What subject combinations are best for a career in healthcare?

Are you interested in a healthcare career? Are you picking your A-level subjects this year? Well you are in the right place! I have thoroughly researched all different subject combinations and routes that are needed for all different healthcare careers. 

Medicine and Dentistry:

Reaching almost 30,000 applicants - medicine and dentistry are very competitive careers,  but in order to take your first step you need to be taking the correct subjects:

UCAS recommends taking biology, chemistry and preferably a third “science subject” (maths, physics, psychology etc...).  Majority of universities will accept A-levels, scottish highers and the International Baccalaureate but not BTECs. 3 common combinations are: biology, chemistry and physics or maths or psychology. To see the resources used to gather this information - check the links at the end of this blog post.

Medicine:

Taking biology and chemistry is not the case for all universities; not a big fan of chemistry - totally fine, 15 UK universities don’t require chemistry (e.g. Manchester, Sunderland, Southampton and many more). What if you love chemistry and can’t stand biology? Over 20 UK universities don’t necessarily require biology. But be careful no matter what med school you apply to, you will need either biology or chemistry - you can’t not do both.

Dentistry:

Many dental schools require chemistry and/or biology (but if you have your heart set on one dental school make sure to check their website’s entry requirements first! According to UCAS, physics and maths are viewed as complementary subjects for a career in dentistry - in other words, maths and physics can help with a career in dentistry, but are not a necessity.

Nursing:

Unlike medicine and dentistry where most universities require 2 subjects - a nursing degree only requires biology. If you are committed to nursing some common combinations taken by nursing applicants are: biology, chemistry and psychology or sociology. Some nursing schools also accept BTECs instead of A-levels or the IB. Once again, if you want to go to a specific university, make sure to check beforehand as you don’t want to be disappointed to find out you picked the wrong qualification for that university.

Pharmacy:

You will not be surprised to hear that chemistry and biology are on the wish lists of universities offering pharmacy degrees. Other relevant subjects include maths, physics, and psychology. When making decisions about subject choices, be sure to visit the university websites to check for specific subject requirements (this information was taken from the UCAS website - to read their pharmacy degree article, it will be linked at the end of this blog post).

Midwifery:

Almost all universities which offer midwifery require biology to be taken, if they don’t - then they will need a science subject (such as chemistry or physics). Admissions officers want to see from your choice of subjects that you understand the people in the world around you and can show others compassion - for this reason, social sciences like psychology and sociology are relevant subjects if you are looking to apply for midwifery. Some common combinations are: biology, psychology and sociology / biology, chemistry and maths or psychology or sociology.

Paramedical science:

Most paramedic science courses will require biology, and then the other 2 subjects are up to you! These 2 subjects are preferred to be science related - for this reason a common paramedic science combination is: biology, maths and psychology. Now this is where paramedic science differs from other degrees - depending on the university, some will encourage you to have a clean full UK driving licence with a C1 category provisional entitlement before you start your degree - make sure to check before you apply.

Links to resources used to research this blog post:

Medicine: 

https://medicalschoolexpert.co.uk/what-a-levels-do-you-need-to-be-a-doctor/

https://www.ucas.com/explore/subjects/medicine-and-allied-subjects

Dentistry:

https://www.ucas.com/explore/subjects/dentistry

Nursing:

https://www.ucas.com/explore/subjects/nursing

Pharmacy:

https://www.ucas.com/explore/subjects/pharmacology-toxicology-and-pharmacy

Midwifery:

https://www.ucas.com/explore/subjects/midwifery

Paramedic science:

https://www.ucas.com/explore/subjects/paramedic-science

Author: Emma P