Undergraduate · Health & Social Care

BSc (Hons)Health, Wellbeing and Social Carewith Foundation Year

Understand the people, communities and services at the heart of care. Build your academic confidence and explore how evidence, compassion and leadership can shape health and wellbeing.

Apply Now Talk to our team

Delivered by GBS. Awarded by Oxford Brookes University. Personal guidance from GLP.

Community wellbeing worker leading a gentle group wellbeing activity with diverse adults in a light community centre — Care for people. Understand communities.Explore health and wellbeing.
Develop skills for the care sector.

Duration: 4 yearsIncluding Foundation Year
Delivery: Weekdays, evenings & weekendsSubject to confirmation
Entry guidance: 80 UCAS pointsOr an accepted 60-credit Level 3 qualification
Intakes: September, January, JuneSubject to confirmation

Awarding institution: Oxford Brookes University
Locations: London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds — subject to availability

A foundation for meaningful work

Understand health.
Put people first.

Explore a changing healthcare sector through a four-year programme that begins with a Foundation Year. Develop academic skills while examining essential topics in health, wellbeing and social care, preparing you for the three degree years that follow.

As you progress, investigate the biological, psychological and social influences on health, the way services are delivered, and the role of effective management. Consider how communication, compassion, ethics and evidence can inform decisions across care settings.

Build research, reflection and collaborative skills through increasingly demanding study. Explore safeguarding, equality, healthy ageing and mental wellbeing before progressing to leadership, quality management and an independent final project.

Plan your study with confidence

The supplied September, January and June intakes and weekday, evening and weekend options are retained as subject to confirmation. The current GBS guide lists October, January and June, with weekday and/or evening delivery. Ask admissions for your campus timetable and start date.

Explore your route into study

Your experience matters.

Standard academic route

80UCAS tariff points

Or an accepted Ofqual Level 3 qualification with 60 credits. Admissions confirms which qualifications and evidence meet the requirements.

Experience-based consideration

21+years of age

If you do not meet the standard requirements, relevant life or work experience may support an individual assessment of your suitability for foundation-level study.

The current GBS guide also specifies a minimum age of 18 and five GCSEs at grade 4/C or above, including English, or equivalent, for its standard route. Confirm the requirements for your circumstances before applying.

Interview and supporting documents

All applicants are assessed through an interview covering listening and speaking, together with a supervised personal reflection statement to assess writing.

Completed application form.
Supervised personal reflection statement.
Personal interview and any supporting documents requested by admissions.

Meeting an indicative entry threshold does not guarantee an offer. The provider makes the final admissions decision.

Your learning journey

From foundations to leadership.

Build academic confidence, explore the contexts of care and develop the research and management skills to investigate sector challenges. The outline below includes 120 credits in each year.

Foundation year · Year 0Build academic skills and explore the foundations of care

Academic writing skills for success 1 (20 credits)
Health and Social Care 1 (20 credits)
Health and wellbeing across communities, and in Health and Social Care environments (20 credits)
Professional foundations of Health and Social Care (20 credits)
Care, compassion and communication in Health and Social Care (20 credits)
Academic writing skills for success 2 (20 credits)

Year oneUnderstand people, policy and evidence in health and social care

Introduction to using research and evidence in Health and Social Care (20 credits)
Health and Social Care 2 – policies and practice (20 credits)
Communication and ethics in Health and Social Care (20 credits)
Culture and society in Health (20 credits)
Biological psychological and social determinants of health across the life course (20 credits)
Careers and employability in Health and Social Care (20 credits)

Year twoExplore safeguarding, equality and wellbeing across the life course

Equality and social justice in Health and Social Care (20 credits)
Safeguarding children and adults in Health and Social Care (20 credits)
Health and Social Care 3 – Professional development through work-based learning (20 credits)
Health and Social Care for healthy ageing (20 credits)
Applied research in practice (20 credits)
Mental health and wellbeing across the life course (20 credits)

Year threeDevelop leadership, evaluate quality and apply your research

The supplied outline lists four 20-credit modules. The 40-credit Capstone Project has been added from the current GBS course guide, bringing the listed final year to 120 credits. Confirm the programme specification for your intake.

Evaluating and managing quality in Health and Social Care (20 credits)
Social Justice, equality and vulnerability (20 credits)
Challenging evidence Health and Social Care (20 credits)
Leadership and management in Health and Social Care (20 credits)
Capstone Project (40 credits)

The supplied module titles are retained, with the Capstone Project added from GBS’s current guide. Module titles and availability may change; confirm the final programme for your intake.

Think critically. Learn together.

Connect knowledge with practice.

Develop your understanding through research, discussion and reflection on health and social care scenarios. Independent preparation and study support your progress alongside taught sessions.

How you’ll study

Explore health and social care topics through guided academic study.
Research evidence and reference sources to support your conclusions.
Reflect on scenarios and evaluate possible responses.
Collaborate with peers on projects, presentations and debates.
Develop evidence-based writing and professional judgement.

Simulations are used where available. Confirm work-based learning arrangements and any placement requirements with admissions.

How you’ll be assessed

Essays and reports using research and referencing.
Individual and group presentations with questions and answers.
Group debates that develop and defend a reasoned position.
Small group projects with peer presentations and reviews.
Real-life simulations where available, using reflection and evaluation.

Group work requires participation and commitment from each member. Assessment methods and module requirements are confirmed by the provider and may be reviewed annually.

Looking beyond graduation

Explore where your skills can lead.

Develop transferable skills in communication, research, teamwork and management that can support opportunities across health, social care, education, charities and public services.

Health and social care services
Community and wellbeing organisations
Local authority services
Charity and voluntary sector projects
Education support settings
Further study and professional development

Potential employers may include NHS organisations, local authorities, charities, community organisations, schools and higher education institutions. These are examples of sectors to explore, rather than employer partnerships or employment guarantees.

Individual roles may require additional qualifications, training, experience or professional registration. Discuss your intended career route before choosing the course.

Plan your next step

Understand the cost of study.

Tuition fees

To be confirmed

Contact GLP for the current fee schedule for your entry year, including the foundation year and subsequent degree years.

Ask about fees & funding

Funding your studies

Eligible students may be able to apply for a Tuition Fee Loan and support with living costs. Eligibility depends on your course and provider, previous study, age, nationality and residency status. Confirm your individual entitlement with Student Finance.

For most courses starting on or after 1 January 2027, applications use Lifelong Learning Entitlement funding. Check the guidance for your intended start date before making financial plans.

Before you apply

Confirm your entry route, eligibility, intake availability, modules and current fees with the provider. This page brings together course information and GLP guidance.

Current GBS course guide Student finance eligibility — GOV.UK Funding for courses starting from January 2027 — GOV.UK

Your questions, answered

A little more clarity.

Is this course right for me?

This programme may suit you if you want to understand health, wellbeing and social care, with foundation-level preparation before degree study. Discuss your interests, experience and career goals with GLP.

What will I gain from the course?

You can develop academic writing, research, communication, teamwork and critical thinking while exploring the people, policies and management practices that shape care services.

What career opportunities could I explore?

Consider health and social care, education, charities, community services and public organisations. Recruitment requirements vary by role, and further professional training may be necessary.

Where can I study?

The listed cities are London, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds. Confirm the campus and intake available to you with admissions.

Can the timetable fit around my commitments?

The supplied weekday, evening and weekend options are subject to confirmation. Ask for the actual timetable, attendance expectations and independent study commitments before applying.

Do I meet the entry requirements?

The standard outline lists 80 UCAS points or an accepted 60-credit Level 3 qualification. Applicants aged 21 and over may be considered through relevant experience. Check the additional academic requirements and interview process in the entry section.

What will I study?

Begin with academic skills and care foundations, then explore health determinants, ethics, safeguarding, mental wellbeing, research and management. The final year includes a Capstone Project listed in the current provider guide.

How will I be assessed?

Assessment can include essays, reports, presentations, debates, group projects and simulations where available. You will use research, referencing, reflection and reasoned arguments to demonstrate your learning.

Ask another course question

Your next chapter starts here

Build your future
in health, wellbeing and social care.

Explore your next step with personal guidance from Global Learning Pathway.