European Master of Science in Occupational Therapy part-time

On 12 March 2026, 5 graduates of OT-EuroMaster presented their final theses at the Department of Health of Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW). The presentations took place both on site and online and marked the completion of the programme for 7 students.

International programme across Europe

The European MSc brings together several universities across Europe. During the 2-year programme, students study at:

• University of Brighton
• Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences
• ZHAW in Winterthur
• University of A Coruña
• Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm

In the final phase, students complete an independent research project and write their thesis.

From burnout to tabletop role-playing

The theses show a strong link between professional practice and personal motivation. Students explored topics that matter to them and to the field of occupational therapy.

The range of topics is broad:

• Drag performance as a meaningful occupation, based on photo-based interviews with performers
• Daily life of older women living alone in a Swiss mountain region
• Experiences of older adults with the ‘Bliib dra!’ exercise programme in outpatient care
• Burnout among occupational therapists in Switzerland, including prevalence and risk factors
• Use of virtual and mixed reality in treating fear of falling after stroke
• Sense of community in tabletop role-playing games among adults
• The link between health-promoting activities and resilience, based on a scoping review

Final step in the Master’s programme

The presentations form the final step of the programme. With their research, the graduates contribute to current topics in occupational therapy practice and research.

Book of abstracts

The Book of Abstracts brings together all the summaries of the Master theses written by OT-EuroMaster students.