Healthcare and Wellbeing

Browse courses Order a prospectus

Top 20 for Children's Nursing

Guardian University Guide 2026

Top 20 for Mental Health Nursing

Guardian University Guide 2026

Top 10 for Graduate Prospects for Biomedical Science

Complete University Guide 2026

Find your gateway to a career on the frontline of healthcare, biomedical science and social work.

Our courses cover professions across the sector. Subject areas include: Biomedical Science, Health and Social Care, Midwifery, Nursing, Operating Department Practice, Paramedic Science and Social Work.

Real-world experience to help you become career-ready

We focus on ensuring our graduates have strong employability skills and are fully prepared for their future roles.

As a student, you could be exploring real cancer tissues to see what it’s like to be a cancer scientist. Helping to deliver a baby and checking the infant from top to toe. Or dealing with emergencies as part of an ambulance crew.

Practise your skills in safe and simulated environments

At Stafford, our Centre for Health Innovation is home to lifelike wards, an operating theatre, training ambulance and large immersive room that can be adapted to reflect a huge range of scenarios. At our Stoke-on-Trent campus, you’ll find simulated living spaces, wards, shop environments and specialist science labs. You’ll practise real-world processes and work with equipment before you go out onto placement or work in laboratories.

Professional connections

We have strong connections within the sector. From NHS trusts and private hospitals, through to local authorities and West Midlands Ambulance Service. This means you’ll gain the most up-to-date knowledge from guest speakers and have the opportunity to gain first-hand experience across a range of settings.

We’re committed to ensuring you have the skills needed to become a competent and confident practitioner when you leave us to go into the workplace.

Courses

Related courses

Why study with us?

  • Many of our courses are recognised by awarding bodies such as the Institute for Biomedical Science, Health and Care Professions Council, Nursing and Midwifery Council, and Social Work England
  • Our facilities place you in lifelike environments so you can grow your skills in safe learning environments before going into the real world
  • We have strong links and connections within the sector to bring you the most up-to-date learning and work experience or placement opportunities

Learn in cutting-edge simulation facilities

Grow your practical skills in our lifelike simulation facilities. From hospital wards and operating theatres through to living spaces and specialist labs, you'll develop skills for the real world before going out into the workplace. 

Careers and connections

Our sector connections will take you through the doors that matter

Whether you’re looking to study in clinical, care or medical environments, our courses will give you access to more than just quality teaching. Each course is designed to take your specific or broad career role to the next level, and will include the chance to network, connect and work with established clinical, medical and social providers in the UK, including the NHS and West Midlands Ambulance Service.

Accredited courses

Many of our courses are professionally recognised and accredited by industry regulatory bodies including the Nursing and Midwifery Councils, the Health and Care Professions Council, the Institute of Biomedical Sciences and Social Work England.

Work placements

If you choose one of our courses in Nursing, Midwifery, Operating Department Practice, Paramedic Science or Social Work, placements play a crucial part of your course. You’ll gain real-world experience across a range of settings, giving you insights and hands-on skills that help you meet the criteria of awarding bodies.

We have connections with local NHS trusts, West Midlands Ambulance Service and several private providers.

I really enjoyed the course being quite split between the university and the clinic side and just knowing the lecturers have always been there at hand.
Naser Rashid

Graduate - Operating Department Practice

Our students

I am very grateful and proud to have gone to University of Staffordshire.

The Academics had so much knowledge and are passionate about their subject areas.

I didn't think I’d say this - I actually looked forward to going to lessons, learning was fun.

I would recommend this course 1000 %. The main reason I would recommend this course is because the staff care. They are all willing to go the extra mile to help you succeed. They have high expectations of everyone and they believe in you.

Going to University of Staffordshire is a great, life changing, experience. I am very grateful and proud to have gone to University of Staffordshire.

Tom Watson

BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science

Honestly it is so rewarding.

When you get a patient that comes through the front door in A&E and you’ve been the first person toassess them, and they are clearly having a life threatening stroke, thatis going to be disabling if you don’t do something, and you get that really fast door to needle time. You give that clot busting drug really really quickly and they’re up and walking around the ward a few days later. Then you hear they have been discharged home completely independent – best feeling ever! Honestly it is so rewarding.

Emma Berry

Graduate - Nursing Practice (Adult)

The degree has humbled me.

Alot of people at the beginning of this journey told me that you do not come out of the degree as the same person and this is something that I whole heartedly agree with. The degree has humbled me. I also want to extend my appreciation to the course teaching staff. In order to teach social work, you have to share quite personal parts of your own life and your own careers. There’s not a single lesson that I attended over the three years that has taken place without a member of the teaching team sharing parts of their own journey.

Maria Ash

Graduate - Social Work

What we can simulate is coming into the ambulance, bringing a patient to a ward-based environment. We can also do simulations with the nursing students and midwifery, so we can do a handover to them in an A&E environment. We can do outdoor simulations as well to get used to environments and put on the pressure and get us thinking in those more kind of difficult environments.

Bridie Benson

Student

When you see something you've done, it’s like ‘Wow, I've made a difference’. You can tell you've made a difference, and you can see someone improve and it really, really make you feel good.

Thomas Rafter

Paramedic Science Student

The lecturers are amazing and so supportive. If you’re struggling with a subject, they support you through it all. I always thought that when you go to University, you’re on your own – you get given the work and that’s it but it’s not like that. The lecturers are there to guide you and give you as much support as they can.

Lindsay Franklin

Health and Social Care BA Hons

My elective placement was a fantastic opportunity and I’m honoured to be able to share my experience. The enthusiasm, support and encouragement from the staff at Staffordshire University was extremely positive.

Katie Arman

Nursing Practice (Child) student

They’ve just been amazing and very very supportive

The lecturers put me at ease when I first arrived on an open day and then throughout, they’ve just been amazing and very very supportive. The course itself is really good, I’ve really enjoyed it.

Holly Mayo

Student

It’s like a little family.

The support you get from your lecturers is absolutely second to none. For me, there couldn’t be a better university to go to. It’s like a little family.

Genevieve Buxton

Student

Features

Simona's experience as an ODP (Operating Department Practice) student

Welcome to the world of Operating Department Practitioners (ODPs), where every heartbeat matters and every second counts.

Co-creating an anti-racist manifesto for Health and Social Care Settings.

Students from level 4, 5 and 6 of the BSc Health and Social Care at University of Staffordshire joined together in an off timetabled day to co-create an anti-racist health and social care manifesto.

Five exciting simulations on our paramedic science undergraduate degree

We’ve collated just some of the exciting simulation experiences our students gain in the first year of their paramedic training at University of Staffordshire.

5 alternative careers following a biomedical science degree

So, you’re thinking about studying Biomedical Science? Great choice!

Student Experience - Adult Nursing Placement, sexual health setting

Adult Nursing student, Emily, shares some of her experiences on her recent placement in a sexual health setting. The placement involved working with patients of all ages from as young as 13.

Student Experience - Trip to Houses of Parliament

The trip was arranged for students from a range of courses, including, Health and Social Care Social Work Apprenticeship, Biomedical science, Law, Security and Intelligence.

Research spotlight: Support priorities of older carers

A study by Dr Daniel Herron and Dr Jessica Runacres to understand the support priorities of older (65+ years old) carers of people living with dementia.

Facilities

Develop your skills in healthcare with the outstanding facilities at University of Staffordshire.

Our complete range of dedicated clinical facilities include simulated wards, virtual and augmented reality technology, simulated living spaces and industry-standard analytical and medical equipment that puts you in the heart of healthcare environments while you’re studying. 

Centre for Health Innovation

At our Centre for Health Innovation, we immerse you in hands-on learning experiences in our purpose-built healthcare simulation facilities. We build your skills for the real-world. Our facilities are safe learning environments, empowering you to put theory into practice.

From simulated wards and operating theatres, through to a training ambulance and simulated road traffic collisions, you'll familiarise yourself with procedures and processes that will be used in real life.

Simulation suites at Stoke

At our Stoke-on-Trent campus, we recently invested into new simulation spaces. These can be set up to re-create lifelike scenarios across living-spaces, mock law courtrooms, a shop, prison cell, custody suite, ward spaces and more.

Our Science Centre is also home to our specialist labs for future Biomedical Scientists to get to grips with equipment that they will find in the real world.

Paramedic Training Ambulance

Paramedic students and other student clinicians who may have pre-hospital involvement, can hone their skills in our very own fully kitted training ambulance, allowing our students to practice realistic scenarios and to prepare for their placements.

Clinical Simulation Suite (Stafford)

These state-of-the-art labs allow clinical procedures to be simulated, so that our students are safe and confident before treating real patients.

Midwifery Skills Lab

These state-of-the-art labs allow a number of clinical procedures to be simulated on mannequins, enabling students to reach a level of confidence and proficiency before carrying out procedures on real patients. Read more

Read more about the Midwifery Skills Lab

Nursing Skills Lab (Stoke and Stafford)

You'll experience a range of real-life activities such as life support, venepuncture, birth management, obstetric emergencies, cannulation and drug administration.

Science Centre

Our £30 million Science Centre in Stoke-on-Trent contains specialist laboratories with the latest state-of-the-art equipment. Read more

Find out more about our Science Centre Facilities

Lifelike living space

The lifellike living space in Ashley 2 lets you practice your skills in a variety of non-clinical settings, including bedroom, bathroom, lounge and bedsit. Read more

Bedrooms:

The bedroom has an en-suite bathroom and is used for simulated crime scenes where students can practise investigative skills or social work and healthcare can use the space for urgent situations and interviews.

Lounges:

The lounges have a homely feel, with comfy furniture and framed photos. Students can use these spaces for policing or forensic investigations. Social work and healthcare can also use the space for realistic interviews and clinical emergencies.

Bathroom:

The bathroom provides a lifelike backdrop for students to practise their skills. It can be used a range of simulation scenarios, such as domestic crime scenes or clinical emergencies.

Bedsit:

With a kitchen diner, bedroom and bathroom, the bedsit provides a lifelike backdrop for students to practise their skills. Scenarios can range from gathering evidence at simulated crime scenes to dealing with clinical emergencies.

Lifelike Living Space (Stafford)

The lifelike living space lets you practice your skills in a variety of non-clinical settings, including our configurable house environment.

Clinical Training Facilities

Our labs provide the environment for you to learn fundamental skills associated with emergency pre-hospital care. Read more

This includes: advanced patient assessment techniques, airway management, obtaining intramuscular, intravenous and intraosseous access, advanced life-support skills.

Operating Department Equipment

You'll practice a range of patient care scenarios from basic vital signs monitoring to responding to emergency situations such as cardiac arrest.

Molecular Cellular Biology and Genetics

Facilities for genetic and gene expression analysis, cellular imaging, and growth of eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. Read more

Find out more about our Sequencing Hub and Sequencing Room

Human Physiology Suite

This facility measures the effects of different procedures on human physiological parameters. Read more

Find out more about our Human Physiology Suite here.

Cell Culture Facility

A specialist environment for the culture and study of both cancerous and non-cancerous human and mammalian cell lines. Read more

Find out more about the cell culture facility.

Expertise

Dr Richard Halfpenny

Course Director

Richard spent 16 years working in a business setting before returning to university studying a PhD on the species discrimination of cryptic Culex mosquito species using non-molecular methods, and their olfactory mediated sugar feeding behaviou…

Richard's profile

Rebecca Boden

Senior Lecturer in Children's Nursing

Rebecca is a Registered Children’s Nurse and Staffordshire University graduate with experience caring for children on general paediatric wards, and also in high dependency care and children's cancer care.

Rebecca's profile

Stanley Mills

Lecturer

Stan is a registered Operating Department Practitioner (ODP) and lecturer within University of Staffordshire. He has experience in clinical mentoring and supervision, simulation training and theatre leadership across NHS and private hospital trusts.

Stanley's profile

Jillian Salt

Senior Lecturer

Jill is a lecturer in Health and Social Care and course leader for BSc Health and Social Care degree. Jill has a keen interest in the influence of policy making on the health and social care sector and what it means for people’s lived experiences.

Jillian's profile

Rebecca Barton

Course Director

Rebecca is Senior Lecturer and Course Lead for Adult Nursing. She has been a qualified nurse for 26 years and is keen to share her passion for the career with the next generation of nurses through an interactive and varied teaching style.

Rebecca's profile

Zoe Yeomans

Course Lead

I am Academic Lead on the BA (Hons) Social Work Course, Lecturer in Practice Learning, and student placements and preparatory modules coordinator. My area of expertise is social work with adults, including learning disability and hospital discharge.

Zoe's profile

Rebecca Ford

Course Director And Social Work Lead

I am a qualified social worker and practice educator, with 15 years experience in practice with children and their families in statutory settings. Working with and safeguarding older children, has been a driving factor throughout my career.

Rebecca's profile

Donna Doherty

Senior Lecturer

Senior Lecturer in Nursing with a background in Ageing and Mental Health and a dual qualified General (Adult) and Mental Health Nurse. Background in nursing and nursing education.

Donna's profile

Amy Halck

Senior Lecturer

I am the Course Lead for Paramedic Science who trained and worked in South Africa for over 10 years before moving to the UK in 2021.

Amy's profile

Trust Diya

Lecturer

Trust is a biomedical scientist whose core discipline is histology and cytology. His main area of interest is lipidomics and nutrition with a focus on the effects of flavonoids on adipogenesis.

Trust's profile

Rebecca Colthup

Lecturer

I joined the university in December 2021 as a full-time lecturer on the Paramedic Science team. I have 15 years’ experience working for the NHS for both the West Midlands and East of England Ambulance Trusts.

Rebecca's profile

Mark Kenwright

Senior Lecturer

Mark is a Senior Lecturer in Mental Health Nursing and Psychological Therapies. He is the Research Lead as well as Simulation Lead and has published a number of research studies in international journals on a wide range of topics in mental health.

Mark's profile
for Career Prospects

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2025

for Social Inclusion

The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026

for First Generation Students

The Mail University Guide 2026

in the UK for Games Education

Rookies Games Design and Development 2023, 2025

TIGA Best Games Institution 2024, 2025

of Research is “Internationally Excellent” or “World Leading”

Research Excellence Framework 2021

of Research Impact is ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Very Considerable’

Research Excellence Framework 2021