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Allied Health Professions and Public Health application information

Find out how to boost your Allied Health Professions and Public Health application with personal statement, work experience and interview tips.

a student holding a textbook

Personal statement

Your personal statement is a great opportunity to showcase your personal qualities, attributes and experience related to a career in the field of Allied Health Professions and Public Health. It is an opportunity to show us why you would make a great student on our courses. Your personal statement should include:

  • Rationale for your choice of career
  • How your personality lends itself to a career
  • Evidence of investigation into your chosen future career that demonstrates insight of the role
  • What attracts you to the profession
  • Personal qualities and transferable skills that may contribute to success in the course and profession
  • What hobbies, sports or activities you enjoy and what skills have you developed which may help you on your chosen course

 

Find out our top tips for writing your personal statement.

physiotherapy students practising on a patient

Work experience

For all of our undergraduate Allied Health Professions and Public Health courses, you must have some experience of delivering care in a professional or voluntary capacity:

  • For Physiotherapy, this might include observational experience ideally across a range of settings so that you gain a balanced insight of the role, purpose and scope of physiotherapy practice
  • For Occupational Therapy, this could be working as a support worker, working for a charity or caring for family or friends
  • For Paramedic Sciences, this can include caring for family members, volunteering with youth groups or being part of organisations such as the army, navy, air cadets or St John’s Ambulance

 

For all courses, you must be able to provide evidence of the experience gained, understanding of the profession and a genuine, reasoned commitment to studying a professional course must be explicit in your personal statement to be selected for interview.

You can also research the role you are applying for on the NHS website, such as Paramedic, Physiotherapist and Occupational Therapist.

Occupational therapy student using a computer next to textbooks

Second reference

For Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy, you will be asked to apply a second written reference as part of the interview process.

The reference can be from your current employer, character reference (e.g. former employer, colleague, teacher, advisor, etc.) or from a supervisor at a voluntary role. If you are currently employed, the reference should be from your employer. Please note this must not be the same reference you have submitted as part of your application.

students using a blood pressure machine

Health declarations

Medical assessments of your mental and physical health and disclosure of criminal convictions apply to all Allied Health Professions and Public Health courses and are based on current HCPC requirements.

Students studying a health or social care course, that has a placement within the NHS or any other Care Quality Commission establishment, are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated against Covid-19.

Occupational therapy students using equipment in the mock house

How can I prepare for my interview?

Applicants and enrolled students must be able to demonstrate that they meet the professional standards for practice, as well as the ethical and professional conduct expectations of the profession, throughout their time in training.

As part of our interview approach, we focus on Values Based Recruitment, which ensures we attract and recruit students on the basis that their individual values and behaviours align with the values of the NHS Constitution, the 6 C’s and the professional body of your chosen profession (for example, the Royal College of Occupational Therapists is the professional body for Occupational Therapy). We recommend you research these prior to your interview.

 

Occupational Therapy students are participating in a craft making class in the Occupational Therapy suite

What is the interview process?

All applicants must attend an interview as part of the selection process, which includes a group activity and an individual interview. Your values, problem solving and communication skills will be assessed. We select students based on their knowledge, motivation, experience, values and behaviours, not just academic ability.

You need to demonstrate an ability to:

  • Study academic subjects at the level of the course
  • Debate topics and issues
  • Draw on conclusions from written material
  • Study independently and as part of a group
  • Interact with patients and colleagues in a caring and compassionate manner
  • Demonstrate an understanding of, and commitment to, the course

 

Find out more information about our healthcare interviews.

Paramedic students working together on a simulation manikin infan

How will I be interviewed?

All our undergraduate Allied Health Professions and Public Health courses require an interview as part of the application process.

Your interview for your experience will vary depending on which degree you apply for:

  • For Paramedic Sciences, you will be required to participate in an individual interview and a group interview, as well as undertaking literacy and numeracy tests, which will take place on campus. For qualifying extenuating circumstances, an online interview via Microsoft Teams may be offered
  • For Physiotherapy, you will have an individual interview, as well as participating in a group discussion, which may be in person or via teams
  • For Occupational Therapy, you have an individual interview and a group interview, as well as participating in a group discussion, which may be in person or via teams

 

Please ensure you have a form of photographic identification for your interview, such as a passport or a driving license. If you do not have photographic identification on the day, your interview will need to be rescheduled to another day.

occupational students working together in the mock house using the equipment

Professional compliance and fitness to practice

As you are training to be a registered healthcare professional, the ability to practise safely, effectively and professionally is essential, as well as ensuring you are professionally compliant with regulations and standards, as based on current HCPC requirements.

This means you are required to complete the following:

  • A health declaration form. Here you must demonstrate that you are of good health, good character and can satisfactorily pass occupational health screening. In addition, you will be required to attend an Occupational Health Assessment with an NHS Trust. The University will, considering current HCPC regulations, make any reasonable adjustments if required. Please refer to the HEOPS student fitness standards
  • A self-declaration form about your conduct
  • Obtain an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. The cost of the DBS check is covered by the University

 

Instructions on how you complete these checks will be sent to you once you hold a conditional firm offer with us. These forms are then reviewed alongside your application, and you must meet both the academic and fitness to practise requirements before you will be given an unconditional offer. If you are successful, you will also need to complete an annual declaration form to confirm you are fit and there are no changes to your DBS.