Social Care
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If you’re involved in caring for others, whether personally or professionally, you’ll find our courses of interest. Care services are integrated into a broader set of health and social care services, and all our courses address that wider context.
Our Level 1 and some of our Level 2 courses introduce you to key questions on how essential support and care can be provided in a large and complex society. They look at the intense political debates over the future of our health and social care services. You’ll explore the skills of care work in a wide range of contexts and extend your own skills. Other Level 2 courses have a more detailed focus on mental health and the experiences of service users, as well as the different forms of help that are offered.
We have Level 3 courses that explore the changing world of management in health and social care and can help you to develop your own management competences. Or you may want to develop your understanding of communication and relationships and look at the ways in which these are shaped in health and social care.
Degrees
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More about Degrees
More about Degrees
undergraduate.qualification.social-care,qualification,,degree,1Undergraduate or bachelors degrees are nationally recognised qualifications consisting of academic study designed to help you gain a thorough understanding of a subject.
For a degree in a named subject, such as business studies or humanities, you'll study mainly in your chosen subject, although you may be able to include some modules from other subjects.
With The Open University you could also study an Open degree where you can combine a range of modules from similar or different subjects to suit either your particular career or personal interests.
You can use a degree to:
- change careers or progress your current career
- gain an in-depth knowledge and understanding of a subject you are interested in
- gain professional recognition
- go onto postgraduate study, such as a diploma or masters degree.
)
Undergraduate or bachelors degrees are nationally recognised qualifications consisting of academic study designed to help you gain a thorough understanding of a subject.
For a degree in a named subject, such as business studies or humanities, you'll study mainly in your chosen subject, although you may be able to include some modules from other subjects.
With The Open University you could also study an Open degree where you can combine a range of modules from similar or different subjects to suit either your particular career or personal interests.
You can use a degree to:
- change careers or progress your current career
- gain an in-depth knowledge and understanding of a subject you are interested in
- gain professional recognition
- go onto postgraduate study, such as a diploma or masters degree.
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Health and Social Care
This degree covers a broad range of topics relevant to employment in the health and social care sectors. -
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.
Diplomas of Higher Education
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More about Diplomas of Higher Education
More about Diplomas of Higher Education
undergraduate.qualification.social-care,qualification,,diploma-he,1A Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE) is equivalent to two thirds of an honours degree. They are nationally recognised qualifications focusing either on a particular job or profession, or academic study.
DipHEs are designed to increase the professional and technical skills of staff within a profession or extend your knowledge and understanding of a particular subject. A DipHE shows that you are capable of extended study at university level.
You can use a DipHE to:
- change careers or progress your current career
- gain technical and professional skills
- gain a greater knowledge and understanding of a subject you are interested in
- gain professional recognition
- achieve a full honours degree through additional study.
The Diploma of Higher Education might be of particular interest to those living and working in Scotland.
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A Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE) is equivalent to two thirds of an honours degree. They are nationally recognised qualifications focusing either on a particular job or profession, or academic study.
DipHEs are designed to increase the professional and technical skills of staff within a profession or extend your knowledge and understanding of a particular subject. A DipHE shows that you are capable of extended study at university level.
You can use a DipHE to:
- change careers or progress your current career
- gain technical and professional skills
- gain a greater knowledge and understanding of a subject you are interested in
- gain professional recognition
- achieve a full honours degree through additional study.
The Diploma of Higher Education might be of particular interest to those living and working in Scotland.
Certificates of Higher Education
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More about Certificates of Higher Education
More about Certificates of Higher Education
undergraduate.qualification.social-care,qualification,,certificate-he,1A Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE) is a nationally recognised qualification focusing on either a particular job or profession, or academic study. Equivalent to the first year of a full honours degree, they are the most basic level of qualification that can be gained in higher education and show that you are capable of studying successfully at university level.
You can use a CertHE to:
- gain confidence to study successfully at university level
- change careers or progress your current career
- build on your existing experience and gain new skills
- gain a broad introduction to a subject you are interested in
- achieve a foundation degree, DipHE or full honours degree through additional study.
)
A Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE) is a nationally recognised qualification focusing on either a particular job or profession, or academic study. Equivalent to the first year of a full honours degree, they are the most basic level of qualification that can be gained in higher education and show that you are capable of studying successfully at university level.
You can use a CertHE to:
- gain confidence to study successfully at university level
- change careers or progress your current career
- build on your existing experience and gain new skills
- gain a broad introduction to a subject you are interested in
- achieve a foundation degree, DipHE or full honours degree through additional study.
OU Certificates
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More about OU Certificates
More about OU Certificates
undergraduate.qualification.social-care,qualification,,certificate,1OU Certificates are specially designed Open University qualifications focusing either on a particular job or profession, or academic study. For example The Open University's Certificate in Supporting Learning in Primary Schools is designed for teaching assistants and other kinds of classroom support staff, including volunteers. Not all OU Certificates are entry level qualifications.
You can use an OU Certificate to:
- enhance or progress your current career
- gain a greater knowledge and understanding of a subject you are interested in.
)
OU Certificates are specially designed Open University qualifications focusing either on a particular job or profession, or academic study. For example The Open University's Certificate in Supporting Learning in Primary Schools is designed for teaching assistants and other kinds of classroom support staff, including volunteers. Not all OU Certificates are entry level qualifications.
You can use an OU Certificate to:
- enhance or progress your current career
- gain a greater knowledge and understanding of a subject you are interested in.
Getting started with an Access module
There are two ways to start a qualification. If you haven’t studied for a long time or need to build your confidence, beginning your studies with an Access module may be the right choice for you.
Choose a qualification to find out more.
Study a module as a standalone course
You can study a single module on its own for personal interest or to improve your career prospects. See the list of all our individual courses in Social Care.
Postgraduate options
If you already have a degree, you may want to see postgraduate courses and qualifications in Health and Social Care.
Undergraduate
International students
If you want to study for an undergraduate qualification and you are living outside the UK and Republic of Ireland, visit our international prospectus.
Your questions
Try our frequently asked questions.
Come and meet us at an event near you.
Or contact an adviser by Email or call +44(0) 845 300 60 90 +44(0) 845 366 60 35
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