With healthcare roles ranging from midwives and physiotherapists, to prosthetists and orthotists, there’s lots of choice out there to fit your skills, experience and passion. Whether you’re on the front line engaging directly with patients or working behind the scenes without direct patient contact, you will make a significant difference in people’s lives.
Studying a healthcare-related degree is a hands-on, dynamic way of learning that will give you experience like no other. During your studies, you’ll undertake placements, meet other specialists and get a taste for what the role’s really like.
The majority of healthcare courses are also eligible for the NHS Learning Support Fund, which may entitle you to a training grant of at least £5,000 each academic year, as well as being able to claim back expenses for additional travel costs to clinical placements.
Find out more at nhsbsa.nhs.uk/lsf
With so many great options to consider, here are 12 different career pathways in healthcare and the courses at the University of Salford that can help you get there!
*Some programmes may have course specific or additional entry criteria, full details available on our website. Information correct at the time of print. Visit our website for the most up-to-date information.
As a midwife you will offer care and support to birthing people, their partners, and their families. You will provide care throughout the pregnancy cycle and will be involved in antenatal and postnatal care, counselling, offering support and education, and helping families prepare for parenthood.
The main route to become a midwife is to study and train for an undergraduate degree in midwifery.
There are alternative routes to the profession, including studying Adult Nursing and then undertaking a postgraduate degree to become a midwife.
You will need to…
/ Have an interest in the physical and psychological process of pregnancy and birth
/ Have excellent communication and people skills
/ Be able to work as part of a team
/ Be compassionate and caring
/ Be hardworking and committed
/ Be able to deal with emotionally charged situations
/ Be prepared to work shifts
Our course: BSc (Hons) Midwifery
Duration: Three years full-time
You must have 5 GCSEs at grade C/4 or above, including Maths, English Language and Science.
We ask for 128 UCAS Tariff points, which equates to:
/ ABB in A-Levels (any subjects, but not including General Studies)
/ DDD in a BTEC National Diploma
We recommend Access to Midwifery (45 Credits at Distinction) for mature learners.
Delivery: 50% of your time is spent at university, and 50% on placements.
As a nursing associate, you will be highly trained to provide effective, safe, and responsive nursing care across various healthcare and social care settings. this crucial role bridges the gap between support workers and registered nurses, contributing to a strong healthcare workforce for the future.
Nursing associates work both independently and as vital members of healthcare teams, delivering hands-on care in primary, secondary, community, and social care settings. their focus is on ensuring patients receive compassionate care across diverse fields of practice, including physical and mental health.
The main pathway to becoming a nursing associate is through enrolling in a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) approved programme, typically a two-year foundation year undergraduate degree or degree apprenticeship. Qualified nursing associates can also go on to train as a registered nurse by putting their training towards a shortened nursing degree or registered nursing degree apprenticeship.
You will need to…
/ Be compassionate and caring
/ Have excellent communication and people skills
/ Provide high-quality, compassionate care in diverse settings
/ Be able to work as part of a dynamic team
/ Have empathy towards patients, offering support and understanding
/ Be hardworking and committed
/ Analyse situations critically to support patient care decisions
/ Be prepared for long shifts with varying patterns
Our course: FdSc Nursing Associate (Direct Entry)*
Duration: Two years full-time
*We also offer a FdSc Nursing Associate Higher Apprenticeship programme.
You must have GCSE English and Maths at grade C/4 or above, or equivalent Functional Skills Level 2, and demonstrate academic aptitude to undertake the programme by providing evidence of study or professional development within the past 3 years.
We also recognise prior learning as well as further study at Level 4 or above up to a maximum of 50% of the programme.
Delivery: 50% of your time is spent at university, and 50% on placements.
As an adult nurse you will work with adults of all ages, offering support, education and care to them, their families and carers. You will work with patients suffering from a variety of health conditions, from short-term injuries to long-term conditions or chronic diseases like cancer.
The main route to become an adult nurse, is through studying an undergraduate degree at university.
There are alternative routes to the profession, including studying an undergraduate degree in any discipline and accumulating health and/or social care experience equivalent to 800 hours, and then undertaking a postgraduate degree to become a registered nurse.
You will need to…
/ Have excellent communication and people skills
/ Be able to teach, advise and manage people
/ Be caring and compassionate
/ Be hardworking and committed
/ Be prepared to work shifts
Our course: BSc (Hons) Nursing / RN Adult*
Duration: Three years full-time
*We offer other options of study such as BSc (Hons) Nursing (Adult) with Foundation Year, or BSc (Hons) Accelerated Nursing (Adult)
You must have GCSE English and Maths at grade C/4 or above.
We ask for 112 UCAS Tariff points, which equates to:
/ BBC in A-Levels (any subjects, but not including General Studies)
/ DMM in BTEC National Diploma
Although Health and Social Care is preferred, you don’t need to have studied this.
We recommend Access to Nursing for mature learners.
Delivery: 50% of your time is spent at university, and 50% on placements.
As a children and young people nurse you will provide care, support, advice and education to 0–18-year-old children, young people and their parents/carers. Child nursing can involve everything from nursing a sick newborn to an adolescent road accident victim.
The main route to become a children’s nurse is through a degree course at university.
There are alternative routes to the profession, including studying an undergraduate degree in any discipline and accumulating health and/or social care experience equivalent to 800 hours, and then undertake a postgraduate degree to become a registered nurse.
You will need to…
/ Want to work with children and young people
/ Have excellent communication and people skills
/ Be able to teach, advise and manage people
/ Be compassionate and caring
/ Be hardworking and committed
/ Be prepared to work shifts
Our course: BSc (Hons) Nursing / RN Children and Young People*
Duration: Three years full-time
You must have GCSE English and Maths at grade C/4 or above.
We ask for 112 UCAS Tariff points, which equates to:
/ BBC in A-Levels (any subjects, but not including General Studies)
/ DMM in BTEC National Diploma
Although Health and Social Care is preferred, you don’t need to have studied this.
We recommend Access to Nursing for mature learners.
Delivery: 50% of your time is spent at university, and 50% on placements.
*We offer other options of study such as BSc (Hons) Nursing (Children and Young People) with Foundation Year or BSc (Hons) Accelerated Nursing (Children and Young People).
As a mental health nurse, you will provide care for people experiencing mental health problems and will promote and support their recovery, helping them to live independent and fulfilling lives. Mental health nurses work in the community, specialist hospitals and health centres, and often work as part of a multi-disciplinary team made up of GPs, psychologists, social workers, psychiatrists, occupational therapists, arts therapists and healthcare assistants.
The main route to become a mental health nurse is through a degree course at university.
There are alternative routes to the profession, including studying an undergraduate degree in any discipline and accumulating health and/ or social care experience equivalent to 800 hours, and then taking a postgraduate (second) degree to become a registered nurse.
SKILLS NEEDED:
You will need to…
/ Have excellent communication and people skills
/ Be able to teach, advise and manage people
/ Be compassionate and caring
/ Be hardworking and committed
/ Be prepared to work shifts
/ Be able to establish trust quickly
/ Work closely with individuals to help them understand their own situation
/ Advocate for the best possible outcome
Our course: BSc (Hons) Nursing / RN Mental Health*
Duration: Three years full-time
TYPICAL ENTRY
REQUIREMENTS:
You must have GCSE English and Maths at grade C/4 or above.
We ask for 104-112 UCAS Tariff points, which equates to:
/ BCC-BBC in A-Levels (any subjects, but not including General Studies)
/ DMM in BTEC National Diploma
Although a Health and Social Care qualification is preferred, you don’t need to have studied this.
We recommend Access to Nursing for mature learners.
Delivery: 50% of your time is spent at university, and 50% on placements.
*We offer other options of study such as BSc (Hons) Nursing (Mental Health) with Foundation Year or BSc (Hons) Accelerated Nursing (Mental Health).
salford.ac.uk/healthcare-careers
As a learning disabilities nurse, you will help to improve and maintain a person’s physical and mental health, and reduce barriers to them living an independent life and you may also help them learn the skills needed to find work.
The main route to become a learning disabilities nurse is through a degree course at university.
There are alternative routes to the profession, including studying an undergraduate degree in any discipline and accumulating health and/ or social care experience equivalent to 800 hours, and then taking a postgraduate degree to become a registered nurse.
Following qualification, you will be able to register as a qualified nurse (learning disability) with the Nursing and Midwifery Council and/or with Social Work England as a social worker.
You will need to…
Have excellent communication and people skills
Want to work with people with learning disabilities
Be able to teach, advise and manage people
Be compassionate and caring
Be hardworking and committed
Be prepared to work shifts
BSc (Hons) Learning Disabilities Nursing and Social Work (integrated practice)
Three years full-time
You must have GCSE English and Maths at grade C/4 or above.
We ask for 112 UCAS Tariff points, which equates to:
/ BBC in A-Levels (any subjects, but not including General Studies)
/ DMM in BTEC National Diploma
You don’t need to have studied Health and Social Care.
We recommend Access to Nursing or Social Work for mature learners.
Delivery: 50% of your time is spent at university, and 50% on placements.
As a social worker you will work with people to find solutions to their problems and will make a difference to individuals and families by helping them to live their lives more successfully.
You can specialise in either adult or children’s social work, providing services which could include:
/ Working with people with mental health problems, learning difficulties or physical difficulties
/ Providing assistance and advice that helps families stay together
/ Providing support to younger people leaving care who are at risk or in trouble with the law
/ Supporting older people to maintain their independence and wellbeing
To practise as a social worker, you must be registered with Social Work England. To register, you will need to study an approved degree.
You will need to…
/ Work well under pressure
/ Be resilient
/ Be organised
/ Have strong problem-solving skills
/ Have strong relationship-building skills
/ Be compassionate and caring
Our course: BSc (Hons) Social Work
Duration: Three years full-time
You must have GCSE English Language at grade C/4 or above.
We ask for 120 UCAS Tariff points, which equates to:
/ BBB in A-Levels (any subjects, but not including General Studies)
/ DDM in BTEC National Diploma
We recommend Access to Social Work for mature learners.
Delivery: This course has an integrated approach to learning. You will spend most of your time at university, studying via lectures, seminars and tutorials, but you will also undertake two placements, one in your second year which lasts 70 days, then a further 100 day placement in your third year.
As a physiotherapist you will focus on identifying and maximising movement to improve the health and wellbeing of your patients. You will help people improve their mobility and regain their independence after an injury or operation, or as a result of ageing or disability, by recommending specialist exercises, carrying out massages and using high-tech equipment.
A university degree is the most popular way to become a physiotherapist. Once you’ve successfully completed your degree you’ll need to register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) before you can start practising.
You will need to…
/ Be interested in how the human body moves and heals
/ Be organised
/ Have excellent communication and people skills
/ Have strong problem-solving skills
/ Be able to work as part of a team
Our course: BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy
Duration: Three years full-time, four years part-time
You must have 5 GCSEs at grade B/5 or above, including Maths, English Language and Science.
We ask for 128 UCAS Tariff points, which equates to:
/ ABB in A-Levels (you must have a grade B or above in at least one Science subject, preferably Biology/Human Biology, but we also accept Chemistry, Psychology, Physics or PE)
/ DDM in a Science-based BTEC National Diploma
We recommend Access to Physiotherapy or Health and Science for mature learners.
Delivery: You will split your time between university and placements. For example, for full-time study, you will undertake placements throughout the course: 1 x 3-week placement (year 1), 2 x 6-week placements (year 2), 2 x 6-week placements (year 3).
As a podiatrist you will treat and care for people whose feet and legs have been affected by injury, illness or daily wear by relieving pain, treating infections and improving their mobility. Foot and lower limb care is required for a range of individuals, including sports professionals who put a lot of stress and strain on their feet, diabetes patients who need support with circulation and individuals with disabilities and long-term health condition such as cerebral palsy who may have mobility problems.
The most popular way into podiatry is through an approved degree course. Once you’ve successfully completed your degree you’ll need to register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) before you can start practising.
There are alternative routes to the profession, including studying an undergraduate degree in a health related discipline and then taking a postgraduate degree to become a registered podiatrist.
You will need to…
/ Be comfortable handling people’s legs and feet
/ Be organised
/ Have excellent communication and people skills
/ Have strong problem-solving skills
/ Have excellent fine motor skills
Our course: BSc (Hons) Podiatry
Duration: Three years full-time
You must have 3 GCSEs at grade C/4 or above, including Maths, English Language and Science.
We ask for 120 UCAS Tariff points, which equates to:
/ BBB in A-Levels - you must have a grade B or above in at least a Science subject, preferably Biology
/ DDM in a Science or Sport-based BTEC National Diploma
We recommend Access to Science or Health and Science for mature learners.
Delivery: You will undertake clinical placements alongside your studies. You will start your clinical practice within six weeks of starting the course within our own in-house clinic. Your practice will develop throughout your time with us, undertaking one day per week in NHS clinics, and then during longer periods of work placements in your final year.
As a prosthetist and/or orthotist you will receive training in mechanics, bio-mechanics and material science, alongside anatomy and physiology. You will use your skills to transform patients’ lives by giving back the power of movement or enabling them to move without pain.
As a prosthetist you will provide gait analysis and use engineering solutions to help people who have part or all of a limb missing. Prosthetists have the skills to design artificial body parts that replicate the structure or function of an absent limb.
As an orthotist you will provide braces and splints to support, correct, or aid the function of people with various conditions of the neuro, muscular and skeletal systems. This supports patients with mobility and helps to reduce falls, pain and to prevent and facilitate the healing of ulcers.
To become a prosthetist or an orthotist, you must first successfully complete an approved degree in prosthetics and orthotics - only a few universities in the UK offer full-time courses. Once you’ve successfully completed your degree you’ll need to register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) before you can start practicing.
You will need to…
/ Enjoy working with your hands
/ Have excellent communication and people skills
/ Have strong relationship building skills
/ Be good at maths
/ Be both a creative and practical person
/ Be a problem solver
Our course: BSc (Hons) Prosthetics and Orthotics
Duration: Three years full-time
You must have 3 GCSEs at grade C/4 or above, including Maths, English Language and Science.
We ask for 120 UCAS Tariff points, which equates to:
/ BBB in A-Levels (including at least a grade B in either Maths, Physics or Engineering)
/ DDM in a Science-based BTEC National Diploma
We recommend Access to Science or Health and Science for mature learners.
Delivery: You will learn via traditional lectures and seminars, mixed with practical workshop sessions in our prosthetics and orthotics laboratory and through hands-on clinical practice placements.
As a radiographer you will use a range of different imaging techniques and sophisticated technology to look inside patients’ bodies and produce high quality images to identify, understand and diagnose any conditions they may have.
You will be based in a hospital and you’ll work with patients and colleagues to design treatment programmes and support patients throughout their treatment period.
To become a diagnostic radiographer, you must first successfully complete an approved degree in diagnostic radiography. Once you’ve completed your degree, you need to register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) before you can start practising.
You will need to…
/ Express an interest in science and new technologies
/ Prioritise safety consciousness
/ Demonstrate excellent observational skills
/ Exhibit outstanding communication and people skills
/ Showcase strong problem-solving abilities
/ Embrace a caring and compassionate approach
Our course: BSc (Hons) Diagnostic Radiography
Duration: Three years full-time
You must have 5 GCSEs at grade C/4 or above, including Maths, English Language and Science.
We ask for 120 UCAS Tariff points, which equates to:
/ BBB in A-Levels (including at least a grade B in a Science subject)
/ DDD in Applied Science BTEC National Diploma
We recommend Access to Science/Health and Science for mature learners.
Delivery: 50% of your time is spent at university, and 50% on placements.
Psychotherapists help to treat a wide range of mental health problems including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, trauma and psychosis. As a psychotherapist you will provide care and support and help people overcome their difficulties through counselling, therapy and other techniques. Often, counsellors develop specialist interests so that they become sought after as providers of therapy and training in a particular field, such as working with young people, people with addictions or those experiencing bereavement.
If you want to become a counsellor or psychotherapist, you will need to undertake a British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) approved counselling and psychotherapy professional practice course, which will enable you to graduate as a professional psychotherapist.
You will need to…
/ Be interested in the human mind and human behaviour
/ Be interested in mental health issues
/ Have excellent communication and people skills
/ Have strong relationship building skills
/ Be self-aware and reflective
/ Have strong problem-solving skills
Our course: BSc (Hons) Counselling and Psychotherapy: Professional Practice
Duration: Three years full-time
REQUIREMENTS:
You must have GCSE English and Maths at grade C/4 or above.
We ask for 112 UCAS Tariff points, which equates to:
/ BBC in A-Levels
/ DMM in BTEC National Diploma
We recommend Access to Health for mature learners.
Delivery: The professional placement module in the final year includes at least 100 hours of client work in a professional counselling and psychotherapy context.
As an occupational therapist, you’ll work with people from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures across all age groups, helping them to cope with a variety of physical and psychological problems. You’ll work with your clients to consider how their physical health, mental health and social environment affect their ability to carry out daily living activities such as personal care, domestic tasks, socialising, leisure and work. You will help them to overcome all kinds of challenges, so that they can live life as independently as possible.
Occupational therapists are employed in a range of health and social care settings, in addition to working for employers such as prisons, litigation services, voluntary organisations and in private practice.
To become an occupational therapist, you’ll need a degree in occupational therapy. Once you’ve successfully completed your degree, you’ll need to register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) before you can start practising.
You will need to…
/ Have excellent communication skills
/ Be a practical person and a good problem solver
/ Be patient and a good observer
/ Be creative and flexible
Our course: BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy
Duration: Three years full-time
An extended three-semester route is available in addition to our standard two-semester per academic year programme.
You must have 5 GCSEs at grade C/4 or above, including Maths, English Language and Science.
We ask for 120 UCAS Tariff points, which equates to:
/ BBB in A-Levels (including a Science subject - preferably Biology, Psychology or Sociology)
/ DDM in BTEC National Diploma (preferably in a Health or Science related subject)
We recommend Access to Health Science or Allied Health for mature learners.
Delivery: Alongside your academic study, you will undertake placements that are split across the three years of the course. It will be a series of five supervised placements amounting to over 1,000 hours in health and social care settings. These placements include hospital settings and community services.
The University of Salford is home to state-of-the-art facilities which enable you to practise new skills in a safe environment under the supervision of qualified practitioners. We also have a suite of facilities available for you to use for additional study, such as the Library with bookable study rooms, and social spaces including our commuter hub and Students’ Union.
In our clinical skills rooms, you’ll be able to practise new skills in a safe environment under the supervision of a qualified practitioner. The Mary Seacole Building is home to a number of plinth rooms and multi-purpose couches for in-house clinical sessions.
This is a dedicated facility for our podiatry students.
Under the supervision of fully trained academic and technical staff, you’ll use state-of-the-art equipment and techniques to provide a wide range of treatments to the public in our Podiatry Clinic. The clinic includes computer aided design and manufacturing facilities, a gait examination room, private cubicles, seminar rooms, a Gait Analysis Laboratory and examination room, and an anatomy room.
The Human Performance Laboratory is used by our physiotherapy students.
Our world-class Human Performance Laboratory is one of the best equipped in the country and contains an extensive collection of physiological, performance analysis and biomechanical testing equipment, including industry standard hardware and software for performance analysis such as HiPod filming equipment, Sportscode, Wyscout, and Nacsport, 30-metre indoor sprint track with inbuilt force platforms, motion capture systems, blood and gas analysis equipment and speed guns.
Our students study and practice in a unique, purpose built facility for our prosthetics and orthotics students.
This bespoke clinical suite features the specialist equipment required for assessing, measuring and casting limbs, including plinths, parallel bars, plaster sinks and additional equipment for practicing, such as 3D manikins. The labs are made up of a plaster room, a workshop featuring all the specialist equipment required for the design and manufacture of bespoke prosthetics and orthotics, a machine room and a computer aided design and manufacturing suite, a modern gym to monitor the performance of our devices during different activities of daily living and a Gait Analysis Laboratory.
The Centre for Medical Imaging is used by our diagnostic radiography students.
Our state-of-the-art imaging facility, has allowed the University to become a leader in the region, as well as nationally and internationally recognised. A £2.5 million University investment and collaboration with GE Healthcare has resulted in the Centre for Medical Imaging at the University of Salford being equipped with unrivalled clinical and simulation facilities.
The facility currently features a Revolution Maxima CT scanner, 2 Discovery static digital X-ray systems, an Optima digital mobile X-ray system and 5 ultrasound scanners. Following a recent grant from Garfield Weston, we have a Sonograph Pristina 3D full field digital mammography system. Additionally, the imaging centre has a digital intraoral and orthopantomography dental imaging systems and MedaPhor intelligent ultrasound simulators.
This is a bespoke facility used by our occupational therapy students.
Our rehabilitation flat replicates the scene of a community visit where occupational therapists work alongside service users to increase their levels of independence using adapted equipment, new techniques, energy saving devices or other interventions.
The bedroom and bathroom are fitted with ceiling track hoists to demonstrate and practise safe transfers and give students valuable practice in a safe and supportive learning environment. The kitchen is used for group baking and kitchen assessment sessions and the bedroom has a high seat chair, raised bed and commode to immerse students in personal and night time/overnight care. The flat is also fitted with cameras that allow for a structured assessment and debrief method through video-facilitated feedback.
Our simulation suites are mainly used by our nursing, midwifery and physiotherapy students, however all healthcare students will have the opportunity to experience the facilities through learning opportunities like interprofessional days where we bring our professions together to work on different scenarios, just as you would in the real world.
Our simulation suite provides you with the opportunity to experience real-life scenarios in a safe and supported environment. Set up like a hospital ward, the suite contains hi-tech adult, child and baby patient simulators that move, blink, breathe and can mimic everything from the common cold to a major heart condition. We also have a birth simulator which allows our midwifery students to experience labour and the delivery of a baby.
Our purpose-designed counselling centre is used by our counselling and psychotherapy students.
The counselling centre opened for general counselling in 2018 and for research-led domestic abuse counselling in 2019. Our specialist counselling suite features therapeutic areas where one-to-one, family and group interactions can occur and the service provides support to the local community, trainees and researchers.
If you are applying directly from school or college, you’ll make your application through the University and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) – the organisation which processes applications for UK higher education.
If you’re not applying directly through school or college, you can find out more about the application process on our help to apply pages.
salford.ac.uk/undergraduate/apply
Places on some of our courses can be highly competitive and may require you to attend an interview.
Interviews are nothing to be nervous about. They just allow us to talk to you about your chosen subject area in more detail and learn more about your ideas and current skills.
For detailed course information and entry requirements, use our handy Course Finder tool on our website.
salford.ac.uk/courses
If you want to discuss a course or the application process, our dedicated course enquiries team are on hand to answer your queries:
+44 (0)161 295 4545
enquiries@salford.ac.uk
salford.ac.uk/enquiries
salford.ac.uk/healthcare-careers
Apply to the University of Salford through UCAS using the code S03
Receive your offer
We believe in creating opportunities for anyone who has the passion to learn. If you’d like to join us from the world of work, or balance the two, you’re very welcome at the University of Salford.
The Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) process could help you to make your work and life experience count. The APL process can be used for course entry, or to give you exemptions from some parts of your course. Visit our how to apply pages to find out more.
salford.ac.uk/how-to-apply
Book your accommodation and arrange student finance
Apply for your NHS Learning Support Fund
Accept your offer
Receive your enrolment pack and start life as a Salford student!
Receive your exam results
If your results are lower or higher than expected, you can consider an alternative programme through Clearing.
As an international applicant, you can apply through UCAS, the organisation which processes applications for UK higher education. For help and support with your application, you can contact our regional offices or one of our approved education consultants in your country.
For help and support, visit our website for further details. Here, you’ll find guidance on application procedures, entry requirements, English language prerequisites, necessary documents, as well as support and advice on visa requirements/applications and more.
salford.ac.uk/international
A vocational alternative to a degree, you can enter some professions, including nursing, policing, physiotherapy and podiatry, by undertaking a degree apprenticeship. In order to apply for an apprenticeship, you must first be in employment with an organisation who is willing to put you onto the degree apprenticeship scheme. Visit our website to find out more.
salford.ac.uk/apprenticeships
Start your journey with the University of Salford today.
Explore our courses and find out more at salford.ac.uk/ healthcare-careers
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