Overview
Our Foundation Year courses offer an introduction to your chosen subject and are an ideal route to degree level qualifications, helping you develop the necessary skills for further study.
Essential academic skills are embedded into all the work to ensure you can excel in future learning.
The foundation course is also useful if you have the academic ability to succeed at degree-level study, but do not have the appropriate subject background knowledge. Successful completion of all modules in this course means you could progress onto year one of a relevant degree course, subject to meeting the entry requirements.
Why CU Scarborough
We offer a style of education which is flexible and designed to fit around your life, allowing you to benefit from a modern, forward-thinking higher education institution, reinforced by the quality and reputation of Coventry University. We aim to provide career-focused courses, wherever possible, coupled with placement opportunities to help prepare you for the world of work. We are dedicated to making higher education accessible and enjoyable to everyone, so we keep our fees low and most of our courses cover one module at a time, allowing you to become a specialist in each topic before moving onto the next.
To ensure an optimised and continual student experience, CU may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via emerging online technologies and methods across all courses.
Employability
Dedicated Careers & Employability department who will assist you in finding employmentTop Quality Courses
Taught by industry professionals, awarded by Coventry UniversityNo End of Year Exams
Our modern teaching techniques mean no last-minute cramming and less stressProfessional Recognition
Specific courses contain additional industry recognised qualifications from awarding bodiesWhat our students say
Learning from professionals who have experience in the field was such a benefit – getting real-world insight and opinions made it easier for us to apply theories to situations, and made it easier for us to learn.
Course information
This course aims to provide the skills and knowledge relevant for progression onto a degree in health, social work or social care in the statutory, voluntary or private sectors. It sets a foundation for your journey to employment, creating great opportunities in health promotion and health development sectors through addressing health inequalities and tackling the damaging effects of smoking, alcohol, drugs and poor nutrition, in line with contemporary government initiatives.
Academic Skills for Health and Social Care
The module is aimed at creating a culture of careful learning and self-reflection, where you’ll be encouraged to recognise the strengths and weaknesses and take ownership of your development. You’ll be introduced to a range of skills that will aid you throughout the programme and further study, such as time management, cultural awareness, resource management and interpersonal skills.
You will also gain highly-regarded employment skills such as digital proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint etc.), team management, communication, planning skills and more, alongside lectures on ethics, health and safety and technical skills, so that you receive thorough, full-circle training.
Working in the Health and Social Care Sector
This introduction begins with exploration of health and social care services, roles and responsibilities of people working in this sector. You’ll understand the key influences that affect the provision and delivery of these services in UK contemporary society.
This module also explores the role of multi-agency/disciplinary working, using real life situations to highlight the strengths and limitations of partnership working. A key part of working in health and social care is being able to assess the holistic needs of a service user and plan for their care using the care planning cycle. Concepts such as personalisation, empowerment, the Care Value Base, effective communication, equality and diversity, legislation, safeguarding and ethics will also be covered.
Life Processes for Healthcare
This module provides you with knowledge of the life processes in the body. In this exciting module, you’ll have the opportunity to undertake practical activities which require you to take measurements of the cardio-vascular system, the respiratory system and body temperature using non-invasive techniques.
You’ll even investigate normal responses to routine variations in body functioning. Knowledge and understanding of the needs of service users, types of illness and disease is developed by exploring some of the more common disorders, their causes, symptoms and effects. Factors influencing changes in patterns of health and disease in a community are investigated and how the prevention of ill-health can reduce the occurrence of disease. Approaches and models used to achieve positive health in individuals are explored.
Social Care Perspectives
A sociological module, this topic focuses on developing your critical awareness of the impact social factors has on the life chances of individuals and groups in society. You’ll complete analysis of demographic changes, patterns of behaviour and lifestyle highlights of social groups. The inequalities in life chances of social groups has been a major focus of governmental, national and local initiatives following the release of the Black Report in 1980. You will begin to understand how social care compliments and supports the wider healthcare agenda. You’ll study the concepts of relative and absolute poverty and the impact of this within society. There will also be an opportunity to investigate domestic violence and depravation.
Course Specification
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Coventry University is ranked 15th in the UK in the Guardian University Guide 2020. CU Scarborough is part of the Coventry University Group.
In more detail...
If you regularly consider how you can make a positive change in the community, or you’ve ever thought of becoming a social entrepreneur and setting up your own organisation, this foundation course is the first step on your successful journey into the public health sector.
Facilities
We’ve spent £14 million on a brand new campus building. It’s a purpose-built, state of-the-art development that is one of the most modern facilities in the UK. It includes a library, IT suites, mock law court, engineering and science labs, cafe and lots of individual and group study spaces. Next to us is Scarborough’s new leisure village. The complex includes an Olympic legacy swimming pool, sports hall, fitness suite, all weather pitches and the new Scarborough Athletic football ground.
Staff
Each course unit has been developed and is taught by specialists in the field of public health. With years’ of experience in the industry, our lecturers have bring a vast amount of experience in the voluntary sector, health promotion, social work and community development. We also have bi-lingual staff members, who are happy to help you whenever you need support.
Practical Experience
Throughout your studies, you will find that the course is underpinned with practical experience.
- You will have the opportunity for multi-campus learning in Scarborough, Coventry and London.
- In order to make higher education accessible to as many people as possible, we keep our tuition fees competitively priced.
- Small tutorial group sessions that you receive the mentoring help and support you need.
- We deliver one module at a time during each block. This means you can dedicate your time to specialise in each subject without the distraction of numerous modules and multiple deadlines.
Your main study themes are:
- Academic and Underpinning Skills for Health and Social Care: You will gain a clear understanding of the requirements of study with a range of skills that will enable you to navigate future study with the greatest chance of success.
- Working in the Health and Social Care Sector: This module examines the provision of services in the health and social care sector, the roles and responsibilities, alongside the necessary skills of people working in this sector. Key influences on service delivery and care planning are analysed including legislation, partnerships and values that affect the provision of these services and how this impacts on service delivery.
- Health Care Perspectives: This module examines a variety of approaches and perspectives in health care delivery. Models and concepts of wellness, health and illness are analysed. Health and disease are examined through an in-depth investigation of anatomy and physiology of major body systems and the holistic influences on them in contemporary UK society.
- Social Care Perspectives: This module examines the provision of social care and how it is changing to meet the needs of people within the economic constraints and demographic changes in contemporary society. The study of sociological theories will enable you to develop a critical awareness of the influence of society and social factors on the life chances of individuals and groups in society.
At CU Scarborough, students learn through a variety of modes. The foundation year programme is focused on applied learning geared to high intensity teaching and study throughout the programme, requiring full commitment from students. The delivery of course content is a blend of lectures, tutorials and online mediums.
Unlike traditional institutions, there are no end of year exams. Instead, learning is assessed through coursework and phase tests, which is more reflective of a working environment.
The learning outcomes of modules, assignments and projects will be clearly stated. Your work will be marked according to how well you achieve these learning outcomes and your final feedback will refer to each outcome, as well as providing an overall percentage grade.
Assessment methods vary and include practical class and project performance, written practical reports, project thesis, oral presentations, tutorial tasks and assessments which take place at the end of each six-week block.
Course Breakdown (approximate):
- 60% Coursework
- 40% Phase Tests
On completion, you will be able to:
- Discuss the underpinning values and qualities required within a range of health, education and wellbeing settings.
- Examine the importance of cultural difference and individual circumstances when working with people in occupational settings.
- Compare statistics from different locations in relation to social groups, age, ethnicity, gender, disability and sexuality.
- Understand migration and the impact of multiculturalism in modern society.
- Discuss the extent to which inherited characteristics or acquired characteristics account for human behaviour.
- Outline the biological levels of the organisation of the human body and the characteristics of each.
- Actively engage with learning through class participation, group work and independent study tasks.
Full-time
If you choose to study full-time you can expect up to 20 hours of learning activities per week. The majority of this will be face-to-face teaching, with the addition of individual and group tutorials and independent/online learning.
Classes usually run Monday to Friday at a fixed time each day, either in the morning (9am-1pm) or afternoon (1.30pm-5.30pm).
Part-time
If you choose to study part-time you’ll usually receive seven hours per week direct face-to-face delivery and three hours per week blended learning. Outside of this, there will also be independent study and online support.
Depending on the course, teaching normally takes place either 9am-5pm one day a week, or 6pm-10pm two evenings a week.
Please note: part-time courses run subject to numbers.
Class sizes are kept as small as possible so you are able to get plenty of contact time with tutors.
What our students say
Learning from professionals who have experience in the field was such a benefit – getting real-world insight and opinions made it easier for us to apply theories to situations, and made it easier for us to learn.
What our students say
Learning from professionals who have experience in the field was such a benefit – getting real-world insight and opinions made it easier for us to apply theories to situations, and made it easier for us to learn.
Tuition Fees
We pride ourselves on offering competitive tuition fees which we review on an annual basis. Course fees are calculated on the basis of what it costs to teach each course and we aim for total financial transparency.
Fees & Funding
We price our courses competitively in an attempt to make higher education accessible for a wide range of people. Your tuition fees will cover all of your classes, online tutorials, some of the learning materials and access to our Library & Learning Services.
Funding
As a full-time or part-time student resident in the UK or EU, you can apply for a loan to cover the cost of your tuition fees at CU Scarborough from Student Finance England.
What our students say
Learning from professionals who have experience in the field was such a benefit – getting real-world insight and opinions made it easier for us to apply theories to situations, and made it easier for us to learn.
Career prospects
If you successfully pass a Foundation Year, you will be guaranteed a place on an Honours Degree course at CU Scarborough, subject to meeting specific entrance criteria.
The strength of the course lies in preparing students, who are looking for an alternative to a traditional university experience, for progression on to a related degree course within CU or at other institutions.
What our students say
Learning from professionals who have experience in the field was such a benefit – getting real-world insight and opinions made it easier for us to apply theories to situations, and made it easier for us to learn.
Disclaimer
The tuition fee for the course that is stated on the course webpage and in the prospectus for the first year of study will apply. We will review tuition fees each year. For UK and EU students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, we may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation. Following the UK’s planned exit from the European Union, EU students should be aware that there may be a change to UK laws following the UK’s exit, this may change their student status, their eligibility to study part time, and/or their eligibility for student finance. We will act in accordance with the UK’s laws in force in relation to student tuition fees and finance at that time. For international students, we may increase fees for each subsequent year of study but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation.
