This is an archived page and for reference purposes only
This programme focuses on health and social care policy and offers both a stimulating course of study and a route into a large and growing number of careers.
Overview
Health and social care policy attempts to address numerous challenging problems within society: Should fertility treatment be available as a right on the NHS? Should older people pay for their own care? Are services delivered fairly to all sections of the community? Which policies are most effective in reducing social inequalities in health? You have the opportunity to consider these and many other important questions.
This degree encourages you not only to explore and evaluate the issues but also to think about solutions and how to apply them in a practical context.
Think Kent video series
Over a third of the UK’s 6.5 million carers are aged 65 years and over. In this talk, Dr Alisoun Milne explores why older carers are at significant risk of poor physical and mental health, reduced quality of life and poverty, and cannot be assumed un-problematically to protect their own health and well-being. These are matters of social justice.
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 2nd for graduate prospects in The Guardian University Guide 2017.
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.
Year abroad
Going abroad as part of your degree is an amazing experience and a chance to develop personally, academically and professionally. You experience a different culture, gain a new academic perspective, establish international contacts and enhance your employability.
You can apply to add a Year Abroad to your degree programme from your arrival at Kent until the autumn term of your second year. The Year Abroad takes place between Stages 2 and 3 at one of our partner universities. Places and destination are subject to availability, language and degree programme. For a full list, please see Go Abroad.
To be eligible for the year abroad all students must obtain an average of 60% in the first and second years of their degree. In addition, those students studying on a Tier 4 visa must ensure they comply with the prevailing UKVI visa regulations governing course changes that are applicable to their individual circumstances.
You are expected to adhere to any academic progression requirements in Stages 1 and 2 to proceed to the Year Abroad. The Year Abroad is assessed on a pass/fail basis and will not count towards your final degree classification.
Teaching and assessment
Teaching involves a mixture of lectures, seminars, workshops and one-to-one sessions with academic staff.
Most modules are assessed by 50% coursework and 50% end-of-year examination. A small number are assessed entirely by coursework. To see details for individual modules, click 'read more' within the module information in the course structure.
Programme aims
This programme aims to:
- produce well-trained social scientists with a broad knowledge of the field of health and social care
- enable students to link theoretical knowledge with empirical enquiry to evaluate research findings and engage critically with the principal debates in the subject
- give students a good grounding in the areas of health and social care and corresponding political and policy issues
- equip students with the skills and knowledge that will enable them to enter a dynamic and diverse labour market and carry forward their interest in the area further.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
You gain knowledge and understanding of:
- the origins and development of UK welfare institutions, with particular emphasis on those of health and social care
- current structures of health and social care, including an ability to locate them in a wider context
- the operation and financing of health and social care and an understanding of the political economy of social welfare
- the roles of the private and voluntary sectors in relation to health and social care, with an understanding of the mixed economy of welfare
- key concepts of social policy such as need, equity, inequality, poverty, exclusion, identity, difference and diversity as they relate to health and social care
- local, regional, national and supranational dimensions of policy and understanding of the links between them
- the main sources of data in relation to health and social care and a grasp of the research methods used to collect and analyse data
- interdisciplinary approaches used to analye issues in health and social care with an ability to use concepts from other social sciences
- key concepts and theories in relation to health and social care and an ability to apply these in a comparative approach.
Intellectual skills
You develop the following intellectual skills:
- problem-solving skills and the ability to seek solutions to social problems and individual needs
- research skills, including the ability to identify a research question and to collect and manipulate data to answer that question
- evaluative and analytic skills, to assess the outcomes of policy interventions in relation to health and social care as they impact on individuals and communities
- sensitivity to the values and interest of others and to the dimensions of difference
Subject-specific skills
You gain subject-specific skills in how to:
- identify and use theories and concepts to analyse the field of health and social care
- seek out and use statistical data relevant to the subject
- undertake an investigation of an empirical issue, either on your own or with other students
- distinguish between technical, normative, moral and political questions.
Transferable skills
You gain transferable skills in the following:
- independent study and learning
- having an appetite for learning and being reflective, adaptive and collaborative in your approach
- making short presentations to fellow students and staff
- communicating ideas and arguments to others, both in written and spoken form
- information technology
- preparing essays and correctly referencing the materials referred to
- time management
- developing interpersonal and teamwork skills to enable you to work collaboratively, negotiate, listen and deliver results
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 and leadership.
Our graduates have gone on to careers in: research and policy-oriented work in the NHS, local government or the voluntary sector; postgraduate training in social work and other professional courses; research and evaluation; social care work in the public, voluntary and private sectors; management and organisation posts in the health services; personnel and resource management posts in the private sector, local authorities and voluntary organisations.
Entry requirements
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 | BBB |
| 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) | Distinction, Distinction, Merit. Health and Social Care or Public Services preferred |
| International Baccalaureate | 34 points overall or 15 points 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 | ||
| Part-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.
Fees for Year Abroad/Industry
As a guide only, UK/EU/International students on an approved year abroad for the full 2017/18 academic year pay an annual fee of £1,350 to Kent for that year. Students studying abroad for less than one academic year will pay full fees according to their fee status.
Please note that for 2017/18 entrants the University will increase the standard year in industry fee for home/EU/international students to £1,350.
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.