Faculty of Health outreach
Helping students explore the options available to pursue a career in health
Your journey into a health career starts here
We are here to help you explore the options available to pursue a career in one of the allied health professions, nursing, midwifery, psychology or social work. Explore NHS roles, funding options, and preparation for studying healthcare.
Teachers
Please feel free to contact us to request a talk or visit, copies of printed materials or to arrange a visit from Outreach to come and discuss your needs.
Email: outreach@plymouth.ac.uk for more information.
Why healthcare could be your next step
Thinking about a career where you can make a real difference? Healthcare is one of the most rewarding paths you can choose. Whether you love science, enjoy solving problems, or simply want a job where you help people, there’s a role that could be a perfect fit for you. You will be able to shape your own career, and specialise in areas that interest you. And the best part? You don’t have to work in a hospital to have an impact – the sector is full of varied and exciting opportunities you might not have heard of yet.
For many healthcare careers you must be a registered healthcare professional to practise. You’ll need to undertake an approved degree, graduate, and register with a professional body to work in these roles.
Get involved
Choosing a course and profession that’s right for you
It’s never too early to start thinking about what you would like to do after school or college.
While you may have an idea of a career that you’re aspiring towards, you can still explore a variety of roles. There are important things to think about when considering an area of study, such as:
- What different healthcare professionals actually do
- The skills you'll need, and who you'll work with
- What a typical day might look like
- Entry requirements and course pathways
- What career progression might look like
NHS: learn more about health professions
Medicine and dentistry
Doctor
Doctors work in all areas of health, offering you a variety of career options.
Doctors work in all areas of health, offering you a variety of career options.
Diagnostic radiographer
Use advanced technology to see inside patients bodies to find the causes of their illness.
Use advanced technology to see inside patients bodies to find the causes of their illness.
Dentist
Dentists work with patients to champion good oral health. Working with the community to prevent/treat oral disease, irregularities and injuries.
Dentists work with patients to champion good oral health. Working with the community to prevent/treat oral disease, irregularities and injuries.
Dental therapist
Dental therapists assist dentists with routine dental work.
Dental therapists assist dentists with routine dental work.
Dental hygienist
Dental hygienists work with both adults and children look after their teeth.
Dental hygienists work with both adults and children look after their teeth.
Nursing and midwifery
Adult nurse
Working with adults of all ages who may suffer from long or short-term physical health conditions.
Working with adults of all ages who may suffer from long or short-term physical health conditions.
Child nurse
Child nursing involves everything from nursing a sick newborn to an adolescent road accident victim considering the care and support needed by the wider family,
Child nursing involves everything from nursing a sick newborn to an adolescent road accident victim considering the care and support needed by the wider family,
Mental health nurse
Promoting and supporting a persons mental health recovery.
Promoting and supporting a persons mental health recovery.
Midwife
Midwives prepare women for the delivery of their baby and are a vital presence throughout all stages of pregnancy, labour and the early postnatal period.
Midwives prepare women for the delivery of their baby and are a vital presence throughout all stages of pregnancy, labour and the early postnatal period.
Allied health professions
Dietitian
Dietitians provide patients everyday information and advice about their food choices.
Dietitians provide patients everyday information and advice about their food choices.
Nutritionist
Nutritionists use their knowledge of food science to help people make the right food choices.
Nutritionists use their knowledge of food science to help people make the right food choices.
Occupational therapist
Occupational therapists help patients who have difficulties carrying out day-to-day activities because of a disability, illness, trauma, ageing, and a range of long-term conditions.
Occupational therapists help patients who have difficulties carrying out day-to-day activities because of a disability, illness, trauma, ageing, and a range of long-term conditions.
Optometrist
Optometrists help people improve their eye health, performing detailed examinations.
Optometrists help people improve their eye health, performing detailed examinations.
Paramedic
Paramedics are the first to arrive on the scene when a patient needs help and requires quick action to save lives.
Paramedics are the first to arrive on the scene when a patient needs help and requires quick action to save lives.
Physiotherapist
Physiotherapists help patients improve their mobility and regain independence as a result of injury, operation, disability or ageing.
Physiotherapists help patients improve their mobility and regain independence as a result of injury, operation, disability or ageing.
Podiatrist
Podiatrists help people treat and care for their feet and legs.
Podiatrists help people treat and care for their feet and legs.
Social worker
Social workers make a difference to individuals and families by helping them live their lives more successfully.
Social workers make a difference to individuals and families by helping them live their lives more successfully.
Psychology
Clinical psychologist
Clinical psychologists work with people of all ages on a wide range of psychological difficulties in mental and physical health.
Clinical psychologists work with people of all ages on a wide range of psychological difficulties in mental and physical health.
Neuroscientist
Neuroscientists diagnose, treat and manage disorders that affect the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system.
Neuroscientists diagnose, treat and manage disorders that affect the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system.
Psychologist
Psychologists help people a variety of mental health problems.
Psychologists help people a variety of mental health problems.
Biomedical sciences
Biomedical scientist
Biomedical scientists carry out a range of laboratory and scientific tests to support the diagnosis and treatment of disease.
Biomedical scientists carry out a range of laboratory and scientific tests to support the diagnosis and treatment of disease.
Health and nursing students to receive £5,000 a year
Did you know you could receive at least £5,000 a year to support your health-related degree?
The Government is issuing health and nursing students on courses from 2020 a payment of at least £5,000 a year - and you don’t have to pay it back. A further £3,000 of funding a year is available for eligible students.
Access and Participation
Supporting your journey into healthcare professions
We’re proud to be recognised across the region, and nationally, for our commitment to helping people from all backgrounds get into medicine, dentistry and other health courses. Our goal is simple: to support you if you’re capable, motivated and interested in healthcare, no matter where you come from.
We run activities designed to raise your aspirations, build your confidence and help you understand what working in healthcare really involves.
