About This Course
The BA (Hons) Health and Social Care will provide you with an in-depth understanding of the health and social care policies, theory and practice and you will gain the skills needed to be able to work effectively in a multidisciplinary environment.
In line with today’s fast-changing care sector, the emphasis during this course will be on the social experiences of health and care and the delivery and management of services. You will learn how the provision and delivery of these services is influenced by society and the economy as well as by political and ethical factors. The course will focus on providing you with detailed understanding of the key contemporary issues that shape our health and our society and therefore the well-being of individuals and their communities. You will also develop the critical and analytical skills that underpin evidence-based practice.
Some modules offered as part of the course will be available through the medium of Welsh. For information on the School of Health Sciences bilingual provision click here.
Visit our Why Study with us? page to find out some key facts about why you should choose the School of Health Sciences for this course.
Placement Year
This course is available as a 4-year ‘with Placement Year’ option. Please apply for Health and Social Care (with Placement) BSc L51P. Find out more about 'with Placement Year' courses here.
The placement year provides you with a fantastic opportunity to broaden your horizons and develop valuable skills and contacts through working with a self-sourced organisation relevant to your degree subject. The Placement Year is undertaken at the end of the second year and students are away for the whole of the academic year. The minimum period in placement (at one or more locations) is seven calendar months; more usually you would spend 10-12 months with a placement provider. You would normally start sometime in the period June to September of your second year and finish between June and September the following year. Placements can be UK-based or overseas and you will work with staff to plan and finalise the placement arrangements.
You will be expected to find and arrange a suitable placement to complement your degree, and will be fully supported throughout by a dedicated member of staff at your academic School and the University’s Skills and Employability Services.
Why choose Bangor University for this course?
- We aim to provide a friendly and informal learning environment.
- The degree structure is flexible enough to offer a range of specialisms and a breadth of choice.
- The degree is taught by experts in the subject who aim to be innovative and to meet real needs.
- The introductory year's work is designed to build your confidence, whatever your background.
- We use a variety of learning approaches, and, as well as the development of personal skills, we emphasise the development of practical skills in observation, interpretation, information processing and presentation, all of which will be valued by employers.
Course Content
The course will be taught via lectures, seminars, small group work, presentations and computer-based independent learning. During the course you will have, on average, 6 hours of lectures per week and up to 6 hours of group seminars. Throughout the degree, you will have one-to-one support from academic staff.
We use a variety of assessment methods, including coursework and examinations. Some modules are wholly assessed by coursework. You will also work independently (with supervision) on an extended piece of written work, your dissertation, which will involve research in the area of your choice.
What will you study on this course?
This degree combines academic rigour with practical experience. During Year 1, the core modules of the course provide an introduction to the key concepts, historical background and contemporary issues relating to health and social care, as well as an introduction to research and study skills.
During Years 2 & 3, core and optional modules provide a thorough grounding in key theoretical perspectives, comparative studies in health and welfare policy, and research methodologies. During Year 3, you will complete your degree with a more detailed study of core subjects, and you will carry out a dissertation in the area of your choice. During the degree, you will also have the opportunity to test your new knowledge and skills in a two-semester work placement in your second year.
During Year 1 (starting September 2020), you will study the following modules (subject to validation):
- NHS-1202 Health & Welfare Issues
- NHS-1204 Fundamentals of Sociology
- NHS-1205 Research and Study Skills
- NHS-1124 Health and Society
- NHS-1123 Behaviour and Health
- NHS-1206 Working with Vulnerable Populations
Modules for the current academic year
Module listings are for guide purposes only and are subject to change. Find out what our students are currently studying on the Health and Social Care Modules page.
Course content is for guidance purposes only and may be subject to change.
Course Costs
Mandatory Costs:
Students must submit one bound copy of the third year dissertation currently costing £10.
Optional Costs:
Welcome Week trips: maximum £20.
General University Costs
Home (UK) students
- The cost of a full-time undergraduate course is £9,000 per year (2021/22 entry and 2022/23 entry).
- The fee for all placement, international and sandwich years is £1,350 (2021/22 and 2022/23).
- More information on fees and finance for Home (UK) students.
International (including EU) students
Additional Costs
There are also some common additional costs that are likely to arise for students on all courses, for example:
- If you choose to study abroad or take the International Experience Year as part of your course.
- If you attend your Graduation Ceremony, there will be a cost for gown hire (£25-£75) and cost for additional guest tickets (c.£12 each).
Course-specific additional costs
Depending on the course you are studying, there may be additional course-specific costs that you will be required to meet. These fall into three categories:
- Mandatory Costs: these are related to a particular core or compulsory module that you’ll be required to complete to achieve your qualification e.g. compulsory field trips, uniforms for students on placement, DBS Check.
- Necessarily Incurred Costs: these may not be experienced by all students, and will vary depending on the course e.g. professional body membership, travel to placements, specialist software, personal safety equipment.
- Optional Costs: these depend on your choice of modules or activity and they are shown to give you an indication of the optional costs that may arise to make sure your choice is as informed as possible. These can include graduation events for your course, optional field trips, Welcome Week trips.
Entry Requirements
For 2021 entry:
Offers are tariff based, 80 - 96 tariff points from a Level 3 qualification* e.g.:
- A Levels
- BTEC National/Extended Diploma and Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma
- International Baccalaureate Diploma
- Access to Higher Education Diploma
- Irish Leaving Certificate: 80- 96 points from a minimum of 4 Higher Subjects
- NCFE CACHE Level 3 Extended Diploma
- Welsh Baccalaureate.
International Candidates: school leaving qualifications and college diplomas are accepted from countries worldwide (subject to minimum English Language requirements), details at: www.bangor.ac.uk/international/applying/entryrequirements
We also welcome applications from mature applicants
*For full details go to our website and for a full list of accepted Level 3 qualifications, go to www.ucas.com
General University Requirements
To study for a degree, you’ll be asked for a minimum of UCAS Tariff points. For a fuller explanation of the UCAS Tariff Points, please see www.ucas.com.
We accept students with a wide range of qualifications and backgrounds and consider each application individually.
All students need to have good basic skills and the University also values IT and communication skills.
As part of the University’s policy we consider applications from prospective disabled students on the same grounds as all other students.
We also consider applications from mature students who can demonstrate the motivation and commitment to study a university programme. Each year we enrol a significant number of mature students. For more information about studying as a mature student, see our Studying at Bangor section of the website.
EU and International Students' Entry Requirements
For detailed guidance on the entry requirements for EU and International Students, including the minimum English Language entry requirement, please visit the Entry Requirements by Country pages. International applicants can also visit the International Education Centre section of our website for further details.
Bangor University offers International Incorporated Bachelor Degrees for International students whose High School qualification is not equivalent to the UK school leaving qualification. The first year (or Year 0) is studied at Bangor University International College, an embedded College on our University campus and delivered by Oxford International Education Group.
Careers
Health and Social Care is a very diverse field that will open up many opportunities for your future. Many BA (Hons) Health and Social Care graduates now work in the NHS, different charities such as MIND, social care organisations and other public, private and voluntary sector agencies. Recent graduates have been able to find work in local councils, as housing officers, working with vulnerable families or with refugees. Others work in charities, helping those with mental health issues or addictions.
This course will also help you start or progress a career in professions such as nursing, social work or occupational therapy. Some graduates also choose to pursue taught Masters courses, or research degrees.
Opportunities at Bangor
The University’s Skills and Employability Service provides a wide range of resources to help you achieve your graduate ambitions.
The Bangor Employability Award (BEA)
With the BEA, you can gain recognition for your extra-curricular activities (e.g. volunteering, clubs and societies, part-time work, etc.)
Internships
Bangor University runs a paid internship scheme within the university’s academic and service departments.
Student Volunteering
Volunteering widens your experience and improves your employability. Find out more about the volunteering on the Students’ Union’s website.
