Healthcare Science

Career Decisions

If you enjoy science at school but have decided you do not wish to pursue a career in medicine or dentistry, you may wish to consider Healthcare Science. This includes all science degrees, from biology and biological sciences, chemistry, biomedical science, natural sciences, physics, physiology and pharmacy as well as engineering and maths. The healthcare science team in a hospital play a vital role in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of a huge number of medical conditions, as well as in rehabilitation. There are a wide variety of careers available within Healthcare Science which include:

Life Sciences
Physiological sciences
Clinical engineering and medical physics

Life Sciences

Life Sciences is divided into 4 areas: blood diagnostic services, infection science, tissue and cellular science and genetics. The majority of your time would be spent in hospital laboratories but you may also work on the wards or in the community. You could be working in areas such as pathology where you would investigate the causes of illness and how they progress; carry out tests on tissue, blood and other samples from patients. You would play a crucial role in the diagnosis of illness, help doctors choose the best type of treatment for patients, and monitor its effectiveness. You may also be working in the field of genetics, understanding the genetic components of illnesses or reproductive science – looking at infertility.

Psychological Sciences

Healthcare science staff who work in the physiological sciences investigate the functioning of organ/body systems to diagnose abnormalities, and find ways to restore function and/or reduce disabling consequences to the patient.  The work involves direct interaction with patients in a range of areas. Most healthcare science staff in physiological sciences work in hospital clinics and departments or as part of a surgical team. Some work in the community, visiting patients in their homes or in schools. You could be working on problems with hearing, heart and lungs, gastro-intestinal tract or the brain and peripheral nervous system.

Clinical Engineering & Medical Physics

The healthcare science team in this area use their skills to develop methods of measuring what is happening in the body, devise new ways of diagnosing and treating disease, and ensure that equipment is functioning safely and effectively. They support, develop and apply physical techniques such as ultrasound, radioactivity, radiation, magnetic resonance, electromagnetism and optical imaging to explore or record the workings of the body for diagnosis, monitoring and treatment.

What qualifications are needed?

You can join as a school leaver with A Levels as a trainee, assistant or support worker
You can join with a BSc degree in biology, chemistry, biomedical science or any other science discipline.
You can join the NHS Practitioner Training Programme, which combines academic study with practical experience in the NHS. It is undergraduate training leading to an approved and accredited BSc honours degree in healthcare science. You need 2-3 A levels with science subjects to apply. For details, click HERE:
If you already have a BSC degree, 2.1 or above you can apply for the NHS Scientist Training Programme (STP) – a three-year programme of in depth training in a specialist area to work at the forefront of research and knowledge. You choose to specialise in one of 9 areas. Click HERE for further information.

The Pharmaceutical Industry

The pharmaceutical industry recruits large numbers of science students – particularly biology, chemistry and pharmacy. Biologists have an important role to play in the exciting discovery of new medicines. Once a company has chosen which disease to concentrate its efforts on, the disease itself needs to be thoroughly investigated and studied in detail. Biologists working on a discovery team will then use this information to take a look at the biochemical pathways (a certain series of chemical reactions that occur in the cells of the body) and pinpoint a molecular ‘target’ in the body that when stimulated or inhibited (switched on or off) will result in the treatment of the disease. Many different biology specialists (e.g. pharmacologists, toxicologists and molecular biologists) are involved throughout the discovery and development of a medicine and each has a vital role.

In the early stages of discovery, chemists work hard to find a ‘hit’ molecule. These are chemical compounds that, when tested, are found to affect a molecular ‘target’ in the body and therefore may result in a treatment for a disease.

As well as these research and development roles, there are many other roles in pharma companies who are interested in science graduates. These include commercial roles, in sales and marketing, manufacturing and supply.

View Work Experience Opportunities for Healthcare Science

NNL – Work Experience Placement
NNL
Warrington, Preston & Cumbria
- GCSE / A Level
- Posted 6 years ago
- Excerpt:
  NNLNational Nuclear Laboratory, or NNL plays a key role in the UK and global nuclear industry. That means reducing the cost of clean-up and decommissioning. They provide a 1 week work experience placement. Types of Placements Technical (Engineering and Scientific) Strategic Business Development Learning & Development Finance Human Resources What NNL Provides Working in an […]
Science & Technology Facilities Council -work placements
Science & Technology Facilities Council
UK Wide
- GCSE / A Level
- Posted 6 years ago
- Excerpt:
  Science & Technology Facilities Council(STFC). The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) is one of Europe’s largest research organisations supporting scientists and engineers world-wide. Activities carried out cover a wide range of science, engineering and technology, including materials science, engineering and instrumentation, particle physics, space science, accelerator based technologies, information technology and e-Science. They offer […]
Sembcorp – Work experience
Sembcorp
Teeside, Bournemouth
- GCSE / A Level
- Posted 6 years ago
- Excerpt:
  Sembcorpoffer a wide variety of work experience opportunities to young people. Theyre particularly interested in hearing from those thinking about a future career in the process industries and the energy and water sectors in particular. They offer opportunities in the following areas for students from areas around their Teesside and Bournemouth sites: Administration Commercial Fire […]
Rolls Royce – work experience programmes
Rolls Royce
UK Wide
- GCSE / A Level
- Posted 6 years ago
- Excerpt:
  Rolls-Royceis a global company, providing integrated power solutions for customers in civil and defence aerospace, marine and energy markets. They offer a work experience programme for 14-19 year olds. Applications need to be in by November. Requests need to come from the school or college, rather than directly from the student. You also need to […]
Renishaw – Work Experience Placements
Renishaw
Gloucestershire, Wales, Bristol
- GCSE / A Level
- Posted 6 years ago
- Excerpt:
  Renishawis a global company with core skills in measurement, motion control, spectroscopy and precision machining. They run 2 schemes for A ‚Äòlevel students: Work experience Renishaw offers approximately 40 one-week work experience opportunities for year 10 and year 12 students. Preference is given to those students who are studying Maths and Science and who have […]
Ramboll – Work Experience
Ramboll
London, Birmingham
- GCSE / A Level
- Posted 6 years ago
- Excerpt:
  Rambollprovides school students in the United Kingdom with the opportunity to gain valuable engineering-focused work experience. They provide a work experience programme that runs throughout the year and offers access to a range of work activities. These placements provide students with the chance to work as part of a team, introducing you to a variety […]
Nuffield Foundation – Research Placements
Nuffield Foundation
UK Wide
- GCSE / A Level
- Posted 6 years ago
- Excerpt:
  Nuffield Research Placementsprovide over 1,000 students each year with the opportunity to work alongside professional scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians. Students in the first year of a post-16 science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) course are eligible to apply. Placements are available across the UK, in universities, commercial companies, voluntary organisations and research institutions. They […]
Arcadis
Arcadis
London, Manchester, Bristol, Birmingham
- GCSE / A Level
- Posted 6 years ago
- Excerpt:
  Arcadisprovide design, consultancy, engineering, project and management services. Theyoffer a weeks work experience called Future weeks, that are run across the country. To apply, emailemergingtalent@arcadis.com.
MRC Clinical Services Centre – Summer Studentship Programme
MRC Clinical Services Centre
London
- GCSE / A Level
- Posted 6 years ago
- Excerpt:
  MRC Clinical Services Centreoffer their A ‚Äòlevel programme for 4 week in August. You complete a project based on the current work of one of their research groups, and also attend demonstrations of the facilities and techniques used throughout the Institute. Recruitment is undertaken through the Social Mobility Foundation and student stipends are funded by […]
The Met Office -Work Experience week
The Met Office
Exeter
- GCSE / A Level
- Posted 6 years ago
- Excerpt:
  The Met OfficeAnyone aged between 14 and 17 can spend a week with The Met Office to get a better understanding of what they do ‚ much more than the weather forecasts you see on the television. As well as giving you an insight into the working world and helping to confirm career plans, youll […]
Lockheed Martin – Work Experience
Lockheed Martin
Havant, Whiteley, London and Ampthill
- GCSE / A Level
- Posted 6 years ago
- Excerpt:
  Lockheed Martinspecialise in the development, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The company works with more than 100 business partners and employs more than 3,000 people in the UK across 20 sites, working on a wide range of major programmes spanning the aerospace, defence and civil sectors. They offerstudents the opportunity […]
Leonardo – Work Experience programme
Leonardo
Yeovil, Basildon, Luton
- GCSE / A Level
- Posted 6 years ago
- Excerpt:
  Leonardoisa helicopter company, based in Yeovil Somerset, run four one-week work experience programmes, in March, April and July. They offer 2 Work Experience Programmes in helicopters and in electronic defence.Leonardo Helicopters is offering a unique opportunity for both GCSE and A-Level students to gain an insight into the design and build of Helicopters at Yeovil. […]
John Innes Centre – Work Experience
JIC
Norwich
- GCSE / A Level
- Posted 6 years ago
- Excerpt:
  JICis an independent, international centre of excellence in plant science and microbiology, based in Norwich. They run a 3-day workshop called Inside Science aimed at year 11, 12 or 13 students. You must be predicted or have gained A or A* in science subjects to be eligible to apply. The workshop takes place in late […]
GSK -Work Experience Placements in R&D, IT and Lab based
GSK
Brentford, Herts, Essex
- GCSE / A Level
- Posted 6 years ago
- Excerpt:
  GSKis a large pharmaceutical company. They offer a limited number of work experience placements for school students each year at their sites in the UK. GSK headquarters, Brentford. Work experience placements offered at GSK headquarters in Brentford are open to students from schools in the London Borough of Hounslow on work experience programmes organised by […]
The Engineering Education Scheme – 6 month programme
The Engineering Education Scheme
UK Wide
- GCSE / A Level
- Posted 6 years ago
- Excerpt:
  The Engineering Education Schemeis an EDT Programme, which links teams of four Year 12 (A level) students and their teacher with local companies to work on real, scientific, engineering and technological problems. The scheme provides you with an in-depth experience in science, engineering and technology. The programme is 6 months and includes: Hands-on work experience […]
Costain -Work Experience
Costain
London, Manchester, Maidenhead, Birmingham, Aberdeen
- GCSE / A Level
- Posted 6 years ago
- Excerpt:
  Costainoffer work experience to 14-18 year olds in an engineering and construction environment. This will provide you with the opportunity to experience working on a project or in a head office environment where you will learn core behavioural skills such as communication, team-working, and interpersonal skills, as well gain an awareness of the breadth of […]
Croda – Work Experience
Croda
Yorkshire, Staffordshire, Cheshire
- GCSE / A Level
- Posted 6 years ago
- Excerpt:
  Croda.A global speciality chemical company who create ingredients and technologies that deliver performance benefits to everyday products, which are used by industry and consumers.They offer work experience placements for school and college students.
Bentley Motors – Work Experience
Bentley Motors
Cheshire
- GCSE / A Level
- Posted 6 years ago
- Excerpt:
  The Bentley MotorsLtd work experience programme is designed to offer students aged 14 -19 valuable experiences in key business areas. The programme is for students who are enthusiastic, focused on quality and who are currently studying towards qualifications related to their area of interest. They offer a variety of week-long placements in Engineering, Manufacturing and […]
Centrica – work experience
UK-wide
- GCSE / A Level
- Posted 6 years ago
- Excerpt:
  Centrica (on behalf of British Gas) offers 2 weeks of work experience in Stockport, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow or Leeds. You will gain an awareness of their products & services and get the opportunity to spend time with a customer services team and shadow one of the installation engineers. There are taster days running in April, […]