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  4. Careers in Health and Social Care

Healthcare scientist

There are many opportunities in Health and Social Care for people who have a science background (particularly graduates). The healthcare sciences workforce helps to make sure that science and technology are used well in both diagnosis and treatment.

Opportunities in healthcare sciences

Healthcare sciences can be divided into the three areas outlined in the table below:

Life sciencesPhysiological SciencesPhysical Sciences and Engineering
Anatomical pathologyAudiologyBiomechanical engineering
Blood transfusion / transplantationAutonomic neurovascular functionClinical measurement
Clinical biochemistry including paediatric metabolic biochemistryCardiac physiologyEquipment management and clinical engineering
Clinical cytogeneticsClinical perfusionMedical electronics and instrumentation
Clinical embryology and andrologyCritical care technologyMedical engineering design
Clinical immunologyGastrointestinal physiologyRehabilitation engineering
Cytopathology including cervical cytologyNeurophysiologyDiagnostic radiology and MR physics
Electron microscopyOphthalmic scienceNuclear medicine
External quality assuranceRespiratory physiologyRadiopharmacy
Haematology and Haemostasis and ThrombosisSleep physiologyRadiation protection and monitoring
Histocompatibility& ImmunogeneticsUrodynamics and urological measurementsRadiotherapy physics
HistopathologyVascular technologyRenal dialysis technology
Molecular geneticsVision scienceUltrasound and non-ionising radiation
Microbiology Medical illustration and clinical photography
Phlebotomy Maxillofacial prosthetics and reconstruction
Tissue banking  
Toxicology  

Skills required

Anyone working in a healthcare sciences environment should have an interest in and an enthusiasm for understanding scientific and medical issues.

To work in this area, you should also have:

  • a responsible and mature approach to work
  • good practical laboratory skills
  • manual dexterity (be good with your hands)
  • have technical and analytical abilities
  • be accurate in your work with good attention to detail
  • an ability to concentrate for long periods
  • an ability to reassure and put people at their ease
  • good communication and organisational skills

To advance your career you will need a high level of scientific achievement, high ethical standards and the ability to lead a team.

Training programme

For those entering the health and social care sector as trainees with GCSEs, training is mostly on-the-job. Trainees then move on to specialised individual training and will have the opportunity to work towards an NVQ Level 2.

There are many degree programmes which will meet the entry requirements for a HCS career. Most commonly acceptable are degrees in life sciences disciplines or in Physics or Engineering.

To achieve the most senior healthcare sciences career grades, a primary degree would be followed by a training period during which a postgraduate qualification such as a Masters and/ or PhD would also be gained. 

Some of the degree programmes run by local universities that are relevant to healthcare sciences are listed below. It is important to check with each university for details of the entry requirements and professional body recognition of each programme. 

Degree courseCollege / UniversityCourse details
Foundation Degree Applied Medical SciencesNorth West Regional College
Southern Regional College
Belfast Metropolitan College
Two and a half year undergraduate part-time programme
BSc Hons Applied BiosciencesUlster UniversityUndergraduate part-time distance learning two year top-up programme (for holders of qualifications below Honours level)
BEng Hons BioengineeringUlster UniversityUndergraduate full-time four year programme (including placement year for Diploma in Industrial Studies)
BSc Hons BiologyUlster UniversityUndergraduate full-time three year programme (or four years including placement year for Diploma in Industrial Studies)
BSc Hons BiochemistryQueen's University BelfastUndergraduate full-time three-year programme
BSc Hons Biomedical Science Ulster UniversityUndergraduate full-time three-year programme, or four-year programme including integrated placement for Diploma in Professional Practice or placement year for Diploma in Industrial Studies
BSc Hons Biomedical ScienceQueen's University BelfastUndergraduate full-time three-year programme
BSc Hons Clinical PhysiologyUlster UniversityUndergraduate full-time four year programme (includes integrated placement for Diploma in Industrial Studies)
BSc Hons EngineeringQueen's University BelfastUndergraduate full-time three-year programme or four-year MEng Engineering
BEng Hons EngineeringUlster UniversityUndergraduate full-time four-year programme (including placement year for Diploma in Industrial Studies)
BSc Hons GeneticsQueen's University BelfastUndergraduate full-time three-year programme
BSc Hons MicrobiologyQueen's University BelfastUndergraduate full-time three-year programme
BSc Hons Molecular BiologyQueen's University BelfastUndergraduate full-time three-year programme
BSc Hons PhysicsQueen's University BelfastUndergraduate full-time three-year programme or four-year MSci programme
  • Queen's University Belfast
  • Ulster University
  • Metropolitan and Regional Colleges

Career pathway

Those entering the healthcare science profession after leaving school can advance with training opportunities to NVQ Levels 2 and 3. Technicians and laboratory assistants may be awarded extra salary scale points for posts that require additional skills and responsibilities.

The healthcare scientist can further develop their job to the senior and principal scientist level by accepting increased responsibility and/or participation in research and development projects.

Further promotion to consultant level is possible where responsibility may include the running of a laboratory or department providing a range of services.

You may also become involved in advanced scientific work, research or training.

To find out what Health and Social Care recruitment opportunities are available visit HSCNI jobs.

Professional recognition

The Health Professions Council (HPC) is the professional regulator for any Healthcare Science profession which is regulated. Currently, two Healthcare Science professions are regulated by the Health Professions Council (HPC) - Clinical Scientist and Biomedical Scientist and members of these professions must apply for registration with the HPC before they can practise in the UK.

Eligibility to apply for registration with the HPC is automatic upon successfully completing an approved programme of education and training.

As well as the professional regulator, most professionals have a leadership body. One of the roles of the leadership body is to approve training programmes which will lead to a professional qualification. Two of the best known are the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) and the Association of Clinical Scientists (ACS).

More useful links

  • The Society for Cardiological Science and Technology website
  • Association for Respiratory Technology and Physiology (ARTP) website
  • The Association of Clinical Biochemists website
  • The Royal College of Pathologists website
  • Institute of Biomedical Science website

Chat with a careers adviser

Careers webchat is available from 9.30 am to 4.30 pm.  Outside of these hours, or if all advisers are busy, you can ask questions online.  Before using the webchat service, read the Careers Service’s privacy notice

 Chat with a careers adviser in Northern Ireland

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Careers in Health and Social Care

  • Ambulance Service careers
  • Careers in Health and Social Care: an introduction
  • Careers in pharmacy
  • Careers in social care
  • Careers in the Allied Health Professions
  • Clinical psychologist
  • Dental careers
  • Healthcare scientist
  • Nursing and midwifery
  • Optometrist
  • Wider healthcare team

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