What are Allied Health Sciences?
Allied Health Sciences is a medical stream that screens, diagnoses, and offers technical and support services to patients. Some of their activities include:
- Health Consultancy
- Dietary advice
- Health counselling
- Therapy
- Assimilation, sampling, and collection (for instance, blood sampling)
- Healthcare management and rehabilitation
- Operating health systems and taking readings (Sonographies, X-Rays, CT Scans, MRIs)
Some of the diagnostic techniques used by Allied Health practitioners are
- Pathological analysis
- Blood analysis
- Radiography
- Histopathology.
Allied Health practitioners move on to work in some of the following fields:
- Nursing
- Dentistry
- Optometry
- Psychology
- Physiotherapy
- Paramedic
- Athletic Trainer
- Anesthesia Technician
Degrees Offered for Allied Health Sciences
Technology has been the driving factor behind advancing the healthcare industry for the last few decades now. Earlier positions of technologists and paramedical practitioners were not considered as respectable as the positions of nurses or physicians. However, the current scenario offers students a diverse set of degree courses to propel their careers forward in Allied Health Sciences.
A sizable demand for laboratory tests, OT technologists, and surgical assistants has made degree courses available in these fields and more.
Some of the degrees that students of Allied Health Sciences can opt for are:
- Bachelor of Science (B.Sc)
- Master of Science (M.Sc)
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
- Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS)
- Master of Dental Surgery (MDS)
Specialisations in Allied Health Sciences
Nursing
In this course, students are trained to assist doctors, care for patients, and efficiently manage hospital tasks. Students studying this course have the career prospects of working as auxiliary nurses, general nurses, graduate nurses, or a midwife.
Dentistry
This field of medicine deals with an individual’s mouth with its main focus being an individual’s gums and teeth. It deals with the study, identification, treatment, management, and prevention of oral issues. Job positions in this field include those of Dental Assistants, Dental Hygienists, Dental Therapists, and denturist/clinical dental technicians.
Anaesthesia Technology
Anesthesia technologists are largely in demand during operations and surgical procedures. A specialisation in the subject offers candidates a hands-on knowledge of anesthetic techniques used in operation theatres. It teaches candidates how to operate anaesthetic instruments and supplies.
Critical Care
This specialsiation is designed to teach students how to manage critical care equipment, monitor such patients, and observe their readings on health systems. They are also taught how to set up the aforementioned life support equipment. Pre-placement training is given to the students and they work under the mentorship of healthcare professionals.
Emergency Services
This course teaches how to deal with patients requiring immediate medical rehabilitation and attention. It educates the students on the services they need to administer to trauma care patients. This course molds students to become future emergency technicians who are equipped to deal with all types of emergency patients across all age categories.
Microbiology
This is one of the most demanded paramedical courses among students of Allied Health Sciences. This course is a delight for students who wish to study living organisms. Students are taught immunology, microbial physiology, genetics, biotechnology, bio instrumentation, cell structure, tissue culture, enzyme technology, etc. They are also taught microbial ecology, growth and reproduction, recombination DNA technology, cell biology, biophysics, virology, etc.
Nutrition and Dietetics
Students opting for this course will get the best of both a dietician and nutrition course. Such a course not only aids students opting for it to interpret modern healthcare demands but also allows them to research in the fields of medical, human biosciences, and dietary needs.
Neuro-Physiology Technology
Students are opting for this field to study neuroanatomy, neuropathology, and neurophysiology. Additionally, they learn clinical practices in OPD, EEG, EMD, neuro-electrophysiology, neuro-biochemistry, sleep studying, intra-operative neuro monitoring, etc.
Medical Laboratory Technology
This paramedical subject offers students knowledge in the field of healthcare problems and teaches them how to diagnose and treat such issues. Students learn how to collect, sample, and document important data related to a patient’s health. Additionally, they learn subjects such as microbiology, biochemistry, research and biostatistics, pathology, environment science and health, computer applications, and physiology.
Renal Dialysis
In this specialisation, students under the mentorship of a nurse or physician learn how to tend to patients with renal failure. They are taught methods such as hemodialysis to treat renal patients. This curriculum teaches students cardiac and respiratory care technology, dialysis, and imaging sciences technology among other papers.
Optometry
This medical discipline specialises in eye treatment and bettering the vision of patients. Students who remain intrigued with the working of the human eye can always opt for this course. Students are taught refraction, mechanical optics, physical and geometrical optics, community ophthalmology and eye bank, ophthalmic instrument and appliances, ocular disease, environment and ecology, and visual optics among other papers.
Radio-Imaging Technology
This medical specialisation teaches students how to develop photographs of the human body and interpret them for healthcare purposes. This course offers a good working prospect to the student as there is a shortage of skilled radiology practitioners nowadays. CT Scan, MRI Scan, PET, CAT, and X-Ray Scan technicians are some of the career prospects available to people taking this course.
Operation Theater Technology
Students are taught the workings of operation theatre technology along with clerical work and administering timely checkups. They also learn operation theatre workings such as disinfection and sterilisation.
Cardiac Care Technology
Students of this course learn how to diagnose heart diseases. They obtain theoretical and practical knowledge of emergency procedures and the cardiovascular system at large. Students of cardiac care technology learn blood banking, haematology, biochemistry, human anatomy, and physiology.
ECG
This course teaches candidates how to take readings and test an individual’s cardiovascular performance. Candidates learn how to study ECG waveform, interpretation, and recognition of cardiac rhythms. Additionally, they learn how to diagnose any abnormalities using ECG patterns.
Some of the other specialisations are:
- Blood Bank Technology
- Blood Transfusion Technician
- Bronchoscopy Technician
- C.T. Scan Technician
- Care and Welfare
- Cath-Lab Technician
- Diabetic Care Technology
- Electrophysiology and Pulmonology Technology
- Emergency and Trauma Care Technology
- Emergency Medical Technology
- Medical Instrument
- Medical Instrumentation and Clinical Care Technology
- Medical Laboratory Sciences
- Medical Record Sciences
- Medical Record Technology
- Medical Technology
- Medical Technology (Dialysis Therapy Technology)
- Trauma Care Management
- Urology Technology
- Wound Care and Dressings
- X-Ray Technician
- Paramedical
Eligibility and Requirements for Allied Health Sciences Stream
- Candidates who wish to apply for this stream need to have a science background.
- Some specialisations of this stream will require the student to have biology as a mandatory subject.
- +2 results are given importance in this stream as the candidate’s entry to this stream is subject to their board percentage. Students who have good grades in biology will be preferred over other candidates as a lot of specialisations in Allied Health Sciences have biology as a mandatory subject.
Admission requirements for Allied Health Sciences
- Most Allied Health Sciences institutes demand 50% or above for admission into courses.
- Some institutes along with evaluating +2 results also conduct admission tests for entrance into their institute.
- Additionally, some institutes prefer that candidates take proficiency tests such as GRE, SAT, IELTS, ACT, and TOEFL.
Aptitude for Allied Health Sciences
- Students are required to possess critical thinking abilities.
- They are expected to execute data evaluation and master decision-making skills.
- Students are expected to endure long working hours in their careers and have good stamina while working. They should have the mindset to work through challenging situations.
Best courses/Top specialisations in Allied Health Sciences
The following are some of the most demanded courses in the field of Allied Health Sciences:
- Bachelor of Optometry
- B.Sc Radio-Imaging Technology
- B.Sc Operation Theatre Technology
- B.Sc Cardiac Care Technology
- B.Sc Nutrition and Dietetics
- B.Sc Neurophysiology Technology
- B.Sc Medical Laboratory Technology
- B.Sc Renal Dialysis
- B.Sc Nursing
Top 50 Medical Colleges in India that offer Allied Health Sciences:
- All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi (New Delhi)
- Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (Chandigarh)
- Christian Medical College (Vellore, Tamil Nadu)
- National Institute of Mental Health & Neuro Sciences, Bangalore (Karnataka)
- Banaras Hindu University (Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh)
- Jawaharlal Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education & Research (Puducherry, Pondicherry)
- Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh)
- Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham (Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu)
- Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala)
- Kasturba Medical College, Manipal (Karnataka)
- King George`s Medical University (Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh)
- Madras Medical College & Government General Hospital, Chennai (Tamil Nadu)
- Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (New Delhi, Delhi)
- St. John's Medical College (Bengaluru, Karnataka)
- Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research (Chennai, Tamil Nadu)
- All India Institute of Medical Sciences Jodhpur (Rajasthan)
- Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth (Pune, Maharashtra)
- Siksha `O` Anusandhan (Bhubaneswar, Odisha)
- Vardhman Mahavir Medical College & Safdarjung Hospital (New Delhi, Delhi)
- S.R.M. Institute of Science and Technology (Chennai, Tamil Nadu)
- Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education & Research (Kolkata, West Bengal)
- Aligarh Muslim University (Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh)
- Maulana Azad Medical College (Delhi)
- Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences (Wardha, Maharashtra)
- Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (Chennai, Tamil Nadu)
- All India Institute of Medical Sciences Bhubaneswar (Khordha, Odisha)
- Govt. Medical College & Hospital (Chandigarh)
- University College of Medical Sciences (Delhi)
- Lady Hardinge Medical College (New Delhi, Delhi)
- Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (Bhubaneswar, Odisha)
- Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore (Mangaluru, Karnataka)
- Maharishi Markandeshwar (Ambala, Haryana)
- Jamia Hamdard (New Delhi, Delhi)
- JSS Medical College, Mysore (Karnataka)
- PSG Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu)
- Christian Medical College, Ludhiana (Punjab)
- Gujarat Cancer & Research Institute (Ahmadabad, Gujarat)
- M. S. Ramaiah Medical College (Bengaluru, Karnataka)
- Chettinad Academy of Research and Education (Kelambakkam, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu)
- Dayanand Medical College (Ludhiana, Punjab)
- Sawai Man Singh Medical College (Jaipur, Rajasthan)
- Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences Deemed University, Karad (Maharashtra)
- Medical College (Kolkata, West Bengal)
- SCB Medical College and Hospital (Cuttack, Odisha)
- Padmashree Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Mumbai (Mumbai, Maharashtra)
- Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (Imphal West, Manipur)
- Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute (Puducherry, Pondicherry)
- All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh (Uttarakhand)
- All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Raipur (Chhattisgarh)
- B. J. Medical College (Ahmadabad, Gujarat)
Top 40 Colleges for Dentistry in India that offer courses to become Dental Assistants, Therapists, Hygienists, and Denturists:
- Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (Chennai, Tamil Nadu)
- Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal (Udupi, Karnataka)
- Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth (Pune, Maharashtra)
- Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences (Delhi)
- King George`s Medical University (Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh)
- A.B.Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences (Mangaluru, Karnataka)
- Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Mangalore (Karnataka)
- SRM Dental College (Chennai, Tamil Nadu)
- Govt. Dental College, Nagpur (Maharashtra)
- Siksha `O` Anusandhan (Bhubaneswar, Odisha)
- Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences (Wardha, Maharashtra)
- JSS Dental College and Hospital (Mysuru, Karnataka)
- Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research (Chennai, Tamil Nadu)
- M.S. Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences (Bangalore, Karnataka)
- Postgraduate Institute of Dental Sciences (Rohtak, Haryana)
- Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi (Delhi)
- Nair Hospital Dental College (Mumbai, Maharashtra)
- Government Dental College, Bangalore (Karnataka)
- Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham (Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu)
- SDM College of Dental Sciences & Hospital (Dharwad, Karnataka)
- Banaras Hindu University (Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh)
- Meenakshi Academy of Higher Education and Research (Chennai, Tamil Nadu)
- Yenepoya Dental College (Mangaluru, Karnataka)
- Vishnu Dental College, Bheemavaram (Bhimavaram, Andhra Pradesh)
- Dr. M. G. R. Educational and Research Institute (Chennai, Tamil Nadu)
- Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (Bhubaneswar, Odisha)
- Chettinad Dental College and Research Institute (Kelambakkam, Tamil Nadu)
- K L E Society's Institute of Dental Sciences (Bengaluru, Karnataka)
- Sree Balaji Dental College & Hospital (Chennai, Tamil Nadu)
- Government Dental College (Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala)
- Karnavati University (Gandhinagar, Gujarat)
- Ragas Dental College & Hospital, Chennai (Tamil Nadu)
- Gitam Dental College & Hospital (Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh)
- Raja Rajeswari Dental College & Hospital (Bengaluru, Karnataka)
- MGM Dental College, Navi Mumbai (Maharashtra)
- Government Dental College (Ahmedabad, Gujarat)
- MGVs Karmaveer Bhausaheb Hire Dental College, Nashik (Maharashtra)
- Aligarh Muslim University (Uttar Pradesh)
- Govt. Dental College, Indore (Madhya Pradesh)
- Guru Nanak Institute of Dental Sciences & Research (Kolkata, West Bengal)
Fees for courses in Allied Health Sciences
The estimated course fee for Allied Health Sciences is 50,000-80,000 INR per annum. Please bear in mind that this sum will differ from institute to institute.
Scholarships for Allied Health Science Students
Here is a list of scholarships that Allied Health Science Students can opt to work:
- Nationwide Education and Scholarship Test (NEST Senior)
- Vijayalakshmi R.L. Jalappa Scholarship
- Vahani Scholarship
- HDFC Educational Crisis Scholarship
- Padala Charitable Trust Scholarship
- All India Pre-medical Scholarship Test
- Swami Vivekananda Merit Cum Means Scholarship
- SHDF Scholarships
- L’Oréal India Scholarship
- Sahu Jain Trust Loan Scholarship
- Bharati Scheme for Education (BSE), Andhra Pradesh
- Dr. Shamanur Shivashankarappa Janakalyana Trust’s Scholarship Program
- Nilam Patel Bahushrut Foundation Scholarship
- Combined Counselling Board Scholarship (CCB)
- International Medical Scholarship Eligibility Test (IM-SET)
- All India Youth Scholarship Entrance Examination (AIYSEE)
- Swami Dayanand Education Foundation Merit-cum-Means Scholarships
- Bigyani Kanya Medha Britti Scholarship (JBNSTS), West Bengal
- Santoor Women’s Scholarship
- Nirankari Rajmata Scholarship Scheme
Internship Opportunities for students of Allied Health Sciences
Some of the institutes of Allied Health Sciences provide students with hands-on experience in the form of internships. Such internship opportunities are important for students to explore as this is a field where practical learning is of the utmost importance.
Internship opportunities are available in the field of:
- Health economics
- Mental health
- School child nutrition
- Mother, neonatal health, and child healthcare
- Tribal health
- COVID-19
- Nutrition
- Pharmaceutical medical health collection and disposal
- Child care and protection
- School child nutrition
Postgraduate opportunities in Allied Health Sciences in India
Students of Allied Health Sciences can opt for a Master of Science (M.Sc) in the following specialisations:
- Optometry
- Nutrition and Dietetics
- Radio-Imaging Technology
- Operation Theatre Technology
- Medical Laboratory Technology
- Microbiology
- Dentistry
- Biotechnology
- Cardiovascular Technology
- Diabetes Sciences
- Clinical Nutrition and Food Sciences
After completing their Master's in their particular specialisations, students of Allied Health Sciences can opt for a Doctoral degree in the following popular fields:
- Nutrition and Dietetics
- Radio-Imaging and Technology
- Microbiology
Postgraduate opportunities in Allied Health Sciences Abroad
The following are some institutes that offer the best courses in Allied Health Sciences for Students Abroad:
1. St. Claire College (Ottawa, Canada)
Certified course in Diagnostic Cardiac Sonography
Certified course in Advanced Medical Esthetics Practitioner
2. Lawrence Technological University (Southfield, US)
M.Sc in Physician Assistant
3. Northeastern University (Boston)
M.Sc in Family Nurse Practitioner
4. Algonquin College (Ottawa, Canada)
Certified Course in Digital Health
5. Okanagan College (Vancouver, Canada)
Post Baccalaureate Diploma in Health Analytics
6. Confederation College of Applied Arts and Technology
Certified course in Health Administration and Leadership
7. Arizona State University (Flagstaff, US)
M.Sc in Healthcare Simulation
8. Suffolk University (Springfield, US)
M.Sc in Medical Dosimetry
9. Georgian College (Barrie, Canada)
Certified course in Advanced Care Paramedic
10. Case Western Reserve University (Columbus, US)
M.Sc in Anesthesia
Placements Opportunities for Allied Health Science Students
Some of the top recruiting companies for Allied Health Science students are Apollo Hospital, Max, and other top hospitals in India. Students usually find jobs in the fields of nursing, optometry, physiotherapy, pharmacy, etc.
Starting Salaries for students of Allied Health Sciences
Starting salaries for career professionals in Allied Health Sciences stream vary from company to company. However, a student who has pursued their studies in the aforementioned field can expect an estimated salary of INR 3.9 LPA.
Subjects similar to Allied Health Sciences
MBBS and Pharmacy are frequently opted fields by students who are looking for an alternative and similar stream to Allied Health Sciences.
FAQs on Allied Health Sciences
What are some of the best fields in Allied Health Sciences?
The top fields for Allied Health Science practitioners are:
- Physician Assistant
- Medical Assistant
- Ultrasound Assistant
- Occupational technician
- Health information technician
- Respiratory Therapist
- Laboratory technologist
Which Allied Health Course has the highest salary?
Allied health professionals such as sonographers, nutritionists, optometric assistants and technicians, medical radiation therapists, dieticians, and exercise physiologists, all bag six-figure salaries.
What is the scope of Allied Health Sciences?
Studying Allied Health Sciences gives students opportunities to work as Nurses, Medical researchers, Physiotherapists, Medical officers, and Medical science liaisons.