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  • Breadcrumb

    1. Home
    2. Employment, training and careers
    3. Looking for work
    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
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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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