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Undergraduate

Health and Social Care

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An image to illustrate studying Health and Social Care at the Open University

Health and social care is a vast service sector undergoing rapid change, with new government initiatives giving it a higher profile than ever. Priorities on the healthcare agenda include being more responsive to patient needs, and preventing illness by promoting a healthy lifestyle. The focus in frontline health and social care is on giving service-users more independence, choice and control. These developments mean there’s greater demand for well-trained and multi-skilled people across a range of rewarding employment opportunities.

Providing help and care for those in need or who are vulnerable offers a unique sense of personal and career fulfilment. Through OU study you can become part of this essential and worthwhile sector, or you can build on your existing professional experience and progress your career in a particular area of health and social care.

Our wide-ranging qualifications, degrees and health and social care courses cover today’s topical and most important issues, and are expertly designed to inspire and challenge you.  Some offer a broad-based background exploring principles and approaches to caring across the health and social care sector, while others offer specific policies and practices or focus on a particular aspect of provision, such as caring for those with mental health problems, palliative care or examining the role of complementary and alternative medicine.  All draw on the latest research and the experience of practising professionals, to provide you with valuable insight and real-world skills and knowledge.

Degrees

  • Childhood and Youth Studies
    This degree is for those who work or intend to work with children and young people, or for those with more general interests in the interdisciplinary field of childhood and youth studies.
  • Health and Social Care
    This degree covers a broad range of topics relevant to employment in the health and social care sectors.
  • Nursing Practice
    If you’re a practising registered nurse, you can gain this honours degree while cultivating a person-centred approach to your work with patients, their carers and families.
  • Social Work (England)
    Qualify as a social worker in England with this unique work-based degree, offered in partnership with employers – who must sponsor and register you on the programme.
  • Social Work (Scotland)
    Qualify as a social worker in Scotland with this unique work-based degree, offered in partnership with employers – who must sponsor and register you on the programme.
  • Social Work (Scotland)
    If you already have a UK degree, you can enter this unique work-based qualifying programme in social work at stage two. You must be sponsored and registered by your employer.
  • Social Work (Wales)
    Qualify as a social worker in Wales with this unique work-based degree, offered in partnership with employers – who must sponsor and register you on the programme.
  • Social Work Studies
    This degree is for registered social workers who wish to develop their skills and knowledge to meet the complex challenges of modern social work practice.
  • Youth Justice Studies (England and Wales)
    If you work with young people in the youth justice system, this qualification will increase your skills and knowledge and have a real impact on your practice.
  • Youth Work
    This degree enables students to qualify as a professional youth worker and is for practitioners working with young people (13-19) in informal educational settings.
  • Open degree
    The BA/BSc Open Degree is a qualification that gives you a huge choice in terms of subjects and modules that you study to make up your degree.

Foundation Degrees

  • Counselling
    This qualification will prepare you to become a professional counsellor, equipping you with the theoretical understanding and practical skills required to work in this field.
  • Early Years
    If you’re an experienced practitioner working with children from birth to seven years old in an early years setting, this degree will further your knowledge and skills.
  • Healthcare Practice
    Study themes in long-term conditions, such as children and young people, mental health, health and wellbeing, end-of-life care or a mix from across all these areas.
  • Paramedic Sciences
    Develop the knowledge, skills and competencies which underpin paramedic practice in emergency care settings. You must be supported by your employer for the work-based modules.
  • Sport and Fitness
    Build knowledge and skills needed by sport and fitness instructors/coaches, focussing on developing insights into the scientific, instructional and management principles that underpin these roles.
  • Working with Young People
    This degree develops the skills and knowledge of those working with, and leading work with, young people (13–19) to support their informal education.
  • Youth Justice (England and Wales)
    This foundation degree will suit anyone working in the youth justice system (including the secure estate), volunteers working in this field, and those planning to join the youth justice workforce.

Courses in Health and Social Care

See the list of all our individual courses in Health and Social Care.

Postgraduate options

If you already have a degree, you may want to see postgraduate courses and qualifications in Health and Social Care.

Are you already an OU student ? Go to StudentHome for your personal prospectus information.

Spotlight on Health and Social Care

Start with an Openings course

If you are a new or less confident learner (and living in the UK), Openings courses offer a gentle introduction to OU study. With lots of support and no exams, they will build your confidence and study skills.

Build on your experience of caring

Thousands of people have taken our popular and well-supported route to a Certificate in Health and Social Care (D34) – gaining a qualification based on real cases and practical examples. The certificate could help you develop in your current role, or open the door to new opportunities.

Do you want to develop your academic English?

You could improve your study success by studying English for academic purposes online (L185), an exciting 30-credit course that develops your skills of reading, writing and communicating in academic English.

 

Your questions

We may have already answered it in our frequently asked questions.

Or contact an adviser in our Student Registration & Enquiry Service Email or call +44(0) 845 300 60 90 +44(0) 845 366 60 35

Employers' questions

Contact Corporate Enquiries
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