Health Professions
at the University of Bradford
A leading force in healthcare training
The University of Bradford is renowned for the outstanding abilities of our healthcare graduates, who are in high demand in the NHS and private healthcare sector after graduation.
We train highly skilled graduates able to pursue careers in a wide range of specialisms right across the sector. Our graduates work in laboratories, in GP surgeries, pharmacies and hospitals, in the community and in their own businesses. Several of our undergraduate courses also enable students to enter medical school as a graduate.
Our healthcare simulation facilities and laboratories are state-of-the-art, enabling students to gain experience with the latest kit under the supervision of our experienced teams of healthcare practitioners, researchers and technicians. Practise education is embedded into all of our healthcare courses, giving invaluable hands-on experience.
There may be career paths in the healthcare sector you are not aware of, or are not sure how to get into. We've put together some examples of how our courses can lead to a career where you can make a real difference to people's lives.
Health careers our courses lead to:
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Already working as a health professional? Discover our CPD courses
The University of Bradford's wide range of CPD modules and full programmes are designed to update your skills, develop new competencies, and enable you to progress in your career.
Nurse
There are many different kinds of nursing roles in the NHS but they share a common goal of helping those in need.
Nursing allows you to make a positive impact on people's lives. It's not just about caring for the individual, but also their families and the communities in which they live.
We offer three nursing programmes, all approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), focused around the major careers in the profession:
- Adult Nursing - promote health and wellbeing, support people in recovery and empower individuals in managing their long-term conditions
- Child Nursing - work alongside multi-professional colleagues to support and care for infants and young people, along with their families, through a variety of acute and long-term illness
- Mental Health Nursing - support people with mental health conditions, providing both short-term and long-term care in clinical and community settings
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Pharmacist
Our MPharm Pharmacy degree can be studied over 5 years to full registration as a Pharmacist, or over 4 years after which you can get a year of training through work experience to become a registered Pharmacist.
It is accredited by the General Pharmaceutical Council, and is ranked 11th in the UK by The Guardian.
Our Team-Based Learning delivery has been designed by pharmacists, educators, students and employers to ensure students graduate not only with necessary knowledge and skills of a pharmacy graduate, but also with the confidence, communication and problem-solving skills needed to build a successful career in the pharmacy sector.
This could be in the NHS in either primary care (GP surgeries) or secondary care (hospitals), or by establishing their own pharmacy business.
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Physician Associate
The Physician Associate is an emerging role within the NHS. Physician Associates are collaborative healthcare professionals with a generalist medical education, who work alongside doctors providing medical care as an integral part of the multidisciplinary team.
Physician Associates are trained to recognise, diagnose and manage common conditions under the supervision of a doctor. Physician Associates can work in a wide range of general and specialised areas of clinical practice within both primary and secondary care settings, and across integrated care pathways.
Our 2-year postgraduate MPAS Master of Physician Associate Studies programme involves approximately 50% of student time on clinical placement in range of primary and secondary care settings (such as hospitals and GP practices) in the diversely-populated Bradford district and across the Yorkshire area.
Optometrist
Optometrists work in a range of settings, from high street opticians to hospitals and research centres.
We have our own Eye Clinic on campus, meaning students assess and treat members of the public as part of the course, building their professional competence and experience in working with real patients before they launch their career. Our Master of Optometry MOptom course is based on both fundamental academic sciences and detailed clinical and practical studies. The emphasis is very much on the optometric service to patients.
Most graduates, on completion of the pre-registration year and having passed the final assessment examinations set by the College of Optometrists, become registered with the General Optical Council to practise as optometrists. Once qualified, graduates work in private practice, in hospital optometry or in optometric teaching and research.
Public Health Specialist
There is increasing recognition of the public health challenges that we as a society face, including the global coronavirus pandemic. It is the perfect time to launch a career in public health if you are interested in:
- helping people to stay healthy and protecting them from threats to their health
- tackling health inequalities
- educating and empowering communities about health issues
Our BSc (Hons) Public Health and Community Wellbeing degree will give you a wide range of public health skills and hands-on practical experiences. Job opportunities as a graduate with this degree are diverse and exciting.
You'll also be able to progress to further specialist study. At postgraduate level, we offer a Master of Public Health degree designed for those looking to move into public health, policy or community development at a senior level, with an emphasis on leadership and strategic thinking.
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Clinical Technologist
Clinical Technologists are involved in many aspects of healthcare, and are instrumental in bridging the gap between clinicians and engineers. They don’t work directly with patients, but with the technology used to support patient care.
Specialisms within the NHS include:
- medical engineering
- renal (dialysis)
- rehabilitation (prosthetics and orthotics)
- nuclear physics (radiology and radiation engineering)
There are also many opportunities in the flourishing medical device industry.
Our BSc (Hons) Clinical Technology degree is accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), and gives you the skills you need for a career as a clinical technologist, capable of applying your knowledge to assist in the diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of patients.
Our BEng / MEng in Biomedical Engineering degrees enable you to apply professional engineering knowledge to understand, modify and control biological systems, studying disciplines such as biomaterials and implant design, genomic coding and genetic engineering, and the design and manufacture of medical technology. These courses are accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE).
Medical Laboratory Scientist
Our BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science and BSc (Hons) Healthcare Science degrees open up a huge range of laboratory-based career paths in the health sector, including:
- Biomedical Science
- Blood Sciences
- Cancer Genomics
- Cellular Sciences
- Clinical Biochemistry
- Genomics / Genomic Counselling
- Haematology (Healthcare Scientist)
- Histopathology (Doctor)
- Infection Sciences
- Microbiology (Healthcare Scientist)
These courses are accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science.
Our BSc (Hons) Healthcare Science degree is also accredited by the National School of Healthcare and Science and Health Education England, and has approval from the Health and Care Professions Council. It can also be studied as an apprenticeship.
Midwife
Midwifery is a rewarding career. As a registered midwife you will be in the unique position to provide personalised care to women and their families from conception, antenatally, during labour and through to the postnatal period. This privilege can make a positive societal impact.
We offer two midwifery courses:
- BSc (Hons) Midwifery Studies - for those studying a degree for the first time
- MSc Midwifery Studies- designed for those who have already graduated from a first degree and who are looking to change direction and return to university to train for a career as a midwife
Our students, with the support of experienced midwife lecturers and placement mentors, develop the competencies and essential skills required by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (both courses are approved by the NMC), allowing you to apply for registration as a midwife on graduation and enter clinical practice.
Occupational Therapist
Occupational Therapy is a health and social care profession focused on improving the health and wellbeing of individuals.
Because of illness, disability and injury people may struggle to do everyday things. Occupational Therapists create solutions to enable people of all ages to regain their independence and participate in the activities, or occupations, of everyday life. These solutions can include modifications to a person's living or working environment, exploration of alternative ways to carry out certain activities and providing psychological help to improve coping.
Our BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy degree offers you an active, collaborative learning experience in a friendly, supportive environment. You’ll gain the theoretical understanding and hands-on practical experience you need to become a professional Occupational Therapist.
Successful completion will allow eligibility to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as an occupational therapist. The course is also approved by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists.
Paramedic
Paramedics are an essential part of the current and future NHS workforce. They have traditionally responded to 999 emergencies, but increasing demand for services has seen innovative ways of working across the emergency care system emerge, with paramedics now working in a wide range of environments.
Our BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science degree has been developed in collaboration with Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS), and offers a salaried sandwich year with YAS. You will learn the fundamentals of paramedic theory and practice in both university and ambulance service teaching facilities. You'll also experience clinical placements in the ambulance service (and other selected clinical practice areas) under the direct supervision of mentors, as well as the sandwich year in which you are employed by YAS in a frontline clinical role.
As a graduate you are eligible to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council as a Paramedic, which allows you to practise in the UK.
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Physiotherapist
Physiotherapists play an essential role in the overall health and well-being of a wide range of patients. Physiotherapists work with a diverse caseload across all healthcare settings, often as part of multidisciplinary teams, to help improve patient's mobility and qualifty of life after an injury, an operation, or as a result of ageing or a disability.
Our 4-year MPhysiotherapy - Sport and Exercise Medicine degree is an integrated Master's designed for those most interested in a career in sport and fitness, and our 3-year BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy degree focuses on the management of acute and long term conditions. Both courses are approved by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) and the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
You'll learn from experienced practitioners and work with real patients throughout your studies, both on practice placements and in the University's Physiotherapy and Sport Rehabilitation Clinic.
Diagnostic Radiographer
A Diagnostic Radiographer diagnoses injury and disease, and works with other healthcare professionals to treat and care for patients.
Historically, radiographers primarily used X-rays. With advances in technology, radiography also embraces techniques such as computed tomography (CT scanning), ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and nuclear medicine.
Our BSc (Hons) Diagnostic Radiography degree is approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the College of Radiographers. It will equip you with the skills needed to progress into a specialist career area in a range of healthcare settings, and make a positive impact on patient's lives.
As well as developing expert X-ray skills, you will also learn modern radiography techniques such as CT scanning, MRI and nuclear medicine. You may then decide to specialise in a certain technique after graduating.
Clinical Scientist
Clinical Scientists work in a wide variety of roles within the healthcare sector. Clinical Sciences graduates at Bradford have progressed to postgraduate study, leading to careers in medicine, the healthcare sciences and other healthcare roles such as Physician Associate, dentist and healthcare commissioning.
Our BSc (Hons) in Clinical Sciences is a multidisciplinary course with a clinical focus and strong emphasis on anatomy, physiology and evidence-based medicine. Graduates will leave Bradford ready to meet the ever-changing needs of challenging healthcare environments.
We also offer a course in Clinical Sciences (with Integrated Foundation Year) for students who wish to progress onto the BSc in Clinical Sciences, other healthcare careers, or apply to medical school, but who do not have science A levels or the entry requirements for direct entry to Year 1.
Psychologist
Psychology is the study of the mind and human behaviour in a systematic and scientific way. Clinical psychologists work with people to improve their mental health and wellbeing.
Our BSc (Hons) Psychology degree is the first step towards an exciting career in this rewarding profession, and provides clear progression routes to the postgraduate study required to practise as a psychologist.
Our BSc (Hons) Psychology with Counselling degree provides a strong understanding of core psychological concepts and practices, and the professional applications of psychology, whilst developing concepts, ethics and techniques related to counselling.
Both programmes are accredited by the British Psychological Society.
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Want to find out more?
Visit an Open Day, either online or on campus, to discuss health careers with our academic team. You'll also get to tour facilities, attend workshops and speak to students about what it's like to study at the University of Bradford.