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This programme offers a qualification that delivers the knowledge and skills required to support people with autism in a range of different situations. It is designed specifically for students who provide home, community and school-based services, and is therefore flexible, combining intensive workshop teaching, web-based study and work-based learning.
Overview
The Foundation Degree (FdSc) is completed by blended learning, usually over two years. It combines web-based guided study and discussions with work-based learning, allowing flexibility and a very practical approach. In the second year of the programme, you complete a work-based learning module that requires you to be working with children or adults with autism. You can either do this as part of your normal job role (including as a family carer) or as a placement, which you organise yourself.
The Tizard Centre: UK centre of excellence
The Tizard Centre is at the forefront of learning and research in autism, intellectual disability and community care and in 2013 received a Queen’s Anniversary Prize in recognition of its outstanding work in these areas.
Independent rankings
Social Policy* and Administration at Kent was ranked 3rd in The Complete University Guide 2017 and 4th in The Guardian University Guide 2017. Social Policy at Kent was ranked 5th in The Times Good University Guide 2017.
Social Policy at Kent was ranked 2nd for graduate prospects in The Guardian University Guide 2017.
*the discipline closest to Health and Social Care
Course structure
The following modules are indicative of those offered on this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation.
On most programmes, you study a combination of compulsory and optional modules. You may also be able to take ‘wild’ modules from other programmes so you can customise your programme and explore other subjects that interest you.
Teaching and assessment
We use a variety of teaching methods, including lectures, case study analysis, group projects and presentations, and individual and group tutorials. Many module convenors also offer additional ‘clinic’ hours to help with the preparation of coursework and for exams.
Assessment is by a mixture of coursework and examinations; to see assessment details for individual modules, click 'read more' within the course structure.
Programme aims
The programme aims to:
- develop awareness and understanding of the needs and characteristics of individuals with autism spectrum disorders
- enhance students' knowledge about the approaches to supporting individuals with autism spectrum disorders in different settings
- instil in students a critical appreciation of the research basis of intervention in autism and the application of different intervention approaches.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
You develop knowledge and understanding of:
- the definition and epidemiology of autism spectrum disorders
- the causes of autism
- the issues for supporting people with autism spectrum disorders in services and schools
- policy, funding and service models
- approaches and interventions in autism spectrum disorders, including early intervention
- supporting families of children with autism spectrum disorders
- capacity, empowerment, advocacy and protection
- theoretical and diagnostic approaches to autism spectrum disorders
- the research basis for intervention in autism spectrum disorders
- applied behaviour analysis and autism spectrum disorders.
Intellectual skills
You gain the intellectual abilities to:
- cross reference information from various sources to draw conclusions on how best to support individuals with ASD
- interpret available data and make arguments, recognising alternative interpretations and limitations in the data or its method of collection.
Subject-specific skills
You gain subject-specific skills in the following:
- the ability to develop and apply an intervention to provide an autism-friendly environment and promote the quality of life of people with autism.
Transferable skills
You gain transferable skills in the following:
- the ability to communicate ideas and arguments to others, mainly in written form, prepare written assignments and reference the materials referred to in accordance with accepted conventions
- to improve your own learning: be reflective, adaptive and independent in your learning, explore personal strengths and weaknesses, and time management – by delivering academic work on time to the required standard
- abilities in IT: to produce written documents, undertake online research, and study and learn independently using library and internet sources
- numeracy: to use basic methods of presenting and interpreting data and information from different sources.
Careers
Our programmes provide you with knowledge and skills that will appeal to employers such as the NHS, local authority adults’ and children’s services, and the voluntary and private social and healthcare sector. You also develop transferable skills such as planning and organisation, teamwork, leadership.
This programme provides you with both academic and practical knowledge to help you provide better support to children and adults on the autism spectrum.
Entry requirements
Some experience of working with people with autism is recommended. Mature students who do not hold appropriate qualifications can apply, but will need to demonstrate that they have the skills/experience to study at degree level. References will be required. Students will be either in employment supporting children or adults with autism, a family carer of a child or adult with autism, or be able to arrange a placement for the second year of the course.
Home/EU students
The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications. Students offering alternative qualifications should contact us for further advice.
It is not possible to offer places to all students who meet this typical offer/minimum requirement.
New GCSE grades
If you’ve taken exams under the new GCSE grading system, please see our conversion table to convert your GCSE grades.
| Qualification | Typical offer/minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| A level | CDD |
| Access to HE Diploma | The University will not necessarily make conditional offers to all Access candidates but will continue to assess them on an individual basis. If we make you an offer, you will need to obtain/pass the overall Access to Higher Education Diploma and may also be required to obtain a proportion of the total level 3 credits and/or credits in particular subjects at merit grade or above |
| BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (formerly BTEC National Diploma) | Merit, Merit, Pass |
| International Baccalaureate | 34 points overall or 13 at HL |
International students
The University welcomes applications from international students. Our international recruitment team can guide you on entry requirements. See our International Student website for further information about entry requirements for your country.
If you need to increase your level of qualification ready for undergraduate study, we offer a number of International Foundation Programmes.
Meet our staff in your country
For more advise about applying to Kent, you can meet our staff at a range of international events.
English Language Requirements
Please see our English language entry requirements web page.
Please note that if you are required to meet an English language condition, we offer a number of 'pre-sessional' courses in English for Academic Purposes. You attend these courses before starting your degree programme.
General entry requirements
Please also see our general entry requirements.
Fees
The 2017/18 tuition fees for this programme are:
| UK/EU | Overseas | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time |
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
UK/EU fee paying students
The Government has announced changes to allow undergraduate tuition fees to rise in line with inflation from 2017/18.
In accordance with changes announced by the UK Government, we are increasing our 2017/18 regulated full-time tuition fees for new and returning UK/EU fee paying undergraduates from £9,000 to £9,250. The equivalent part-time fees for these courses will also rise from £4,500 to £4,625. This was subject to us satisfying the Government's Teaching Excellence Framework and the access regulator's requirements. This fee will ensure the continued provision of high-quality education.
For students continuing on this programme, fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.*
The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from UKCISA before applying.
General additional costs
Find out more about accommodation and living costs, plus general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent.
Funding
University funding
Kent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. See our funding page for more details.
Government funding
You may be eligible for government finance to help pay for the costs of studying. See the Government's student finance website.
The Government has confirmed that EU students applying for university places in the 2017 to 2018 academic year will still have access to student funding support for the duration of their course.
Scholarships
General scholarships
Scholarships are available for excellence in academic performance, sport and music and are awarded on merit. For further information on the range of awards available and to make an application see our scholarships website.
The Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence
At Kent we recognise, encourage and reward excellence. We have created the Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence. The scholarship will be awarded to any applicant who achieves a minimum of AAA over three A levels, or the equivalent qualifications (including BTEC and IB) as specified on our scholarships pages.
The scholarship is also extended to those who achieve AAB at A level (or specified equivalents) where one of the subjects is either Mathematics or a Modern Foreign Language. Please review the eligibility criteria.