Professional course FAQs

All applicants for professional courses must complete the following prerequisites before they can register:

-        A criminal conviction disclaimer (pre-offer);

-        An Enhanced DBS

-        A pre-course Occupational Health Questionnaire; and

-        A criminal record declaration (if they have not lived in the UK for more than 5 years).

More information can be found here: Pre-Registration checks required for each professional course | Brunel University London

DBS stands for Disclosure and Barring Service check, it is a record of a person’s criminal convictions and cautions. Brunel requires an Enhanced DBS check which includes the Children’s and/or Adults Barred Lists, depending on the course.

Before registering for the course, students must complete the DBS check.

More information can be found here: Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) | Brunel University London

The following programmes of study will involve regulated activity and require DBS clearance:

-        BSc / MSc / MSci Occupational Therapy

-        BSc / MSc / MSci Physiotherapy

-        MSc Social Work

-        PGCE in Education (Primary & Secondary)

-        MSc Physician Associate

-        MBBS Medicine

-        MA Art Psychotherapy

-        MA Dramatherapy

-        BSc Nursing (all routes)

-        MSc Registered Nursing (all routes)

-        Specialist Community Health Nursing (self-funded applicants on selected routes)

The paying for your DBS page contains the most recent cost of the DBS check as well as the courses that require payment. Not all courses require a payment for the DBS application. There is a small additional fee for using the Digital ID verification service and if you choose to subscribe to the DBS update service. The cost of this subscription can be discovered on the DBS update service page.

Payment can be done using the eVision portal (applicants only), or by calling the Income Office at 01985 265264

In all situations, please save your receipt as verification that your DBS payment was completed and may be required later.

You can check out the full details of How to Complete your DBS application. Please ensure you read the instructions carefully before applying.

The first part of your application involves a Digital ID check and you will be presented with a list of ID documents (passport, driving licence etc). You will need to select which documents you can provide as proof of your identity.

You can find further details on what ID documents are required here: ID Documents for students living in the UK | Brunel University of London

If you don’t live in the UK, it’s important that you complete the DBS application whilst still in your home country.  The DBS application can be completed whilst overseas, please follow the email instructions sent to you by the DBS team.

You must finish the complete process in your home country though a professional verifier ID check before travelling to the UK. Once you enter the UK, you cannot complete the ID check unless you live here and have ID documents that show your current UK address.

A list of ID that they can use can be found here: ID Documents for students who live overseas (not in the UK) | Brunel University London

Once your professional verifier identify check letter is generated (within the application) you will need to arrange for a professional person in your home country to check your ID and sign the form.

Then email a copy directly to dbs@brunel.ac.uk and the original copy to the DBS Team in the Admissions Office, remember to keep a copy for your records.

A list of acceptable professional persons can be found in the instructions, however, the verification letter can be completed by a teacher, pharmacist, police officer, doctor, solicitor, chartered accountant.

Further information can be found here: Checklist for professional courses (Requirements for International and European Applicants) | Brunel University London.

If you have lost your DBS certificate or you have not received it in the post, you can normally request a DBS certificate reprint.  

The following criteria applies: 

• The certificate was issued more than 14 days ago, and you have not received it;
• The request has been made within 3 months of the date of issue; and
• The address to send the reprint certificate to matches the address on the application. 

You can find more information by going the Official DBS Reprint Guide 

If you do not meet the criteria to request a reprint or you have lost your certificate, you may need to apply for a new enhanced DBS certificate. 

No, this is a frequent misunderstanding. Both the DBS and the University will not issue copies.

• Your DBS certificate is an important document that you must look after.  
• To obtain a new DBS certificate, you must start the application process over and pay the DBS cost.  This procedure can take some time, so please let us know as soon as possible if you need a new DBS check and you will not be able to participate in placement until a new certificate has been issued and received.

Yes. Your DBS Certificate is related to your university study; therefore, you must have it with you. Placements may ask to see it or ask for your DBS reference number, so bring it with you.  However, please take good care of it and keep it in a safe place.

The certificate will remain valid for three years and will cover the duration of your course, for a 3 year full time course.

In the event that you have deferred, resit a year or are studying on a course lasting longer than 3 years, you will have to pay and complete a new DBS certificate before you return to the course or start your 4^th year.

If you are involved in any incidents of a criminal nature or that call into question your Fitness to Practice/Teach whilst on course, the University reserves the right to ask you to apply for and pay for a new DBS certificate.

We can accept DBS certificates processed by other organisations in the following circumstances:

-        The DBS certificate is registered with the DBS Update Service as part of a ‘live’ and current subscription;

-        You are in possession of the physical original DBS certificate;

-        The DBS certificate is an exact match to the type and level required for your course.

If your existing DBS check meets the above requirement, please email DBS@brunel.ac.uk as you will be required to complete a consent form for the team to check your subscription is valid. For full details, please see our Update Service page. 

All offer holders must complete the online Pre-Course Health Questionnaire. This is the first stage of the clearance process and you will not be permitted to register on your programme unless it has been completed.

The questionnaire asks about your overall health and any medical conditions that may prevent you from practicing your chosen job. This form is intended to help, not hinder you.

More information can be found here: Medical Questionnaire & Declaration of Health | Brunel University London

You will receive an email with the medical questionnaire link in June. Read the email thoroughly and follow the instructions to complete the questionnaire. If you declare any medical conditions, the team may arrange a telephone appointment, you must attend any appointments they schedule.

Please note if you do not complete the questionnaire and been cleared to enrol you WILL NOT be able to register.

It varies on the course you have chosen.  Within the medical questionnaire you will be asked to confirm that you have received the required vaccinations and blood screening tests, in line with Department of Health guidance. Your clearance will only be completed once these checks are satisfactory, please ensure your vaccination history is documented with dates of administration and uploaded when completing your questionnaire. Evidence must be provided from a verified source.

If there are vaccines that you need, you’ll be asked to attend a OHWorks clinic(s) where immunisations will be provided for you. More information can be found here: Immunisation Checking | Brunel University of London

Once you submit your questionnaire, a company called OHWorks will review it and contact you if further information or assessment is required. This process may take several weeks, particularly if additional investigations are needed therefore, we recommend you complete the questionnaire as soon as it’s been sent to you.