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About the Course

This BSc (Hons) Health and Social Care with Foundation Year course will prepare you with the knowledge, skills, and professional values needed to address health inequalities and advance inclusive, ethical practices in health and social care.

Guided by critical social theory and social justice, you will learn to examine and critique societal structures and dominant ideologies that perpetuate health disparities. You will also explore how social, cultural, political, and economic factors influence health outcomes, enabling you to drive meaningful change for individuals and communities, especially marginalised groups.

The course supports your development through three core themes: Core Concepts in Health, Development and Society; Research and Ethical Practice; and Inclusive Practice and Management.

You will explore social determinants of health, ethical decision-making, and inclusive care, equipping you with critical thinking, research, and leadership skills. The curriculum fosters adaptability, which will prepare you for a diverse range of professional roles. In the final year, you will also have the opportunity to specialise in areas such as mental health, public health, or leadership, which will enhance your employability.

This is a four-year Health and Social Care BSc (Hons) degree with a built-in foundation year (Year 0), which offers an alternative route into higher education if you don’t have traditional qualifications or don’t meet the entry requirements for a UK undergraduate degree.

 

Course Details

What will I study?

The course aims to produce graduates who are critical thinkers, ethical practitioners, and advocates for social justice within health and social care. By examining health systems, policies, and practices through interdisciplinary perspectives, you will develop the skills and knowledge to evaluate and address health inequities.

The course will enable you to apply critical social theory and research skills to real-world challenges, fostering a professional identity rooted in inclusivity, ethical decision-making, and resilience. Through specialised modules and practice-based learning, the course also supports career readiness and lifelong learning, positioning graduates to lead and adapt in diverse health and social care roles.

How will I be taught and assessed?

You will be taught through a variety of teaching methods including:

  • Lectures
  • Seminars
  • Workshops
  • Observation/field trips (work placement)

You will be assessed through a mix of:

  • Group work
  • Coursework
  • Presentations
  • Podcasts

Blended Learning

At London Metropolitan University, we’re focused on a digital future and your degree plays an important part in preparation for this, helping you to achieve your employability goals and life ambitions. That’s why we use a blended learning model, combining online and on-campus learning. You can find out more about our approach to blended learning, including the equipment you will need, on our blended learning page.

Daytime, evening and weekend, and weekend only timetables

Alongside our daytime timetables, we also offer evening and weekend, or weekend only timetables. These options offer the same levels of study support with the flexibility to balance your full-time studies with personal commitments.

  • Daytime timetables: you’ll have timetabled teaching on 2 weekdays, usually 9:30am-4:30pm, each week.
  • Evening and weekend timetables: you’ll have timetabled teaching on 2 evenings, usually 5:45pm-8:45pm, and 1 weekend day, usually 9:30am-4:30pm, each week
  • Weekend only timetables: you’ll have timetabled teaching on both weekend days, usually 9:30am-4:30pm, each week

The above timings are indicative only; the exact timings of your teaching and information on which sessions are on-campus and which are live online will be confirmed at enrolment when you receive your timetable. As part of your course, you will also need to spend time on self-guided learning, including completing any assessments.

Modules

All modules are core and are worth 15 credits unless otherwise specified.

Foundation Year

Foundation Year Programme (120 credits)

In this module, you will explore a broad range of social science and current affairs issues. You’ll reflect on the qualities needed to be a successful student in Higher Education and identify your own strengths and areas for development. You’ll be guided to investigate and conduct research on a topic of interest to you in greater depth. 

  1. You will learn to access sources, recognise and analyse arguments, and critically engage with source material.
  2. You will explore some principles of research and develop research skills. 
  3. You will develop digital and academic communication skills, including integrating source materials with your own voice into written work. 
  4. You will develop oral, written and visual communication skills to produce work in a range of formats. 
  5. You will critically engage with current, social, and ethical issues, in the context of the Education for Social Justice Framework and your subject area 
  6. You will contribute to building a sense of belonging, and a respectful learning community, where students collaborate, share knowledge and ideas and work effectively as a team. 
  7. You will be encouraged to explore and build on prior knowledge and experiences to prepare you for further study in your subject area, professional behaviours and your chosen career 
  8. You will reflect on your learning journey, build your confidence, and take ownership of your motivation. 

Year One

Introduction to Health and Social Care: Concepts of Health and Well-being (30 credits)

This module aims to introduce you to contemporary contexts of healthcare and social care while investigating the current understanding of health and wellbeing and its application to the organisation and delivery of health and social care.

On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:

  • Understand different health and social care approaches and provisions
  • Identify health and social care issues within a specific population
  • Describe selected health and social care policies
  • Identify the social determinants of health and the relationship to health inequalities
Diversity in Health and Social Care (30 credits)

This module emphasizes the institutional and Course commitment to principles of equity, diversity and inclusion.

Research and Academic Practice (30 credits)

This module introduces the theory and practice of research, underpinned by an introduction to the required pillars of academic practice for the undergraduate student. 

Human Growth and Development (30 credits)

This module explores the human life span by exploring life stage theories. The learning is applied to the student who are encouraged to use models of reflective practice to highlight their own personal and professional journey. 

Year Two

Understanding Public Health (30 credits)

This module aims to:

  • Develop an understanding of the Public Health discipline
  • Develop an understanding and knowledge of population health data and skills to interpret this data
  • Provide a social science-based contextual and critical understanding of the impact of the social determinants of health on population health outcomes
  • Develop an understanding and knowledge of population health issues and how to take an evidence-based approach to tackle these issues

On completion of this module, you will be able to:

  • Explain and discuss the three pillars of Public Health, which are Health Protection, Healthcare Public Health, and Health Promotion
  • Understand and discuss the determinants of health
  • Interpret and explain population health data
  • Take an evidence-based approach to public health decisions
  • Think critically about contemporary issues in public health
Researching Health & Social Care (30 credits)

This module develops the foundations from the Research and Academic Practice module and introduces the student to research methods and assists them to formulate ideas for their own research activity in Year 3. 

Preparing for Practice (30 credits)

This module focuses on employability and develops the student with the necessary skills and knowledge to prepare for their work-based learning experience. 

Social Policy & Society (15 credits)

This module introduces and considers the impact of social policy on health and social care practice. 

Leadership in Health & Social Care (15 credits)

This module offers an introduction to the concept of leadership in health and social care and supports the student to develop an awareness of their own leadership potential.

Year Three

Contemporary Approaches to Health & Social Care (30 credits)

This module builds on work done previously in the first year in Introduction to Health and Social Care: Concepts of Health and Wellbeing and during the second year as part of Advancing the Health of the Population: Understanding Public Health.

This module aims to enable you to use and build on the knowledge and understanding gained in these modules to analyse and critically evaluate current and emerging responses to key challenges facing the health and social care sector.

This module aims to:

  • Provide a critical understanding of the emerging issues in contemporary health and social care at both policy and practice levels
  • Consider the relationship between the social determinants of health and policy and practice responses to health and social care issues
  • Critically examine implicit theoretical perspectives underpinning key approaches to tackling health inequalities
  • Develop an understanding of a range of theoretical perspectives related to health creation and initiatives to tackle health inequalities; social prescribing, asset-based approaches, and community development
  • Consider the practical and ethical implications for the health and social workforce of current and emerging responses to a range of issues
Health Project (60 credits)

This module is designed as a 60-credit module to allow students to develop a research proposal and then carry out either primary or secondary research. There is also the option of developing a business plan for students with entrepreneurial interests. 

Year Three Optional Modules

You will choose 2 of the following:

Public Health & Health Promotion (15 credits)

This module is offered for students to develop their understanding of public health theory and develop application within the health and social care sector. Students following this module are in a strong position to proceed onto MSc Public Health. 

Managing Health and Social Care (15 credits)

This module develops the learning from the Leadership in Health & Social Care module by consolidating insights into leadership in health and social care and offering the student a theoretical understanding of management and application within health and social care contexts. Students following the leadership and management modules on the Course are in a strong position for progression to the MSc Health and Social Care Leadership & Management. 

Mental Health and Well-being (15 credits)

This module provides opportunities for you to develop your understanding of key issues in mental health practice and policy, as well as critically discuss relevant theoretical and conceptual issues relating to mental health.

This module aims to:

  • Develop an understanding of key concepts in mental health and well-being
  • Develop awareness of mental health diagnoses and implications of these to the individual, health services, and wider society
  • Develop knowledge of key policy and practice issues in mental health
  • Provide opportunities to critically evaluate and reflect upon models and theories of mental health and well-being
Global Health (15 credits)

This module aims to give you an opportunity to critically study the interconnectedness of key challenges of human development and human health and healthcare across nations within a global context. It will provide content that will help you understand the key global challenges that affect human health and healthcare and cause health inequalities and inequities across nations.

This module will also provide an opportunity to study key global actors and global interventions to improve human health of all people across nations and promote health equities. This will require you to critique global co-operation and partnership in fighting key challenges of global human health and healthcare.

This module aims to:

  • Develop and produce graduates with global citizenship attributes by embedding the notion of “think globally and act locally” (think globally for local actions) in its curriculum
  • Develop a critical knowledge base of concepts, principles, measurements, and theories of global health and healthcare based on the notion of “global health crisis”
  • Build a critical understanding of the key challenges of the growing global interconnectedness on global human health and healthcare
  • Identify and critique the determinants and evidence of global health inequalities and inequities
  • Examine the influence and contribution of health systems in improving human health around the world
  • Consider complexities in solving global health and healthcare problems found in past and contemporary case-studies and draw implications from them for future research, policy, and practice in global health

The course information displayed on this page is correct for the academic year 2025/26. We aim to run the course as advertised; however, changes may be necessary due to updates to the curriculum (due to academic or industry developments), student demand, or UK compliance reasons.

Entry Requirements

To study this programme, you will need to meet the following entry requirements:

Academic requirements

  • 32 UCAS points, or
  • at least one A level (or a minimum of 32 UCAS points from an equivalent Level 3 qualification, e.g. BTEC/Subsidiary/National/BTEC Extended Diploma)

English language requirements

  • GCSE English at grade C/4 or above (or equivalent)
  • IELTS 5.5 with no component less than 5.5 in each band, or equivalent. Alternatively, applicants can sit the QA Higher Education English test.

Interview

Additionally, during the admissions process, you will be asked to attend either an academic or admissions interview.

  • During the admissions interview, we will ask you questions about your choice of programme and will learn more about you.
  • The academic interview provides an opportunity for entry to applicants who do not meet standard entry requirements or have not been in education for a while. During this type of interview, we will assess your knowledge in a specific field.

We encourage and will consider applications from mature students who haven’t recently undertaken a formalised course of study at A-level or equivalent, but who can demonstrate workplace, indicating their ability to complete the course successfully. Applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

If you have higher qualifications, we also have a 3-year Health and Social Care BA  that will allow you to directly start your undergraduate study.

Please note: We are not currently able to sponsor International students to study this programme at London Metropolitan University Centres, therefore if you require sponsorship to study as an International student, this course will be unavailable to you.

If you are an international student interested in this course and would like to discuss alternative options available to you, please contact 020 3944 1243.

Fees and Funding

UK tuition fees 2025/26

£9,535 per annum

Your tuition fees cover the cost of teaching, access to resources, registration costs, and Student Support Services. They do not include the cost of course books, stationery and photocopying/printing costs, accommodation, living costs, travel, hobbies, sports or other leisure activities.

Additional costs

Access to a laptop/PC with a microphone, speakers, webcam and a reliable internet connection is required for accessing your live online sessions and to work on assignments.

In addition to the tuition fees, you should be prepared to buy some of the course texts which are around £30 each. This would average around £200 per annum.

Student Finance

If you’re an undergraduate student from the UK, you may be able to receive financial support from the Government to help fund your studies.

The Government currently offers two types of loans that cover:

  • Tuition fees (paid directly to the university)
  • Living costs (paid directly to your bank and often called a maintenance loan)

Repayment

Both loans will need to be repaid after your studies, however generally you won’t have to start paying anything back until the April after you have finished your course once you are employed and earning above a specific amount. For more information on when you’ll start repaying, please refer to your student finance repayment plan.

How to apply

If you would like to find out more information about Student Finance loans and how to apply, please refer to the following:

Careers and Future Study

Health and social care provides career opportunities in a wide range of roles and contexts. Successful completion of the degree offers excellent career opportunities in the NHS, voluntary or independent sectors, for example in social enterprises, charity organisations or housing associations (accreditation by the Chartered Institute of Housing is a considerable advantage in following this option).

Within these contexts, it is possible to focus on a number of areas including:

  • Quality
  • Commissioning
  • Policy
  • Research
  • Public health
  • Service management

Careers can also be followed in roles such as:

  • Health administration
  • Care management
  • Education
  • Community development
  • Social work [social work will require additional qualifications to enable graduates to practice]

By studying a degree in our blended learning model, you will enhance your employability by demonstrating you successfully studied in a blended learning environment as part of your degree – a key requirement in today’s digitally focused businesses.

Apply Now

You can apply online to study this programme through the application links on this page.

As part of your application, you are required to provide some supporting documents (examples below):

  • Your passport personal details page
  • Copies of previous qualifications, including final certificates and transcripts, translated into English (if not in English)
  • Copy of your Personal Statement (more than 250 words)

Next application deadline: View Important Dates

Apply online

Select your chosen intake, location and study timetable and apply online using the links below to the QA Higher Education application portal.

August 2025 intake

Birmingham

London

Manchester

November 2025 intake

Birmingham

London

Manchester

Information for disabled applicants

We welcome applications from disabled students and are committed to ensuring an equal and accessible application journey. Your application will be considered on an equal basis to all other applications. Please contact us if you require any assistance. This website is continually optimised to adhere to accessibility best practice guidelines; tools to assist users with specific accessibility requirements have also been provided. More information is available in our accessibility statement.

  • Fees

    £9,535 per annum (25/26)

  • Study Level

    Undergraduate

  • Duration

    4 years (3 year option also available)

  • Start dates

    April
    August
    November

  • Entry Requirements

    32 UCAS points (or equivalent)

  • English Language Requirements

    GCSE English Language at grade C (grade 4) or above (or equivalent). Alternatively, applicants can sit the QA Higher Education English test.

  • Mode Of Study

    Full-time blended learning: Daytime, Evening and Weekend, or Weekend only delivery

  • Assessment Methods

    Coursework including presentations, portfolios and podcasts

  • Locations

    London
    Birmingham
    Manchester

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