Healthcare Science Practitioner (Clinical Engineering) Degree Apprenticeship

Thanks to a unique collaboration between UWE Bristol and NHS providers, healthcare science practitioners can now access exciting learning opportunities – fully funded through the apprenticeship levy.

Through an apprenticeship, you can study alongside your job, developing valuable work-based skills and remaining a key asset to your practice. Plus you’ll have support from a leading academic department that provides the latest equipment and online study resources.

Based on extensive consultation with health providers – the course allows candidates to apply learning directly to their practice.

The training has been built in consultation with service providers, the National School of Healthcare Science and the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine.

This is a blended learning course, with three five-day blocks at UWE Bristol in each year for seminars, laboratory and practical sessions, plus tutorials and assessments.

The rest of the learning is workplace-based and requires a combination of directed and independent studies alongside hands-on experience.

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Year one modules include the scientific basis of engineering, the pathophysiology of disease, and anatomy and physiology.

Then, in year two, modules develop a more advanced and in-depth focus on clinical engineering, and cover the professional aspects of healthcare science.

In the final year, you’ll undertake a healthcare science project and studies professional practice for healthcare science. You will also choose a specific clinical engineering pathway from:

• radiation engineering
• rehabilitation engineering
• medical engineering
• renal technology.

For information about the Healthcare Science Practitioner Degree Apprenticeship standard, please visit the Institute for Apprenticeships website. For further details about the curricula, visit the National School of Healthcare Science website.

On completing this apprenticeship successfully, you will have a BSc (Hons) Healthcare Science (Clinical Engineering), with recognition of their specialist pathway in radiation engineering, rehabilitation engineering, medical engineering or renal technology.

The course is accredited by the National School of Healthcare Science as part of Health Education England.

Candidates should be employed in a relevant higher apprenticeship role, as defined by the Department for Education, and be working in a Clinical Engineering department that can support completion of the Practitioner Training Programme through the work-based portfolio.

You should also have GCSE Grade C or above in English Language, Mathematics and Double Science, plus A-level Grade C or above in Chemistry or Biology, and a pass in another science subject.

Equivalent qualifications or professional experience may be also be accepted.

Prospective students may only apply for a degree apprenticeship through their employer. If you are interested in any of our degree apprenticeship programmes, speak to your employer in the first instance.

There is funding available to sponsor employees’ professional development on degree apprenticeships. We will work with your employer directly to manage your application.

The apprenticeship directly benefits employers by supporting their practice’s best talent while they enhance and expand their skills and knowledge in a specific role. Because they’ll have had the opportunity to achieve this qualification while in-post, your apprenticeship candidates’ accompanying knowledge, analytical and communication skills will be of advantage to your practice – both during and after employees complete the apprenticeship.

Learning and work experience complement each other in a live context, thereby benefiting you, your employees and service users in a wide range of ways.

We’ve recently invested £3.2 million in our science laboratories, so you will have access to the latest industry equipment while attending study blocks with us.

Meanwhile, extensive online resources and interactive learning environments give you access to everything you need to achieve academic success.

Our experienced academic community provides guidance and support throughout, and we’ll liaise with you to ensure the course builds on your strengths and expertise in clinical engineering.

To find out more about the Healthcare Science Practitioner (Clinical Engineering) Degree Apprenticeship, or for more information about the levy, funding available and degree apprenticeships, please email our Degree Apprenticeships Team at apprenticeships@uwe.ac.uk or call us on +44 (0)117 328 4888.