New Health Sciences degrees to make an impact in the North-east

The School of Health Sciences has created four-year undergraduate integrated Master’s degrees in Dietetics, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Diagnostic Radiography.

RGU is the first university in Scotland to develop these degrees for Allied Health Professionals, and both the programmes in Occupational Therapy and Diagnostic Radiography will be the first of their kind in the UK.

The university has long been seen as one of the premier institutions for health and social care education, with its students and graduates making a significant contribution to improving the health and wellbeing of the local and wider community.

Liz Hancock, Head of the School of Health Sciences, said: “We have made it a key priority to understand the needs of our colleagues working in the health and social care sector, as well as the challenges facing society, and to shape our programmes accordingly.

“By launching these new integrated Master’s degrees, we are not only meeting and exceeding the current demands, but ensuring that our students get the best possible experience to make a big impact in their chosen fields and communities.”

Students enrolling today will have access to excellent facilities, including RGU’s Clinical Skills Centre, Human Performance Laboratory, digital X-Ray suite and Analytical Sciences Laboratory. This on-campus education works hand-in-hand with integrated placements throughout every stage, where students improve their skills alongside qualified healthcare professionals in real healthcare settings.

The accreditation for an integrated Master’s in Dietetics coincides with a special anniversary, as 2018/2019 marks 50 years since the subject was first taught at RGU.

Susan Lennie, senior lecturer and course leader, explains: “There is a rich and impressive history of leading dietetics education at RGU and it is a privilege to carry on this good work.

“For half a century, we have continually innovated and improved the employability of our students – from launching the first dietetics degree in Scotland, then creating the first Honours programme, all the way to our new integrated Master’s.”