Integrated Health and Social Care BSc (Hons)

UCAS code: L510

Develop the skills and understanding to promote and improve the health and social care of communities and populations. Combine theory with applied practical skill development as you prepare for roles in integrated health and social care settings.

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Overview

Course length:	3 years full-time 5 years part-time
Start dates:	September 2025
Location:	Edge Hill University
Example offers:	BCC-BBC (A Level) or DMM (BTEC) View full entry criteria
Subject(s):	Health and Social Care
Faculty:	Health, Social Care and Medicine
Department:	Allied Health, Social Work and Wellbeing

Creating healthier populations begins with communities. The need to prevent illness and promote health is a central ambition in public policy in the UK and beyond, especially in the aftermath of a global pandemic.

This integrated health and social care degree, developed with local authority partners, focuses on knowledge and practice in tackling health inequalities and preventing ill health at the level of populations and communities, and within emerging integrated health and social care systems. You’ll study at a university that is in the top 5 in the UK (Complete University Guide 2025 – Health Studies).

Combining theoretical understanding with practical skills development and placements, you will develop a critical awareness of the psychological, sociological, political and community influences on health and wellbeing, and the methods that can be employed in practice to affect change.

A focus on community development, health promotion and health education practice, will enable you to develop skills to work independently and collaboratively in community and integrated care settings and you will graduate fully prepared for professional roles within health, community, public health, social care and leadership contexts. This degree can also provide a route to further study in academic or practice postgraduate routes.

Course features

Sandwich year option available
Professional practice placements
International students can apply

What you'll study

Year 1 introduces you to theory and practice in community health and social care. You will explore a range of topics including psychological, sociological, life course and community development principles as you build analytical perspectives of health and social care. Effective communication skills, key academic and employment skills will also be developed.

Compulsory modules:

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Community Development Approaches in Health and Social Care is designed to provide you with an understanding of the concept of community, its development and how it functions. The module introduces the notion of community development approaches to improve the health of individuals and communities. You will explore the definitions of 'community' and the various models and approaches to community development. You will also consider how these approaches can be a tool for promoting community engagement, social cohesion and empowerment within communities, and how this in turn can improve health outcomes or reduce health inequalities. The module also looks at the challenges and opportunities of community development through utilising case studies and exploring the effectiveness of a community development approach to improving health outcomes.

Module code: HUG1153

Credits: 20

Assessment

50% Coursework

50% Practical

Health and Social Care across the Life Course introduces you to contemporary and critical approaches in considering health and social care across various phases of the life course and transitions. We will enable you to begin to identify the key challenges and issues in health and social care as they emerge across the life course. This includes maternal and newborn, childhood and adolescent health, adults and older adults and end of life. You will explore key concepts or influences on health, such as environmental or place factors, social factors, personal factors, activities and participation in everyday life. By the end of the module you will gain a theoretical understanding of health protection and promotion approaches for individuals, communities and populations.

Module code: HUG1150

Credits: 20

Assessment

60% Practical

40% Coursework

Study advances in Year 2 as you are introduced to a range of public health and population approaches focused on integrated health and social care. You will learn about the specific health and social care needs of populations with mental health conditions and the needs of older people. You’ll also work on a community profile, undertake a professional practice placement, and develop approaches to health promotion. You will also advance your research skills to prepare you for a dissertation in Year 3.

Compulsory modules:

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Approaches to Health Promotion will analyse the health promotion programmes designed for health and wellbeing. The aims of these are to enhance the health and well being of people across the life course, as well as reduce any risk taking behaviours. Topics covered in the module will include dietary patterns, physical activity; keeping young people safe, avoiding smoking, harmful substances and recreational drugs. The ability to achieve a healthy lifestyle will be a key area of study within this module. The module will also provide opportunities for you to explore the public health agenda and reflect on current legislation, policy and the socio-political and cultural influences that may impact on peoples health and well being.

Module code: HUG2141

Credits: 20

Assessment

60% Coursework

40% Practical

Understanding Mental Health and Wellbeing will introduce you to the concept of mental health, mental ill health and wellbeing across the life course. The module will provide opportunities for you to explore the public health agenda and reflect on the influence of legislation, policy and guidance that may impact on mental health at a local, national and global level. You will develop your knowledge surrounding mental health and disability, consider the global burden of mental health, the cultural, social and biological determinants of mental health and give consideration to the roles and responsibilities of individuals and wider society to improve access to mental health care and strive to achieve universal equity in public mental health.

Module code: HUG2142

Credits: 20

Assessment

70% Practical

30% Coursework

Understanding Older Populations' Health and Wellbeing will introduce you to the study of contemporary ageing. The module will provide you with theoretical, empirical and critical understandings of the implications of population ageing and rising life expectancy in relation to the health care and welfare of older people in an ageing society. Particular attention will be paid to the social construction of age and the dominance of the biomedical model of the ageing body. You will also focus on the need for health, social and care services for older people, considering the impact of increasing levels of chronic illness and disability. Using policy, research, surveys, health data and case studies, you will explore the ethical dilemmas that provision of these services presents, and the tools of applying knowledge to practice. Topical debates surrounding later life and wellbeing will be explored including ageism, social isolation, digital inequalities and end of life care.

Module code: HUG2143

Credits: 20

Assessment

100% Coursework

The dissertation will be your main focus in Year 3. This will require you to undertake your own research project, significantly enhancing your understanding and analytical skills in supporting population health. You will also also critically explore practical aspects of working in health and social care, and focus on leadership, innovation and enterprise and global issues in health and social care.

Compulsory modules:

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Global Issues in Health and Social Care builds on health inequalities, diversity, and public health issues to develop a critical understanding of contemporary global health and social wellbeing. You will analyse the range of factors which drive to global inequalities in health, such as the historical impacts of colonialism, globalisation, international trade and economic policies, the impacts of of war, conflict and displacement, the continuing burden of poverty, weak health infrastructure and poor governance, and the changing patterns of communicable and non-communicable diseases across the globe. You will also develop a critical evaluation of the role and policy prescriptions of multilateral agencies, such as the World Health Organisation, non-governmental organisations and the wider aid sector.

Module code: HUG3002

Credits: 20

Assessment

75% Coursework

25% Practical

Innovation and Enterprise in Integrated Health and Social Care Settings examines contemporary innovative practices in health and social care, and the process required to ensure the successful implementation of innovation. The module will support you in examining current practice and to consider methods of developing alternative approaches, stratifying risks to staff and service users and estimating the benefits to the wider sector. You will critically examine and evaluate innovation related to an area of interest. You will also develop a practical understanding of the process of innovation and challenges in action. You will gain a number of tools and techniques to critically evaluate innovation and entrepreneurship activities, exploring what may constitute the process, practice and components of a successful innovation project.

Module code: HUG3001

Credits: 20

Assessment

80% Practical

20% Coursework

One of:

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One of:

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Where your course includes optional modules, these are to provide an element of choice within the course curriculum. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means that the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed. Optional module selection may also be affected by timetabling requirements. Some restrictions on optional module choice or combinations of optional modules may apply.

How you'll study

This degree will be delivered through a combination of lectures, tutorials, group seminars, and practice placements.

This is a campus-based programme, the timetabled content usually takes place over a minimum of three days, or as required when on placement.

You will also be offered additional 1-1 tutorials and personal tutor support. Your learning will be supported by the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) which contains reading lists and lecture content, along with online group forums.

Timetables for your first week are normally available at the end of August prior to enrolment in September. You can expect to receive your timetable for the rest of the academic year during your first week. Please note that while we make every effort to ensure that timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week. Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and cultural activities.

How you'll be assessed

Assessment includes essays, seminar presentations, practice-based assessment, portfolios, community profiling, online activities, posters and a third-year dissertation on a topic of your choice. Before these assessments take place, you will be given guidance and have the opportunity for your work to be reviewed.

Who will be teaching you

The academic team involved in the delivery of this degree are experienced and talented professionals and researchers across the fields of public health, psychology, sociology, and leadership. All academics are experienced lecturers, with most engaged in active research projects. The programme will also draw on the wider departmental staffing, which includes nurses, social workers, psychologists, accredited therapists, and counsellors, as well as arts and music-based therapists, amongst others. The team will also utilize high quality guest speakers where appropriate to support the delivery of key content. The team also liaise closely with practice partners and employers in ensuring the curriculum remains sector relevant.

Entry criteria

Entry requirements

104-112 UCAS Tariff points.

Example offers

Qualification	Requirement
A Level	BCC-BBC.
BTEC Extended Diploma (or combination of BTEC QCF qualifications)	Distinction, Merit, Merit (DMM).
T Level	Overall grade of Merit.
International Baccalaureate (IB)	We are happy to accept IB qualifications which achieve the required number of UCAS Tariff points.
Access to Higher Education Diploma	45 credits at Level 3, for example 9 credits at Distinction and 36 credits at Merit or 15 credits at Distinction and 30 credits at Merit. The required total can be attained from various credit combinations.

Should you accept an offer of a place to study with us and formally enrol as a student, you will be subject to the provisions of the regulations, rules, codes, conditions and policies which apply to our students. These are available at www.edgehill.ac.uk/studentterms.

English language requirements

International students require IELTS 6.0, with a score no lower than 5.5 in each individual component, or an equivalent English language qualification.

If your current level of English is half a band, one band, or one-and-a-half bands lower, either overall or in one or two elements, you may want to consider our Pre-Sessional English course.

For further information on how you can meet the entry requirements

UK EU International

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How to apply

Apply online through UCAS

Read our guide to applying through UCAS to find out more about the application process.

Apply as an international student

Please see our international student pages for further information about how to apply as a prospective international student.

Part-time applications require a direct application to Edge Hill. Please select the year of entry that you wish to apply for.

Apply for September 2025 part-time.

Facilities

The Faculty of Health, Social Care and Medicine offers outstanding facilities for the education and training of health and social care professionals.

The contemporary teaching and learning resources include leading edge clinical skills facilities, an 860-seat lecture theatre, and a variety of teaching rooms and social learning spaces.

Where you'll study

Faculty of Health, Social Care and Medicine

Finance

Tuition fees

£9,535

a year

£17,000

a year

2025/2026 part-time fee information will be added when available.

EU/EEA and Swiss students who have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, as well as Irish nationals, may be eligible for the UK tuition fee rate.

Financial support

Subject to eligibility, UK students joining this course can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan from the Government to cover the full cost of tuition fees. UK students enrolling on the course may also be eligible to apply for additional funding to help with living costs.

Scholarships

We offer a range of scholarships, which celebrate the determination, commitment and achievement of our students. Many of our scholarships are awarded automatically. There are some however, where you will need to be involved in an application or nomination process. To find out more about our scholarships and check your eligibility, please visit our dedicated scholarships pages.

Money Matters

Please view the relevant Money Matters guide for comprehensive information about the financial support available to eligible UK students.

Money Matters

EU/EEA and Swiss students who have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme may be eligible to apply for financial support. Irish nationals can ordinarily apply to Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI). If you are an EU student who does not have settled or pre-settled status, or are an international student from a non-EU country, please see our international student finance pages.

Your future career

The content of this course has been aligned to workforce needs and informed by the key policies that are shaping the future of integrated health and social care in the UK.

Successful completion of the degree will provide you with a strong foundation for a wide range of careers in sectors including the NHS, local authorities, voluntary, community and social enterprise and the private sector.

You will have obtained specific skills and knowledge in community development, health education and health promotion approaches. You will also have transferable skills such as data management and analysis, research and evaluation, presentation and communication, community profiling, planning and project management, professional and personal ethics, teamwork, relationship building and leadership.

You will be ready to take on roles in community work and social prescribing, health and social care, public health, child protection, mental health, the housing sector and in leadership contexts.

Course changes

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this information, however our courses are subject to ongoing review and development. Changing circumstances may necessitate alteration to, or the cancellation of, courses.

Changes may be necessary to comply with the requirements of professional bodies, revisions to subject benchmarks statements, to keep courses updated and contemporary, or as a result of student feedback. We reserve the right to make variations if we consider such action to be necessary or in the best interests of students.

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