School of Health Sciences Blog

What careers can I do with an Operating Department Practice degree?

Operating Department Practitioners (ODPs) are vital to our healthcare system. This role provides skilled care and support to patients at all stages of an operation and ensures the wellbeing of the patient is at the forefront every step of the way.

Read more

What you need to know about antibiotic resistance in 2023

What is antibiotic resistance and what do you need to know about it? Lecturer in Clinical Microbiology, Martin Goldberg...

Read more

What should I put in my child’s lunchbox to make it healthy?

Lecturer in Dietetics, Kiri Pointon-Bell, takes us through what a hearty and nutritionally balanced lunch looks like f...

Read more

Biomedical Sciences vs Biomedical Engineering - Which course is right for me?

Andy Powell, Head of Life Sciences at BCU explains what Biomedical Sciences and Biomedical Engineering courses are, the...

Read more

Nursing Students Go Abroad to Pittsburgh

Eight excited BCU nursing students arrived safely in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (USA). The students, accompanied by Midw...

Read more

Sports Coaching and Physical Education Students Go Abroad to Canada

This year, a group of Sport students visited Canada for a fun and educational trip to collaborate with universities an...

Read more

Major Incident at City South Campus, students on hand at the scene

Third-year Radiography students were unexpectedly caught up in a hyper-realistic Major Incident Simulation.

Read more

Academic Spotlight: Dr Olatunde Aremu

Dr Olatunde Aremu  works as a pharmacist and health economist alongside lecturing, meaning he brings relevant industr...

Read more

Why You Should Study Health Sciences in Birmingham

Looking at studying a degree in health sciences? Here are a few reasons why you should.

Read more

Academic Spotlight: Laura Garbett

Laura Garbett, senior lecturer and course lead for Operating Department Practice, shares an insight into her career an...

Read more

Why you should study life sciences in Birmingham

Looking at studying a degree in a life sciences subject? You’ve come to the right place, as there are plenty of reasons...

Read more

What can I do to prepare for my Sport degree?

We've complied our top tips to help you prepare for your Sport degree.

Read more

What can I do to prepare for my Life ScienceS course?

We've compiled our top tips to help you prepare for your Life Sciences degree.

Read more

What can I do to prepare for my Allied Health course?

We've complied our top tips to help you prepare for your Allied Health degree.

Read more

What does a sports placement involve?

Studying a sports degree at BCU means you will participate in a placement module. This gives you the opportunity to gai...

Read more

Why You Should Study Sport in Birmingham

Whether you’re looking to pursue a career as a PE teacher, a football coach or a nutritionist, Birmingham is one of the...

Read more

How a degree apprenticeship works and why I chose to study one

Operating department practice student Grant discusses how his time is divided between on-the-job and classroom-based l...

Read more

Why we love being Therapeutic Radiographers

Watch our Radiotherapy alumni talk about their work and why they love being Therapeutic Radiographers.  

Read more

Biomedical Sciences: My student journey

Third year BSc (Hons) Biomedical Sciences student Fatima looks back on her time at BCU and what she has gained so far f...

Read more

Allied Health Professions Day 14 October

To celebrate AHPs' Day, we made a series of films showing the work of our AHP community of staff and students.

Read more

What to wear as an Allied Health Professional on placement: your guide to uniform and placements

As part of our  Allied Health Profession  (AHP) course you will undertake a placements where you will  be required t...

Read more

Speech and Language Therapy placement: your guide to uniform and placements

As part of our  BSc (Hons) Speech and Language Therapy course you will undertake a placements where you will be requ...

Read more

5 top tips for completing your application for a sport course

We have asked our Sports Course Lead to let us know their top tips to help ensure your Sport application is the best it...

Read more

Top tips for applying for a life sciences course

If you're struggling to know what to write in your Life Sciences application, we have asked some of our lecturers to p...

Read more

Let’s talk about Rheumatoid Arthritis

Birmingham City University's  Course Leader for our MSc (Pre-registration) Physiotherapy , Jodie Bryant, talks t...

Read more

What it was like being part of the largest vaccination drive in history

Last December, Rosemary Thompson, a first-year Speech and Language Therapy student, took the decision to become part o...

Read more

Let SPACE help you improve your clinical skills

Find out about the best place to practice your clinical skills as a health student at BCU.

Read more

Biomedical Engineering: My BCU student journey

Anneline wanted to embrace every opportunity at university, both on and off her course. She's proud of making the most ...

Read more

World Meditation Day: Tips and tricks for your wellbeing

For World Meditation Day 2021, we spoke with Aldo Mussi, lecturer for our MSc in Public Health, as well as part-time yo...

Read more

What is like to study BSc (Hons) Operating Department Practice at BCU: A student perspective.

BCU BSc (Hons) Operating Department Practice student, Ellie, tells us what it's like being a student on the course, why...

Read more

My journey so far: Studying to be an Operating Department Practitioner

To celebrate National Operating Department Practitioners (ODP) Day (14 May), we have spoken with current Birmingham Cit...

Read more

Dying Matters: Let's talk about dying

Every year in May, Dying Matters and coalition members host an Awareness Week. From the 10th to the 16th of May, this y...

Read more

Vegetarianism and me: The benefits of a vegetarian diet

If you'd like to know more about becoming a vegetarian, and learn some top tips about meat-free alternatives, check out...

Read more

MSc SLT students take on Auditory Verbal Therapy

A collaboration between MSc Speech and Language Therapy students and Auditory Verbal Therapy that took place in 2020 ha...

Read more

From Meghan Markle to Endometriosis… We don’t believe women

March is Endometriosis (endo) Awareness Month .  Dr Annalise Weckesser , Senior Research Fellow at Birmingham City Uni...

Read more

Eight ways to be greener in lockdown

If your aim for the year was to start being more environmentally friendly, you might be struggling to think of new ways...

Read more

What does a Sports Coach do?

Find out more about the varied role of a Sports Coach, and how you could become one.

Read more

Sports Nutrition Student Wins Dissertation Of The Year

Sports and Exercise Nutrition graduate Wee Lun Foo has won the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences ( BAS...

Read more

How do University Apprenticeships Work?

Most of us have heard of apprenticeships, but your first thought is probably the industry-based apprenticeships that we...

Read more

Six benefits of attending an Applicant Taster Day

Find out all about our Applicant Taster Days (ATD) and read our top six reasons to attend an ATD.

Read more

A visit from Myo-band: Food and Nutrition students get the low down on working in industry

At Birmingham City University, we want to give you as many different learning opportunities as we can, to help you get...

Read more

Keeping ‘HEALTHY’ at home

As we begin living in a stricter Tier System of restrictions, it is important to look after your mental health, mind an...

Read more

Future Genetics: A Biomedical Sciences Student's Experience on Placement

Ever wondered what placements are like on our Life Sciences courses? Well we’ve heard from Biomedical Sciences student,...

Read more

Four benefits of cutting back on sugar

Sugar can be in found in more food and drink than you might think, and keeping an eye on your intake is important.  Her...

Read more

Five ways Health and Education students can still get work experience during the Pandemic

Read five ways you as Health and Education students can pull on your previous work and voluntary experiences to bolster...

Read more

7 things you might not know about Speech and Language Therapists

As with all courses, there are common misconceptions when Speech and Language Therapy comes to mind. These 7 points wi...

Read more

International Stammering Awareness Day: Challenging discrimination and prejudice

As it’s International Stammering Awareness Day,  we’ve asked Speech and Language Therapy lecturer, Gillian Rudd, to tel...

Read more

Life Sciences: Why I Chose My Course

Thinking about applying for one of our Life Sciences courses? Why not find out first-hand from one of our students abou...

Read more

Allied Health Professions (AHP) Day – 14 October 2020

Every year on 14 October, we celebrate our Allied Health Professionals. We have celebrated on campus in previous years,...

Read more

Five things you should know about our FdSc Rehabilitation Work (Visual Impairment) course

As it's World Braille Day (4 January) we thought we’d take a look at our Rehabilitation Work (Visual Impairment) cours...

Read more

Seven benefits of a Virtual Open Day

University open days are looking different at the moment.  Here's seven reasons why you should attend a virtual open da...

Read more

World Dream Day: Making your dream career a reality

We all have one thing in common, dreams. World Dream Day was established to encourage everyone to concentrate on their ...

Read more

Health Sciences: Why I Chose My Course

Thinking about applying for one of our Health Sciences courses? Why not hear first-hand from one of our students about ...

Read more

Sport Courses: Frequently Asked Questions

If you’re interested in studying a Sports degree, you probably have lots of questions about the course and what it's l...

Read more

Health Courses Open Day: Frequently Asked Questions

If you’re interested in studying a Health professions degree, you probably have lots of questions about the course and...

Read more

Six things you should know about studying life sciences courses at Birmingham City University

Discover more about life sciences courses (Biomedical Engineering and Biomedical Sciences) at Birmingham City Universit...

Read more

Five careers you can do with a degree in Sport

Studying a degree in sport will open you up to a world of exciting career opportunities – such as working with profess...

Read more

Welcome to the Mary Seacole Library

Get to know the library at our City South Campus, before you start your studies, and give yourself a head start. 

Read more

Exploring the parks around our City South Campus

If you're looking for places to go around campus to enjoy some exercise, fresh air and scenery, check out our Parks blo...

Read more

Hope-Based Collaboration: Making health care experiences matter

Zaynab Sohawon talks about her work with Birmingham City University, as an Expert of Experience, and how she recently s...

Read more

What’s special about an MRes degree?

In the current climate, employers are keen on individuals who can work independently and deliver a research-focused ap...

Read more

What does a Graduate Sports Therapist do?

Ever wondered what a Sports Therapist does?  Read our blog to find out more and learn how you could begin your journey ...

Read more

Support whilst studying

If you're considering, or studying, a healthcare degree, find out about the support you can access while studying.

Read more

What stationery supplies do I need for university?

Ready to start a new chapter this September? Our third-year student Shelby has made a short vlog about some key station...

Read more

Dietitians Week 2020 - What do dietitians do?

This week (1-5 June 2020) is Dietitians week, Kiri Pointen-Bell, Lecturer in Dietetics tells us what the dietetics tea...

Read more

Biomedical Engineering host virtual Employer Engagement Event

On Tuesday 21 April, HELS Careers+ supported the Biomedical Engineering Course Team with hosting an employer engagement...

Read more

How to manage anxiety during the Coronavirus pandemic

It’s not easy with the daily updates of Coronavirus infection rates to stay calm and anxiety free. It’s a worrying time...

Read more

Keep moving to beat the blues

Ever considered Coronavirus Bingo while watching the news or shadow boxing in the front room? Senior Lecturer in Sports...

Read more

Six tips to keep you hydrated

Keeping hydrated is really important for physical and mental health - here's some tips to keep you hydrated.

Read more

ODP Immediate Life Support course

Operating Department Practice (ODP) course lecturer, Laura Garbett has launched a new one-day training course, accredi...

Read more

Five reasons why volunteering is great for your CV

Stef, an Employability Advisor and Careers+ team member for the Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences, explain...

Read more

Our Biomedical Sciences Placement Experience

Getting hands on experience through opportunities such as taking a placement year is it great way to develop skills and...

Read more

Radiographer of the year 2019

We love to hear good news, and share our students and colleagues successes, and recently, we were delighted to hear tha...

Read more

Placements in Sport

Sport and Exercise Nutrition student, Wee Lun Foo shares his experience of securing placements at Shrewsbury FC and Bir...

Read more

Communicate with confidence: how Speech and Language Therapy can make a real difference

Our Department of Speech and Language Therapy offers Communicate with Confidence (online) sessions for trans (MTF) peo...

Read more

Paramedic on the seas!

Training to become a paramedic can open up more doors than you might think. We spoke to Daniel Finnerty, Lecturer in Pa...

Read more

Diagnostic and Therapeutic Radiography: What’s the difference?

You might have heard of a radiographer or radiotherapist, but do you know the difference?  We take a deeper look into...

Read more

Five ways to use your pumpkin after Halloween

Food waste is a growing problem and Halloween sees a vast number of pumpkins ‘bought, carved and binned’, when they cou...

Read more

How Sports Science helped Kipchoge run a marathon in under two hours

We take a look at how Sports Science helped Eliud Kipchoge complete a marathon in less than two hours, a world record -...

Read more

What to expect at an Open Day

We know that Open Days can be overwhelming – so many people, so many courses, so much to see and do! So, we sent studen...

Read more

Will being vegan make you healthier?

The vegan diet is a hugely popular one at the moment for a number of reasons, but should you go vegan? We ask Food and ...

Read more

Welcome week: Get to know your City South campus

As part of our Welcome Week celebrations, we thought we’d introduce you to your campus, here in the heart of Edgbaston ...

Read more

Which career is right for you?

Are you considering a career in healthcare, but not sure exactly which path is right for you yet? Take our quiz to find...

Read more

Career opportunities in Life Sciences

Hear from Kayleigh, a BCU staff member, about her experiences working in the bioscience field. 

Read more

Jobs in sport you might not know existed

If you are passionate about sport and wondering what career would best suit you, then take a look at the many different...

Read more

Sports students head to Canada

In June 2019, some of our second-year students from the Department of Sport and Exercise had the opportunity to travel ...

Read more

MSc Physiotherapy students visit Marie Curie Hospice

Our MSc Physiotherapy students recently had the opportunity to experience what it’s like to work with the great team at...

Read more

My experience at the British Inherited Metabolic Disorders Group Annual Symposium

MSc Dietetics student Georgie Wood, recently presented her research paper on Disorders of Protein Metabolism at the Bri...

Read more

How meadows can be good for your health

As some of you may have seen on Twitter, Peter Thain, our course leader for Sports Therapy has recently spent the last ...

Read more

Wear Red Day: My experience with Sepsis

Almost four years ago, on the 23 December 2015, Ellie began to feel ill. But this wasn’t just your common cold. Below...

Read more

Five things to do in Edgbaston

City South Campus is nestled in the leafy suburb of Edgbaston, just to the south of Birmingham city centre. But don’t t...

Read more

My BCU Family

How would you feel about going to the same university as your mum and dad? We had the chance to speak to Mike Davies, o...

Read more

A day in the life of: Irfan Khawaja

Have you ever wondered what it might be like to be a course leader? We’ve had the chance to get to know Irfan Khawaja, ...

Read more

10 ways to be greener at City South

Here at City South, we’re very proud of how green our campus is. We’re very lucky to be surrounded by beautiful greener...

Read more

Health student societies

Find out about the health-related student societies that we have here and how you can get involved, or even start your ...

Read more

Going with the flow: My period and me

To mark Menstrual Hygiene Day BCU Research Fellow, Gemma Williams, writes about the stigma of menstruation and her own ...

Read more

Sports Therapy students help out in the community

Birmingham City University Sports Therapy students had a busy Easter, providing support at the National Positive Choice...

Read more

Eight ways to look after your mental health as a student

University is usually hailed as some of the best years of your life – and 99% of the time, it really is. However, somet...

Read more

What it's really like to be an ODP

In honour of National Operating Department Practitioners Day, we’ve recently spent time talking to BCU alumna Paige Jon...

Read more

Ramadan: Fitness Survival Guide

With Ramadan beginning and the Great Birmingham Run set to take place on the 26 May, Birmingham City University assista...

Read more

Seven reasons why we love our SLT Course

Our Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) course has a long history in the West Midlands - read the 7 reasons why we love o...

Read more

The benefits of working in Healthcare

There's so many great reasons to work towards a career in healthcare - whether it's Nursing, Midwifery, Radiography or ...

Read more

This is why you should Return to Practice

Course leader for Return To Practice courses, Heather Scripps, shares her top 10 reasons why you should return to nursi...

Read more

A paramedic student’s experience of SPACE

We know that our students love SPACE (our centre for Skills, Practice and Care Enhancement) and rightly so. We've been ...

Read more

Biomedical Engineering Placements

Work based experience is a great way to enrich your degree and give you an insight into what your future career could l...

Read more

How to spot an eating disorder

Eating disorders are complex mental illnesses and anyone, no matter what their age, gender or background, can develop o...

Read more

Five ways work experience can help with your future career

Careers+ employability advisor, Stef Cope, shares her reasons how work experience can help with your future goals and h...

Read more

10 reasons why you should continue your professional development

Professional navigator, Nicola Clarke, shares her top 10 tips why you should continue your professional development (CP...

Read more

Three ways the Commonwealth Games could benefit you

If you're thinking about studying in Birmingham, there is no better time than now! Find out how the Birmingham 2022 Co...

Read more

Mollie Zacarias: My financial life as a student

Second year Education Studies student, Mollie tells us what she spends her money on as a student in Birmingham and offe...

Read more

Child-care and funding support throughout your degree

We know that a lot of parents or mature students may feel apprehensive about starting a degree at a later time in their...

Read more

The Half Marathon

The Christmas season will not be a rested time for me – there’s more running on the horizon, and I even plan to go out ...

Read more

Looking after your mental health at Christmas

Discover tips and advice from Mental Health lecturer, Kim Moore on how to take care of your mental health during the fe...

Read more

Sponsored Silence for Selective Mutism

Our students took part in a 24 hour sponsored silence for Selective Mutism 

Read more

5 ways to keep fit in the winter

Head of Department, Natalie Walker shares her tips on how to stay fit and motivated during the winter months.

Read more

Seven reasons why you should study healthcare

If you're thinking about studying for a career in healthcare, here's seven reasons why you should... 

Read more

Microbiologists talk poo

Thanks to new and powerful technology, microbiologists are now able to cure and treat life-threatening diseases by usi...

Read more

Seven reasons why we love our new campus

Having recently spent £41 million on City South Campus, here's what we love about our new spaces and facilities! 

Read more

Journeys: Healing and finding me. My journey to Brighton Marathon

This blog is recording my journey to the Brighton marathon with Team Tommys and a host of people around me, not least ...

Read more

Why we’re proud to work for the NHS

Find out why our students chose to study a degree in healthcare and why they're proud to be part of the NHS...

Read more

Four ways Biomedical Engineering has enhanced healthcare

Discover how engineering combined with healthcare has advanced in recent years to benefit the quality of our lives. 

Read more

How to become a sports nutritionist

If you’re interested in the science of sport to help elite athletes achieve success, then you might want to consider a ...

Read more

Speech, Language and Communication Needs

Speech, Language and Communication Needs ( SLCN) is an umbrella term which can describe difficulties in one or more are...

Read more

How to support children and young people with communication difficulties

Children and young people with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) need support when you are communicating ...

Read more

Spotting the signs of domestic abuse

Domestic abuse is a massive problem in the UK - between March 2016 and March 2017, 1.2 million women experienced domest...

Read more

Five things you didn’t know about a career in Radiotherapy

Our recent Radiotherapy graduate, Lily Aston, explains what makes  radiotherapy such an interesting and rewarding care...

Read more

What can I do with a degree in Life Sciences?

It’s an exciting time to study Biomedical Engineering, and Biomedical Sciences – although very different, both subject...

Read more

What does an Operating Department Practitioner do?

An operating department practitioner (ODP) is a vital part of the operating theatre team. Find out more what an ODP doe...

Read more

Why is Public Health so important?

Public Health student, Naima, explains 10 reasons Public Health is so important.

Read more

Sporting Success at Birmingham City University

We take a look at some of the various sporting highlights and successes of the last academic year. From the BCU 10k wav...

Read more