[UK Health Sciences] Strategies for Enrolling in Health Sciences

Health Sciences has always been a popular subject among Hong Kong students, especially after the pandemic, when the general public started to prioritise health more. This has led to an increasing number of students considering studying health-related subjects and pursuing careers in relevant industries. Vincent Tang, the Business Development Manager of Linkedu, a professional overseas education consultant, states that in recent years, he has encountered many students interested in studying subjects such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and radiation therapy during his consultations for the UK Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). To secure a spot in their desired programmes in a competitive landscape, Vincent believes that students should first clarify their direction, strive to submit their applications, and prepare a comprehensive budget plan within a short period of time.

Health Sciences is a people-centred field that emphasises life and people's well-being. Most programmes include hospital internships that expose students to real work environments and frontline patients. Vincent indicates that he often seeks to understand students' motivations for studying this subject since some students and parents view it as a stable, long-term "iron rice bowl" career. He has even heard of students applying with a "tit-for-tat" mentality, without any genuine interest in the subject. "It is important to fully affirm one's interest in Health Sciences, as it not only strengthens one's determination but also enhances understanding of the subject."

Once the intention is established, another key point is to understand the desired field of study. Health Sciences encompass a wide range of disciplines, including the common ones such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and radiation therapy, as well as recent popular ones like optometry, nursing, podiatry, and midwifery. "Many students consider adopting a 'shotgun approach' in their applications. However, the rules of UCAS and JUPAS (Joint University Programmes Admissions System) are completely different. The 'shotgun approach' can backfire, leading universities to question your application intentions. This is something everyone should pay attention to."

Realistic goals should prioritise acceptance

Vincent advises students to prioritise getting accepted and obtaining a degree when submitting their applications, especially in recent years with intense competition for student places. Students should not blindly pursue university rankings. Additionally, many high-ranking universities offering Health Sciences often stop accepting new applications before the UCAS deadline due to an excessive number of applicants. "However, this does not mean that the entire subject has stopped accepting students. Students can apply to other universities through UCAS. Generally, UK universities offering Health Sciences degrees are recognised by relevant authorities in Hong Kong. This means that after graduation, students can return to Hong Kong and participate in qualification exams to obtain relevant professional qualifications."

He also adds that, besides UCAS, there are direct application options available. This allows international students to apply directly to individual UK universities. For students who have already submitted UCAS applications and have applied to five universities, they can still apply for additional university places. "Although the UK universities allowing direct applications are generally in the middle tier of overall university rankings, their Health Sciences programmes, such as those at Bradford, Brunel University London, and Oxford Brookes, have good subject rankings. Some of them even rank in the top ten. Therefore, students should consider 'getting accepted' as their application goal to avoid missing out on suitable university choices."

Additional requirements for foundation courses

Vincent also points out that in the past, some students applied for foundation courses at universities at the last minute to bridge the gap to Health Sciences disciplines. However, these courses have limited places, and students should be aware of the situation when they stop accepting new applications. "In recent years, foundation courses at some high-ranking universities have been highly sought after. For example, the physiotherapy foundation course at Nottingham and Liverpool are often fully subscribed as early as November or December. Due to the 'Guarantee Progression' principle of these bridging courses, they cannot provide too many places for international students. This indirectly requires applicants to register and confirm their places early."

Furthermore, foundation courses in Health Sciences often have additional requirements for progression. Even if students meet the academic criteria, they may still be unable to progress to their original institution if they fail to meet these requirements. "For example, some university foundation courses specify that students must pass a progression interview and meet the academic and English language requirements to guarantee progression to the original institution. Therefore, even if students successfully enrol in a foundation course, they still need to understand its progression criteria."

Vincent concludes that Health Sciences is a highly sought-after subject through UCAS, and students should deploy suitable application strategies early on with the goal of securing university acceptance as the most practical approach.