Health Studies BSc(Hons) top-up degree

Course in brief

This course is suitable for you if you are a qualified nurse or other professional, have completed a UK-credited diploma programme (or equivalent) and want to top up to an honours degree.

It is also suitable if you have studied a foundation degree in a health and social care related subject and wish to continue your studies to bachelor level.

The recognition that patients come first in everything the NHS does, and the values of the NHS constitution – respect, dignity, compassion and working together for patients – are embedded in our curriculum.

By the end of the course you will be able to critically analyse factors that affect health and wellbeing. You will also have gained an evidence-based understanding of health as a contested concept and gained academic skills to aid your development within your own specialist area. This top-up course also provides an excellent foundation for students to progress to masters-level study.

Within the course there is an opportunity to undertake a placement with a local voluntary agency to gain some work experience.

The course is delivered by expert teachers, practitioners and researchers from the School of Health Sciences.

Your application should be made through UCAS using the following codes:

Institution code: B72
Course code: L511
Institution code name: BRITN
Short form of course: BSc/HSTU

Key facts

Location Brighton: Falmer

UCAS code L511

Full-time 1 year

Part-time 2 years

Our next open day for this course will take place in the autumn. Register your interest now and we will let you know when you can book your place.

Apply now with UCAS

Start in 2018: how to apply

Entry criteria

Entry requirements

The entry requirements listed here are our typical offer for this course if you wish to begin studying with us in 2018. They should be used as a general guide.

We operate a flexible admissions policy – this means that you could receive a lower conditional offer than the typical offer, informed by our assessment of your complementary non-academic achievements and experiences. For courses that require interview or portfolio review, this may also be considered in the level of any conditional offer that follows if your application is successful.

This top-up degree is suitable for qualified nurses wishing to gain graduate status or students with a foundation degree who want to achieve academic progression to a degree.

Applicants to the course are expected to:

1. Have a health and social care-related diploma of higher education, or foundation degree (minimum of 120 level 5 credits)

hold a current registered qualification in health or social care with the Nursing and Midwifery Council, the Health and Social Care Professions Council or equivalent Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body (PSRB).

2. Normally have successfully completed study within the last five years at Level 5 or 6

or:

successfully complete a Level 6 module prior to registering on the award.

A-levels
not suitable

International Baccalaureate
not suitable

Access to HE Diploma
not suitable

GCSE (minimum grade C or grade 4)
not applicable

For non-native speakers of English

IELTS 6.5 overall, with 6.0 in writing and a minimum of 5.5 in the other elements.

Course in detail

Course structure

The course is offered on a full-time basis (two semesters in one year). The semesters run from September to February and from February to June.

You will attend the university on three days in semester 1 and two days in semester 2.

A range of teaching and learning strategies are used within this course, including lectures, small group seminars, student presentations, online learning and specific professional based visits.

You will be assessed in a variety of ways which will include written essays and examinations. Assessments are fully supported and include early formative assessments in semester 1 to review your progress. You will also be allocated a supervisor to support your dissertation development in the final semester.

You will also have to opportunity to submit work for feedback that will not count towards your final grade.

Making sure that what you learn with us is relevant, up to date and what employers are looking for is our priority, so courses are reviewed and enhanced on an ongoing basis. When you have applied to us, you’ll be told about any new developments through our applicant portal.

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Syllabus

If you choose this course you will complete it in one year, over two semesters.

At the beginning of the course you will work with a personal tutor to build your personal development plan which will guide you towards future career choices.

International students can benefit from an additional five-day orientation to nursing in the UK programme. This can involve hospital tours, developing practical skills in our state-of-the-art Clinical Skills and Simulation Suite and Flexible Learning Environment (FLE), community health centre tours, learning about cultural and NHS policy and a visit to the Florence Nightingale museum in London. There will be an additional cost for this programme.

Semester 1

As a student you will study three modules in your first semester and attend lectures three days per week.

Semester 1 requires the achievement of 60 credits gained through successful completion of the following modules:

Research in Health,
Health Law and Ethics
Either Organisation and Management in the Health Care Setting, or a community engagement module with volunteer experience in the local community.

Semester 2

In your second semester you will attend lectures for one and a half days each week and also complete your dissertation.

During this period you will need to achieve a further 60 credits gained through successful completion of the following modules:

Health Promotion
Dissertation.

The dissertation module will allow you 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 you the opportunity to consolidate your studies into one project area and perhaps apply your interest to a future career pathway.

Facilities

Clinical Skills and Simulation Suite

Our Clinical Skills and Simulation Suite is among the best equipped in the country, and is an invaluable tool for assessment and monitoring students' progress throughout the course.

You will benefit from practising nursing skills in an environment that simulates real-life professional experiences. Provided by the NHS’ South East Coast Ambulance Service, you may have access to our Simbulance, enabling you to work alongside paramedic students in an interprofessional learning environment. On board is a high fidelity mannikin with multiple uses, and a child-size mannikin for paediatric scenarios.

Learning by simulation means you will be confident in your ability to apply your knowledge and skills in your professional life.

Flexible Learning Environment

The Flexible Learning Environment is an adapted home environment in a residential location where you'll be able to practise skills and learn from other students while taking part in a realistic training experience.

Every room is fitted with cameras and microphones, so that students can be directed and monitored from the control room while the observation room provides the opportunity to review, playback and debrief.

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Staff profile

Darren Brand

Darren Brand is an experienced nurse who moved into education following a number of clinical practice roles, including operating theatres, medical equipment education and clinical governance management. He has involvement with the Association for Perioperative Practice (AfPP), and was until recently the educational lead for the South East of England.

Darren has a keen interest in the learning process, and is currently undertaking a Professional Doctorate in Education, with a focus on how learning occurs in the practice setting.

He looks forward to working with you as Course Leader for the BSc (Hons) Health Studies top-up degree and encourages your application.

Careers and employability

The Health Studies top-up BSc(Hons) will significantly enhance your employability in the sector and in other areas of work.

The degree can help open doors to positions in management and administration (with potential access to the NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme), health education, health promotion, teaching, medical law, medical journalism, community development or health research.

Recent graduates of the course have developed their clinical careers in nursing and gone on to hold senior positions in acute and community health organisations, both in the UK and internationally.

If you are interested in entering the caring profession, the Health Studies BSc(Hons) offers the basis for future fast-track graduate conversion into professions such as nursing and social work.

You will gain skills including the ability to gather, understand, interpret, and present information in a clear, logical and engaging way, which can be applied to many areas of work and will also prepare you for masters-level study.

Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust

Fees and funding

Your fees

UK/EU (full-time) 9,250 GBP

International (full-time) 14,040 GBP

International students can benefit from an additional five-day orientation to nursing in the UK programme. There is an additional cost for this programme.

Changes to funding arrangements for students starting health courses in September 2017

From 1 August 2017, new students from England starting many health courses will no longer be funded by the NHS, but they will have access to the standard government student finance support package that consists of loans to meet the cost of tuition fees and living costs. At present we are unable to advise how this course may be affected by these changes.

The Funding Clinic website provides up-to-date information about these changes.

What's included in the fee?

When costs such as health or DBS checks, 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 option 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 check with the school that provides your course using the contact details in the Find out more tab (at the end of this page) for advice about what is included and what optional costs you could face so you can budget accordingly.

See our finance pages for advice about funding, scholarships and other financial support provided by the university as well as further information about fees and advice on international and island fee paying status.

Location and living here

Location

About Brighton

Forward-thinking and welcoming, the city of Brighton & Hove is a community of creative and diverse people who share values like sustainability and inclusivity – just like its university.

Miles of pebble beaches, hundreds of bars, restaurants and clubs, a packed calendar of culture, music and sport and great independent and high street shopping attract visitors from all over the world. By the end of your course you’ll still be finding new things to enjoy about the city.

The Brighton Festival, England’s largest arts festival, takes place every May – as does the Great Escape Europe’s leading industry showcase for new music, 300 bands perform over three days at venues across the city. Major events celebrate Pride, digital culture, cinema, photography, food and the winter solstice. Our own Brighton Graduate show is a highlight, turning the university into the largest exhibition space in the south east as we celebrate the outstanding creativity of our students.

As a student here you’ll have a unique opportunity to experience what the city has to offer. Volunteering and placement opportunities enable you to play your part in the events, organisations and communities that make Brighton such a compelling place to be.

Campus where this course is taught

Falmer campus

Surrounded by the South Downs National Park and just five miles from the centre of Brighton, our Falmer campus has benefited from over £60million of investment over the past 10 years. 7,000 students are based here, studying subjects including English, education, social science, nursing and medicine.

Recent developments include the Falmer Sports Centre – with its fitness suites and sports hall – and the innovative Checkland Building, which has natural ventilation systems and an insulating green roof.

Falmer has also recently installed more than 600 solar panels, which reduce the campus’s carbon emissions by more than 80 tonnes. The renovation has made us one of the top universities in the UK for on-site renewable energy production.

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Accommodation

Brighton

Our Brighton halls of residence are located across the city in Grand Parade, Moulsecoomb, Varley Park and Falmer.

Grand Parade is in central Brighton and has one hall of residence, Phoenix Brewery, within walking distance.
Moulsecoomb is two miles from the city centre and also has one hall of residence, Moulsecoomb Place, on campus.
Varley Park offers the biggest choice of student accommodation with ten halls of residence.
Falmer campus has two halls of residence: Great Wilkins and Paddock Field.
Varley Park and Falmer are around four miles from Brighton centre; there are good public transport services nearby.

Aside from halls, you have the option of Unihomes, which we let out to our students on behalf of private landlords. We recommend Unihomes and House Share when you’re balancing learning with placements, shifts and other commitments, because they give you more choice and flexibility.

You can also choose to join the many students who live away from campus in private rented accommodation. We have a list of high-quality, university-endorsed private sector accommodation and can help you find housemates to move in with.

Find out more on our accommodation webpages and if you have any questions, our accommodation team will be happy to help. You can contact them by email at accommodation@brighton.ac.uk or by telephone on 01273 644100.

Paddock Field

Moulsecoomb Place

Maps

Accommodation

University building

Falmer campus

Find out more

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Our next open day for this course will take place in the autumn. Register your interest now and we will let you know when you can book your place.

School of Health Sciences
01273 644016
namcpeadmissions@brighton.ac.uk

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Student views

Grace Mutingwende

Nursing is a dynamic and fast-changing profession. There are constant challenges encountered, innovations in practice, policy developments and new standards for treatment. Having initially studied for a nursing diploma and with ten years' post-qualifying experience, I then enrolled for a Health Studies top-up BSc(Hons) at the University of Brighton. I found myself having to study hard to keep up with the dynamic profession. My dilemma as a working mum was trying to find flexible study arrangements that would fit in with work and family life.

The university provided this balance for me. Reflecting on my two years at the University of Brighton, I have benefitted tremendously. The experience has upgraded my critical thinking skills – an asset to my role as a registered general nurse. I have worked with supportive tutors alongside other students from varying backgrounds. I am leaving the University of Brighton as an independent and reflective learner, better able to provide evidence-based and current nursing care.

Becca Arnold

I have thoroughly enjoyed studying Health Studies top-up degree at the University of Brighton.

After completing my Higher National Diploma in health and social care, I decided to come to Brighton to do the top-up to get my full degree. This has given me a great insight into different aspects of health and health organisations. Studying alongside nurses and other health care professionals has given me a chance to gain knowledge and understanding from their experiences as well as sharing my own.

Having moved from the north to Brighton I am now planning on staying and starting a career in the health sector.

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Health Studies BSc(Hons) top-up degree