Foundation Degree Community Health and Wellbeing

Community Health and Wellbeing focuses on interventions that health care workers provide outside of health care establishments. Community Health Workers use strong interpersonal skills to improve access and early signposting in communities.

The Foundation Degree in Community Health and Wellbeing also offers the opportunity to experience University life, study generic study skills elements, along with health and social care modules (which would suit both acute and community practice), achieve 240 CAT points on successful completion and obtain over 200 hours in a supervised, healthcare related practical work placement.

There is also the opportunity to top-up your foundation degree to a full BSc (Hons) qualification with just one additional year of study. Read our Essential Guide for more details.

2023
2024

UCAS Code	Study Mode 2023	Duration	Start Date	Campus	Campus Code
4A83	Full-time	2 Years	September	Glyntaff	A

UCAS Code	Study Mode 2024	Duration	Start Date	Campus	Campus Code
4A83	Full-time	2 Years	September	Glyntaff	A

Workplace learning and practical placements are key elements of the Foundation Degree Community Health and Wellbeing which provide essential experience to put the theory you learn in lectures into practice.

Year One: Community Health and Wellbeing course

Study Skills for Higher Education - 20 credits
Investigating Health and Wellbeing - 20 credits
Law, Ethics and Policy - 20 credits
Employability Skills - 40 credits
Human Health and Disease - 20 credits

Year Two: Community Health and Wellbeing course

Employability Skills (2) and Ethics - 40 credits (compulsory module which requires a satisfactory DBS Check)
Improving Community Health and Well Being - 20 credits
Applying Research to Practice - 20 credits
Health Psychology - 20 credits
Introduction to Leadership and Management in Health and Social Care - 20 credits

Year Three: Community Health and Wellbeing course

Students have the opportunity to top-up their foundation qualification to a full BSc (Hons) qualification with just one additional year of study.

Top-up modules are:

Extended Health Project - 40 credits
Implementing and Evaluating Health Improvement Interventions - 20 credits
Reducing Health Inequalities - 20 credits
Professional Development in Health and Social Care - 20 credits
Train the Trainer (health and social care) - 20 credits (optional)
Leading and Managing Change in Health and Social Care - 20 credits (optional)
Introduction to Disaster Healthcare - 20 credits (optional)

Teaching

There will be a combination of lectures, online learning and practical placements.

Typically you will have two days per week on campus, which will involve lectures, workshops, presentations and group work; two days self-directed learning via Blackboard (online learning platform) and one day per week practice development in your second year.

You will have access to a wide range of IT support to aid the two days self directed learning each week which complements the time spent in lectures.

This health course is structured to enable you to work and study if you wish. If you are planning to study the course whilst in relevant full-time employment, a practical placement will not be required. Find out more in our Essential Guide.

Assessment

The Community Health and Wellbeing course is assessed through a variety of methods including essays, group work, presentations and online applications. Assessments are both formative and summative.

Lecturers

Meet your lecturers on the community health and wellbeing course.

We regularly revalidate courses for quality assurance and enhancement

At USW, we regularly review our courses in response to changing patterns of employment and skills demand to ensure we offer learning designed to reflect today’s student needs and tomorrow’s employer demands.

If during a review process course content is significantly changed, we’ll write to inform you and talk you through the changes for the coming year. But whatever the outcome, we aim to equip our students with the skillset and the mindset to succeed whatever tomorrow may bring. Your future, future-proofed.

Entry criteria detail typical offers but USW considers all applications on an individual basis which means that we could make offers based on qualifications, personal profile and experience. Combinations of qualifications are acceptable and other qualifications not listed may also be acceptable. Find out more in our Essential Guide.

Additional Requirements

An Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check on the Child & Adult Workforce and Child and Adult Barring Lists and subscription to the DBS Update Service. (Overseas equivalent required for non-uk applicants)

Typical A-Level Offer

Typical Welsh BACC Offer

Grade D and D at A Level

Typical BTEC Offer

BTEC Diploma Merit Pass

BTEC Extended Diploma Pass Pass Pass

Typical IB Offer

Pass IB Diploma or two IB Certficates at Higher level.

Typical Access to HE Offer

Pass Access to HE Diploma with a minimum of 48 UCAS Tariff points

Additional Requirements

GCSEs: The University normally requires a minimum 3 GCSEs including Mathematics and English at Grade C or above, or their equivalent but consideration is given to individual circumstances.

International Entry Requirements

We also welcome international applications with equivalent qualifications. Please visit the country specific pages on our international website for exact details.

English Requirements

In general, international applicants will need to have achieved an overall IELTS grade of 6.0 with a minimum score of 5.5 in each component.

However, if you have previously studied through the medium of English IELTS might not be required, but please visit the country specific page on our international website for exact details. If your country is not featured please contact us.

Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits. Once enrolled, the fee will remain at the same rate throughout the duration of your study on this course.

August 2023 - July 2024 Fees

Full-time UK: £9000
Full-time International: TBC

August 2024 - July 2025 Fees

Full-time UK: TBC
Full-time International: TBC

Student Perks

At the University of South Wales, you’re investing in so much more than a degree. We strive to provide our students with the best possible experience, no matter what you chose to study. Whether it’s access to top of the range mac books and PCs, state-of-the-art facilities packed with industry-leading equipment and software, masterclasses and events led by industry experts, or a wide range of clubs and societies to meet likeminded people, better tomorrows start with extra perks.

Each course also has their own unique student benefits to prepare you for the real word, and details of these can be found on our course pages. From global field trips, integrated work experience and free course-related resources, to funded initiatives, projects working with real employers, and opportunities for extra qualifications and accreditations - at USW your future, is future-proofed.

Click here to learn more about student perks at USW.

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

Item	Cost
DBS *	£55.42	This fee includes £40 for the enhanced DBS certificate, the Post Office Administration fee and the online administration fee.
DBS Updating Service *	£13	Subscription required for each year of the course for a yearly fee of £13. Please note the service has to be joined within 30 days of receipt of your enhanced DBS certificate.
Other: Placement *		Students have to pay for travel and subsistence while on placement. Costs will vary, depending on location.

Funding

Funding to help pay for (or cover) course tuition fees and living costs

Whilst you’re studying, you’ll have two main financial obligations – tuition fees and living costs. There’s lots of financial help available from the University of South Wales and external funding sources, that may provide loans (which have to be paid back) and grants, scholarships and bursaries (that don't).

To learn about course fees, funding options, and to see if you are eligible for financial support, visit our Fees and Funding pages.

UK students

Apply via UCAS if you are a UK residing applicant, applying for year one of a full-time undergraduate degree, Foundation Year, Foundation Degree or HND and you have not applied through UCAS before. If you are applying to study part-time, to top up your Foundation Degree or HND, or to transfer to USW from another institution, please apply directly.

International and EU students

Apply directly to the University if you live outside the UK.

Admissions statement

After completing your Community Health and Wellbeing course you can choose to progress to a relevant full degree programme. Options include the chance to top-up your foundation qualification to a full BSc (Hons) qualification with just one additional year of study.

You can also choose to leave with a foundation qualification and pursue the career of your choice in a related area which may include the following:

Community health work
Social care
NHS
Rehabilitation work
Private sector
Application to Nursing, Midwifery or Therapy courses

Our Careers and Employability Service

As a USW student, you will have access to advice from the Careers and Employability Service throughout your studies and after you graduate.

This includes: one-to-one appointments from faculty based Career Advisers, in person, over the phone or even on Skype and through email via the "Ask a Question" service. We also have extensive online resources for help with considering your career options and presenting yourself well to employers. Resources include psychometric tests, career assessments, a CV builder, interview simulator and application help. Our employer database has over 2,000 registered employers targeting USW students, you can receive weekly email alerts for jobs.

Our Careers service has dedicated teams: A central work experience team to help you find relevant placements; an employability development team which includes an employability programme called Grad Edge; and an Enterprise team focused on new business ideas and entrepreneurship.