Healthcare Science (Rehabilitation Engineering) Part-time, BSc (Hons)
Swansea UniversitySingleton Park Campus, United Kingdom
Course overview
Our part-time BSc (Hons) Healthcare Science (Rehabilitation Engineering) is designed specifically for individuals who are employed within NHS health boards. The programme focuses on the clinical and practical aspects of rehabilitation engineering, enabling you to develop the specialist knowledge and technical skills needed to progress into a band 5 rehabilitation engineering practitioner. You will study at levels 5 and 6 over three years, combining academic learning with extensive practice ‑ based experience within your existing NHS role.
This professionally focused degree provides the expert training needed to develop as a rehabilitation engineer and contribute to high ‑ quality patient care. Throughout the programme, you will explore the design, construction and testing of a range of assistive technologies, including wheelchairs, artificial limbs, robotic aids and specialist seating. You will also gain hands ‑ on experience using pressure mapping systems, goniometers, inclinometers, joystick controllers and programmers, enabling you to build standard and custom-made devices, as well as learning about their importance towards revolutionising patient care and independence.
As an employed learner, you will benefit from practice ‑ based learning within your own health board, supported by 1.5 days of study leave per week. One full day is allocated to university ‑ led teaching, with an additional half ‑ day for assignment work and portfolio development. Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) provide financial support to health boards through backfill payments at mid ‑ point band 4 to facilitate your participation in the programme.
Key highlights
- Designed for staff employed within NHS health boards
- Prepares you to progress to band 5 rehabilitation engineering practitioner
- Design, build and test wheelchairs, artificial limbs and robotic aids
- Hands-on use of pressure mapping systems, goniometers and joystick controllers
- Practice-based learning in your own health board alongside university teaching
- 1.5 days weekly study leave, with HEIW backfill support to employers
Entry requirements
- Additional condition: interview — Applicants who meet the entry requirements and selection criteria will be invited to interview, which may take place in person or via telephone/video call.
- Additional condition: dbs_check — …interview, any offer of a place will be conditional upon a satisfactory DBS/police check or equivalent from your home country as well as an occupational health declaration and assessment prior to starting y…
- Additional condition: occupational_health — If you are offered a place you will also need: All applicants will be required to have a satisfactory enhanced disclosure and barring service (DBS) check and occupational health check.
Scholarships
International Excellence Scholarships
Scholarships are awarded as a discount on tuition fees worth up to £5,000 in the first year of study, with a further £2,000 awarded in Year 2 (for £5,000 awardees only, subject to achieving a 70% average).
Swansea University Sport Scholarship
Financial support (of up to £2000).
Thrive Bursary
The Thrive bursary is a £4,000 reduction in tuition fees for the first year of study, with a progression bursary of £2,000 in subsequent years (applied as a discount off tuition fees).
Up to £4,000
Careers this course leads to
- Rehabilitation engineering practitioner
- Rehabilitation engineer
- Clinical engineer
- Wheelchair and seating technician
- Assistive technology specialist
Admission
Applications are made through AHZ at no cost. Share your transcripts, English test scores and personal statement, and your AHZ Counsellor will review your profile, submit your application to Swansea University, and guide you through interview, offer, CAS and visa — right up to enrolment.
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