Why study nursing, midwifery and allied health professions

There are brilliant, rewarding careers across the professions in health and social care. With the care needs of our population increasing, the demand for highly able and committed health professionals is only likely to grow. Once qualified, healthcare professionals can enter a range of roles including advanced practice, clinical specialties, research, education, service leadership and management.

Graduates of healthcare subjects already enjoy very high rates of employment. You can find the employment statistics for each course at Unistats, the official hub for higher education information.

For most healthcare subjects you have a wide range of universities to choose from, each offering a unique student experience.

What should I do next?

Do your research

If you are planning to apply for a nursing, midwifery or AHP course, take a look at Unistats. This lists all the different courses and gives you information on things like how current students rate the course and graduate employment statistics. Once you know which universities you want to apply for, get along to an open day and talk to staff and students.

Health Careers is a good source of information on healthcare careers with most of the professional bodies also having information on the specific career opportunities in their professions.

Apply for a course

Universities have their own entry requirements so you should check these when considering applying for a course. Entry requirements typically include an application form (most via UCAS but some students apply directly), an interview and sometimes tests in numeracy and literacy. Many universities also ask for some relevant work or caring experience.

Almost all health courses have more applicants than places so make sure you understand the requirements and take the time needed to submit a strong application.

What if I’ve missed the deadline to apply via UCAS?

Some universities will accept direct applications to courses after the UCAS deadline or you can apply through clearing in July.

Why study health?

There are brilliant, rewarding careers across the professions in health, social care and beyond. If you’re planning to apply for a nursing, midwifery or AHP course, take a look at Unistats, the official hub for higher education statistics. Once you know which universities you want to apply for, get along to an open day and talk to staff and students.

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