FdA Health Care Studies
Course Overview
The FdA Health Care Studies taught by The Growth Company in Manchester is a golden opportunity to develop the intellectual, personal and practical skills healthcare employers seek. By studying this employment-focused foundation degree, you can develop and enhance your understanding of the principles of care, and the legal and ethical issues associated with social policy and working in the healthcare industry.Along the way, our expert team will introduce you to theories and concepts in psychology and help you explore anatomy and physiology. We'll also encourage you to study cases where you can apply your learning and benefit from our strong emphasis on improving the quality of care delivery in the healthcare sector. With a flexible, open-minded and analytical approach to studying and to the issues raised during your studies, you should be primed to make significant progress towards your goals.
Getting out of the classroom and into the workplace is a key part of your learning. A dedicated work placement forms part of the course, where we'll encourage you to immerse yourself as a volunteer in a health and social care environment.
Highlights
- You can benefit from teaching delivered by research-active staff who have close links with the healthcare industries, including the NHS, voluntary and charitable organisations.
- The course is designed to be flexible if you're already juggling personal and professional commitments or working full-time.
- While you'll be based at The Growth Company for the duration of your studies, you'll graduate from the University of Bolton.
- You'll have access to the University's e-learning resources, an extensive e-library and the support of University librarians.
- A link tutor provides academic communication between The Growth Company and the University of Bolton's academic school. This ensures the experience you receive as an off-campus student is equivalent to that of an on-campus student.
- As an off-campus student, you'll also have access to the support of the University's dedicated Off-Campus team and resources to help make you truly feel part of the institution.
Key Features
- The University of Bolton has a long-standing and excellent reputation for professional development in health and social care.
- The Growth Company is a well-established partner of the University of Bolton, based in Manchester. This foundation degree is an excellent opportunity for you to study alongside fellow undergraduates from a range of vocational and cultural backgrounds.
- Work placements provide up-to-date and highly relevant experience in a variety of settings, in areas such as primary care, social work, brain injuries, early years and older adults.
- Talks from healthcare service providers and users offer varying but balanced perspectives to support your studies.
Entry Requirements
- 64 UCAS points. We accept a full range of qualifications that carry UCAS points, including A-levels, BTECs and T-levels. Please see our guide to the UCAS Tariff for examples of how to achieve these points. For most courses, we are also able to consider non-tariffable qualifications.
- Your Level 3 subjects must include a relevant subject; for instance, A-level Health and Social Care or BTEC Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care.
- You should also have five GCSEs at grade C or above or grade 4 to 9 (or equivalent), including English and Mathematics.
- We'll be happy to consider your application if you don't have the above qualifications but have substantial relevant work experience.
- Please note that you'll be expected to work (either paid or voluntary) in a relevant health and social care setting for a minimum of 15 hours per week alongside the programme. This type of work often involves working with vulnerable people, also known as regulated activity. If your work involves regulated activity, you'll need an Enhanced Disclosure certificate from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
- You’ll be required to attend an interview and/or provide a portfolio of work.
- This course involves working unsupervised with children and/or vulnerable young people and adults and applicants must gain an Enhanced Disclosure certificate from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) before starting their studies. Charges are payable to cover the cost of the DBS Enhanced Disclosure application and annual registration with the online Update Service.
- If English isn’t your first language, you’ll also need IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any band (or equivalent). We also accept a range of other English language qualifications – please visit our English Language Requirements web page for more details.
- Please note that this course is subject to the University of Bolton's Fitness to Practise procedure.
- This course is open to Home students only. Applications from International and EU students cannot usually be accepted because the study location for this course is not licenced by UKVI to sponsor students. Therefore, if you require sponsorship under the Student Visa Route to study in the UK, then, unfortunately, we'll be unable to consider your application for this course. Some EU students are eligible to study this course under the EU Settlement Scheme or Common Travel Area arrangement – for details, please visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/studying-in-the-uk-guidance-for-eu-students.
Where changes are made to material information contained in this course description or a decision is taken to suspend a course between the offer of admissions and enrolment, we will inform applicants at the earliest possible opportunity and will outline the various options available to the applicant.
Career Opportunities
This course is designed to help you to achieve the intellectual, personal and practical skills necessary to pursue a career in the healthcare industry. It offers an understanding of the principles of care and the legal and ethical issues associated with social policy and working in health care.
This foundation degree is aimed at those wishing to further their career in health and social care services. It provides an excellent platform for a variety of roles in care homes, residential homes, voluntary organisations, special schools, and agencies providing domiciliary care.
After successfully completing the course, you should possess key transferable skills such as communication, teamwork, and negotiation skills, along with the ability to present ideas and arguments, work independently, and reflect on and review progress.
What can I do with this qualification?
You could also progress onto honours-level studies, such as a final-year top-up course. This would open the door to further academic studies and professional training in various fields, including social work, teaching, and allied health professions.
Alternative career options
Foundation Degree graduates can also use this qualification to step into a range of other careers. Some of these roles may require relevant experience and/or postgraduate study. Some possible careers include the following:
- Counselling
- Dietetics
- Writing and journalism
- Occupational therapy
- Mental health
- Social work
- Teaching and education
- Health promotion
- Mentoring
- Armed forces
- Community support
- Youth work
- Care home management
- Health services
- Child protection
- Early years
Fees & Funding
Home/EU Fees
No fee information is currently available, please contact the University of Bolton’s Academic Fees team by emailing AcademicFees@bolton.ac.uk for more information.
International Fees
International applications are not possible for this course
As an international student you are not allowed to study this course because of the restrictions on your visa.
We offer a wide range of full-time courses in lots of different subjects, many of our courses start in September and January. If you would like to see what courses are available please visit our Course Search.
Bursaries
Important note regarding tuition fees for the 2025-26 academic year: EU nationals who meet residency requirements (have settled or pre-settled status) may be eligible for 'Home' fee status. If you do not meet these residency requirements, overseas fees will apply. Irish citizens living in the UK or Ireland will be eligible for 'Home' fee status under the Common Travel Area arrangement. Please read the student finance for EU students web page on www.gov.uk for information.
The fees for a student's course of study will be set for the normal duration of that course subject only to inflationary increases – measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) recorded in March each year to take effect for subsequent start dates.
How to apply
Home Applicants
If you wish to apply for multiple institutions or multiple courses at Bolton for September entry, then apply through UCAS
You can apply for up to 5 courses through UCAS (at the same or different institutions) for a fee of £27. Alternatively, if you only wish to apply for a single course at a single institution then a reduced applicant's fee of £22.50 is applicable.
The online application form and guidance notes are available on the UCAS website.
You will need the following information to complete your UCAS application form:
Institution Code Name: BOLTN
Institution Code Number: B44
Tel: 0870 1122211
Web: www.ucas.com
If you wish to apply for a single course offered by the University of Bolton for any intake, you can apply directly
If you have carefully considered your course and institution choices and decided that this course is the best option for you, you may apply directly to the University using our online application form shown below.
A direct application to Bolton provides the following features:
Free of charge to apply
Secure, simple and streamlined
Contact us directly for any admissions queries
Regular updates on your application directly from the University
Invites to offer holder events and taster sessions where you can meet your future tutors and get a flavour of university life
NOTE: You cannot apply both through UCAS and directly to Bolton. Submitting an application to any university through UCAS during the same academic year will void any direct application you make to Bolton.
For courses starting in September, please be aware that we are required to share your information with UCAS if we accept you on this course. We will create a simplified UCAS acceptance record on your behalf and return this to UCAS. By submitting your application directly to the University of Bolton, you agree to these terms.
If you are ready to apply directly, please select your chosen start date from the list below.
Before applying, please read the entry requirements section of this page.
If your course runs at multiple locations or has various start dates, please be sure to select the correct application link from the list below.
Before beginning your application, you should have the following information to hand:
Details of the educational establishments you attended and dates
Your certificates for the qualifications you are using to gain entry to the course – you will need to enter the completion date and upload copies
Details of any employment history, including name, address, dates and role
Personal statement – this can be either input into the relevant field or uploaded separately
Details including e-mail addresses of two referees, at least one of which should be someone who can provide an academic reference
Please make sure any documents you wish to upload in support of your application are in pdf or jpeg format. Personal statements may be word documents.
Please ensure your data is correct at each stage of the application before you proceed to the next page. If you use the back button at any time during the application, you should check the validity of the data you have already inputted.
If you experience difficulties during the application process, contact the Undergraduate Admissions Team on 01204 903394 or admissions-team@bolton.ac.uk
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Apply online: The Growth Company FdA Health Care Studies - 18 September 2024
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Apply online: The Growth Company FdA Health Care Studies - 20 February 2025
International Applicants
International applications are not possible for this course
As an international student you are not allowed to study this course because of the restrictions on your visa.
We offer a wide range of full-time courses in lots of different subjects, many of our courses start in September and January. If you would like to see what courses are available please visit our Course Search.
Partner Organisation Applicants
University of Bolton Group Partners
Bolton College
University Collegiate School
Alliance Learning
University of Bolton
For valued members of the University of Bolton Group and progressing students, we try to make our application process as simple and as fast as possible.
If you have carefully considered your course and institution choices and decided that this course is the best option for you, you may apply free of charge to the University. By selecting the appropriate link from the list shown below, you will be taken directly to our online application form. Please read the user guidance before completing this, and ensure you upload all supporting documents such as certificates and your personal statement when you apply.
When you are asked to add a contact email address, please ensure you add your college/university email account address as well as your personal address. If you do not add your college address as your contact address, we will be unable to identify you as a partner and offer you the benefits of being part of our group.
NOTE: You cannot apply both through UCAS and directly to Bolton. Submitting an application to any university through UCAS during the same academic year will void any direct application you make to Bolton.
For courses starting in September, please be aware that we are required to share your information with UCAS if we accept you on this course. We will create a simplified UCAS acceptance record on your behalf and return this to UCAS. By submitting your application directly to the University of Bolton, you agree to these terms.
If you are ready to apply directly, please select your chosen start date from the list below.
Before applying, please read the entry requirements section of this page.
If your course runs at multiple locations or has various start dates, please be sure to select the correct application link from the list below.
Before beginning your application, you should have the following information to hand:
Details of the educational establishments you attended and dates
Your certificates for the qualifications you are using to gain entry to the course – you will need to enter the completion date and upload copies
Details of any employment history, including name, address, dates and role
Personal statement – this can be either input into the relevant field or uploaded separately
Details including email addresses of two referees, at least one of which should be someone who can provide an academic reference
Please make sure any documents you wish to upload in support of your application are in pdf or jpeg format. Personal statements may be word documents.
Please ensure your data is correct at each stage of the application before you proceed to the next page. If you use the back button at any time during the application, you should check the validity of the data you have already inputted.
If you experience difficulties during the application process, contact the Undergraduate Admissions Team on 01204 903394 or admissions-team@bolton.ac.uk
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Apply online: The Growth Company FdA Health Care Studies - 18 September 2024
-
Apply online: The Growth Company FdA Health Care Studies - 20 February 2025
We look forward to receiving your application and you continuing your academic journey with us!
Teaching & Assessment
We use a wide range of teaching methods to make the course engaging and support a rich and varied learning experience designed to prepare you for further studies, training, and employment. Taught theory sessions will occur at The Growth Company or in a practice setting, complemented by group-based activities, seminars, and practical skills-based sessions.
You'll have considerable one-to-one support from your course tutors and work-based education facilitators in the practice setting and at The Growth Company. There are also distance-learning and online resources to support your learning and provide flexibility in self-directed studies.
The assessment strategy for the programme is designed to help you achieve the overall goals of the foundation degree in addition to those of individual modules. Formative assessments involve personalised feedback to help you build on personal strengths and overcome weaknesses. Summative assessments are those for which the marks contribute to the overall module grade, and these also involve feedback to support your ongoing improvement and achievements.
Assessment may include coursework such as essays, practical project reports, design and analysis assignments, case studies, oral presentations, and traditional exams.
This programme adopts a blended learning and teaching style, including online delivery and engagement where appropriate.
Modules
The modules listed below may be a mixture of compulsory and optional. You may not have the opportunity to study all the modules shown as part of the course.
- Enhancing Communication and Academic Study Skills
- Introduction to Research Evidence - Based Practice
- Anatomy and Physiology for Health and Social Care
- Accountability and Ethical Practice in Health and Social Care
- The Impact of Social Policy in Health and Social Care
- Principles of Care
- Health Promotion - Challenges and Opportunities
- Person Centred Health and Social Care
- Health and Applied Positive Psychology Interventions
- Children and Families
- Social Inclusion, Empowerment and Health
- Leadership in Health and Social Care
Assessment methods
| Level | Assessment method |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Coursework 92% Practical exams 8% |
| Level 2 | Coursework 72% Practical exams 28% |
Learning Activities
| Level | Activity |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Guided independent study 63% Placement/study abroad 17% Scheduled learning and teaching activities 20% |
| Level 2 | Guided independent study 46% Placement/study abroad 34% Scheduled learning and teaching activities 20% |
The university will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver your course as described in its published material and the programme specification for the academic year in which you begin your course. The university considers changes to courses very carefully and the university will minimise any changes. Please be aware that our courses are subject to review on an ongoing basis and changes may be necessary due to legitimate staffing, financial, regulatory and academic reasons. The content of course modules and mode of associated assessments may be updated on an annual basis. This is to ensure that all modules are up-to-date and responsive to employment and sector needs. The published course material and the programme specification contain indicative ‘optional modules’ that may be subject to change due to circumstances outside of our control. For this reason, we cannot guarantee to run any specific optional module.
