Health and Social Care Practice (with Foundation Year)

The Integrated Foundation Year offers a new and exciting route into studying for a degree, attracting ambitious and driven students who are willing to learn and advance. If you have non-standard qualifications or do not quite meet the admissions requirements for Health and Social Care Practice we can offer you a fantastic opportunity to study a four year Health and Social Care programme which includes an Integrated Foundation Year.

The Integrated Foundation Year will help you develop the theoretical/practical and academic skills you need, in order to successfully progress to the full award. Featuring a reduced tuition fee in the first year, this four-year course will enable you to successfully follow the degree pathway of your choice while gaining essential study skills. The foundation year of your chosen degree will be studied on a full-time basis and is aimed at supporting the transition to higher education. Years two, three and four are then studied as a standard degree programme.

By studying at the University of Northampton, you can be sure that:**

• Our expert academics teach in small groups supported with one to one assistance. Our academics and students form a tight bond, providing individualised support and guidance whilst challenging students academically.

• Whatever your ambitions, we’re here to help you to achieve them. We’ll support you to identify the skills you’re learning during your course, find your strengths and secure practical experience so that when it comes to applying for jobs or further study you’ll feel confident in standing out from the crowd.

• You will experience student life at the University’s £330 million Waterside Campus. Come along to an Open Day and find out more.

• At UON we guarantee a room in our Halls of Residence for all new full-time, first year students who apply and accept their room offer by June 2026 - and we won't ask for a deposit for September 2026**.

• Students enrolling on this course at Northampton will be provided with their own brand new laptop** to keep at no additional cost. All sports clubs and societies are free to join at Northampton and every essential course text book is available via the library, meaning you won’t have to purchase copies. For more information on this visit our website (northampton.ac.uk/benefits).

The Northampton Employment Promise

• In fact, we’re so confident in our careers and employability support that if you achieve at least a 2:2 degree and complete either our Employability Plus Gold programme or achieve a Changemaker Gold Certificate during your time studying with us, but still haven’t secured full-time employment 12 months after graduating, we will secure a three – six month paid internship for you or support you into postgraduate study.

✱ eligibility criteria apply. See northampton.ac.uk/student-life/accommodation/ for more information.
✱✱ eligibility criteria and terms and conditions apply. See northampton.ac.uk/benefits for more information.

The Integrated Foundation Year (IFY) offers a new and exciting route into studying for a degree. The foundation year will be studied on a full-time basis and is aimed at supporting your transition to higher education. Years two, three and four are then studied as a standard degree programme.

STAGE 1a:
• Transition to University – Learning to Learn (compulsory)
• Investigating Your Subject (compulsory)
• Foundations in Development and Education (compulsory)
• Negotiated Learning Project (compulsory)

STAGE 1b:
• Academic and Professional Skills (compulsory)
• Approaches to Mental Health and Wellbeing (compulsory)
• Contemporary Issues in Health and Social Care (compulsory)
• Global Inequality in Health and Social Care (compulsory)
• Identity and Reflective Practice (compulsory)
• Working with Others (compulsory)

STAGE 2:
• Working with Diverse Communities (compulsory)
• Global Health and Social Policy (compulsory)
• Therapeutic Approaches to Communication (compulsory)
• Work-Related Learning in Health and Social Care (compulsory)

STAGE 3:
• Dissertation/Needs Assessment Plan (compulsory)
• Leading the way in Health and Social Care Practice (compulsory)
• Advocating for and with Children and Young People (compulsory)
• Working with an Ageing Population (compulsory)
• Sustainable Solutions for Working in Health and Social Care (compulsory).

*Students must take all compulsory modules. Students who do not complete the Honours Degree will be eligible for an Ordinary Degree in the named subject upon successful completion of a minimum of 60 Level 6 credits. These can be from any Level 6 modules, whether identified as compulsory or designated.
**Module information is quoted for 2025/26 entry. Please note that modules run subject to student numbers and staff availability, any changes will be communicated to applicants accordingly.

You will be assessed through coursework, essays, reports, critical reviews, portfolios, online tests, oral presentations, individual and group work.