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FDA Health and Social Care

UCAS CODE: L510
TARIFF: 40 - 64
  • Study Mode: Full Time
  • Location: High Wycombe
  • Duration: Two Years
  • Start Date: September 2023

Are you planning to start or further your career as a health and social care professional? Do you have a strong desire to help people? If yes, then this course could be for you.

Our foundation course is an excellent gateway into a variety of roles  within the health and social care sector, where you’ll feel fulfilled every day knowing you’re making a difference to someone’s life, providing the support they need to lead an independent and full life.

The modules are so interesting and provide a really good basis if you are interested in Health and Social care but are not quite sure of the exact field yet. This course will provide many possibilities and the course leader is happy to talk you through your different career options, which is really helpful.
Georgina Capel
A headshot of a smiling Georgia Capel wearing a striped top looking directly into the camera
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Open Days

We understand that when it comes to deciding where you’d like to study, there are a lot of things to consider. Come along to our Open Day and discover why BNU could be the place for you. You can find out more about your course, meet the course team, and get all your questions answered.

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Application guide

For everything you need to know about applying, check out our Application Guide. You can find useful information for each stage of your application journey – from before you even apply to what to do if you receive an offer, and everything in between.   

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Students’ Union

At BNU, we believe in putting our students first. That’s why we’re the only university in the UK to offer free access to such a diverse and exciting range of activities through our SU – all to enrich your university experience.

Why study this subject?

Structured around employment in the health and social care sector, this course has been designed with relevant employers to meet the demanding needs of the industry.

You’ll develop specialist knowledge and skills in care work as well as analysis and evaluation meaning you can make a positive impact in whatever career you choose to pursue.

By studying our FDA Health and Social Care, you’ll open doors to opportunities to work with young offenders, those with mental health needs, learning disabilities and the vulnerable, elderly and disabled.

The breadth of subjects you’ll study on this course will give you an introduction and insight into the ethics of caring for vulnerable people in our society. This knowledge will aim to deepen your development and understanding of working in the health and social care sector and subsequently increase employment opportunities for you in the future.

Why study at Buckinghamshire New University?

You’ll gain first-hand experience through work-based learning in either paid employment or voluntary roles.

Here at BNU we recognise that many students applying for this course may not have entered the programme through the traditional academic requirements. We offer support from our Learning Development Unit on a one-to-one basis, tailored to your individual learning needs.

The team will work with you on all aspects of your academic work and help ensure you get the most from your learning. You’ll also be given access to a range of online resources to further support you.

What facilities can I use?

 

At our High Wycombe Campus, we have purpose-built facilities, including well-equipped simulation clinics and rehabilitation teaching rooms, where you will be taught throughout your course. Our library is packed with all the information you need for your assessments, and there’s plenty of room to knuckle down for some quiet study.

We will also sign you up to our Virtual Learning Environment, which means you will have access to lots of online resources wherever you are!

As this is a foundation degree course, we have gone through all the basics of academic writing, how to structure as essay etc which I have found invaluable! This course provided me with many possibilities and I feel I'm now prepared to follow the next path into Social Work.
Georgina Capel
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What will I study?

This course will help you gain a broad and comprehensive understanding of how the society in which we live affects individual and community health. You'll learn about factors that influence health while exploring local, national and global approaches to improving population health.

We will explore how public health has been shaped through history as well as develop understanding of contemporary issues which affect health and wellbeing across the lifespan. Evidenced-based practice, epidemiology, and the determining factors in healthcare will form core themes throughout the course, which will be explored in detail.  

The course has been uniquely designed to promote your entrepreneurial thinking in order to demonstrate innovation and change within the field of public health.

On completion of this course you'll have:

  • gained a conceptual and theoretical understanding of the fundamental principles and concepts of public health from a national and global perspective
  • critically evaluated health education and health promotion initiatives that support positive change across different platforms
  • demonstrated your understanding of contemporary public health research
  • developed creative, innovate and entrepreneurial thinking and contributed towards supporting a positive social impact within society

You will have been able to identify areas you are interested in and prepared properly to enter a professional field you are passionate about, with the support of tutors, lecturers and skill training.

How will I be taught and assessed?

There are a variety of assessment methods employed on the course, assessments can be done online as part of the VLE system. some of the ways you will be assessed include:

  • essay
  • project
  • presentations
  • report/case study
  • dissertation

Formative assessments will be carried out throughout the course to test your understanding of the module content.

Useful Documents

Foundation Degree Health & Social Care Programme Specification

What are the course entry requirements?

A typical offer will require a UCAS tariff score of: 40 - 64

There will also be a telephone interview process. Every application is considered on an individual basis.

For further details of our international English entry requirements, please visit our international pages.

Modules

This provides a guide of the modules that make up your course. You can find more information about how your course is structured on our Academic Advice section.

Year 1 Modules

Effective Communication in Health and Social Care

Epidemiology, Health and Social Science: An Introduction

Health and Social Care Policy

Understanding Culture and Communities

Year 2 Modules

Developing Personal and Professional Practice

Life-long Career in Health and Social Care

Contemporary Issues and Management of Health and Social Services

Principles of Research Methodologies in Health and Social Care

What are the tuition fees

Home

Home, Academic Year 2023 - 2024

£9,250 per year

International

Overseas/International, Academic Year 2023 - 2024

£15,000 per year

Most courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees.

You could benefit from financial support through a bursary or scholarship during your time as a student. For more details visit our financial support, bursaries and scholarships section.

Questions about fees?

Contact our Enquiries Team:

0330 123 2023

advice@bnu.ac.uk

What are my career prospects?

Public health gives you the option to keep people safe, protect them from threats to their health and improve the lives of thousands of people. Most people go on to have roles in the NHS after graduation, typical roles for graduates of the MA Public Health programme include:

  • Health Improvement Practitioner
  • Health Improvement Advisor/Officer
  • Public Health Officer
  • Environmental Health professions
  • Health Consultants

Employment is primarily through local authorities like NHS trusts and voluntary sector services. With great links to local Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire health trusts we are confident having a masters from BNU will put you in good stead with these organisations should you choose to stay in Buckinghamshire or Oxford.

Course leader

Preyvinkumar Sookun staff profile photo
Preyvinkumar Sookun
  • Senior Lecturer
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