Integrated Health and Social Care with Foundation Year

This flexible course offers a part-time option; a blended learning approach; and opportunities for placement-based learning.

This practice-led course is designed for students with or without a health and social care background who aspire to support or manage transformative health and care projects; it would also suit professionals who want to approach leadership in care settings with a strong grasp of data-driven decision making. With specific focus on health inequalities, challenges across the lifespan, integrated care and leadership, you graduate able to address the challenges confronting policymakers and professionals grappling with fast-changing, contemporary social issues.

Facilities and specialist equipment

• Seven-storey library with an extensive range of physical and digital resources

• Bespoke lecture theatres, presentation rooms and group study spaces

• Simulated learning facilities mimicking workplace scenarios

Partnerships and collaborations
We work collaboratively with statutory and voluntary agencies in Luton, Bedford, and the surrounding areas on health and social care projects and large-scale research. Our staff and alumni work on the Bedford, Luton and Milton Keynes (BLMK) Integrated Care Board in policy development and analytical roles; these staff are engaged as practice partners on the course. Students work on projects in collaboration with statutory and voluntary agencies.

Your student experience

• Gain core knowledge in health care, social policy, data analysis, governance and leadership while exploring areas such as health inequalities; mental health and addictions; digital health; health and care policies; health prevention and social outcomes.

• From your second year, tailor your studies to your interests or chosen graduate career with a range of optional units and the choice of a final-year community-based project or research dissertation.

• Actively prepare for the workplace while you study with virtual placements that develop professional skills and competencies. Virtual placements take place in simulated learning facilities that mimic workplace scenarios, building your understanding of professional behaviours and enhancing your employability skills.

• Study with an academic team with wide experience in the field, actively involved in health and social-care research. Their expertise feeds back directly into their teaching.

• Staff areas of expertise include population health; safeguarding children, young people and adults; elderly care; research methods; career planning; health inequalities; and strategic leadership and management.

• Develop resilience and innovation - core skills to navigate the complex and fast-changing landscape of the care sector.

• Learn from guest speakers at the forefront of the field in our interactive workshops and seminars. Several Seats, Tuff2Talk, Space2Talk and ice&fire (Actors for Human Rights) are some examples of our guest speakers.

• Broaden your horizons with subject-relevant field trips. There is an excellent synergy between campuses, with students frequently attending events together and visiting each others’ campuses.

• Collaborate with local charities, policymakers and community influencers through our #SASS Change Maker initiative, which aims to increase awareness of topical issues