Social Care
 Social Care (Major).jpg)
UCAS Code: Combined Honours only – see combinations tab|Duration: 3|Full Time|Hope Park
UCAS Campus Code: L46
Work placement opportunities|International students can apply|Study Abroad opportunities
About the course
As Social Care evolves in the UK, fresh chances appear for open-minded, creative graduates. This course aims to develop graduates who understand the root causes of social inequalities that lead to care needs. We seek those who are driven to shape services sensitive to these needs.
Our curriculum pulls from various academic fields to keep it engaging and challenging. We also value the lived experiences of Social Care users, ensuring their voices are integrated throughout the course.
The School of Social Sciences connects well with local and national groups. These organisations support people with social care needs. This helps us stay updated on current issues in Social Care, making sure our curriculum stays relevant.
Course structure
In the first year, you will study two modules: Social Care in Context and Social Care in Practice. Each module includes lectures, seminars with interactive learning activities, and small tutorial groups with your personal tutor. At the end of Semester 2, there are two weeks of ‘readiness to practice’ preparation for your second-year placement.
In the second year, your learning continues through a combination of lectures, seminars, and tutorials each week. In Semester 2, up to 50 hours of study will be completed through work experience.
In the third year, you will complete an independent research project and be allocated a supervisor to meet with regularly throughout the year. In addition, you will continue with weekly lectures and seminars.
Assessment and feedback
Throughout your three years of study on the social care course, you will complete a variety of assessments, including group projects, reading diaries, case studies, and reflective accounts. In your second year, you will undertake a work-based learning placement, and in your final year, you will complete a dissertation on a topic of your choice with guidance from your supervisor.
You will receive supportive written feedback on all assessments to help you develop your work. In addition, you will have the opportunity to discuss your feedback in detail with your personal tutor.
Year One
Social Care in Context
This module explores the historical and social context of welfare and how it has shaped ideas about the groups of people who currently use social care services. You will examine social inequalities experienced from birth to death and consider how these inequalities increase the likelihood of developing social care needs.
Social Care in Practice
This module examines the range of ways to address social care needs at micro, meso, and macro levels. You will explore the social and political changes required to reduce inequality and the approaches used to support individual needs. The module also encourages reflection on the values underpinning professional practice in social care, including the tensions between personal and professional values. Key value considerations include individuality, identity, rights, choice, privacy, independence, dignity, respect, and partnership, which influence the nature and effectiveness of care provision.
Year Two
During this year of study, you will engage with the following areas:
The Policy and Legislative Context of Social Care
This module examines relevant policy and legislation designed to support and protect populations who use social care services. You will explore ethical issues that arise when working within statutory frameworks and consider strategies for resolving them.
Professional Practice in Social Care
This module helps you develop the characteristics and skills required for professional practice through up to 50 hours of placement experience in a social care setting. Prior to placement, you will complete activities to demonstrate readiness for practice, including working collaboratively, practicing safely, communicating effectively, and applying anti-oppressive approaches.
Emancipatory Research
This module prepares you for your Year Three research project and develops your understanding of working with communities in empowering ways. You will explore research approaches, consider the role of power in research, and learn how collaborative and creative methods can reduce its impact.
Year Three
During this year of study, you will engage with a selection of the following areas:
Leadership and Management in Health and Social Care
This module examines a range of leadership and management theories relevant to health and social care services. You will reflect on how everyone plays a role in shaping services and develop self-leadership qualities.
Contemporary Issues in Children's Social Care
This module explores the contemporary context of children’s lives, including social and economic factors and the framing of the modern family. You will learn about approaches to working with children and young people in various contexts and examine how families are supported within the community.
Contemporary Issues in Adult Social Care
This module investigates key challenges facing adult social care, considering the impact of austerity and the increasing demand for services.
Dissertation / Research Report
Over the year, with the support of a supervisor, you will undertake your own research project in a selected area of study. Depending on your combined subjects, you may complete an integrated project spanning both areas, or two separate projects, one for Social Care and one for your other subject. By completing this module, you will gain a solid understanding of research and how it can be applied within social sciences.
Entry requirements
| A-Levels | BBC or 112 UCAS tariff points |
|---|---|
| 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 substantial change. A range of private, and not-for-profit, Third Sector organisations are playing an increasingly prominent role in service delivery alongside more traditional NHS, statutory and local authority providers.. As part of this, we are seeing an increasing number of employers in the sector. Developments in the frontline mean there is great demand for well-trained and multi-skilled graduates. Some graduates choose to go on to further study. Postgraduate courses offered by the University include MSc Public Health, MA Social Policy, MA Social Work and MA Youth and Community Development.
Enhancement opportunities
Work Placement Opportunities
In your second year, you complete a work based learning project, where you spend 50 hours getting work experience and then produce a reflective portfolio. This project enables you to gain vital practical skills and knowledge necessary for a career in the field of social care.
All students have an opportunity of working either within or external to the university on work based learning. This provides an opportunity to develop their social care interests, ground their knowledge and promote their communication skills.
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
Along with your tuition fees, you also need to consider the cost of any core textbooks that you need. This will be approximately £150.
You will also need to consider the cost of your accommodation each year whilst you study at university. Visit our accommodation webpages for further details about our Halls of Residence: www.hope.ac.uk/halls.
Should you wish to undertake an international fieldtrip, this would be self-funded. You will also have to account for your DBS fee.
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: