This programme is currently under development and may be subject to change
Key information
Duration: 1 year full time
UCAS code: L511
Institution code: R72
Campus: Egham
The course
Health & Social Care (CertHE)
This CertHE Health and Social Care is a one-year introduction to the UKs health and social care sector. It will introduce you to health studies and social care, including knowledge and understanding of skills, theories, and workplace issues in the sector, which has seen many changes and ever evolving change of needs in the last few years.
Delivered jointly by health and social care academics from the School of Law and Social Sciences and our Department of Health Studies, you’ll be taught by experts who research and teach on what matters in today’s world.
The course is a mix of time spent in the classroom and a placement. You’ll be introduced to social care and the health workforce and how human behaviour and experiences are influenced by social and interactional experiences. You’ll gain competences relevant to the world beyond the theory through a 160-hours placement included in the course. This placement can be taken in any relevant setting such as working with adults, children, people with learning difficulties and mental health issues. This emphasis on employability skills prepares you for your future by giving you practical experience and transferable skills which can be used in a variety of careers.
Your course enables you to qualify as an Early Intervention Practitioner (HTQ). The broad purpose of the occupation is to provide intervention services early in identified cases to help prevent a complex solution needed later. Graduates will be able to apply for jobs across adult and children social care including family support worker, senior care worker, early help practitioner, residential care worker, social work assistant, reablement worker, mental health support worker and health and social care practitioner.
The course can also be the start of your undergraduate BSc degree if you wish to progress directly onto the second year of the BSc Health and Social Care after having finished your Cert HE Health and Social Care.
We sometimes make changes to our courses to improve your experience. If this happens, we’ll let you know as soon as possible.
Course structure
Core Modules
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This professionally oriented module addresses students’ employability skills with providing them with foundational level competences (knowledge, skills, values and agency) in social care. The emphasis within this module is empowering, holistic, person-centred, individual level care which will be contextualised from the perspectives of professional multi-agency practice, diversity and service user involvement. The aim is to help the students to engage both with the theories and practices of person-centred social care and develop their communicative, dialogic skills and ethical sensitivity. This module includes practice placement of 40 hours during term 2 coordinated by the Royal Holloway Volunteering Team. Students can opt to volunteer in diverse health care setting as well depending on their professional interests.
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This module will explore and examine how human behaviour and experience are influenced by social and interactional experiences and contexts across the lifespan. You will identify and critically analyse literature and research evidence on human experience and development to understand how life events and social contexts impact on people’s experiences. You will explore sociological, social psychological and ecological perspectives, focusing on understanding the person in their environment and will analyse and critique the intersections between developmental and life experiences, and the social contexts in which they occur. Own and others’ behaviours will furthermore be examined, reflecting on biases and assumptions in everyday life.
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The aim of this module is to provide an understanding of the different health professional roles and how they play a vital role in treatment, rehabilitation and improving health and wellbeing in health and social care. You will explore codes of conduct, collaborate working, communication theories, team roles, conflict resolution, contemporary issues in health and social care, serious case reviews and inquiry reports, amongst others.
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The aim of this module is to provide an understanding of the different health professional roles and how they play a vital role in treatment, rehabilitation and improving health and wellbeing in health and social care.
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This module will describe the key principles of academic integrity, focusing on university assignments. Plagiarism, collusion and commissioning will be described as activities that undermine academic integrity, and the possible consequences of engaging in such activities will be described. Activities, with feedback, will provide you with opportunities to reflect and develop your understanding of academic integrity principles.
Teaching & assessment
Teaching will be in smaller groups and will be mostly by means of lectures; seminars; tutorials; workshops; study groups; essay plan consultations; oral presentations and guided independent study.
Assessment of knowledge and understanding is typically varied, including, for example, formal examinations, coursework, essays, and oral presentations.
Entry requirements
A Levels: BBB-BBC
Applicants will be required to go through DBS and Occupational Health checks as mandatory admissions requirements for this course in alignment with NHS requirements.
Achieve a grade of 75% overall in your European Baccalaureate with a grade 9 in any subject specified above
If you have completed Secondary or High School in this country then you will need to take our one year International Foundation Year , or the equivalent from another institution, before beginning your undergraduate studies.
Achieve a grade of 86 overall in your ATAR with a grade A in any subject specified above
Achieve a grade of 2 overall in your Maturazeugnis with a grade 2 in any subject specified above
If you have completed Secondary or High School in this country then you will need to take our one year International Foundation Year , or the equivalent from another institution, before beginning your undergraduate studies.
If you have completed Secondary or High School in this country then you will need to take our one year International Foundation Year , or the equivalent from another institution, before beginning your undergraduate studies.
Achieve a grade of 7/10 overall in your Certificate D Enseignement Secondaire Superieur with a grade 17 in any subject specified above
Achieve a grade of 3/5 overall in your Secondary School Leaving Diploma with a grade 3.5 in any subject specified above
Achieve a grade of 5.3 overall in your Diploma za Sredno Obrazovanie with a grade 5 in any subject specified above
Achieve a grade of 80% overall in your Year 12 High School Graduation Diploma with a grade 80% in any subject specified above
Achieve a grade of 75% overall in the National College Entrance Examination (NCEE) (Gaokao) with 70% in any subject specified above. For students who do not meet this requirement, our partner Foundation course provider may be able to help. For more information please view - www.rhulisc.com
Achieve a grade of 4 overall in your Svjedodzba o Maturi with a grade 4 in any subject specified above
Achieve a grade of 18 overall in your Apolytirion with a grade B or 18 in any subject specified above
Achieve a grade of 2.3 overall in your Maturia with a grade 2 in any subject specified above
Achieve a grade of 7 overall in your Bevis for Studentereksamen with a grade 10 in any subject specified above
Achieve BBB in the Certificate of Nile Secondary Education (CNISE) Level 3 with a grade B in any subject specified above.
Achieve a grade of 3.7 overall in your Gumnaasium Ioputunnistus and 65% in Riigieksamid with a grade 4 in any subject specified above
Achieve a grade of MMMM overall in your Ylioppilastutkinto with a grade M in any subject specified above
Achieve a grade of 12 overall in your Baccalaureat with a grade 12 in any subject specified above
Achieve a grade of 2 overall in your Abitur with a grade 13 in any subject specified above
If you have completed Secondary or High School in this country then you will need to take our one year International Foundation Year , or the equivalent from another institution, before beginning your undergraduate studies.
Achieve a grade of 18 overall in your Apolytirion with a grade B or 18 in any subject specified above
Achieve a grade of 5, 4, 4 overall in your Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education with a grade 5 in any subject specified above
Achieve a grade of 4.3 overall in your Matura with a grade 4 in any subject specified above
Achieve a grade of 7.5/10 overall in your Studentsprof with a grade 8 in any subject specified above
Achieve a grade of 75% overall in your Higher Secondary School Certificate with a grade 80% in any subject specified above
If you have completed Secondary or High School in this country then you will need to take our one year International Foundation Year , or the equivalent from another institution, before beginning your undergraduate studies.
Achieve a grade of 16/20 overall in your National Entrance Examination (Konkur) with a grade 16 in any subject specified above
If you have completed Secondary or High School in this country then you will need to take our one year International Foundation Year , or the equivalent from another institution, before beginning your undergraduate studies.
Achieve a grade of 75% overall in your Bagrut with a grade 75% or 8 in any subject specified above
Achieve a grade of 80 overall in your Esame di Stato with a grade 17/20, 13/15 or 8/10 in any subject specified above
If you have completed Secondary or High School in this country then you will need to take our one year International Foundation Year , or the equivalent from another institution, before beginning your undergraduate studies.
If you have completed Secondary or High School in this country then you will need to take our one year International Foundation Year , or the equivalent from another institution, before beginning your undergraduate studies.
If you have completed Secondary or High School in this country then you will need to take our one year International Foundation Year , or the equivalent from another institution, before beginning your undergraduate studies.
Achieve a grade of 3.5 overall in your Diplome per Kryerjen e Shkolles se Mesme te Larte with a grade 5 in any subject specified above
If you have completed Secondary or High School in this country then you will need to take our one year International Foundation Year , or the equivalent from another institution, before beginning your undergraduate studies.
Achieve a grade of 8.0 overall in your Atestats par visparejo videjo izglitibu with a grade 8 in any subject specified above
If you have completed Secondary or High School in this country then you will need to take our one year International Foundation Year , or the equivalent from another institution, before beginning your undergraduate studies.
Achieve a grade of 5/6 overall in your Matura with a grade 5 in any subject specified above
Achieve a grade of 8.0 overall in your Brandos Atestatas Secondary School Diploma / Maturity Certificate with a grade 8.5/85% in any subject specified above and at least 80% in three state exams.
Achieve a grade of 39 overall in your Diplome de Fin d'Etudes Secondaires with a grade 40 in any subject specified above
Achieve a grade of BBB overall in your Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia with a grade B in any subject specified above
Achieve a grade of BBB overall in your Advanced Matriculation with a grade B in any subject specified above
Achieve BBB in the Cambridge Overseas Higher School Certificate/General Certificate of Education Advanced Level with grade B in any subject specified above.
Achieve BBB in the Cambridge Overseas Higher School Certificate (COHSC) with grade B in any subject specified above.
Achieve a grade of 6 overall in your Voorbereidend Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs with a grade 6.5 in any subject specified above.
Achieve a grade of Merit overall from three subjects in your NCEA level 3 with a grade of Excellence in any subject specified above
If you have completed Secondary or High School in this country then you will need to take our one year International Foundation Year , or the equivalent from another institution, before beginning your undergraduate studies.
Achieve a grade of 4.2 overall in your Matura with a grade 4 in any subject specified above
Achieve a grade of 8.0 overall in your Devlet lise Diplomasi with BB at A-level with a grade B in any subject specified above
Achieve a grade of 4 overall in your Videregaende Opplæring with a grade 5 in any subject specified above
If you have completed Secondary or High School in this country then you will need to take our one year International Foundation Year , or the equivalent from another institution, before beginning your undergraduate studies.
If you have completed Secondary or High School in this country then you will need to take our one year International Foundation Year , or the equivalent from another institution, before beginning your undergraduate studies.
Achieve a grade of 70% overall including 70% in three extended level subjects in your Matura with a grade 75% in any subject specified above
Achieve a grade of 17 overall including 17, 17, 17 in 3 year 11 or 12 exams in your Certificado de fim de Estudos Secundarios with a grade 17 in any subject specified above
If you have completed Secondary or High School in this country then you will need to take our one year International Foundation Year , or the equivalent from another institution, before beginning your undergraduate studies.
Achieve a grade of 7 overall in your Diploma de Bacalaureat with a grade 8 in any subject specified above
If you have completed Secondary or High School in this country then you will need to take our one year International Foundation Year , or the equivalent from another institution, before beginning your undergraduate studies.
If you have completed Secondary or High School in this country then you will need to take our one year International Foundation Year , or the equivalent from another institution, before beginning your undergraduate studies.
Achieve a grade of 4 overall in your Secondary School Leaving Diploma with a grade 4 in any subject specified above
Achieve a grade of 2.8 overall in your Polytechnic Diploma with a grade 3.5 in any subject specified above
Achieve a grade of 2 overall in your Maturita with a grade 2 in any subject specified above
Achieve a grade of 4 overall in your Matura with a grade 4 in any subject specified above
Achieve a grade of 776666 overall in your National Senior Certificate with matriculation endorsement with a grade 6 in any subject specified above
If you have completed Secondary or High School in this country then you will need to take our one year International Foundation Year , or the equivalent from another institution, before beginning your undergraduate studies.
Achieve a grade of 7.5 overall in your Titulo de Bachillerato with a grade 7.5 in any subject specified above
If you have completed Secondary or High School in this country then you will need to take our one year International Foundation Year , or the equivalent from another institution, before beginning your undergraduate studies.
Achieve a grade of BBB overall in the Advanced Certificate of Secondary Education (CSEE) with a grade B in any subject specified above.
If you have completed Secondary or High School in this country then you will need to take our one year International Foundation Year , or the equivalent from another institution, before beginning your undergraduate studies.
Achieve a grade of 70% overall in the final two years in your Devlet Lise Diplomas with a grade 70% in any subject specified above
Achieve BBB in the Ugandan Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) with a grade B in any subject specified above.
If you have completed Secondary or High School in this country then you will need to take our one year International Foundation Year , or the equivalent from another institution, before beginning your undergraduate studies.
If you have completed Secondary or High School in this country then you will need to take our one year International Foundation Year , or the equivalent from another institution, before beginning your undergraduate studies.
Achieve grades 3 and 4 in at least two relevant AP Examinations; or a composite score of 23 in the ACT Examinations (including the ACT writing test) with an AP grade 4 or College Class B in any A-level subject specified above; or SAT 1100 with an AP grade 4 or College Class B in any A-Level subject specified above.)
Achieve a grade of 17 or C overall in your Avgangsbetyg or Slutbetyg with a grade B in any subject specified above
If you have completed Secondary or High School in this country then you will need to take our one year International Foundation Year , or the equivalent from another institution, before beginning your undergraduate studies.
Achieve a grade of 222 overall in your Caribbean Advanced Proficency Examination with a grade 2 in any subject specified above
Your future career
This course can lead to a number of rewarding careers in health and social care as well as a variety of careers in which you can use the transferable skills that are valued by employers in many industries. The course is validated by IfATE which means you’ll qualify to work as an Early Intervention Practitioner.
This degree could lead to careers in a variety of fields and could result in a role as e.g. Assistant social worker, Early help practitioner, Early intervention advisor, Family support worker, Violence prevention worker, Lead reablement worker or similar.
Fees, funding & scholarships
Home (UK) students tuition fee per year*: £9,535
EU and international students tuition fee per year**: £23,700
Other essential costs***: Students are responsible for covering the costs of commuting to their placement.
*The tuition fee for Home (UK) undergraduates is controlled by Government regulations. This figure is the fee for the academic year 2025/26 and is shown as a guide. The fee for the academic year 2026/27 has not yet been announced.
**This figure is the fee for EU and international students starting the course in the academic year 2025/26 and is shown as a guide.
The fee for the academic year 2026/27 has not yet been confirmed. Royal Holloway reserves the right to increase tuition fees annually for all students. For further information see the terms and conditions.
*** These estimated costs relate to studying this particular diploma course at Royal Holloway during the 2025/26 academic year and are included as a guide. Costs, such as accommodation, food, books and other learning materials and printing, have not been included.
Find out more about student finance here.
