Health & Wellbeing
 Health Wellbeing (Major).jpg)
UCAS Code: Combined Honours only – see combinations tab|Duration: 3 years|Full Time|Hope Park
UCAS Campus Code: L46
International students can apply|Study Abroad opportunities
About the course
In recent years, many have recognised the need to go beyond medicine. There is now a stronger focus on promoting health and preventing illness. New government initiatives and policies prioritise this like never before. This course aims to develop graduates who understand the root causes of ill health. They will also have the drive to promote health and wellbeing for all.
Our Health and Wellbeing curriculum pulls from various academic fields to keep it challenging and engaging. We value the lived experiences of those who use Health and Wellbeing services. Their voices are woven throughout the curriculum. During your studies, you will explore key questions like: What factors influence health and wellbeing? How do social experiences affect health? Why do different groups experience health differently?
You will also develop practical skills for the field. This involves working on case studies and joining research projects in the local community. The degree equips you with the skills, knowledge, and insight needed to address health issues in today’s society. With a strong focus on social justice, our graduates are prepared to use their skills for the benefit of their communities and society at large.
Course structure
Teaching on this degree is structured into lectures, where all students are taught together, in small group seminars, and tutorials. You will also have the opportunity to have a one-to-one meeting with your tutor each week.
For the Health & Wellbeing part of your combined honours degree, there are approximately 6 teaching hours each week, which reduces to approximately 5 hours in your second and third years. On top of teaching hours, you are also expected to spend a number of hours studying independently each week, as well as group study to prepare for any group assessments you may have.
Assessment and feedback
Throughout your three years of study, you will have a variety of assessments including essays, portfolios and presentations. You will also undertake a community based health promotion project, and in your final year you will complete a dissertation or research project.
You will be given written feedback on your assessments, and you will have the opportunity to discuss this with your tutor in more detail.
Year One
In your first year of the Health and Wellbeing course, you will explore a wide range of issues, debates, and theoretical perspectives that underpin health and wellbeing.
Approaches to Health and Wellbeing
This module examines the different ways people understand health and wellbeing and how these perspectives shape responses to ill health. You will explore models such as the biomedical approach, psychology of health, and sociological approaches. The module also focuses on social divisions and inequalities, considering how factors such as age, gender, race, ethnicity, poverty, socioeconomic status, and disability affect health and wellbeing at both individual and community levels.
Contemporary Issues in Health and Wellbeing
This module investigates key contemporary issues in health and wellbeing, including obesity, mental health, and sexual health. You will explore how social and environmental conditions shape health outcomes and consider the broader causes of non-communicable diseases. The module encourages a holistic understanding of health inequalities, moving beyond individual lifestyle factors to examine societal influences and strategies for improving health and wellbeing outcomes.
Year Two
In your second year of the Health and Wellbeing course, you will build on the knowledge gained in Year One, applying it to Public Health, health promotion, and research in health and wellbeing.
Public Health and Health Promotion: Theory and Practice
This module explores the history of Public Health and health promotion, examining how priorities and key drivers have evolved over time. You will investigate current public health challenges and the strategies used to address them. The module engages with a range of theoretical approaches to health promotion, considering their strengths and limitations. You will also complete a community-based health promotion project, gaining practical insight into health promotion in real-world settings.
Researching Health and Wellbeing
This module develops your understanding of both quantitative and qualitative research methods in health and wellbeing. You will learn about research ethics and critically review existing literature. You will be guided in developing research questions, designing projects, and analysing data, preparing you for your final-year dissertation.
Year Three
In your final year of the Health and Wellbeing course, you will bring together your previous learning and explore three key themes in depth.
Contemporary Issues in Global Health and Wellbeing
This module examines major debates in global health and wellbeing, extending your understanding of health inequalities beyond individual societies to differences between countries. You will explore determinants of health and social divisions that transcend national boundaries. Key topics include infectious and non-infectious diseases, global pandemics, the growing burden of chronic disease, and global mental health.
Health and Wellbeing Across the Life-Course
This module uses the life-course framework to understand health and wellbeing outcomes. You will examine how socially patterned exposures and opportunities shape health across different stages of life, including prenatal health, childhood, adolescence, young adulthood, midlife, and old age.
Ethics in Health and Wellbeing
This module explores the moral and ethical implications of health interventions. You will study theoretical frameworks for ethical analysis and apply them to case studies. Key issues include the balance between individual rights and the common good, physical and cognitive enhancement, and ethical considerations around living and dying.
Entry requirements
| A-Levels | BCC - BBB |
|---|---|
| UCAS Tariff Points | 104 - 120 UCAS Tariff points must come from a minimum of two A Levels (or equivalent). Additional points can be made up from a range of alternative qualifications |
| BTEC | DMM - DDM |
| Access to HE | 104 - 120 Tariff Points |
| IB | 26 |
| Irish Leaving Certificate | 104 - 120 Tariff Points from Higher Level qualifications only |
| Welsh Baccalaureate | This qualification can only be accepted in conjunction with other relevant qualifications |
| T-Levels | Merit |
| Subject Requirements | No specific subject requirements |
International entry requirements
| Specific Country Requirements | Select your country |
|---|---|
| IELTS | 6.0 overall (with reading and writing at 6.0) and no individual score lower than 5.5. We also accept a wide range of International Qualifications. For more information, please visit our English Language Requirements page. |
Careers
The health and social care sector is undergoing rapid and radical change. As part of this we are seeing an increasing number of employers in the sector and there is much demand for well trained and multi-skilled graduates. Health and Wellbeing graduates find employment in a wide range of occupations across the private, public and voluntary sectors. The holistic nature of the degree will enable you to gain employment in a number of areas such as public health, health promotion, mental health and wellbeing, housing, community based projects, occupational health, services for the older population, and services for young people.
Many graduates also go on to complete a postgraduate degree, including our MSc Public Health, MA Social Work and MA Youth Work and Community Development courses.
Enhancement opportunities
SALA
The Service and Leadership Award (SALA) is offered as an extra-curricular programme involving service-based experiences, development of leadership potential and equipping you for a career in a rapidly changing world. It enhances your degree, it is something which is complimentary but different and which has a distinct ‘value-added’ component. Find out more on our Service and Leadership Award page.
Study Abroad
As part of your degree, you can choose to spend either a semester or a full year of study at one of our partner universities as part of our Study Abroad programme. Find out more on our Study Abroad page.
Tuition fees
The tuition fees for the 2026/27 academic year are £9,535* for full-time undergraduate courses.
If you are a student from the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands, your tuition fees will also be £9,535*.
The University reserves the right to increase Home and EU Undergraduate and PGCE tuition fees in line with any inflationary or other increase authorised by the Secretary of State for future years of study.
*subject to Council approval.
Additional costs
On top of your tuition fees, you also need to purchase core texts for the degree, which we estimate to cost around £100 each year.
You will also need to consider the cost of your accommodation each year whilst you study at university. Visit our accommodation pages for further details about our Halls of Residence.
Scholarships
We have a range of scholarships to help with the cost of your studies. Visit our scholarships page to find out more.
International tuition fees
The International Tuition fees for 2026/27 are £14,500.
Visit our International fees page for more information.
Course combinations
This course is only available as a Combined Honours degree with the following subjects: