Health Sciences

Health sciences is a broad discipline that addresses the scientific and social dimensions of human health and the systems through which healthcare is organised and delivered. It draws on biology, psychology, sociology, and public health to understand how health is shaped by biological, behavioural, environmental, and social factors, and how healthcare services can be designed and managed to serve populations effectively. It is a subject that sits between the life sciences and the social sciences, and its breadth gives graduates a versatile understanding of health that is applicable across many professional settings.

This three-year full-time programme at the University of Northampton develops your understanding of human biology and physiology, health promotion, epidemiology, public health, healthcare organisation, and the social determinants of health. With a typical tariff of 88 points, the programme is designed to be accessible to motivated students with a genuine interest in health and healthcare rather than those with the highest prior attainment. Northampton has strong connections with local healthcare organisations and NHS trusts in the East Midlands, which provides a practical context for the academic content and may support clinical or professional placements during the programme.

You will study topics including anatomy and physiology, nutrition, disease prevention, mental health, health inequalities, research methods, and the policy landscape of NHS and public health services. The combination develops both the scientific literacy to understand health evidence and the social and policy knowledge to contextualise it within the wider healthcare system.

Graduates from health sciences programmes move into roles in health promotion, public health, healthcare administration, NHS management, research, and community health services. The degree also provides a foundation for further professional training in nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, or public health, and some graduates continue to postgraduate study in a health-related discipline. The breadth of the qualification makes graduates adaptable across the health and care sector.