BA (Hons) Health and Care Management with Foundation Year

Course Overview

Do you want to develop the skills to excel in leadership and management roles across the health and care sector, but aren’t not sure if you’re ready for university study? Then our health and care management degree with an integrated foundation year is the solution you’ve been looking for.

Designed to equip you with the skills you need to progress to degree-level study, this programme will help you establish a career within the health and social care sector, even if you don’t have the academic qualifications to join a standard undergraduate degree course. The foundation year is perfect if you need a little extra support to start your journey to higher education, offering study-skills and guidance at every stage.

In addition to being a high quality honours degree, the course is accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI). That means that upon successful completion, you’ll receive the CMI level 5 Diploma in Management and Leadership, demonstrating your ability to succeed in health and social care management roles. The course is endorsed by the Institute of Health & Social Care Management (IHSCM) and Skills for Care, meaning it’s recognised for its excellence in teaching both management and health and social care skills, and can serve as a fast-track to professional development.

The academic team behind the development and delivery of the course are industry leaders with vast experience within the health and social care sector, including directors at the NHS/IHSCM and digital health tech firms, ensuring the course is directed by the needs of the industry. This also brings a wealth of professional expertise to your learning, providing you with a myriad of opportunities to develop your skills and practice. Finally, guest lecturers and live case studies from our links with the NHS, IHSCM, and Skills for Care will help you learn from real-world experiences and connect with professionals in the field.

Entry requirements

At Arden University we consider applications on a case by case basis. If you have significant work experience, have qualifications you have gained elsewhere, or a degree or qualification that isn’t a clear pathway to this degree – we are more than happy to discuss your application.

What do you need to study with us?

Our aim is to make learning as accessible as possible by ensuring that you can join us, wherever you are.

That’s why we keep our requirements simple. All you need is a laptop or computer (we recommend one running the latest version of Windows), and a good stable internet connection. With this one tool, you’ll be able to access information, advice, support, learning materials and our online library, as well as create assignments, keep notes, and collaborate with other students effectively.

Eligibility

To be eligible for our BSc (Hons) Health and Care Management with Foundation Year course, we need to see that you have:

At least 3 x GCSEs OR 45 credits at Level 2 or equivalent – if your qualifications are older than 3 years we would also ask to see a professional CV.
If you don’t meet these requirements, your application may be considered based on a minimum of 12 months of professional work experience evidenced with a CV and reference.

In addition, an apprenticeship route: the Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship BSc (Hons) Health and Care Management (CMI) with NHS Mary Seacole Award is also available.

Course fee

International Fee	Fee
fee per level:	£4000

UK Fee	Fee
fee per level:	£6,935

Please note: Fees quoted relate to the intake that you enrol on (i.e. when you start your course), NOT your application date.

English proficiency

IELTS 6.0 or equivalent (no less than 5.5 in any element).
Alternatively, evidence you have previously studied in English, such as a letter to show that the Medium of Instruction was in English can be accepted.

Before you start studying

Whilst you can read your study materials on your smart phone or tablet, to make the most of your learning experience, you will need access to a laptop or computer (we recommend one running the latest version of Windows), and a good stable internet connection.

Apply for the Course

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Course details and modules

Arden’s foundation year modules have been designed to give you a tailored and fully supportive introduction to university study. This first year of study will prepare you for success in higher education by introducing you to the academic skills and subject-specific knowledge required to excel in your chosen degree subject.

An innovative approach to health and care management is the only answer to the extensive changes the sector has experienced in the last years. The course has been developed in correspondence with the ever-growing needs of the health and social care sector, highlighting the emerging digital and leadership competencies required of today’s professionals and managers.

So, if you’re looking for a quality health and social care-oriented degree that will help you take on the sector’s most pressing workplace matters with confidence, look no further than our BSc (Hons) Health and Care Management with Foundation Year.

How do we assess you?

Assessments

Unlike on more traditional degrees, you won’t be sitting any exams on this course. Your assessments will instead link your learning material to health, care, and management practice, providing you with key transferable workplace attributes for your future role. These include:

Essay and personal development plan
Presentations
Digital badges
Reflection on practice
Analysis report
Podcast
Resource for ‘Care Quality Commission’ (CQC) inspection
Leadership consultancy report
Portfolio of finance tasks and calculations
Critical case study review and CARS checklist analysis
Final project

Modules

You have 4-12 years to complete this course, meaning you can take up to 3 years to complete each level. Most of our students, however, aim to complete the course within 4-8 years.

Foundation year

Preparing for University Success
Exploring the Business Environment
Advancing your Academic Skills
Becoming an Effective Leader
Planning for Your Future Success
Investigation & Innovation Project

Level 4

Essential Skills for Health & Care Management
Meeting the Needs of Service Users
Planetary Health
Health Promotion
Supporting Dignity and Respect Through Ethical Principles and Theories
Communication & Interprofessional Collaboration

Level 5

Leadership Theory & Concepts for Health & Care Management
Fundamentals of Health & Care Finance
Public Health
Resource Planning in Multidisciplinary Working
Digital Health Leadership
Evidence Based Practice

Level 6

Global Health and Sustainability
Health Analytics and Planning
Total Quality Management in Health & Care
Project Management
Final Project

Career prospects

The BSc (Hons) Health and Care Management with Foundation Year provides students with not only just a degree, but the CMI Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management. This will allow you to gain key qualifications and professional competence in health and care management and leadership to start or enhance your career. This qualification is accepted by the CQC and Skills for Care in application for Registered Manager positions in social care, demonstrating the quality of the course from both a management and health and care perspective.

What can I do after Arden University?

With a health and care bachelor’s degree under your belt, you could work in the National Health Service (NHS), in the vast social care sector, with a private healthcare provider, or for a voluntary or not-for-profit organisation in a range of settings, including:

Health service management
Social care Registered Manager roles
Service implementation, improvement, or transformation
Health and care funding opportunities and applications
Strategy development
Communications and engagement
Partnership or collaboration building
Training needs management
Workforce development
Service user/patient experience liaison or engagement
Quality assessment
Health promotion and education
Public health initiatives
System design and implementation
Digital health enterprises
Data planning

What will the BSc (Hons) Health and Care Management with Foundation Year do for me?

With the introduction of integrated care systems, the demand for highly trained professionals and managers in health and social care will most certainly increase. Our unique offering combines health and care with management principles, providing a foundation for you to both develop and build new skills for your current or future managerial roles. This includes those working or aspiring to work within NHS Trusts, social care, private clinics, charitable sectors, or within local councils or the wider health profession.

So, whether you’re looking for a career change, to develop new skills, or career progression, the course offers a pathway for you to achieve your ambitions. On top of this, gaining CMI status opens new doors for professionals in the field and can act as a fast-track to career development and progression.

Upon graduation, you may find yourself managing a health or social care setting, developing public health campaigns or policy, researching key health and care issues, working in medical technology, developing quality assurance practises, or even working in community health care development.

During your Foundation Year, you’ll get comprehensive support and preparation for your university journey, including:

Introduction and preparation: our Foundation Year courses introduce you to university-level teaching, learning, and assessment methods. You’ll develop essential study skills, research techniques, and critical thinking abilities, laying a strong foundation for your degree studies.

Personalised support: our academic staff will guide you throughout your Foundation Year. They’ll ensure a smooth transition into your degree programme, providing the support you need every step of the way.

Direct relevance to your future degree: your programme content is carefully designed to align with Arden’s degree courses. Studying a Foundation Year will equip you with subject-specific knowledge and interdisciplinary exploration, establishing a solid base for your chosen degree.

Improved degree outcomes: we prioritise not only your academic preparation but also your success. By boosting your confidence, academic skills, and understanding of the subjects, we empower you to achieve the best possible degree outcomes and expand your career opportunities.

Part time online learning

How does it work?

Studying this degree online gives you the ultimate in convenience. You can enrol with Arden from anywhere in the world and study your degree from the comfort of home, without the requirement to attend classes in a physical location.

Our online students study their degree through ilearn, Arden’s university campus in the cloud. ilearn provides everything you need to study at University. It offers an integrated virtual learning experience, including your virtual classroom, lecture theatre, and access to our Library Portal. The portal includes an extensive digital library including thousands of journal titles, eBooks, and academic and industry databases which you can use to research your assignments and projects. All of these materials are provided to you free of charge, and contain all the research information you’ll need to complete your degree with us.

ilearn is also integrated with Zoom, making it easier to chat with your course tutor during your scheduled seminar sessions. You can even integrate our study materials into your Kindle, making it possible to study wherever you have your Kindle handy.

Studying online doesn’t mean studying alone. As well as receiving regular feedback and guidance from your course tutor, you’ll be studying with like-minded students who you can meet with through our Unitu community, and you’ll have access to community message boards to discuss your course and the topics being raised within it. We’ve even set up community boards embedded into each of the course modules so you can have discussions with your tutor and classmates on the topics you’re currently learning.

Online learning students resident in the UK can apply for a Maintenance Loan if they cannot attend their course in person because of a disability. If you’re a student from Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland you can find information on Living Cost Loans from your student finance body.

Full-time blended learning

How does it work?

When you choose our blended learning study mode, each week you’ll have eight hours of timetabled classes spread over two days at the Arden study centre of your choice. This is combined with around 25 hours of independent study, which takes place through ilearn, our university campus in the cloud. ilearn contains all the resources you need to study successfully. As a blended learning student you’ll also have access to our Library Portal, an extensive digital library with thousands of journal titles, eBooks, and a range of academic and industry databases that you can use to research and gain in-depth information on your area of study. At Arden, all of your course materials are provided free of charge, removing the need for you to buy expensive textbooks to study your degree successfully.

Blended learning is the best option for students who prefer the structure of regular face to face classes with their tutor and fellow classmates, and is particularly suited to students who live within commuting or driving distance of one of our UK study centres.

If you’re a student from England who is enrolling on a blended learning course with Arden (based in one of our UK study centres) then you can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan and Maintenance Loan to help pay for your living expenses. If you’re a student from Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland you can find information on Living Cost Loans from your student finance body.

Introducing your Digital Backpack

Once you’ve enrolled on your psychology degree with Arden you’ll get access to your Digital Backpack, a toolkit of digital resources we’ve put together to help you succeed during your time studying with us.

Here are some of the digital resources you’ll have available throughout your course:

Office 365 subscription
Integrated zoom video conferencing
Careers support available through Arden Futures, your careers platform, to help you throughout your career journey whether you are a Career Starter, Changer or Developer.
Perlego online library access giving you access to over half a million books, journals and articles
Subscription to Togetherall for an abundance of mental health support
BPS resources and support
NVIVO, SPSS and GORILLA industry software