Program Overview

BSc (Honours) Health and Social Care Studies (1 year top-up)

Course summary

Top up your foundation degree into a full BSc Honours degree – preparing you to contribute to and lead organisations and services in emerging health and social care roles.

How you learn

This course has been designed in response to rapidly changing workforce demands and policy initiatives – aiming to modernise services and improve quality, productivity and efficiency. You’ll benefit from the latest academic theory and practice-based thinking.

There’s also an emphasis on developing problem-solving skills in relation to real-world challenges – including the application of research-based knowledge and technology. You’ll have the opportunity to work collaboratively with your peers during taught sessions, and you’ll be supported across a range of assessments.

You’ll experience a blended approach to learning and teaching – on campus, online and in work placements – which mirror how you’ll work in practice.

You learn through:

• Seminars, workshops and tutorials
• Academic adviser meetings
• Problem-based activities
• Skills development sessions
• Simulation-based learning and courtroom skills
• Scenario-based learning and library support
• Guest lectures and online international events
• Collaborative and self-directed learning
• Group work meetings
• Employer-led learning
• Peer support and critical reflective supervision
• Reflective accounts, presentations and assessments
• A research project

Modules

Final year

Compulsory modules

• Evidence Review (40 credits)
  • Assessment: Coursework (100%)
  • This module builds on your knowledge and understanding of research methodologies, critical review and dissemination, while also reviewing and progressing from your level 5 learning. You’ll conduct your own literature review relevant to an area of health and social care practice, demonstrating critical evaluation and synthesis of the literature.
• Leading Collaborative Organisations (40 credits)
  • Assessment: Coursework (100%)
  • This module extends and applies the leadership concepts covered at Level 5, so you can practise and consider the challenges of bringing together multi-disciplinary professionals. You’ll be able to provide effective, compassionate, patient/service-user-centred care for people with complex needs.
• Practice And Employability Skills In Health And Social Care (20 credits)
  • Assessment: Coursework (100%)
  • This module further enhances your communication, professional and academic skills to prepare you for future employment.
• Technology Enhanced Care (20 credits)
  • Assessment: Practical (100%)
  • This module provides an in-depth understanding of the benefits and challenges of using technology to enable more effective and efficient delivery of care. You’ll explore how practice for health and care practitioners can be impacted by technology – such as telecare, telehealth, rehabilitation technologies, assistive devices, wearables, web applications and apps.

Future careers

The Health and Social Care Studies top-up course is a principal route for training assistant practitioners – non-registered support staff working with registered health professionals – and other non-registered posts.

These roles have been developed in a wide range of services, including:

• Long-term conditions
• Staying healthy
• End-of-life care
• Maternity and new-born
• Acute care
• Planned care
• Mental health
• Children and families
• Residential care
• Housing

Many students go on to further study, including postgraduate qualifications in teaching and social work.

This course is also suitable if you’d like to start a career in health and social care, but you’re not sure which field of practice you’d like to work in – or perhaps you’re not eligible to access a pre-registration course.

Equipment and facilities

On this course you’re based at our Collegiate Crescent campus which includes:

• Our £13 million purpose-built Robert Winston Building
• Specialist facilities, including a courtroom and simulated spaces
• A 24-hour library and learning centre
• Virtual learning environments
• Online databases and search tools
• Online apps and platforms that support collaborative learning
• Electronic tools and platforms for academic and professional work
• Employment-based databases and client-record systems

Where will I study?

You study at Collegiate Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.

Entry requirements

• Foundation Degree in Professional Practice in Health and Social Care.
• Or 240 credits (120 level at 4 and 120 at level 5) from an equivalent health and social care programme

If English is not your first language you will need an IELTS score of 6.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills, or a recognised equivalent. If your level of English language is currently below IELTS 6.5 we recommend you consider an appropriate Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve the required level of English.

Fees and funding

Home students

Our tuition fee for UK students studying full-time in 2025/26 is £9,535 for the course. These fees are regulated by the UK government and therefore subject to change in future years.

International students

Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2025/26 is £17,155 per year.

Additional course costs

The links below allow you to view estimated general course additional costs, as well as costs associated with key activities on specific courses. These are estimates and are intended only as an indication of potential additional expenses. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.

General course additional costs

Additional costs for Health and Social Care (PDF, 279KB)