Widening access to a career in healthcare science

PA 259/08 A fulfilling career in the healthcare industry will no longer be the sole preserve of students with a science background thanks to a new course at The University of Nottingham. The School of Graduate Entry Medicine and Health has announced a Foundation Course leading to a new degree, a BSc (Hons) in Healthcare Science. The School already offers a "€˜fast-track"€ graduate medical degree, where students from a wide variety of educational and professional backgrounds train to be doctors. The new Healthcare courses are designed to widen access to higher education and meet the needs of the NHS and other employers for graduate-level employees in Healthcare Science. Based in a state-of-the-art building next to the Derby City General Hospital, the School is inviting applications for 15 places on the one-year Foundation Course starting in September 2009. The course is designed to offer an entry route into the BSc (Hons) in Healthcare Science to students who do not hold the traditional entry qualifications for direct entry into Year 1 of the University"€ s science degree programme. It"€ s aimed at applicants who have at least five GCSEs including a science subject, as well as A levels but in subjects not usually accepted for direct entry.