BA (Hons) Health and Social Care

UCAS code: L590

Start date: September

Course length: Three years full time or up to six years part time

Campus: Britannia Mill, Derby

Health and social care involves working with vulnerable adults and children in society. It entails supporting people with their needs, working with their families and carers and other professionals. If you’re interested in helping to plan and deliver health and social care services then this course is for you.

Providing help to those who are vulnerable or need that extra care at home, in hospital or in residential settings, will give you a great deal of personal achievement and career fulfilment. During this course you'll develop the knowledge and skills you need to become a confident, reflective worker in health, social or community settings, such as the NHS, Social Services or the voluntary and private sector.

You'll study alongside students on other courses, such as radiographers, social workers and occupational therapists, to give you experience of working closely with other professionals and to develop you as an all round healthcare professional - something you'll need to do every day in your job.

Stage one

You'll study these modules:

• Social Policy
• A Basis for Interprofessional Practice
• Equality, Diversity and Citizenship
• Introduction to the Sociology of Health
• Working with People in Health and Social Care Settings
• The Psychology of Health and Development

Stage two

You'll study these modules:

• Mental Health
• Promoting Health
• Research Methods for Practice
• Management and Evaluation of Services
• Development and Practice in Safeguarding Services
• Interprofessional Progress

Stage three

You'll study these modules:

• Improving Health and Social Care Services
• Bidding and Funding in Health and Social Care Organisations
• Counselling for Human Service Workers
• Practice Based Learning
• Independent Study

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) is required at the point of accepting a place at the University. The Disclosure and Barring Service was established when the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) merged in 2012 and will now provide the criminal records checking service for this programme.

Our entry requirements are usually 260 UCAS points, of which at least 220 will be from your core A2s (full A levels) or equivalent qualifications such as BTEC Diploma, International Baccalaureate, Scottish Highers etc.

We'll accept up to 40 points towards the total from level 3 qualifications such as AS levels (where those AS levels are not taken on to A2 level), the Extended Project or Music qualifications.

We don't accept points from Key Skills Level 3. If you have any questions about what is or isn't accepted, please contact our Admissions team.

We also accept the Access to HE Diploma.

Your points at level 3 will be in addition to 5 GCSEs at grade C or equivalent level 2 qualifications.

The UCAS tariff points are a guide - we'll also consider all the information that you've included in your application. We'll also want to see that you're enthusiastic and motivated to take this course and that you have the potential to benefit from coming to university.

General undergraduate entry requirements

Fees for 2013/14

This is a classroom based course.

UK/EU students

• Full time: £7,700 (each year)
• £965 per module (you usually take 18 of these modules in total)

International students

• Full time: £9,945 (per year)

*These fees apply if you're starting this course between September 2013 and August 2014. We recommend you check fee details with us though, as they can change. Costs can increase each year.

How you'll learn

You will learn through small group discussions, practical activities and lectures. You will also go on a placement to give you a flavour of the different environments you could work in and to put the theory you’ve learned into practice. A personal tutor will give you one-to-one support for your personal and professional development.

How you're assessed

You will be assessed on your coursework, including reports, essays, presentations and projects. There are no exams.

There's a growing demand for health and social care workers who can respond to everyday patient needs and promote healthy living and prevent illnesses. So, when you graduate, you'll be able to apply for jobs in health and social care organisations, health promotion, community work, social and public administration or similar fields. You could also go into the voluntary sector which offers a range of career opportunities.

You could work with a range of health and social care services offering support for children and families, the disabled and elderly, drug and alcohol abusers, mental health patients or for young people.

Emmanuel Neba Fuh is a former refugee from Cameroon who recently graduated from this course. He received the CSV Partnership Volunteer of the Year 2007 from MP David Blunkett for his voluntary work. Emmanuel worked with organisations such as Amnesty International, to integrate fellow refugees into society.

Tammi-Jay Cooper, current student:
"University has been a great experience. It's given me a lot of confidence."

Mohammed Hassan Khan, current student:
"The experiences from my placement have really reassured my faith in the degree I'm doing."

Ciara O'Keefe, current student:
"I want to help to make a difference in other people's lives and this course gives a range of opportunities to help me to do this along with developing new skills."

Wentlope Chaunzva, current student:
"I am happy to get the chance to study at my age as well as working and balancing home life as a mother."

Clarisse Makanga, current student:
"I am gaining a lot of experience as a student on this course. It's giving me a lot of confidence."