Public Services
In today's rapidly evolving global landscape, the demand for compassionate, visionary, and dedicated individuals in our public services has never been greater.
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Key Course Details
Whether you dream of leading in government, healthcare, law enforcement, education, or any other sector, this degree programme has been designed to equip you with the knowledge, skills, and values needed to make a real difference.
DESIGNED FOR
If you're ready to start a rewarding and fulfilling journey that empowers you to contribute meaningfully to society, then our Public Services undergraduate programme is the perfect choice for you. Become the catalyst for change that our world needs today.
Career Paths
- Civil service and local government
- Uniformed public services: Policing, fire and rescue services, ambulance services, armed forces.
- Policy development and design
- Charitable and voluntary organisations
- Social and academic research
Skills taught
- Leadership and Management
- Crisis Response, Ethical Decision-Making, and Adaptability
- Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving
- Communication , Advocacy and Public Speaking
- Project Management
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Course Highlights
Module Overview
You will gain a broad and insightful understanding of the world of public services – how they operate, what influences them and how they shape the world around us. You will explore important concepts and complexities involving citizenship, community, poverty, social exclusion, inequality and the dynamics of the work and the workforce. Additionally, you'll develop your academic, critical thinking and writing skills to help you develop a solid foundation to help you make the most of your university studies.
- Understanding Communities and Data
- Democracy, Campaigns and Change
- Practicing for Public Service Delivery
- Public Services and the Law
- Outdoor Leadership, Search and Rescue
- Professional Skills for the 21st Century Public Servant
Building on your learning from Year 1, you will delve even further into the intricacies of social policy, social welfare, equality and the law. You will also gain a deep understanding of how public services prepare, plan and operationalise critical incidents and emergency responses through simulated learning experiences – investigating contemporary and international practices. You'll will undertake an intensive and professional 10-week internship in a public service organisation. This will help you to solidify your practical experience and prepare you for impactful public services in your future career.
- Human Rights, Equality and Social Justice in Public Services
- Politics, Public Services and the Welfare State
- Disaster and Emergencies: Resilience, Response, Rescue and Recovery
- Design Thinking, Research and Project Management
- Public Services Placement and Professional Skills
This is your year of advanced exploration, specialisation, and research. You will focus on managing public services, honing your leadership skills, and fostering innovation in the field. Moreover, you will undertake on a significant research dissertation project, allowing you to carry out a deep-dive into a specific area of public service that interests you. Optional modules provide opportunities for further specialisation, including sustainable development and the environment, war and conflict resolution, youth crime, community development, and social policy for young people. Year 3 marks the culmination of your academic journey, preparing you to be a forward-thinking leader in public service, armed with practical experience and the ability to contribute meaningfully to the field.
- Leadership and Professional Skills
- Technology, Innovation and Change in Public Services
- Dissertation / Social Impact Project
- Geopolitics: Understanding conflict, war and peace
You will also be able to choose one optional module:
- Introduction to Disaster Healthcare
- Investigation of Serious and Organised Crime
- Civil Society and Community Activism
- Society and the Environment
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
UCAS points: 80 (or above)
Typical qualification requirements:
- A Level: CDD
- BTEC: BTEC Extended Diploma Merit Merit Pass
- Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate: C/D in the Skills Challenge Certificate and DD - CC at A Level
- Access to HE: Pass the Access to HE Diploma and obtain a minimum of 80 UCAS tariff points.
Additional requirements include:
The University normally requires a minimum 5 GCSEs including Mathematics/Numeracy and English at Grade C or Grade 4 or above, or their equivalent, but consideration is given to individual circumstances.
International applications welcomed:
We welcome international applications with equivalent qualifications of our entry requirements. For more details related to your country of residence please view our dedicated country pages.
English language requirements
International applicants will need to have achieved an overall of IELTS 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component/TOEFL 72 overall and a minimum of 18 in reading, 17 in listening, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing or equivalent.
Equivalents can be located on our English Language pages.
If you have previously studied through the medium of English IELTS might not be required, please visit our country specific page for further details. If your country is not featured, please contact us.
If you do not meet the English entry criteria please visit our Pre-Sessional course pages.
Contextual offers
We may make you a lower offer based on a range of factors, including your background (where you live and the school or college that you attended for example), your experiences and individual circumstances (as a care leaver, for example). This is referred to as a contextual offer and we receive data from UCAS to support us in making these decisions.
USW prides itself on its student experience and we support our students to achieve their goals and become a successful graduate. This approach helps us to support students who have the potential to succeed and who may have faced barriers that make it more difficult to access university.
We're here to help
Whether you a have a question about your course, fees and funding, the application process or anything else, there are plenty of ways you can get in touch and we'd to talk to you. You can contact our friendly admissions team by phone, email or chat to us online.
Fees and Funding
Additional Costs
As a student of USW, you’ll have access to lots of free resources to support your study and learning, such as textbooks, publications, online journals, laptops, and plenty of remote-access resources. Whilst in most cases these resources are more than sufficient in supporting you with completing your course, additional costs, both obligatory and optional, may be required or requested for the likes of travel, memberships, experience days, stationery, printing, or equipment.
*Obligatory
We go on an outdoor expedition in one of the options and if you choose this, you will need suitable clothes and walking boots.
Cost: £20-40
In some cases, your placement will require a DBS check.
Cost: £55.42
Students are required to undertake a period of work placement in year 2 and may choose to do one in year 3. Students undertaking placement may incur costs associated with travel and expected workplace attire will vary according to the placement.
Cost: £0 - £200
Course Highlights
How you’ll learn
Your teaching sessions will be made up of a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops and active learning. You will be expected to carry out a work placement in Year 2 and you will also be assessed on this. It is essential that you engage in classroom activities to get the most out of your learning experience. You should ensure that you follow all the instructions provided by module leaders very closely: failure to do so will likely have a negative impact on your grade. This includes the word limits for written work and time limits for presentations or equivalent. Assessments include essays, exams, reflective pieces, presentations, and portfolios.
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Teaching Staff
- Paul Lewis (Course Leader) brings 15 years’ experience of working in government and policymaking. He is interested in equality and human rights issues.
- Prof. Howard Williamson is a Professor in European Youth Policy with an internationally respected reputation
- Dr Ehsan Kabir has conducted fieldwork in challenging environments using a cultural lens to study people’s lives
- Dr Stuart Jones main interests are in community, politics, the environment and food security
- Vida Greaux is an award-winning equality champion and is the Chair of the BME Staff Network
- Stuart Morgan is a former Flt. Lt in the RAF Reserves and brings extensive experience of international health and public services management
- Beth Dando has been lecturing in public services for 15 years with a particular focus on public service law. Her interests also include widening participation and pedagogical practices.
- Lawrence Blake brings military experience and has served in the army.
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Placements
Students are required to complete 300hrs of practical experience within an agreed placement tailored towards their own interests and aspirations. This is a bespoke placement which reflects the individual student’s career aspirations. The nature and content of the placement will be agreed through dialogue between the University’s placement officer, the student and the host organisation.
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