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Health and Social Care BSc(Hons)

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    Overview

    From exploring different aspects of Health and Social Care to looking at how to assess needs, our Health and Social Care BSc(Hons) degree will also introduce you to law, social policy, assessment and care planning. On the course, you’ll explore your own values in relation to working with diverse groups, and you’ll engage in becoming a reflective practitioner.

    Why study Health and Social Care BSc(Hons)

    Introducing you to a wealth of post-university career opportunities, this course gives you the chance to put your theoretical skills into practice by undertaking a work placement in your third year. You may also have the opportunity to work and study abroad via the Turing Scheme. Supporting and enhancing your learning and increasing your future employability prospects, the placement could give you the chance to make useful industry contacts, as well as give you the edge when applying for a relevant role. You’ll have the opportunity to progress to careers in diverse areas, including youth work, housing, domestic violence, social prescribing, and drug and alcohol support. Alternatively, you could pursue further, Master’s level study to enter fields such as nursing, social work, and occupational therapy.

    On campus, you’ll be taught by a supportive and experienced teaching team, who have worked in a range of health and social care roles. Bringing their teaching to life with real-life case studies, they will be on hand to guide you throughout the course, with everything from on-campus work to placements. You’ll be taught a wide variety of aspects of health and social care, from health and community development to social policy, residential health, and more. You’ll have the best chance of success on this course, as you’ll learn from the best. Our staff rank in the top three in England for the proportion who hold doctorates, who have higher degrees, and hold teaching qualifications (HESA 2022).

    Not quite ready to start Health and Social Care BSc(Hons)? Successful completion of our Health Foundation Pathway leading to a BSc(Hons) Degree will equip you with the foundation knowledge to study Health and Social Care.

    Entry requirements

    BCC at A Level .

    104 UCAS tariff points from a combination of Level 3 qualifications.

    Pass in T Level with grade C on core

    MMM in BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma.

    • Access to Higher Education Diploma with 45 Level 3 credits at Merit or above.
    • 104 UCAS tariff points from International Baccalaureate qualifications.

    If you do not have the appropriate qualifications for direct entry to this degree you may be able to apply to our Health Foundation Pathway leading to a BSc(Hons) Degree.

    If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 6.0 overall with no element lower than 5.5, or equivalent. Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our International Entry Requirements page.

    We are keen to support a wide and diverse range of applicants on to our courses. Other suitable experience or qualifications will be considered. For further information please see the University's minimum entry requirements.

    Course Detail

    Core modules:

    Introduction to Law and Social Policy

    The module will introduce you to relevant English legislation and social policy underpinning health and social care practice. You'll cover topics including economic and political context of law and social policy, legislation and policy that applies to health and social care practice, the criminal justice system, work with children and families (including risk and safeguarding issues), work with adults (including risk and safeguarding issues), human rights and the political impact and influence upon law and social policy. The application of law and policy to the practice context will also be explored.

    Social Science and Professional Practice

    This module introduces you to sociological and psychological theories that can help us to understand people’s lives and circumstances. You'll have the opportunity to develop your understanding of these approaches and consider the ways in which they impact upon professional practice in a range of social care settings.

    Understanding Health and Social Care

    This module helps you to develop the key skills required for undergraduate study, professional development and life-long learning. You‘ll have the opportunity to develop autonomy in planning, managing and evaluating your own learning through discussions and debates in seminars. You’ll be introduced to theories methods and techniques to enable you to develop your reflective practice and enable you to begin to examine your progress as a professional.

    Working Together with Service Users and Carers

    You’ll have the opportunity to develop an understanding of what it is like to be a service user or a carer in today’s society. Your understanding of particular groups will be supported through a series of sessions delivered by service users, service providers and carers.

    Core modules:

    Assessing Community Needs and Developing Resources

    This module introduces you to a number of the methods used to assess communities and their needs. You'll consider and appraise needs assessments, community audits and community profiles as methods of assessing community needs and assets. You’ll also consider ways in which a community can organise and participate in such assessments. There will also be consideration of the ethics of such assessment.

    Leadership in Health and Community Settings

    In this module you’ll explore issues related to defining and understanding leadership, theoretical approaches to leadership and the application of leadership theory to diverse community settings. You’ll explore the wider context of health and social care leadership, and gain an understanding of ethics, power, culture, diversity and values.

    Research Methods and Skills

    You'll be introduced to key issues in research, exploring a range of research designs and examining the concepts of reliability, validity, trustworthiness and ethics at different stages of the research process. This module will help you to develop the necessary skills to understand and undertake research projects, and to engage with, use and critique published research.

    Social Care Interventions

    In this module you'll examine human development across the life course and look at how professionals intervene in order to support people during these changes. This involves looking at some of the contemporary approaches that social work and social care professionals use that support individuals and families. You’ll be encouraged to critically consider how methods of intervention can be applied in practice. This module will help to prepare you for how you can work with people when you are on your placement.

    Core modules:

    Assessment and Care Planning

    You’ll be encouraged to critically explore the underpinning theory and methods of assessment, which will enable you to develop the ability to hypothesise, assess and analyse situations. You’ll also be supported to learn how to construct support plans and explore ways of assessing children, families and adults.

    International Health and Social Development

    This module introduces you to a critical understanding of health and social development from a global perspective. You’ll explore key concepts including globalisation, citizenship, social exclusion and inclusion and how they influence the health of individuals, groups and communities.

    Work Placement and Reflection

    This module provides you with the opportunity to gain suitable work experience in an industry placement of your choice and develop an understanding of the core purpose and management of your chosen organisation. You’ll be expected to identify, develop and maintain a role as a working member of the team, appreciating the rights and responsibilities of yourself and the organisation.

    Choose one of the following optional modules:

    Applied Law

    This module will provide the opportunity for you to examine the complexity of the relationship between legislation, health and social care, and social work practice. You’ll have the chance to enhance your knowledge of a wide range of professional social work laws and examine how legislation sets the boundaries for social work practice.

    Think Family and Strength Based Approaches

    This module introduces two approaches that underpin much of current social care and social work policy and practice in the UK; Think Family and Strength Based approaches. You’ll be encouraged to develop your awareness, knowledge and understanding of the importance of practitioners taking account of the wider family circumstances, needs and responsibilities when working with an individual adult or child and when developing services within a community. You’ll be supported to develop a systematic understanding of the impact of issues such as mental health, domestic abuse, substance misuse, disability, illness and dementia on individuals, family members and communities. You’ll have the opportunity to develop your skills in formulating judgements and framing questions to achieve solutions.

    On average 14.3% of study time on this course is spent with your tutors in lectures, seminars and tutorials. You'll be taught by lecturers from a range of professional backgrounds, as well as service users, carers and guest speakers from practice settings. Teaching is delivered through lectures, group work and seminars. Student-centred learning is used where appropriate and its role generally increases throughout the course. Modules are designed to embed transferable skills and to allow students to progressively increase their knowledge and confidence.

    You'll be assessed through a wide range of methods including essays, presentations, poster presentations, workshops and portfolios. The nature of the assessment varies from module to module, and mirrors the modes of communication expected of graduates in this field, for example, report writing, presentations and essays. Your module specification/course handbook will provide full details of the assessment criteria applying to your course.

    Feedback is normally provided on all coursework submissions within three term time weeks – unless the submission is made toward the end of the second semester in which case feedback will be available on request after the formal publication of results.

    Further information

    The teaching year normally starts in September with breaks at Christmas and Easter, finishing with a main examination/assessment period around May/June. Timetables are normally available one month before registration. As this is a full-time course, you may have to attend every day of the week, although every effort is made to group teaching together, to ensure fewer days per week on campus.

    Your course is made up of modules and each module is worth either 20 or 40 credits. Each year you study modules to the value of 120 credits, adding up to 360 credits in total for a bachelor’s qualification. These credits can come from a combination of core, compulsory and optional modules but please note that optional modules may not run if we do not have enough students interested.

    If you achieve 120 credits for the current stage you are at, you may progress to the next stage of your course, subject to any professional, statutory or regulatory body guidelines.

    1. The University of Huddersfield has been rated Gold in all three aspects of the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023. We were the only university in Yorkshire and the Humber and the North West to achieve Gold ratings in all three aspects of the TEF among those announced in September 2023. In fact only 13 Universities, out of the 96 that were announced in September 2023, were Gold in all three ratings.

    2. Further proof of teaching excellence: our staff rank in the top three in England for the proportion who hold doctorates, who have higher degrees, and hold teaching qualifications (HESA 2024). So, you’ll learn from some of the best, helping you to be the best.

    3. We are first in the country for National Teaching Fellowships, which mark the UK’s best lecturers in Higher Education, winning a total of 22 since 2008 (2023 data).

    4. We won the first Global Teaching Excellence Award, recognising the University’s commitment to world-class teaching and its success in developing students as independent learners and critical thinkers (Higher Education Academy, 2017).

    At Huddersfield, you'll study the Global Professional Award (GPA) alongside your degree* so that you gain valuable qualities and experiences that could help you to get the career you want, no matter what your field of study is. On completion of the Award, you'll receive a GPA certificate from the University of Huddersfield, alongside the specialist subject skills and knowledge you gain as part of your degree, which may help to set you apart from other graduates.

    Giving students access to the Global Professional Award is one of the reasons the University won ‘Best University Employability Strategy’ award at the National Graduate Recruitment Awards 2021. Find out more on the Global Professional Award webpage.

    *full-time, undergraduate first degrees with a minimum duration of three years. This does not include postgraduate, foundation, top-up, accelerated or apprenticeship degrees.

    Placements

    This course includes a compulsory 160 hour work placement in your third year in an appropriate environment, providing you the opportunity to relate theory to practice and develop skills in a real world context. In order to undertake your placement you'll need to have a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

    You'll have the opportunity to choose from a wide range of existing and new placement providers for example, housing organisations, Women’s Aid, drug and alcohol services, community gardening projects and health promotion services. A successful placement experience may lead to further opportunities with the placement provider, such as volunteering or paid work.

    My placement enabled me to go into police custody suites and offer support to the detainees, I also shadowed several home visits and assessments of vulnerable adults and children. This was beneficial to my career, widening my experience and solidifying my wish of becoming a social worker.

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    Jade Nothers, graduated from Health and Social Care BSc(Hons) in 2022, now a Custody Worker at West Yorkshire Liaison and Diversion

    Daphne Steele Facilities Tour

    Discover how we’re shaping the future of healthcare education. Join student Ruth as she takes you on a tour of the University’s state-of-the-art Daphne Steele Building, part of our Health Innovation Campus. Explore cutting-edge learning spaces, including immersive simulation rooms, clinical labs, and real-world training environments like the Simbulance, Acute Ward and Podiatry Clinic. Designed to prepare the next generation of healthcare professionals, this facility offers hands-on experiences across a range of healthcare disciplines.

    University Campus.
    The library.
    Inside the University's extensive library.
    Student Central Building.

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    Important information

    We will always try to deliver your course as described on this web page. However, sometimes we may have to make changes as set out below.

    Changes to a course you have applied for

    If we propose to make a major change to a course that you are holding an offer for, then we will tell you as soon as possible so that you can decide whether to withdraw your application prior to enrolment.

    Cancellation of a course you have applied for

    Although we always try and run all of the course we offer, we may occasionally have to withdraw a course you have applied for or combine your programme with another programme if we consider this reasonably necessary to ensure a good student experience, for example if there are not enough applicants to ensure you have a good learning experience. Where this is the case we will notify you as soon as reasonably possible and we will contact you to discuss other suitable courses with us we can transfer your application to. If we notify you that the course you have applied to has been withdrawn or combined, and you do not wish to transfer to another course with us, you may cancel your application and we will refund you any deposits or fees you have paid to us.

    Changes to your course after you enrol as a student

    We will always try to deliver your course and other services as described. However, sometimes we may have to make changes as set out below:

    Changes to option modules

    Where your course allows you to choose modules from a range of options, we will review these each year and change them to reflect the expertise of our staff, current trends in research and as a result of student feedback or demand for certain modules. We will always ensure that you have a range of options to choose from and we will let you know in good time the options available for you to choose for the following year.

    Major changes

    We will only make major changes to the core curriculum of a course or to our services if it is necessary for us to do so and provided such changes are reasonable. A major change in this context is a change that materially changes the services available to you; or the outcomes, or a significant part, of your course, such as the nature of the award or a substantial change to module content, teaching days (part time provision), classes, type of delivery or assessment of the core curriculum.

    For example, it may be necessary to make a major change to reflect changes in the law or the requirements of the University’s regulators; to meet the latest requirements of a commissioning or accrediting body; to improve the quality of educational provision; in response to student, examiners’ or other course evaluators’ feedback; and/or to reflect academic or professional changes within subject areas. Major changes may also be necessary because of circumstances outside our reasonable control, such as a key member of staff leaving the University or being unable to teach, where they have a particular specialism that can’t be adequately covered by other members of staff; or due to damage or interruption to buildings, facilities or equipment.

    Major changes would usually be made with effect from the next academic year, but this may not always be the case. We will notify you as soon as possible should we need to make a major change and will carry out suitable consultation with affected students. If you reasonably believe that the proposed change will cause you detriment or hardship we will, if appropriate, work with you to try to reduce the adverse effect on you or find an appropriate solution. Where an appropriate solution cannot be found and you contact us in writing before the change takes effect you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the University without liability to the University for future tuition fees. We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so.

    Termination of course

    In exceptional circumstances, we may, for reasons outside of our control, be forced to discontinue or suspend your course. Where this is the case, a formal exit strategy will be followed and we will notify you as soon as possible about what your options are, which may include transferring to a suitable replacement course for which you are qualified, being provided with individual teaching to complete the award for which you were registered, or claiming an interim award and exiting the University. If you do not wish to take up any of the options that are made available to you, then you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the course without liability to the University for future tuition fees and you will be entitled to a refund of all course fees paid to date. We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so.

    When you enrol as a student of the University, your study and time with us will be governed by a framework of regulations, policies and procedures, which form the basis of your agreement with us. These include regulations regarding the assessment of your course, academic integrity, your conduct (including attendance) and disciplinary procedure, fees and finance and compliance with visa requirements (where relevant). It is important that you familiarise yourself with these as you will be asked to agree to abide by them when you join us as a student. You will find a guide to the key terms here, along with the Student Protection Plan, where you will also find links to the full text of each of the regulations, policies and procedures referred to. You should read these carefully before you enrol. Please note that this information is subject to change and you are advised to check our website regularly for any changes before you enrol at the University. A person who is not party to this agreement shall not have any rights under or in connection with it. Only you and the University shall have any right to enforce or rely on the agreement.

    Equal opportunities

    The University of Huddersfield is an equal opportunities institution. We aim to create conditions where staff and students are treated solely on the basis of their merits, abilities and potential, regardless of gender, age, race, caste, class, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, family responsibility, trade union activity, political or religious belief, or age. Please visit our website to see our Equal Opportunities and Diversity Policy

    Data protection

    The University holds personal data on all enquirers, applicants and enrolled students. All such data is kept and processed in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Legislation. The University’s Data Protection Policy and Privacy Notices are available on the University website.

    Students’ Union membership

    Under the 1994 Education Act, students at all UK universities have the right to join, or not to join, the Students’ Union. There is no membership fee. If you choose not to join you have the right not to be disadvantaged; however, you are not entitled to vote, take part in elections, or hold any office. The following arrangements apply in order that non-Union members are not disadvantaged: Non-members are welcome to take part in the activities of Affiliated Clubs and Societies on payment of the appropriate subscription. However, they may not vote or hold office in the society or club. Union members may be offered a discounted subscription. Non-members are free to use Union facilities on the same basis as members. Welfare, catering and shops are available to non-members as well as members. Union members may be offered a discounted price.

    The Office for Students (OfS) is the principal regulator for the University.

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