Course description

Take your first steps towards a fulfilling future in health and social care. This degree will give you the skills, confidence and experience to make a positive difference to people’s lives and wellbeing.

A good application/performance will be taken into account if you do not meet the criteria/offer conditions.

• Prepare for a career where you can plan and deliver health and social care services which are fit for the future
• Put the theory you learn into practice, with work placements in different settings – from care homes to community projects
• Join a course designed in partnership with experts from the sector, ensuring your studies are up to date and relevant
• Draw on our strong professional links and benefit from guest lectures, fact-finding visits and networking opportunities
• Be inspired by our friendly and supportive teaching staff who have a wealth of experience in health and social care
• Make the most of our exceptional learning facilities
• Completion of the Foundation Year course leads on to the full BA (Hons) Health and Social Care

Health and social care is all about supporting people – working flexibly, creatively and confidently to address the needs of individuals, families and communities. This highly practical course equips you for a career in a sector which offers immense personal satisfaction.

Beginning with a foundation year

Studying BA (Hons) Health and Social Care with a Foundation Year is for you if you have the ability to study for a degree, but don’t have the necessary formal qualifications to enter directly on to the Honours degree programme.

It provides you with a firm grounding in the skills and knowledge you need and introduces you to the subject area, enabling you to achieve your full honours degree in four years.

We’re proud to welcome applications from candidates with practice experience in youth work, health, social care and education. This is as part of our commitment to enable those from non-traditional backgrounds to be able to study as part of our commitment to widening participation.

Foundation Year - helping you to achieve more

Including a foundation year as part of your four-year study programme will give you a head start in your academic and professional life. The foundation year offers the chance to strengthen your skills, knowledge and confidence – with extensive support from our expert staff – before you advance to stage one of your honours degree. It could also be beneficial if you are planning a career change and want to get to grips with aspects of subjects which are new to you.

Our degrees with a foundation year are continuous, meaning that you won’t need to apply again once you have successfully completed the first year.

How you will learn

From day one you’ll get all the benefits of being a University of Derby student, plus extra support to help you build your knowledge, skills and confidence.

Who you will meet

Our high-calibre teaching team is made up of academically and professionally qualified health and social care experts with vast experience across the sector. Many are still involved in professional practice. They are friendly, enthusiastic and approachable, giving you guidance throughout your studies so that you achieve your ambitions.

Our Programme Leader, Helen Morgan, is a qualified nurse and operating department practitioner. Helen has a background of working in critical care including intensive care and theatre. Her interests are in high dependency care and in dementia care.