Health and Social Care Studies (1 year top-up)

Please check the Sheffield Hallam University website for the latest information.

Course summary

• Top up your 240 credits from a relevant foundation course into a full Honours degree.

• Learn to solve challenges and lead health and social care organisations.

• Develop analytical techniques and problem-solving skills for a variety of sectors.

• Gain real-world skills through workshops, projects, field trips and presentations.

• Learn from diverse practitioners who share cutting-edge, sector-focused knowledge.

This top-up course is designed to enhance the qualifications of students who aim to work in non-registered roles across health and social care organisations. You’ll graduate with an Honours degree, whether you're a foundation degree holder or have studied an equivalent Level 4 or 5 in a health, social care or education related qualification.

How You Learn

At Sheffield Hallam, all our courses are designed to engage you with the world and challenge you to think in new ways. You’ll get to collaborate with others, and you’ll be taught in a supportive environment where you can thrive.

This course has been designed in response to rapidly changing workforce demands and policy initiatives – aiming to modernise services and improve quality, productivity and efficiency. You’ll benefit from the latest academic theory and practice-based thinking.

There’s also an emphasis on developing problem-solving skills in relation to real-world challenges – including the application of research-based knowledge and technology. You’ll have the opportunity to work collaboratively with your peers during taught sessions, and you’ll be supported across a range of assessments.

You’ll experience a blended approach to learning and teaching – on campus, online and in work placements – which mirror how you’ll work in practice.

Course topics

This health and social care top-up course is compliant with the Hallam Model – embedding a person-centred approach to your professional knowledge, skills and behaviours in practice.

You’ll be encouraged to build on your prior experience and knowledge to navigate the evolving landscape of health and social care. You’ll explore a range of topics – from leadership and research utilisation to technology integration, organisational adaptation, wellbeing and safeguarding. The course uses inclusive approaches to learning and teaching which value diversity. You’ll use real-world examples and learn from practitioners and people with lived experience.

You’ll also further develop your creative research and enquiry skills while exploring the high-quality research undertaken at Hallam and beyond. You’ll have opportunities to develop your abilities in identifying and using evidence, using methods that enhance your critical reasoning and reflection skills.

Applied learning

Field trips

As a department we value the importance of learning from diverse experiences – broadening your professional understanding and becoming a culturally competent practitioner. Through access to the Turing Grant Scheme we have a range of active partnerships across Africa, Europe and India, facilitating volunteering visits to community development or refugee agencies.

Networking opportunities

We have extra-curricular career-focused activities – from careers and job fairs to employer events, volunteering and leadership awards, and training to assist with professional development. As a department we celebrate international social work with a global audience, so you’ll be able to engage in a range of online international activities and events.

Our student Social Work and Social Care Society, our Global Majority Student Group and the Diverse Voices Conference are great opportunities for students to come together and share experiences with their peers and academic staff.