University of Brighton
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Health Studies [top-up]
BA(Hons)

  • Course summary and entry requirements

    Course duration Help

    Full-time: 1 year

    Part-time: 2 years (max 4 years)

    UCAS code L511

    About the course

    Health Studies is a vibrant course that will appeal specifically to nurses and other professionals who have completed a UK-credited diploma programme (or equivalent) and who wish to top-up to an honours degree. By the end of the course they will be able to critically analyse factors that affect health and wellbeing, and will have developed a critical and evidence-based understanding of health as a contested concept.

    Students are equipped with the academic skills to aid their development within their own specialist area. This top-up course also provides an excellent foundation for students to progress to masters-level study.

    Typical entry requirements Help

    The entry requirements listed here are for students starting their course in 2013. Individual offers may vary

    A-levels:
    not suitable.

    International Baccalaureate:
    not suitable.

    QAA-approved access course:
    not suitable.

    GCSE (minimum grade C):
    not applicable.

    Foundation degree/HND
    /HNC 120 level 2 credits direct to year 3.

    For non-native speakers of English:
    IELTS 6.0 overall, 6.0 in writing.

    Other:
    Candidates should have either a professional qualification at diploma level, or relevant academic credits at level 5 or appropriate experience, in a relevant area of health related work. Applicants without a diploma level qualification will need to provide evidence of their ability to study at level 6. If you are unsure about your eligibility please call the course leader.

  • Course content

    Course structure

    This is a vibrant course that appeals to students that wish to continue their studies from diploma or foundation degree level to Bachelor level. The course aims to develop the student so that they are able to critically analyse factors affecting health and well being, and for them to develop a critical and evidence based understanding of health as a contested concept and the diverse influencing determinants. The course will also develop their current career portfolio through offering the potential to develop a range of key graduate transferable and vocationally relevant skills.

    The academic year has two semesters, September-February and February-June, where students completing the programme full-time over one academic year will study the equivalent of three modules in each semester. The course is primarily intended for students who wish to study full-time which will require 3 days attendance in semester 1, and 1 and half days attendance in semester 2. There is an however an option for part-time students to attend over two years should they wish to combine their studies with work or other commitments.

    Areas of study

    Core modules develop the contested notion of health and salutogenesis (focusing on supporting human health and wellbeing, rather than on causes of disease) in addition to developing a critical approach to health policy and research processes. The dissertation provides an opportunity to consolidate learning and explore a health-related subject in depth. The course is delivered by expert teachers, practitioners and researchers from the School of Nursing and Midwifery and the School of Applied Social Science.

    Syllabus

    Semester 1 requires the achievement of 60 credits gained through successful completion of the following modules ? Research in health, health law and ethics and either organisation and management in the health care setting or a community engagement module with volunteer experience in the local community. Semester 2 requires achievement of further 60 credits gained through successful completion of a health promotion module and then a dissertation module. The dissertation module will allow the student to explore in-depth a concept related to health through using an extended literature review methodology. This will be supported through action learning sets and offers the student the opportunity to consolidate their studies into one project area and perhaps apply their interest to a future career pathway.
    At the beginning of the course the student will work with their personal tutor to develop their personal development plan which will guide them towards their future career choices.

    Please note that this course is undergoing periodic review in 2012/13 and is subject to change before the final confirmation in June 2013.

    International students maybe interested in the option of an `add on` 5 day orientation to nursing in the UK programme. This may involve hospital tours, teaching of evidence based practice skills in state of the art simulation suites, community health centre tours, cultural and NHS policy teaching and a visit to the Florence Nightingale museum in London. There will be an additional cost for this.

  • Fees and costs

    The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2012-13. Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and may be subject to small increases, in line with inflation.

    The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full- or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

     

    NHS funding is also available and may vary depending on individual circumstances.  

    Please contact us directly for exact tuition fees and for information on the funding available for this course.

     

    What's included in the fee?

    When costs such as health or criminal record checks, field trips or use of specialist materials are incurred as a mandatory requirement of the course they are included in your tuition fee.

    You may incur additional costs depending on the optional modules or activities you choose. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. Before you apply please check with the school that provides your course using the contact details on the left of this page for advice about what is included and what optional costs you could face so you can budget accordingly.

    Our website www.brighton.ac.uk/money provides advice about funding and scholarships as well as further information about fees and advice on international and island fee paying status.

     

    BA(Hons) Health Studies  [L3EA002]
    UK/EU (Full Time)9,000 GBP
    Island Students (Full Time)9,000 GBP
    International (Full Time)10,500 GBP

  • Location

    Location Help Falmer

    Our Falmer campus is located on the edge of the South Downs National Park on the outskirts of Brighton. Approximately 7,000 students are based here.

    View campus maps and directions

    Living in Brighton

    Brighton’s rich mix of historic architecture, lively arts scene, varied shopping and cosmopolitan community make it a vibrant, enjoyable place to live. It is no wonder that many Brighton graduates choose to stay here.

    Social scene

    Alongside the traditional seaside attractions, Brighton is famed for its exciting social scene with a wide choice of pubs, clubs and restaurants.

    Music event on the beach

    Arts

    The highlight of the city’s cultural year is the Brighton Festival. The event is held each May and is England’s biggest arts festival, which showcases arts and performance from around the world. Brighton is also home to the UK’s oldest working cinema, the Duke of York’s, which shows alternative and mainstream films. The city is also well known for its exciting music scene and hosts The Great Escape music festival.

    Burning the Clocks winter solstice festival

    Sports

    Whether you take your sport seriously or just want to keep fit, Brighton offers all kinds of sports opportunities and facilities, on and off campus. You can also make the most of the location, and play volleyball, basketball and windsurfing down by the beach. The seafront is also the finishing point for the famous London – Brighton bicycle ride and the quirky veteran car run.

    Playing volleyball on the seafront

  • Staff profiles

    Health Studies [top-up]

    Nita Muir, course leader, Health Studies BA(Hons)

    Nita Muir is an experienced nurse who moved from a leadership role in clinical practice into a senior lecturer role at the School of Nursing and Midwifery in 2002.   During her time at the school, she has developed a range of educational expertise, with successful developments in a range of health and nursing curricula.  Nita has academic interest in trascultural and international nursing and has successfully implemented a range of international projects.  She is currently also studying a Doctorate in Education.  She brings this range of experience, working both nationally and internationally, into the Health Studies BA(Hons) course.

  • Student views

    Luciana Leite, Health Studies BA(Hons)

    The course has been excellent and it has exceeded my expectations. I decided to do this course because I wanted to improve my knowledge of health policy and promotion, including their application. In addition, this course will give me the opportunity to develop my studies to masters level, which I plan to do in the future. The lectures and assignments have made me reflect on my practice and on the standard of care.

    The course has opened my mind to a holistic view of nursing, giving me a wide perspective of global aspects of health, which will reflect in my professional career and nursing care.


     

  • Career opportunities

    Graduates in employment 6 months since leaving university in 2009/10 on average earned a salary of # 21,574 in comparison to non-graduates average salary of #14,734 (HESA 2009/10) with a large majority of them in employment.
    The Health studies graduate is not a vocational graduate but this does offer the basis for future fast track graduate conversion into professions such as nursing, social work or other health professions. Common areas of future work for a Health studies graduate may include health service management and administration (with potential access to the NHS Graduate management training scheme), health education and health promotion, teaching, medical law or journalism, community development and health research.

    The skills gained from studying at graduate level also would enable the student to access Master level study in the future.

    Visit the careers service website.

Health Studies [top-up]

Top-Up to Graduate Nurse Status

Application process
Book your open day place
Other courses like this
Find out more

01273 644069
Email namadmissions@brighton.ac.uk

Tailor-make your own degree with a variety of module options

 

Top-Up to a BA(Hons)

1 year (full-time) or 2 years (part-time)

Develop and expand your knowledge and experience in major health and social care policy issues.  This course offers a foundation for you to develop academic skills to masters level, or develop within your own area of specialism.

 

Visit the school that delivers this course

Contact us

If you would like further information on this course, please email

Nita Muir, course leader

 

 n.muir@brighton.ac.uk