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Allied Health Professions and Public Health

Learn crucial skills to begin your dream career. Participate in clinical placements and simulations to boost your employability. Improve people’s health and wellbeing, and discover how to change lives.

Physiotherapy and occupational therapy students working together

Welcome to Allied Health Professions and Public Health

Welcome to Allied Health Professions and Public Health. If you’re interested in a career that focuses on making a difference, our courses will allow you to gain a nationally and internationally qualified degree to begin your dream profession. We offer a range of undergraduate Allied Health Professions and Public Health degrees:

We also offer several postgraduate courses, including MSc Public Health, if you wish to further your education with us. You can also apply to start your Paramedic Sciences course in April if you wish to do so.

For more information, find out what an occupational therapist does and what a Physiotherapist does. We also have further information on Occupational Therapy Accelerated, and why you should study Paramedic Science.

paramedic students helping extract a patient from a car crash simulation

How we teach

Your chosen career will be at the forefront of the teaching you receive at the University of Sunderland. We prioritise your development of the crucial skills necessary to your future career, through our practical sessions, high-quality education delivery from our experienced programme team, and utilising the exceptional facilities available.

As part of your course, you will access our excellent links and network with local NHS trusts and other providers to support your professional development through a mandatory placement.

We offer regular opportunities to collaborate in inter-professional learning with other courses, including healthcare courses such as nursing and midwifery, pharmacy and psychology, as well as other courses such as law, social work and professional policing. Working alongside other courses allows out to develop and learn within a range of settings that reflect your chosen career from the moment you begin studying with us.

occupational therapy students practising using the equipment together

Why study Allied Health Professions and Public Health

There has never been a better time to study healthcare at Sunderland, as major investment will see the University spend over £250 million in the next 10 years and transform our facilities. Exciting developments will include a new library, student centre, International Business School, Sunderland Health Innovation Zone, and sports ground.

At Sunderland, we offer a unique relationship with our Patient, Carer and Public Involvement Group who participate in a variety of activities to support your learning, including volunteering in simulation days so you can practice your skills in a safe environment.

While working within the field of Allied Health Professions and Public Health can be challenging, it is a highly rewarding profession with opportunities for growth and progression.

Why us?

We’re proud to be shortlisted for University of the Year in the Times Higher Education Awards 2024

All our undergraduate courses are accredited by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)

Gain a nationally and internationally-recognised professional qualification

10th

Our Paramedic Science courses are ranked 10th in the UK (Guardian University Guide 2023)

Our BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy course has a 100% positivity score for how intellectually stimulating the course is, how staff make it engaging and how good staff are at explaining things. (National Student Survey 2023)

Sunderland is the only university in the UK to offer a 2-year accelerated BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy route.

Upon successful completion of your course, you will be eligible to apply for registrations with the HCPC

Our Allied Health Professions and Public Health courses

Take a look below to find the right course for you.

Undergraduate
Postgraduate
Research
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Undergraduate courses

An academic working with a skeleton

BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy is recognised as a healthcare profession where human movement and function are viewed as central components of individual health, wellbeing and quality of life. With our BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy course, you will have access to excellent links with local NHS Hospital Trusts and other placement providers where you will complete a minimum of 1000 hours’ practice placement. On successful completion of the course you will be eligible to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Register for Physiotherapists.

Find out more about Physiotherapy

Students attending to a patient in the mock flat

BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy Accelerated

This is a two-year version of our popular BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy course. The course content reflects current practice and has been collaboratively designed with service users, local health and social care providers and academics, with support and guidance from national bodies such as the professional body, the Royal College of Occupational Therapists, and the regulatory body the Health and Care Professions Council.

Find out more about Occupational Therapy Accelerated

A paramedic student studying a manikin on international paramedic day 2022

BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science and Out of Hospital Care

This degree fulfils the requirements to become a paramedic with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). This new programme will not only give you the professional knowledge and clinical assessment skills you need to become a confident, autonomous paramedic working within the emergency environment, but also provide the advanced skills required to work in out of hospital care.

Find out more about Paramedic Science and Out of Hospital Care

Students sitting in a lecture theatre

Full-time/Part-time

Customised Awards Scheme

Pick and choose the modules you want to study to build a tailor-made course. Available at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, this course allows you to gain a qualification that closely matches your particular needs.

Find out more about Customised Awards Scheme

Postgraduate courses

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Full-time/Part-time

MSc Public Health

Are you committed to the goal of improving people’s health? Undertake specialist training for you to make a real difference. Cover three key domains, including health improvement, improving services and health protection. Analyse global and national policy, and its practical implications in an environment that encourages interdisciplinary learning.

Find out more about Public Health

Gloved nurses hands inserting a cannula into a manikin arm

PGCE Health Professions

Health Professions education involves the design of learning which meet the needs of a diverse range of learners with different needs and learning preferences. This PGCE Health Professions course is aimed at academic staff and can lead to roles in higher education institutions or clinical teaching roles in the public and private sector. On completion of the course, you'll have developed your skills and knowledge as a teaching professional and will be able to offer student-centred teaching and learning experiences.

Find out more about PGCE Health Professions

Four healthcare students gathered around a bed in the mock hospital ward

Master of Education (Health Professions)

This Master of Education (Health Professions Education) course enables you to study a wide range of topics relevant to educating tomorrow’s health professionals. The course provides initial teacher preparation for staff new to education, with modules covering both teaching, learning, assessment and curriculum design. On completion of this course, you can expect to find employment at higher education institutions, or clinical teaching roles within the public and private sector (subject to meeting the role specification requirements).

Find out more about Master of Education (Health Professions)

Student in the library

Full-time/Part-time

MPhil Master of Philosophy

Take your education to the next level. Choose the areas you want to study, and which questions you want to research. Take the initiative while we support you with advice, guidance and facilities.

Find out more about MPhil Master of Philosophy

Medicine

Full-time/Part-time

PhD Doctor of Philosophy

Refine your own agenda and do what you find interesting every day. Develop mastery of research methods that are appropriate to your chosen field. Discover things that no-one else has ever discovered.

Find out more about PhD Doctor of Philosophy

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DProf Professional Doctorate

Study for a doctoral qualification based on your professional role. Reflect on contemporary issues in the workplace.

A book

PhD by Existing Published or Creative Work

Take the fastest route to a PhD. Convert your previous research outputs into a qualification which will increase your employability and open up new opportunities. Progress your academic career and add credibility in applications for research funding.

Find out more about PhD by Existing Published or Creative Work

A stack of books

Higher Doctorate

Take your academic career to the highest level. Make a very significant and sustained contribution to your subject. Gain an elite qualification that will mark you out as an outstanding contributor to your field.

Find out more about Higher Doctorate

Research courses

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Explore

What does an occupational therapist do?

If you’re interested in learning more about occupational therapy, including what the role involves and potential salary, what an occupational therapist does on a daily basis, and how you can become an occupational therapist, this article can give you more information.

The benefits of starting a healthcare course in April

While many of our courses begin in September, some of our undergraduate healthcare degrees also have intakes in April, meaning you can start studying sooner. In this article, we're exploring why it can be beneficial to start your healthcare course in April.

Why study Paramedic Science and Out of Hospital Care?

Interested in becoming a Paramedic? Studying BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science and Out of Hospital Care at the University of Sunderland will allow you to network through our placements with local providers, experience simulation days and more.

Explore

What does an occupational therapist do?

If you’re interested in learning more about occupational therapy, including what the role involves and potential salary, what an occupational therapist does on a daily basis, and how you can become an occupational therapist, this article can give you more information.

The benefits of starting a healthcare course in April

While many of our courses begin in September, some of our undergraduate healthcare degrees also have intakes in April, meaning you can start studying sooner. In this article, we're exploring why it can be beneficial to start your healthcare course in April.

Why study Paramedic Science and Out of Hospital Care?

Interested in becoming a Paramedic? Studying BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science and Out of Hospital Care at the University of Sunderland will allow you to network through our placements with local providers, experience simulation days and more.