Health and Social Care - BA (Hons)

This is an archived course for 2021 entry
2023 courses

Health and social care policy attempts to address numerous challenging problems within society. On this degree programme you learn to offer considered responses to complex issues, which could change and improve lives.

Overview

The School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research is one of the best in the country for teaching and research. You are taught by qualified health and social care professionals with diverse practical experience who are active in research and scholarship.

Our degree programme

Health and Social Care addresses key issues such as: 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.

Your first year gives you a solid foundation in the subject, through the study of health, care and well-being. You develop an understanding of sociology, social control and policy making, and the social experience of everyday life. You can also choose from optional modules on criminology, modern culture and other subject areas.

In your second and final years, you take a module in research methods and choose from a range of modules to create a degree that reflects your interests. Subjects covered may include caring for vulnerable adults, social security, health policies, mental health and the welfare state.

The degree focuses on health and social care policy to offer both a stimulating course of study and a route into a large and growing number of careers. It 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.

Extra activities

The Social Studies Society is run by Kent students for anyone with an interest in Criminology, Sociology, Law, Social Policy, Economics and Politics. Events in the past have included:

  • research seminars and webcasts
  • career development workshops
  • informal lectures by guest experts followed by group discussion.

Featured video

I absolutely love it, honestly. I really enjoy it. I’ll go home and all I do is talk about university.

Annamae Ballantine - Health and Social Care - BA (Hons)

Entry requirements

Please also see our general entry requirements.

  • medal-empty

    A level

    BBB

  • medal-empty 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.

  • medal-empty BTEC Nationals

    Distinction, Distinction, Merit in Health and Social Care or Public Services.

  • medal-empty International Baccalaureate

    34 points overall or 15 points at HL

  • medal-empty International Foundation Programme

    Pass all components of the University of Kent International Foundation Programme with a 60% overall average.

International students should visit our International Student website for further specific information. International fee-paying students who require a Student visa cannot study part-time due to visa restrictions.

English Language Requirements

Please see our English language entry requirements web page.

If you need to improve your English language standard as a condition of your offer, you can attend one of our pre-sessional courses in English for Academic Purposes before starting your degree programme. You attend these courses before starting your degree programme.

Course structure

Duration: 3 years full-time (4 with a year abroad), 6 years part-time (7 with a year abroad)

Modules

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 ‘elective’ 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.

Fees

The 2021/22 annual tuition fees for this programme are:

  • Home full-time TBC
  • International full-time TBC
  • Home part-time TBC
  • International part-time TBC

For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.

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.* 

Your fee status

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 in Industry

Fees for Home undergraduates are £1,385.

Fees for Year Abroad

Fees for Home undergraduates are £1,385.

Students studying abroad for less than one academic year will pay full fees according to their fee status. 

Additional costs

General additional costs

Find out more about accommodation and living costs, plus general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent.

Funding

We have a range of subject-specific awards and scholarships for academic, sporting and musical achievement.

Search scholarships

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.

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 A*AA over three A levels, or the equivalent qualifications (including BTEC and IB) as specified on our scholarships pages.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching involves a mixture of lectures, seminars, workshops and one-to-one sessions with academic staff. 

Most modules in the School 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.

Contact hours

For a student studying full time, each academic year of the programme will comprise 1200 learning hours which include both direct contact hours and private study hours.  The precise breakdown of hours will be subject dependent and will vary according to modules.  Please refer to the individual module details under Course Structure.

Methods of assessment will vary according to subject specialism and individual modules.  Please refer to the individual module details under 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 analyse 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

Independent rankings

Social Policy at Kent was ranked 3rd for research quality and 13th overall in The Complete University Guide 2021.

Social Policy at Kent was ranked 2nd for research quality and 9th overall in The Times Good University Guide 2021.

Careers

Graduate destinations

Our programmes provide you with knowledge and skills that appeal to employers such as:

  • the NHS
  • local authority adults’ and children’s services
  • voluntary organisations
  • private social and healthcare sector.

You also develop transferable skills such as planning and organisation, teamwork and leadership.

Help finding a job

The School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research has its own employability team who work with businesses to maximise opportunities for our students. We also hold an Employability Month every February and run networking events throughout the year.

The University has a friendly Careers and Employability Service which can give you advice on how to:

  • apply for jobs
  • write a good CV
  • perform well in interviews.

Work experience

Taken as part of your degree, the Kent Student Certificate for Volunteering Platinum Award allows you to develop transferable skills in leadership, mentoring, project management and working within teams and organisations. You complete 100 hours of volunteering on campus, in the community and project leadership.

Career-enhancing skills

You graduate with subject-specific knowledge that is essential for a career in health and social care. You also develop the key transferable skills graduate employers look for, including:

  • the ability to analyse information
  • excellent communication skills
  • work independently or as part of a team
  • an understanding of, and sensitivity to, the values and interests of others.

You can also gain extra skills by signing up for one of our Kent Extra activities, such as learning a language or volunteering.

Apply for Health and Social Care - BA (Hons)

This course page is for the 2021/22 academic year. Please visit the current online prospectus for a list of undergraduate courses we offer.

Contact us

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United Kingdom/EU enquiries

T: +44 (0)1227 768896

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International student enquiries

Enquire online

T: +44 (0)1227 823254
E: internationalstudent@kent.ac.uk

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