Beat the Clearing queue
Health and Social Care BA (Hons)
- Level(s) of Study: Undergraduate
- UCAS Code(s): L510 /
- Start Date(s): September 2023
- Duration: Three years full-time / Part-time option available
- Study Mode(s): Full-time / Part-time
- Campus: City Campus
-
Entry Requirements:
More information
Introduction:
Our exciting Health and Social Care degree offers you the opportunity to develop a broad understanding of health and social care that includes a range of issues about living in communities and society. During the course you will be able to tailor your learning by specialising in key areas of health and social care, and boost your career prospects by undertaking work-based learning.
Why choose this course?
- Our students come from a variety of backgrounds, with a diverse range of experiences and qualifications. What they have in common is a wish to make a difference to people's lives.
- You can tailor your learning according to your interests with a wide selection of optional modules.
- You'll be able to incorporate work-based learning and volunteering into your studies to get a real sense of health and social care in practice.
- You'll be taught by an expert team of enthusiastic staff who are widely published within their field.
- We have excellent working relationships with a range of organisations such as local authorities, the Framework Housing Association and Skills for Care, which ensure the course is up-to-date and meets employers' needs.
- As part of your final year study, you will be involved in a project working with organisations to raise awareness of a variety health and social care issues amongst the student population.
What you’ll study
Health and social care is centrally concerned with wellbeing, or the state of being or doing well in life; with being happy and healthy; and with the moral and physical welfare of a person, a family, a neighbourhood, or a community.
Excellent work experience opportunities
During the course, you'll have an opportunity to incorporate work experience into your academic studies through the Professional Practice module. This experience will allow you to put theory into practice, enhance your understanding of relevant organisations, and develop networks.
Volunteering in a health and social care setting is also encouraged, both as a means of enhancing your academic studies and of building relevant experience.
Core modules
Foundations in Health and Social Care
You’ll gain a broad perspective on health and social care; the contexts and organisation of health and social care work; work with service users within diverse communities; and some of the issues that impact on and influence professionals working in these areas. It also provides an important opportunity for you to begin to take responsibility for aspects of your own learning and gain valuable experience of studying independently. You’ll do this through carrying out a primary investigation into an aspect of health and social care delivery that is of particular interest to you.
Current Issues in Health and Social Care
This module will help you to develop a range of key competencies in digital information and research skills, which will enable you to be a more effective learner and practitioner. The emphasis is on information skills for accessing, manipulating and presenting information. It will equip you with essential ICT skills, including the use of NTU facilities such as our Library and Learning Resources (LLR) and the Virtual Learning Environment called NOW. These skills will support your undergraduate studies and own research. You’ll also explore research that has been conducted in health and social care, and develop a basic understanding of research methodologies used by the social sciences.
Social Policy for Health and Social Care
You’ll be introduced to the language and basic concepts used in the study of social policy; competing perspectives on social policy matters; the key areas of British social policy; contemporary welfare issues; the links between social policy and health and social care; and how the lives of the users of these services may be influenced by social policy.
Working with People
You’ll explore the complexities of working with people in health and social care environments. It is an essential quality of a practitioner to be able to effectively communicate, empathise, and to assess and evaluate the input and output of their own interactions and effectiveness. This module will consider the knowledge and skills base essential for health and social care roles and practitioners, as well as integrating concepts of equality, human rights and diversity.
Preparing for Practice
During this modules you'll gain an understanding of the roles and key responsibilities of health and social care professionals. You'll also acquire the basic knowledge to be able to start working in the industry.
Human Growth and Development
Understanding how human beings grow and change over their lives is fundamental to working effectively with health and social care users. This module aims to provide you with a multidisciplinary understanding of human development in contemporary society.
Core modules
Research in Health and Social Care
The module aims to develop your understanding of different research approaches, and to enhance your ability to identify the role of research within health and social care, along with the development of appropriate research skills. You’ll develop an understanding of quantitative and qualitative research methodology.
Managing Health and Social Care
This module enables you to gain an understanding of the major changes to the management of health and social care organisations. It will consider some of the major political and social factors shaping policy change in this area. We will consider the implications for managing resources, information and people. The module will also enable you to develop an appreciation of the relevance and impact of these reforms for health and social care service managers, professional groups, and service users.
Professional Practice
In Term One this module focuses on preparation for your work placement or equivalent experience. It includes aspects of multidisciplinary teamwork, health and safety at work, safeguarding and reflective practice, and an understanding of organisational structures. In Term Two you will undertake the placement and complete a reflective portfolio.
Person Centred Interventions
This module will allow you to develop the skills required for planning and delivering personalised care and practise interpersonal communications skills for appropriate interventions.
Optional modules
You will also be able to select one option from a selection that currently includes:
Making Sense of Health Improvement
Gain an understanding of the link between place, health and wellbeing as well as exploring the extent to which neighbourhood effects and shapes the patterns of health and wellbeing within a community.
Engaging with Vulnerable Groups
This module explores several key issues and topics associated with vulnerable groups. Over the module you'll deepen your knowledge of the social construction and exclusion and how individual members of these groups experience health, social care and society.
Mental Health and Wellbeing
Gain a broad introduction to theories and approaches to mental health and wellbeing.
Health, Social Care and Crime
The aim of this module is to provide you with an introduction to the UK criminal justice system, in particular its origins, factors affecting and / or sustaining its development, and its role in contemporary society.
Core modules
Individual Research Project
The final year research project provides you with the opportunity for an in-depth independent study into a specific aspect of Health and Social Care. You’ll be able to choose between a practice-based or empirical research route. In each case, you’ll be developing a theoretical foundation from which you’ll go on to conduct primary research or develop a practice-based evaluation. The dissertation provides you with an opportunity to consolidate your learning and to further develop your understanding of your chosen pathway subject.
Leadership in Health and Social Care
Leadership and teamwork are key skills demanded of graduates by employers – but what makes a team effective? Do we understand our own preferences for roles within teams, and how do leaders typically motivate and monitor the performance of the teams they lead? This module provides the opportunity to explore various theories about how organisations work, what makes for an effective leader, and what motivates individuals and teams to give their best. Additionally, key issues relating to employment within the health and social care sector will be explored. Activities across the module will support you to develop your self-awareness, employability skills and understanding of contemporary work-related issues. The final portfolio is produced using web-based tools, such as PebblePad, giving you the opportunity to develop your IT skills and reflect upon your own approach to leadership, forming effective teams and ongoing career development.
Optional modules
You'll also be able to select three optional modules. Some of these are only available if you have taken the appropriate options in Year Two. The selection currently includes:
Children’s and Young People’s Mental Health
This module explores a range of perspectives on contemporary mental health practice for children and young people, including conceptual models (medical, social, and user), and assessment, policy and practice frameworks. It aims to enable you to develop a critical awareness of current provision, policy and practice, and to provide you with an opportunity to examine the contemporary issues in mental health. The module aims to develop your knowledge of the nature, role and purpose of current mental health care for children and young people, with a view to becoming a reflective and responsive practitioner.
Healthy Places, Healthy People
This module explores how and why places matter for our health and wellbeing.
Young People and Social Care
During this module you'll analyse the impact, behaviours and consequences for society and communities of young people who face increasingly economic and social challenges.
Health Promotion in Practice
You’ll integrate theory, policy and practice relating to health promotion and explore in a critical way the broad skills necessary for effective professional activity in the field of multidisciplinary public health. You’ll gain a critical understanding of the broad strategic context of health within emerging policy agendas, and you'll develop skills for professional practice in public health, including Health Impact Assessment. You will also gain an understanding of the requirement for evidence-based practice, and appreciate how to effectively address health inequalities within multi-disciplinary partnerships. You’ll also understand how to operate as a reflective practitioner.
Global Health and Development
Within the module, you will be introduced to some major social theory perspectives that help us to critically consider issues relating to global health and development. You will explore the contested nature of the term "development", and reflect on how this has led to a culture of aid and dependency that has served to widen and deepen global health inequalities. We will examine emerging debates from the global south itself, and other voices that talk of valuing dynamics of development that are participatory and community-based in nature. The module will challenge you to understand the complex forces that shape health worldwide, from the household to the global level.
Ageing in the 21st Century
In this module you'll develop a critical awareness of ageing in contemporary society. You'll build your understanding and awareness of what it takes to work 'successfully' with older people across different policy and practice settings.
Don’t just take our word for it, hear from our students themselves
How you’re taught
To provide you with a first-class learning experience and to guarantee you have an opportunity to make the most of your time at university, you'll receive contact time through a diverse range of delivery methods.
Structured teaching will be delivered through a combination of traditional lectures, seminars and workshops. The smaller group seminars and workshops provide opportunities to develop problem-solving, group working, analysis, debating and presentation skills, and to discuss a wide range of views.
You'll also learn from real-life observational exercises and self-assessment quizzes.
Tutorials with staff
As the relationship between students and tutors is an important one, you can expect to have lots of direct contact and support through seminars and one-to-one tutorials. At these sessions you'll have the opportunity to:
- discuss and gain feedback about your work
- ask questions about the projects you're working on
- raise any difficulties you are experiencing relating to your work, personal circumstances or your university experience.
Independent study
Independent study is an important part of this course. Throughout your three years of study, the scheduled contact hours you receive will gradually decrease as you develop the skills required to undertake an independent study or dissertation in your final year. You will still have regular contact with your tutors, and if necessary ad hoc tutorials can be arranged.
Student mentors
Student mentors from Years Two and Three provide first year students with an informal, friendly ear. They're there to answer your questions and point you to appropriate sources of support.
Transition between levels
In Term 2 of year one and two students will engage with a number of talks about the option modules available. There will be personal tutorials arranged providing the opportunity for you to reflect on your learning, explore what will be expected of you at the next stage, and make links between option choices and career planning. Transition workbooks, provided at the end of your first and second year, will also support your move to the next level of study.
Virtual learning environment
You'll also use our virtual learning environment NOW, which is a flexible web-based system that allows you to have 24-hour access to module learning materials and reading lists. It allows you to discuss work with tutors and other students, and submit coursework electronically from anywhere in the world.
Learning from experts
You'll be taught by enthusiastic, engaged and expert staff. The course draws upon their expertise, research interests and experience, and many have also published textbooks in their specialist area of interest.
In addition to the traditional lectures, tutorials and independent study, you'll also hear and learn from renowned experts and professionals in related fields, who are regularly invited to come and talk to our students and provide you with an insight into their specialist knowledge and experiences. In the past, health and social care students have heard from:
- Framework Housing
- Nottingham Drug / Alcohol Advisory Service
- Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS trust
- Nottingham City PCT Health Promotion Team
- Nottingham City Council Homelessness project
- Nottinghamshire Police
- Remedi
- HMPPS
Learn a new language
Alongside your study, you also have the opportunity to learn a new language. The University Language Programme (ULP) is available to all students, and gives you the option of learning a totally new language or improving the skills you already have.
Learning a new language can:
- enhance your communication skills
- enrich your experience when travelling abroad
- boost your career prospects.
Find out more about the University Language Programme.
How will I be assessed?
The majority of your work will be assessed through:
- coursework-based essays
- reports
- examinations
- individual and group presentations
- your work experience portfolio
- a final year research-based dissertation.
There will also be practical assessments, which will include:
- group and individual presentations
- video exercises
- poster presentations
- IT-based exercises.
In response to student feedback the University has introduced a policy ensuring marked work is returned to you electronically within three weeks of submission.
Contact hours
Full Time
- Year 1 lectures/seminars/workshops (25%), independent study (75%)
- Year 2 lectures/seminars/workshops (24%), independent study (76%)
- Year 3 lectures/seminars/workshops (19%), independent study (81%)
Part Time
- Year 1 lectures/seminars/workshops (24%), independent study (76%)
- Year 2 lectures/seminars/workshops (23%), independent study (77%)
- Year 3 lectures/seminars/workshops (18%), independent study (82%)
How you’re assessed
Full Time
- Year 1 coursework (100%)
- Year 2 coursework (100%)
- Year 3 coursework (100%)
Part Time
- Year 1 coursework (100%)
- Year 2 coursework (100%)
- Year 3 coursework (100%)
Careers and employability
Health and Social Care services
In professional terms, the organisations of Health and Social Care services are undergoing significant change, with new partnerships, new ways of working, and the development of new practitioner roles offering challenges and opportunities for service providers and workers. This modern course is designed to equip you with the knowledge, skills and values to meet these future professional challenges.
We're building successful graduates
The job titles below give an indication of the careers our recent Health and Social Care graduates are following:*
- Care Co-ordinator
- Child Support Worker
- Senior Care Assistant
- Mental Health Support Worker
- Children’s Ward Play Specialist
- Forensic Support Worker
- Case Manager
- Auxiliary Nurse
- Youth Support Worker
- Teaching Assistant
- Child Support Worker
- Carer
- Assistant Nursery Teacher
- Community Development Worker
- Care Assistant
- Community Protection Officer
- Residential Children’s Support Worker
- Medical Receptionist
- Support Worker
Excellent work experience opportunities
There will be an opportunity to incorporate work experience into your academic studies through the Professional Practice and Working in Professional Practice modules. This experience will allow you to put theory into practice, enhance your understanding of relevant organisations, and develop networks. You could spend time working in:
- primary care trusts
- youth offending teams
- nurseries
- residential homes
- occupational therapy departments
- community centres
- a range of voluntary sector organisations.
Volunteering in a health and social care setting is also encouraged, both as a means of enhancing your academic studies and of building relevant experience.
Throughout this course you will be developing skills for employability. You'll develop interpersonal, communication and counselling skills through practice interviews and role plays. You will also undertake independent research into local organisations offering counselling to key staff.
Your career development
You'll graduate with the confidence, experience and ability to make a difference to people's lives. You may be interested in pursuing a career in:
- nursing
- health promotion
- housing
- social work
- guidance providing agencies
- the police
- probation service
- teaching.
Some past students have also gone on to lead projects aimed at reducing disadvantage within communities.
Certain occupations in health and social care require a professional qualification as well as a degree, and many of our students go on to study for further qualifications or higher degrees.
Our Employability team
We have a dedicated Employability team located on the City Campus. The team are well placed to give you specialist guidance and practical help that will really make a difference to your prospects once you do graduate.
Campus and facilities
As a Social Sciences student you will have easy access to the fantastic facilities in the Chaucer. Newton and Boots Library buildings, including:
- lecture theatres and teaching classrooms
- open access PCs and secure wireless points
- study areas and social spaces
- Chaucer café, serving drinks and light snacks
- our School of Social Sciences reception, providing you with easy access to our helpful and friendly support staff.
IT resources
Our IT resource rooms and PC clusters are distributed across the City Campus, with PCs providing access to:
- Microsoft Office
- web browsing
- networked file storage
- high-speed online printing services
The University’s main resource room in the library is available 24 hours a day.
Book and library resources
In our library you will have access to an extensive and diverse range of books and periodicals that focus on specialist areas within Criminology. The library's OneSearch system provides access to all our:
- electronic resources
- journals
- books.
We have a liaison librarian who is available to give you detailed help in finding and using print and electronic resources. They can also help you with things such as Harvard referencing and research skills.
City location
The location of the City Campus also means that you have easy access to:
- sports facilities
- shops
- student accommodation
- music venues
- cafés.
Entry requirements
What are we looking for?
- 104 – 112 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications
- GCSE English and Maths grade C / 4.
To find out what qualifications have tariff points, please use our tariff calculator.
Contextual offers
A lower offer may be made based on a range of factors, including your background (such as where you live and the school or college you attended), your experiences and individual circumstances (you may have been in care, for example). This is called a contextual offer and we get data from UCAS to make these decisions. NTU offers a student experience like no other and this approach helps us to find students who have the potential to succeed here but who may have faced barriers that make it more difficult to access university. Find out how we assess your application.
Other qualifications and experience
We may also consider credits achieved at other universities and your work/life experience through an assessment of prior learning. This may be for year one entry, or beyond the beginning of a course where applicable, for example, into year 2. Our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy outlines the process and options available for this route.
Getting in touch
If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form
What are we looking for?
- 112 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications.
- GCSE English and Maths grade C / 4.
International qualifications
We accept qualifications from all over the world – check yours here:
Undergraduate Preparation (Foundation) courses
If you don’t yet meet our entry requirements, we offer Foundation courses through our partner Nottingham Trent International College (NTIC), based on our City Campus:
English language entry requirements
You can meet our language requirements by successfully completing our pre-sessional English course for an agreed length of time, or by submitting the required grade in one of our accepted English language tests, such as IELTS:
Advanced standing (starting your undergraduate degree in year 2 or 3)
You may be able to start your undergraduate course in year 2 or 3 based on what you have studied before. This decision would be made in accordance with our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy.
Would you like some advice on your study plans?
Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.
- Complete this simple form to keep in touch with the International Office.
Fees and funding
Preparing for the financial side of student life is important, but there’s no need to feel anxious and confused about it. We hope that our fees and funding pages will answer all your questions.
Getting in touch
For more advice and guidance, you can contact our Student Financial Support Service.
Tel: +44 (0)115 848 2494
Additional Costs
Your course fees cover the cost of studies, and include loads of great benefits, such as the use of our library, support from our expert Employability team, and free use of the IT equipment across our campuses.
Library books
Most study modules will recommend one or more core text books, which most students choose to purchase. Book costs vary and further information is available in the University’s bookshop. Our libraries provide a good supply of essential text books, journals and materials (many of which you can access online) – meaning you may not need to purchase as many books as you might think! There may also be a supply of second-hand books available for purchase from previous year students.
Field trips
All essential field trip costs will be included in your course fees. There may be the opportunity to take part in optional field trips, which do incur additional costs.
During the course, you will go on a two day residential trip in year one and potentially a one to four week international summer school between year two and the final year. Travel and accommodation arrangements are provided during these trips/tours but learners will be required to cover certain elements of travel costs themselves. There will be a requirement for learners to contribute towards their own food provision/costs during the trips/tours.
Placements
If you're undertaking a placement year, you'll need to budget for accommodation and any travel costs you may incur whilst on placement. Many of our placement students do earn a salary whilst on placement which can help to cover these living costs.
Print and copy costs
The University allocates an annual printing and copying allowance of £20 depending on the course you are studying. For more details about costs for additional print and copying required over and above the annual allowance please see the Printing, photocopying and scanning information on the Library website.
Tuition fees for September 2023 entry
Tuition fees are payable for each year that you are at the University. The level of tuition fees for the second and subsequent years of your undergraduate course may increase in line with inflation and as specified by the UK government. Visit our fees page for more information.
Scholarships
We offer scholarships of up to 50% of your tuition fee. You can apply for your scholarship when you have an offer to study at NTU.
Living costs
Get advice on the cost of living as an international student in Nottingham and how to budget:
Paying fees
Find out about advanced payments, instalment plan options and how to make payments securely to the University:
Would you like some advice on your study plans?
Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.
- Complete this simple form to keep in touch with the International Office.
Additional Costs
Your course fees cover the cost of studies, and include loads of great benefits, such as the use of our library, support from our expert Employability team, and free use of the IT equipment across our campuses.
Library books
Most study modules will recommend one or more core text books, which most students choose to purchase. Book costs vary and further information is available in the University’s bookshop. Our libraries provide a good supply of essential text books, journals and materials (many of which you can access online) – meaning you may not need to purchase as many books as you might think! There may also be a supply of second-hand books available for purchase from previous year students.
Field trips
All essential field trip costs will be included in your course fees. There may be the opportunity to take part in optional field trips, which do incur additional costs.
Placements
If you're undertaking a placement year, you'll need to budget for accommodation and any travel costs you may incur whilst on placement. Many of our placement students do earn a salary whilst on placement which can help to cover these living costs.
Students completing the four year degree may choose to apply for a study abroad option instead of a work placement (or a mixture of study abroad and work placement) during the third year of the course. If successful, students will be expected to pay for accommodation, travel and living costs whilst on study abroad/placement. Travel grants and Erasmus funding may be available to help fund international travel costs.
Print and copy costs
The University allocates an annual printing and copying allowance of £20 depending on the course you are studying. For more details about costs for additional print and copying required over and above the annual allowance please see the Printing, photocopying and scanning information on the Library website.
How to apply
Ready to join us? Then apply as soon as you can. Just click the Apply button at the top of the page and follow the instructions for applying. Make sure you check the entry requirements above carefully before you do.
If you are interested in apply for a place on the part-time route, please contact us.
Writing your application and personal statement
Be honest, thorough and persuasive in your application. Remember that we can only make a decision based on what you tell us, so include all of your qualifications and grades, including resits or predicted grades.
Your personal statement is a really important part of your application – it’s your chance to convince us why we should offer you a place. You’ve got 4,000 characters to impress us. Make sure you use them to show how your skills and qualities are relevant to the course(s) you’re applying for. For more hints and tips, take a look at our page on how to write a good personal statement.
Keeping up to date
After you’ve applied, we’ll be sending you important emails throughout the application process – so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.
You can get more information and advice about applying to NTU on our Your Application page. Good luck with your application!
You can apply for this course through UCAS. If you are not applying to any other UK universities, you can apply directly to us on our NTU applicant portal.
Application advice
Apply early so that you have enough time to prepare – processing times for Student visas can vary, for example. After you've applied, we'll be sending you important emails throughout the application process – so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.
Writing your personal statement
Be honest, thorough, and persuasive – we can only make a decision about your application based on what you tell us:
Would you like some advice on your study plans?
Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.
- Complete this simple form to keep in touch with the International Office.
The University's commitment to delivering the educational services advertised.