Global health and psychology graduates are made here

The demand for health sciences professionals in the UK grows every day. It has been reported that from 2022 to 2023, the total health spending in England was 182 billion pounds, an increased average of 5.6% a year in real terms from 2019 to 2020. People are facing the long-term effects of Covid-19 and the country’s ageing population require more hands-on care. Plus, 86% of people over 85 in England live with at least one long-term health condition. 

To combat these challenges and meet the needs of the people, health sciences professionals with the know-how and practical skills are integral. If you have a passion for caring and improving people’s lives, the right qualification can help you truly make a difference. An education that focuses on equipping you with sought-after hard and soft skills and produces cutting-edge research will help you excel in the industry. 

Here are three UK universities that have all that and more: 

The School of Health & Psychological Sciences’s programmes are designed with your future in mind. Source: City, University of London

City, University of London

City, University of London’s School of Health & Psychological Sciences is number one in London for Health Professions (The Guardian League Table 2023) and ranked 18th in the UK and second in London for the overall quality of research within the Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy Unit of Assessment (REF 2021). The REF is the UK’s system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions.

These rankings are earned by expert teaching staff who use the school’s state-of-the-art clinical skills facilities to impart and enliven their wealth of knowledge. To ensure their degrees best prepare students for excelling in their chosen fields, they work with leaders in industry and employ expert academic staff, many of whom are active in research or industry.

These programmes are designed with your future in mind.

Many of the school’s programmes offer flexible pathways, such as elective module options, part-time study and online or hybrid modes of delivery, allowing you to balance study, life and work. Where possible many of their courses are accredited by professional bodies increasing employability for graduates and preparing them for future study or research.

For instance, the Department of Health Services Research and Management provides the knowledge, training and skills necessary to be employable and culturally agile in an interconnected world, contributing to better health systems nationally and globally. The department comprises individuals from over 60 countries and boasts a community of alumni and partners from all over the world. MSc degree programmes offered here include Applied Nutrition, Food Policy, Health Management, and Psychology of Health and Well-being.

The Department of Psychology is just as research-intensive, conducting research across areas of psychology such as autism, memory, decision making and cognitive neuroscience. MSc programmes offered – such as Behavioural Economics, Clinical, Social and Cognitive Neuroscience, Organisational Psychology, Psychology of Health and Well-being, and Psychology (Conversion) – serve as preparation to doctoral study. Here, you will learn from active researchers and expert practitioners who have won awards. Dr. Stian Reimers and Dr. Jessica Jones Nielsen are the recipients of the Vice-Chancellor’s Award in the Excellence in Learning and Teaching category.

See how the school is supporting women students and staff and explore City, University of London’s career-readying programmes.

The Adult Nursing programme is also celebrated among the top 20 courses in the UK for its graduate prospects. Source: Swansea University

Swansea University

Swansea University ranks amongst the world’s top 21% of universities, according to QS World University Rankings 2024, for several reasons. It tops the tables in the UK for teaching excellence and places 12th in the country for student satisfaction – perhaps why its growing student body already represents 130 different nationalities. Many can be found in the Faculty of Medicine, Health, and Life Science, a top UK provider of health and life sciences education working to improve the health, wealth and well-being of communities locally, nationally and internationally. 

To ensure learners can contribute to the causes closest to their hearts, the faculty offers an array of academic options. Take, for instance, the Adult Nursing programme, which is also celebrated among the top 20 courses in the UK for its graduate prospects (Complete University Guide 2024). It provides a supportive training environment to students from across the globe and currently offers 30 fully-funded places for international students from a range of countries, who can commit to studying in Wales for two years following the completion of the course. Self-funded study options are also available for students who are unable to commit to staying in Wales to work post-study.

Swansea University Medical School is equally impressive, ranking among the UK’s top five (Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023). It offers a four-year postgraduate medical degree that emulates real-life patient care experiences to give learners a more hands-on learning experience. And for eligible high school graduates, Swansea offers a dedicated Pathway to Medicine where students will undertake an undergraduate medical sciences degree followed by Graduate Entry Medicine. They will also have the opportunity of a guaranteed interview with lowered GAMSAT entry requirements and engagement with peers who have gone through the journey into career in medicine.

An impressive 95% of the Department of Psychological Sciences & Health’s research is rated outstanding or world-leading (REF 2021). Source: University of Strathclyde

University of Strathclyde

The University of Strathclyde’s Department of Psychological Sciences & Health aims to shape the future of its field. An impressive 95% of its research is rated outstanding or world-leading (REF 2021). This ground breaking work addresses societal challenges, applying theory and technology to develop innovative, positive health impacts in the real world.

As an interdisciplinary department, it has four interlinked core subject areas: psychology, speech and language therapy, physical activity and health, and counselling. Within these areas, the internationally recognised academic staff have conducted outstanding research on various topics. This includes ageing, mental health, communication and speech disorders, health behaviour change, and intervention development and evaluation.

The Guardian University Guide 2023 has even reported that the school has an 89.8%

satisfaction rating for teaching. “I think the Strathclyde psychology department boasts some of the most interesting, professional, supportive, passionate and dedicated staff I’ve ever worked with,” says Rebecca Johnson, MSc Research Methods in Psychology student. “As a whole, all of the staff are remarkable, truly a credit to the university.” 

As the department is under the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, you will enjoy the leading professional and personal development assistance available. Armed with an innovative learning portfolio, the faculty ensures you can create a bespoke study pathway that works best for your needs and career goals. There are short and medium-length courses available, as well as online courses. 

*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International