Health studies : Career areas

Health studies is not primarily a vocational course, but it is linked in some degree programmes to aspects of nursing and/or promotion of health in the community, and many graduates look for a career related to health and social care.

A 2010 HESA survey of 2009 graduates indicates that six months after finishing their course 69% of health studies graduates were in employment in the UK or overseas. A further 7% were combining further study and work. More than half of those in work were employed as health and health-associated professionals, with a further 8% working as social and welfare professionals.

Common areas of work include health service management and administration, health education and health promotion, teaching, medical journalism, community development and health research.

A health studies degree can also form the basis for future fast-track graduate conversion into professions such as nursing, social work, medicine or other health professions. Your first job may be at a lower level to gain valuable experience, for example:

• an administration post in the National Health Service (see NHS Careers ) with a view to entering the NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme ;
• working as a care assistant or unqualified residential social worker before training as a social worker (see General Social Care Council (GSCC) );
• working as an assistant to a therapist, e.g. a speech therapist, physiotherapist or occupational therapist, to gain experience before completing relevant postgraduate qualifications.

Where are the jobs?

Many health studies graduates work in the public sector for:

• the NHS;
• local authorities, including education departments and social services;
• schools and colleges.

Others work in the voluntary sector and for medical charities and not-for-profit organisations.

Opportunities in the private sector can be found, for example, in private healthcare organisations working as a lifestyle consultant, and working in the field of alternative medicine and therapies. Many of these options involve being self-employed.

For an insight into potential employment areas see:

• health - explores both primary and secondary care roles in the health sector;
• social care - investigates jobs which meet the needs of those coping with issues such as poverty, life crisis and emotional ill health;
• charity and development work - provides an overview of work in not-for-profit organisations.

See industry insights for further information on possibilities in other employment areas.

Statistics are collected every year by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) to show what HE students do immediately after graduation. These can be a useful guide but, in reality, with the data being collected within just six months of graduation, many graduates are travelling, waiting to start a course, paying off debts, getting work experience or still deciding what they want to do. For further information about some of the areas of employment commonly entered by graduates of any degree discipline, check out What Do Graduates Do?  and your degree...what next?