Health Sciences

Health sciences is a broad field concerned with understanding health, illness and the systems through which care is delivered, sitting at the intersection of biological science, social science and public policy. It engages with how diseases are caused and prevented, how health behaviours are shaped by social and environmental factors, how healthcare is organised and how evidence is used to improve practice. Students who study health sciences develop both scientific knowledge and a critical awareness of the wider determinants of health, preparing them for roles across a wide range of health-related settings.

At Royal Holloway, University of London, this three-year full-time programme is structured to provide both depth and breadth. It includes a sandwich year, giving you extended professional experience in a health-related environment before you return to complete your studies, and also incorporates a year abroad, providing the opportunity to study at a partner institution overseas and develop an international perspective on health systems and practice. Work placement experience is also built into the programme.

You will study topics spanning physiology, epidemiology, health policy, research methods and the social dimensions of health, building both analytical skills and professional awareness across the programme.

Graduates from health sciences programmes are well prepared for careers in public health, health promotion, health policy, healthcare management, research and related fields. NHS organisations, local authorities, voluntary sector health organisations, international health agencies and health analytics companies all recruit from this discipline. Some graduates go on to further professional training, moving into clinical roles, public health practice or research careers through postgraduate programmes.

The versatility of the degree, combined with the practical grounding provided by the placement and year abroad, is a particular strength in a competitive graduate market.