Faculty of Health, Environment & Medical Sciences

School of Health & Care

Bringing together education, research and professional practice across Nursing, Midwifery, Social Work and Public Health, our mission is to develop compassionate, skilled professionals who are ready to meet the evolving needs of health and social care.

Our strong partnerships with healthcare providers, local authorities, and service users ensure our activities are informed by current practice and shaped by the communities we serve.

We offer NMC-approved degree programmes in Midwifery (taught at both our Bournemouth and Portsmouth teaching sites) and Nursing (Adult, Children & Young People’s, and Mental Health), alongside Social Work programmes supported by the National Centre for Cross Disciplinary Social Work.

For graduates and qualified professionals, we offer a wide range of continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities, including Advanced Clinical Practice, Advanced Mental Health Practice and Return to Practice programmes, as well as short courses.

Research underpins our work, with key areas including maternal and infant health, supporting marginalised communities, and empowering people to manage long-term conditions. Our graduates are highly employable and well-prepared to make a meaningful impact across diverse health and care environments.

Bournemouth Gateway Building is the home of the School of Health & Care. Its 10,000 square metres of space has created a unified base for education, research and office activities, which previously took place across several buildings in the Lansdowne area.

Explore the courses offered by the School of Health & Care:

Adult Nursing

Children and Young People’s Nursing

Mental Health Nursing

Midwifery

Public Health

Social Work

BA (Hons) Social Work

Both an academic qualification and, crucially, also a professional qualification, this course is approved by Social Work England - meaning you'll be eligible to apply for registration as a social worker on completion of your degree.

BA (Hons) Social Work Degree Apprenticeship

This degree-level apprenticeship will provide you with essential practical experience to prepare you for professional practice as a qualified social worker.

Stethoscope and pen in the pocket of a blue medical coat

MA Advanced Practice

This part-time course is for qualified health and social care professionals who have already studied to degree level and wish to expand their sphere of practice to include new elements within their professional role. It is designed to develop the knowledge and understanding of health and social care professionals working to, or aspiring to be, advanced practitioners.

MA Social Work

Join our MA (Hons) Social Work course, where you will earn both an academic and a professional qualification. Approved by Social Work England, this programme ensures you’ll be eligible to register as a social worker upon graduation. This practical degree blends a powerful combination of academic study with essential practical experience, where you will gain relevant experience operating in real-world settings. You will develop strong working relationships with those already in the profession which will support you on your journey to becoming a qualified Social Worker.

MA Leading & Developing Services

This part-time course provides managers and experienced health and social care professionals with the opportunity to develop and extend their knowledge of management theory and enhance their management practice. It will prepare you to take on first line, middle and senior management positions and supports organisation leadership and management strategies.

A social worker with a family in a home setting

PG Dip/MA Social Work (Children and Families)

If you already hold an undergraduate degree and are interested in working with children, young people and their families, this is the ideal social work course. As a trainee social worker, you will build upon your existing knowledge and skills, and develop the expertise required for social work practice that could see you start your career as a social worker in just 14 months.

Nursing students on one of the simulation wards in Bournemouth Gateway Building

Our Portsmouth Midwifery Campus, located at the Lakeside North Harbour complex, is a BU teaching base dedicated to BSc (Hons) Midwifery students.

Midwifery students enjoying some downtime on our Portsmouth Campus at Lakeside North Harbour.

School of Allied Health & Exercise Sciences

Home to experts across health, exercise, and sport disciplines, our school is shaping the future of sustainable healthcare, rehabilitation, nutrition, and performance.

Our staff bring real-world expertise into teaching, research, entrepreneurship and innovation, with specialisms in Medical Imaging, Occupational Therapy, Orthopaedics, Operating Department Practice, Paramedic Science, Physiotherapy, Nutrition, Exercise, and Sport. Our aim is to empower graduates to make a real impact across health and care settings – to improve health, wellbeing, and exercise performance.

Our Orthopaedic Research Institute and the Institute of Medical Imaging & Visualisation collaborate with hospitals and industry to deliver impactful research. Additionally, our researchers address challenges ranging from pain management and rehabilitation to dementia and women’s health – with our work informing teaching and transforming practice.

Learning is grounded in real-world application and enriched by placement experiences that bridge theory and practice – preparing students to become professionals who lead and innovate in complex clinical and performance environments across the health and sport sectors.

Top 10 for Paramedic Science: Complete University Guide League Tables 2026

Explore the courses offered by the School of Allied Health & Exercise Sciences:

Medical Imaging

Occupational Therapy

Operating Department Practice

Paramedic Science

Physiotherapy

Sports & Nutrition

BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy

Qualifying and practising as a sports therapist will enable you to provide advice and treatment for the prevention and rehabilitation of injuries.

BSc (Hons) Sport & Exercise Science

This course covers a wide range of areas including physiology, psychology, biomechanics and nutrition to help you gain a comprehensive understanding of the impact of exercise on health.

MSc Nutrition and Behaviour

This is the first course of its kind in the UK to explore the role of behaviour in guiding diet and nutrition and the effects of diet and nutrition on shaping behaviour. It will provide a solid foundation in the physiology and biochemistry of nutrition, which is complemented by units focused on the role of nutrition in behaviour and cognition and the management of associated clinical conditions.

MSc Sport and Exercise Science

You will focus on the latest in global sport and exercise science. Utilising cutting-edge scientific concepts and technologies, we explore athletic performance while responding to the health and wellbeing needs of individuals in real-world settings.

A group of men in american football kit, crouching down about to start play

MSc Sports Performance Analysis

Performance analysis plays a crucial role in supporting decision-making in sports. Crafted with industry experts, we embrace the spectrum of the role from coaching to data science, cultivating a unique and innovative approach to performance analysis.

MSc Strength and Conditioning

Strength and conditioning coaches are critical contributors to athletic training. You will develop industry-standard practical skills while applying leading scientific knowledge, to optimise performance and mitigate the risk of injury.

Our state-of-the-art Siemens 3T MRI scanner is housed in our Bournemouth Gateway Building, home to The Institute of Medical Imaging and Visualisation. It was established to support high quality research and education in the fields of medical imaging and medical visualisation

BU students and lecturers hosting an interactive session at the local Castlepoint Shopping Centre to teach the public the basics of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in five minutes

Paramedic students treating a casualty during a simulation event

Our Occupational Therapy students taking part in an anatomy session

Physiotherapy students at work during a practical session

School of Life & Environmental Sciences

We offer a broad range of hands-on, practical courses across Archaeology, Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science, Forensic Science, Geography, Biomedical and Medical Sciences, as well as Physician Associate Studies.

Our students benefit from state-of-the-art facilities, including a dedicated crime scene training facility and advanced laboratories, alongside extensive fieldwork opportunities near iconic natural sites like the New Forest and Jurassic Coast.

We emphasise experiential learning, with placements available on all undergraduate courses and strong industry and professional accreditations, such as the General Medical Council, Institute of Biomedical Science, Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences, Institute of Environmental Science, Royal Geographical Society and Chartered Institute for Archaeologists.

Our internationally focused research spans human evolution, environmental sustainability, forensic science, medical and biomedical sciences, and archaeology. By advancing knowledge of past societies and addressing contemporary challenges such as climate change, we connect history with urgent global issues. As a vibrant and inclusive academic community, we are dedicated to inspiring and equipping the next generation of scientists.

Explore the courses offered by the School of Life & Environmental Sciences:

Archaeology

Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Environmental Sciences

BU research has helped to preserve Madagascar’s plants and wildlife

BSc (Hons) Ecology & Wildlife Conservation

This course will give you a solid scientific grounding in the science of ecology and how it can be used to conserve species.

BSc (Hons) Environmental Science

This BSc degree, accredited by The Institution of Environmental Sciences, integrates the natural sciences and examines how a wide range of factors can affect the environment. It has been developed to provide a solid overview in the discipline of environmental science, as well as looking at how humans shape the world around us and humanity can tackle the issues arise from this.

BSc (Hons) Geography

This course examines the natural, social, economic, and political factors that influence our ever-changing world. It includes fieldwork carried out in a variety of stimulating environments.

BSc (Hons) Marine Ecology and Conservation (Top-up)

This top-up degree will build on Foundation courses in Marine, Freshwater or Coastal Conservation to provide a university experience and opportunity to co-create research with academics in the discipline.

MSc Biodiversity Conservation

On this course you’ll learn about the latest developments in conservation science and practice, hone your ability to communicate effectively and develop your skills in identifying flora and fauna. When you graduate, you’ll have developed an in-depth knowledge of the science and practice of biodiversity conservation – equipping you with the skills required for a career in this area.

Biodiversity, Environmental Change & Green Economy

MSc Green Economy

The development of a green economy, or an economy that is environmentally sustainable, has become a political and socio-economic imperative. It is highly inter-disciplinary, drawing from ecology, geography, social science, psychology and technology – and, in keeping with the ethos of the course, is studied by distance learning.