths and English)”. You must be in a relevant role, working at least 30 hours a week.
• ✓ University of Wolverhampton, Occupational Therapy Degree Apprenticeship: asks for GCSE English language and maths at grade 4 (C) and at least 30 hours a week of employment. The page does not mention Functional Skills, so ask before you apply.
• ✓ Northumbria University, Occupational Therapy Degree Apprenticeship: asks for grade C or 4 in GCSE English and maths “or equivalent” and full time employment.

Which occupational therapy degrees accept Functional Skills Level 2?

Here is what current course pages say:

• ✓ University of Brighton, Occupational Therapy BSc (Hons), 2027 entry: asks for grade C/4 in GCSE maths and English language and states that “Level 2 Functional Skills will be accepted.”
• ✓ Oxford Brookes University, BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy: asks for grade 4 (C) in English, maths and science and states that “For English and Maths, Level 2 Functional Skills are accepted as alternatives to GCSEs.”
• ✓ Bournemouth University, BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy, September 2027: asks for GCSE English and maths at grade 4 (C) and accepts Functional Skills as a Level 2 alternative.
• ✓ Teesside University, BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy, 2026 to 2027: asks for two GCSEs at grade 4 (C) including English language and maths, and says Functional Skills Level 2 “can be accepted”.
• ✗ Keele University, Occupational Therapy, 2027 entry: accepts Level 2 Functional Skills Maths in place of GCSE maths, but does not list Functional Skills English as an alternative to GCSE English.

Four things to check before you apply

Each university sets its own rules, so check these four things on every course page on your shortlist:

• ✓ English and maths can be treated differently. Keele accepts Functional Skills for maths but not English. If a page only mentions one subject, ask about the other.
• ✓ Access to HE credits may not count. Oxford Brookes says English and maths Level 2 credits inside an Access to HE Diploma “will no longer be accepted as GCSE equivalences”. If you are taking an Access course, you may need a separate Level 2 qualification alongside it.
• ✓ Mature applicants can face different rules. Oxford Brookes asks mature applicants for GCSE English at grade 5 and maths at grade 4, or equivalent. Ask the admissions team what they accept as an equivalent.
• ✓ Experience counts. Interviews, observation and personal statements all test what you know about the profession. Start building experience now if you have none.

If anything is unclear, email the admissions team and ask: “Do you accept Functional Skills Level 2 English and maths in place of GCSE for BSc Occupational Therapy?” Our guide to whether universities accept Functional Skills Level 2 goes into more detail, and our guide to Functional Skills Level 2 English or a GCSE equivalency test explains how to choose when a course lists both.

Is there funding for occupational therapy students?

In England, occupational therapy is one of the courses covered by the NHS Learning Support Fund, run by the NHS Business Services Authority. Eligible students can receive a Training Grant of £5,000 per academic year (pro rata for part time study). There is also Parental Support of £2,000 per academic year if you have at least one dependent child under 15, or under 17 if registered with special educational needs, and help with some excess placement travel and accommodation costs. Check the NHSBSA guidance for the full eligibility rules.

If you already work as a therapy assistant or support worker and your employer is paying for your training, our guide to employer funded Functional Skills Level 2 explains how to ask.

Why the Ofqual regulated part matters

Not every online “Level 2” certificate is a regulated qualification. When a university or employer asks for an equivalent to GCSE, it expects a regulated qualification, not a short course certificate.

At Functify Learning, your Functional Skills Level 2 English and maths qualifications are awarded by Highfield and regulated by Ofqual, and we are a Highfield Approved Centre. Functify is part of Geek School Tutoring, which has taught more than 1,000 students since 2013.

How long does it take to get Functional Skills Level 2?

That depends on where you are starting from.

• ✓ You feel confident: book the exam. With Functify Learning your exam is booked within 5 days and your certificate usually arrives within 10 days of your result.
• ✓ You are rusty: a 5 Day Revision Course from £19.99 gets you exam ready in about a week.
• ✓ You have been out of education for years or failed before: a live 10 Week Course from £197 per subject, in a small group of no more than 10 learners, with a mock exam included.

Not sure which group you are in? Take our free Functional Skills pass quiz at quiz.functifylearning.co.uk. It tells you whether to book now or revise first.

Your plan from half term to the UCAS deadline

For most schools in England, October half term ends today, Friday 30th October 2026. Whether you are a parent planning a career change or a support worker ready for the next step, here is a realistic timeline:

1. This weekend: shortlist three to five occupational therapy degrees or apprenticeships and note exactly what each one asks for in English and maths. Take the free pass quiz.
2. Early November: start a 5 Day Revision Course, or book a £35 mock exam per subject to find any gaps. If you need more time, a 10 Week Course gives you structure through to the new year.
3. Mid November to early December: book your exam and sit it online from home, with technical setup support beforehand.
4. December: receive your certificate and add the qualification to your UCAS application.
5. By 6pm on Wednesday 13th January 2027: submit your UCAS application.

How much will it cost?

At Functify Learning:

• ✓ English Level 2 exam: £160
• ✓ Maths Level 2 exam: £160
• ✓ English and maths together: £250, instead of £320 booked separately
• ✓ Mock exam: £35 per subject
• ✓ Klarna available at checkout on orders of more than £35

For a full breakdown, read our guide to how much a Functional Skills Level 2 exam costs in 2026. If you are weighing up other caring careers, see Functional Skills Level 2 for midwifery and Functional Skills Level 2 for social work.

Functional Skills Level 2 for occupational therapy: frequently asked questions

Can I become an occupational therapist with Functional Skills instead of GCSEs?

Often, yes. Universities including Brighton, Oxford Brookes, Bournemouth and Teesside list Functional Skills Level 2 as an accepted alternative to GCSE English and maths for occupational therapy. You will still need A levels, an Access course or another Level 3 qualification.

Do all occupational therapy degrees accept Functional Skills Level 2 English?

No. Keele University accepts Level 2 Functional Skills Maths for its 2027 occupational therapy degree, but does not list Functional Skills English as an alternative to GCSE English. Always check the course page for each university you apply to.

I am doing an Access to HE Diploma. Do I still need Functional Skills?

You might. Oxford Brookes says English and maths Level 2 credits inside an Access to HE Diploma will no longer be accepted as GCSE equivalences, so a separate Level 2 qualification may be needed. Check with each university.

Can I do an occupational therapy degree apprenticeship with Functional Skills?

Some programmes accept it. UWE Bristol accepts Functional Skills Level 2 in maths and English for its Occupational Therapist Degree Apprenticeship. You also need an employer, and employers can set their own requirements.

When is the UCAS deadline for 2027 occupational therapy courses?

UCAS says applications for most 2027 undergraduate courses should arrive by 6pm (UK time) on Wednesday 13th January 2027.

Can I sit Functional Skills Level 2 online from home?

Yes. You sit the exam online from home, and we help you set up your laptop, camera and connection beforehand.

Get your Level 2 sorted before the UCAS deadline

Book your English or maths exam today, sit it from home around work or childcare, and have your certificate ready for your occupational therapy application. Not sure where to start? Message us on WhatsApp and we will point you in the right direction.