Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care
On this page
Foundation Degree
- Level
- Undergraduate
- Made up of
- 240 credits
Description
Please note that this qualification is only available until 31 December 2011. In order to claim your qualification you must have completed the required 240 credits by this time. This qualification is not available to new students. If you have any questions about your eligibility for this qualification please contact the Qualifications and Ceremonies Centre on +44(0) 1908 653003 or by email.
The Open University’s Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care is suitable for support staff working in a variety of health and social care settings such as occupational therapy, physiotherapy and residential care. Through the degree, students will have the opportunity to develop knowledge, skills and competencies which underpin practice across allied health professions in the health and social care sector. The approach of the degree is inter-disciplinary, with opportunities for specialisation where appropriate. The degree is attuned to the NHS modernisation agenda and the Knowledge and Skills Framework.
How to register
Registration is not yet open for this qualification. For an autumn 2012 start, registration opens on 27 March 2012. If you would like to register your interest, you can order our free guide to studying in 2012.
Career relevance and employability
The needs of experienced staff already employed as support workers either in a health setting or a social care environment are central to the development of the Foundation Degree. This means it will benefit both the individual and the workplace through enhancing the skill base of the workforce. It values and builds on the experience of such support workers. Level 1 study is interdisciplinary in approach. At Level 2, students will be able to continue with interdisciplinary study or specialise in a client group. On successful completion of the Foundation Degree, it is expected that students will be recognised as 'Assistant Practitioners' or equivalent, within the career structure for support workers as laid out in the Knowledge and Skills Framework and social care skills escalator schemes.
The Foundation Degree is a qualification in its own right, but for students who wish to progress further, they may have the opportunity to register for a professional training programme. Negotiations are taking place between The Open University and other higher education institutions to facilitate pathways through to professional registration in a number of allied health professions. Details are not currently available.
With the OU, students can also ‘top up’ the Foundation Degree to a BA/BSc (Honours) Health and Social Care (B18) degree by studying a further 120 credits at Level 3.
There is more information about how OU study can improve your employability in the OU’s Employability Statement from our Careers Advisory Service. You can also read or download our publication OU study and your career and look at our subject pages to find out about career opportunities.
Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes of this qualification are described in four areas:
- Knowledge and understanding
- Cognitive skills
- Practical and professional skills
- Key skills
Read more detailed information about the learning outcomes, and how they are acquired through teaching, learning and assessment methods.
Credit for previous study elsewhere
If you have already completed some successful study at higher education level at another institution we may be able to give you credit that you can count towards this Open University qualification. Further details will be available when registration opens for this qualification.
On completion
On successful completion of the required modules students will be awarded a Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care and will be entitled to use the letters FD (Open) after their name.
Fees 2012
See fees and funding options for study from September 2012.
About this page
An undergraduate qualification.
Study explained
- Costs
- - find out how much you can expect to pay.
- Financial support
- - find out if you qualify for support with your fees with our eligibility checker.
- Study explained
- - all you need to know about studying with the OU.
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
Browse the prospectus
Get a prospectus
Download ororder
Share
This PageThe University wishes to emphasise that, while every effort is made to regularly update this site, the material on it is subject to alteration or amendment in the light of changes in regulations or in policy or of financial or other necessity.