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  1. Home
  2. Undergraduate
  3. Undergraduate Courses
  4. School of Health and Social Care Undergraduate Courses
  5. Health Care Studies, HE Cert

Health Care Studies, HE Cert

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  • September 2025

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  • March 2026

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Apply via UCAS.

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Key Course Details

2 Year Part Time
Mode of Study
Blended Study
Typical Offer (view equivalents)
See entry
Location
Singleton Park Campus
Start Date Tuition Fees - Year 1
Sep 2025 or Mar 2026 NHS

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    • School of Health and Social Care Undergraduate Courses
      • Healthcare Science (Audiology), BSc (Hons)
      • Adult Nursing, Flexible Part-time, BSc (Hons)
      • Healthcare Science (Cardiac Physiology), BSc (Hons)
      • Healthcare Science (Medical Engineering), BSc (Hons)
      • BSc (Hons) Healthcare Science (Audiology) - Part-time
      • Healthcare Science (Neurophysiology), BSc (Hons)
      • Healthcare Science (Nuclear Medicine), BSc (Hons)
      • BSc Healthcare Science (Rehabilitation Engineering) - Part-time
      • Healthcare Science (Radiation Physics), BSc (Hons)
      • BS (Hons) Healthcare Science (Medical Engineering) - Part-time
      • Healthcare Science (Radiotherapy Physics), BSc (Hons)
      • Healthcare Science (Rehabilitation Engineering), BSc (Hons)
      • Healthcare Science (Respiratory and Sleep Physiology), BSc (Hons)
      • Basic Audiological Practice, HECert
      • General Practice Nursing, BSc (Hons)
      • Child Nursing, BSc (Hons)
      • Adult Nursing (Swansea), BSc (Hons)
      • Adult Nursing (Part-time), BSc (Hons)
      • Adult Nursing (Carmarthen), BSc (Hons)
      • Nursing (Mental Health), BSc (Hons)
      • Mental Health Nursing (Part-time), BSc (Hons)
      • Nursing Flexible Part-Time (Mental Health), BSc
      • Child Nursing (Part-time), BSc (Hons)
      • Learning Disability Nursing, BSc (Hons)
      • Maternity Care, HECert
      • Midwifery, BMid (Hons)
      • Occupational Therapy, BSc (Hons)
      • Operating Department Practice, BSc (Hons)
      • Osteopathy, M.Ost
      • Paramedic Science, BSc (Hons)
      • Enhanced Paramedic Practice, BSc (Hons)
      • Paramedic Science for Emergency Medical Technicians, BSc (Hons)
      • Health and Social Care, BSc (Hons)
      • Social Work, BSc (Hons)
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Course Overview

The Certificate in Health Care Studies has been designed for Health Care Support Workers to complete a recognised formal level four qualification in keeping with the current Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) strategy ‘Developing Excellence in Healthcare An NHS Wales Skills and Career Framework for Healthcare Support Workers supporting Nursing and the Allied Health Professions.’

The programme has a strong focus on self-development, self-awareness and developing your nursing skills and you will gain detailed knowledge and insight of key aspects within nursing including holistic care, physiology across the ages, family and society and health and wellbeing. You will also explore your own role within your clinical setting.

Why Health Care Studies at Swansea?

You will be studying within the Department of Nursing which is proud to be ranked in the Top 10 in the UK (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024) for Nursing and 1st in the UK Career Prospects (The Complete University Guide 2024). Our academic staff are qualified nurses, doctors, and allied health professionals, many of whom are also practising clinicians, providing an exceptional combination of theoretical rigour, professional insight, and practical expertise. 

 

Your Health Care Studies Experience

Our blended learning approach, which combines taught sessions with self-directed learning, will give you the flexibility to fit your studies around your other work or family commitments.

Health Care Studies Careers

The programme aims to develop existing HCSWs and care workers into a compassionate and innovative workforce and it is anticipated that these educational opportunities will support the following opportunities:

  • Develop your existing role to promote safe care and service improvement
  • Be eligible for consideration for promotion to a higher band within the knowledge and skills framework operating in NHS Wales
  • Develop the enhanced role of Assistant Practitioner
  • Offer eligibility to apply to undertake pre-registration nursing after Part 1 of the NMC: Standards of proficiency for registered nurses (2018).

Modules

The Programme consists of 3 core modules that all students must complete.

  • SHG 140. Academic Study Skills for Health Care (10 credits) is a lecture based module that will develop the skills required to study at certificate level.
  • SHG 141. Introduction to Health Care Practice (20 credits) is a composite module where you apply health care theory to your clinical practice.
  • SHG 142. Understanding Health and Wellbeing (30 credits) is a composite module developing your understanding of the role of the nurse in health promotion.

Both composite modules require you to undertake clinical competencies based on the ‘All Wales Practice Assessment Document’.

You will also pursue an additional 60 credits of Work Based Leaning modules. You will be profiled by your Clinical Manager, Education Lead and the Programme Director on application to the programme and will be advised which modules should be selected, based on your needs and those of your employer. 

In most cases, this will mean that you will undertake modules, SHG 143 Developing Your Clinical Practice, SHG 144 Context of Practice and SHG 145 Making Changes to Your Practice. These modules consider your current role and how you can develop your practice.

If you have been selected to undertake the Assistant Practitioner pathway then you will undertake modules SHG 146 Making Decisions in Practice and SHG 147 Promoting improvement in Practice. In both modules you will consider your enhanced role and complete clinical proficiencies.

Modules

2 Year Part Time (September)

Year 1 (Level 4)

FHEQ 4 Undergraduate / HECert
Compulsory Modules
Module NameModule DurationCreditsModule Code
Academic Study Skills for Heath CareSeptember-January (TB1)10SHG140
Introduction to Health Care PracticeAcademic Year20SHG141
Understanding Health and WellbeingJanuary-June (TB2)30SHG142

Year 2 (Level 4)

FHEQ 4 Undergraduate / HECert

Students choose 60 credits from the following:

None found.

Optional Modules

Choose Exactly 60 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : Students to select 60 credits from the following modules.

CertHE - Optional/Core modules (pathway 1) 
Module NameModule DurationCreditsModule CodeGuidance
Developing Your Clinical PracticeAcademic Year20SHG143
Context of PracticeAcademic Year20SHG144
Making Changes to Your PracticeAcademic Year20SHG145
OR

Choose Exactly 60 credits from the following Modules:

CertHE - Optional/Core modules (pathway 2) 
Module NameModule DurationCreditsModule CodeGuidance
Making Decisions in PracticeAcademic Year30SHG146
Promoting Improvement to PracticeAcademic Year30SHG147

2 Year Part Time (March)

Year 1 (Level 4)

FHEQ 4 Undergraduate / HECert
Compulsory Modules
Module NameModule DurationCreditsModule Code
Introduction to Health Care PracticeAcademic Year20SHG141M
Understanding Health and WellbeingSeptember-January (TB1)30SHG142M
Academic Study Skills for Heath CareJanuary-June (TB2)10SHG140M
FHEQ 4 Undergraduate / HECert

Students choose 60 credits from the following:

None found.

Optional Modules

Choose Exactly 60 credits from the following Modules:

CertHE - Optional/Core modules (pathway 1) 
Module NameModule DurationCreditsModule CodeGuidance
Developing Your Clinical PracticeAcademic Year20SHG143M
Context of PracticeAcademic Year20SHG144M
Making Changes to Your PracticeAcademic Year20SHG145M
OR

Choose Exactly 60 credits from the following Modules:

CertHE - Optional/Core modules (pathway 2) 
Module NameModule DurationCreditsModule CodeGuidance
Making Decisions in PracticeAcademic Year30SHG146M
Promoting Improvement to PracticeAcademic Year30SHG147M

Entry Requirements

A level (or equivalent) typical offer

See entry

How You're Taught

We are proud to provide an outstanding educational experience, using the most effective learning and teaching approaches, carefully tailored to suit the specific needs of your course. Apart from a small number of online-only courses, most of our courses consist of in-person, on-campus teaching, enabling full engagement with your lecturers and fellow students.

Practical skills sessions, lab work seminars, and workshops predominantly take place in person, allowing for group working and demonstrations. We also operate virtual labs and Simulated Learning Environments which will facilitate greater access to training opportunities in the future. However, our approach also includes the use of some online learning to support and enhance traditional face-to-face teaching. 

Online learning may take place ‘live’ using software such as Zoom, allowing you to interact with the lecturer and other students and to ask questions. Lecture recordings also allow for more flexibility to revisit material, to revise for assessments and to enhance learning outside of the classroom. Some modules have extra resources in Canvas, such as videos, slides and quizzes enabling further flexible study.  

The Certificate will be delivered using blended learning including Work Based Learning and attendance at taught modules; in the first three modules you will have a high level of lecturer led teaching and your learning will become more independent and clinically focussed in the remaining modules.

Our Nursing team use a blended learning approach to deliver the programme which includes online teaching, where you will be physically apart from your lecturer, can be ‘live’ with your lecturer present and where you’ll be able to interact with some pre-recorded sessions for flexibility. Some of it may also be self-directed which means that you can access the learning materials at a time to suit you.

This course may offer some modules taught through the medium of Welsh or bilingually for students who consider themselves to be fluent Welsh speakers. For more details on the provision available see the Welsh Provision expander below.

Welsh Provision

No Provision

Unfortunately, there is currently no formal Welsh-medium provision on this course. If you would like to let us know that you are interested in pursuing an element of your course through the medium of Welsh, please email astudio@abertawe.ac.uk to indicate your interest along with your year of entry and we will do our best to see what is possible.

Whilst this course does not offer academic content delivered in Welsh, the University can provide you with the following, and Academi Hywel Teifi is here to support you:

  • An interview through the medium of Welsh when applying for a place.
  • The option to receive your personal correspondence in Welsh, English or bilingually.
  • The option to write and submit your coursework or exams through the medium of Welsh (even if you have chosen to study in English), and your work will be marked in Welsh.
  • A Welsh-speaking Personal Tutor.
  • One-to-one support to improve your academic Welsh language skills.
  • An opportunity to gain an additional free qualification that serves as evidence of your Welsh language ability for future employers.
  • Opportunity to be a member of the Swansea University Branch of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol.

To learn more about the above and all the opportunities available to you through the medium of Welsh, visit Academi Hywel Teifi's undergraduate pages.

Meet Your Lecturers

The programme uses a large number of lecturers from the School of Health and Social Care that include nursing, bioscience, law, ethics and sociology. There is a core nursing team that will support you throughout the programme.

Module 1 lead: Clare Morgan

Module 2 lead: Catherine Norris

Module 3 lead: Michelle Anderson

Module 3, 4 & 5 lead: Hayley Mathias

Module 6 & 7 lead: Andrew Evereed

Tuition Fees

Start Date UK International
September 2024 £ 2,500 N/A
March 2025 £ 2,500 N/A
September 2025 NHS N/A
March 2026 NHS N/A

Fees for full time undergraduate UK students may increase in subsequent years of study in line with the maximum regulated fee level set by the Welsh Government

You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page.

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study. To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page.

International students and part-time study: It may be possible for some students to study part-time under the Student Visa route. However, this is dependent on factors relating to the course and your individual situation. It may also be possible to study with us if you are already in the UK under a different visa category (e.g. Tier 1 or 2, PBS Dependant, ILR etc.). Please visit the University information on Visas and Immigration for further guidance and support.

Current students: You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page.

Funding and Scholarships

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study.

To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page.

Academi Hywel Teifi at Swansea University and the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol offer a number of generous scholarships and bursaries for students who wish to study through the medium of Welsh or bilingually. For further information about the opportunities available to you, visit the Academi Hywel Teifi Scholarships and Bursaries page.

Additional Costs

Access to your own digital device/the appropriate IT kit will be essential during your time studying at Swansea University. Access to wifi in your accommodation will also be essential to allow you to fully engage with your programme. See our dedicated webpages for further guidance on suitable devices to purchase, and for a full guide on getting your device set up.

You may face additional costs while at university, including (but not limited to):

  • Travel to and from campus
  • Printing, photocopying, binding, stationery and equipment costs (e.g. USB sticks)
  • Purchase of books or texts
  • Gowns for graduation ceremonies

Careers and Employability

Swansea Employability Academy (SEA) will support you at each stage of your career journey helping you build a bright future.

Our career support services include:

  • Employability workshops, employers’ talks, bespoke events and careers fairs
  • Individual advice and guidance from professionally qualified Careers Advisers
  • Help with finding jobs, internships, work placements and volunteering opportunities
  • Access to information resources on a wide range of career management topics
  • Advice and guidance on postgraduate study and funding
  • Funding to support student internship opportunities and Student Society/Club events.

We also provide help and advice for Swansea University Alumni up to two years after you graduate.

Academic Support

As well as subject specific support by college teaching staff and your personal tutor, the Centre for Academic Success provides courses, workshops and one-to-one support in areas such as:

  • Academic writing
  • Maths and statistics
  • Critical thinking
  • Time management
  • Digital skills
  • Presentation skills
  • Note taking
  • Revision, memory and exam techniques
  • English language skills (if English is not your first language).

In addition, if you have a Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLD), disability, mental health or medical condition, the Centre for Academic Success have Specialist Tutors to support your learning, working alongside the Disability Office and Wellbeing Service to support all your needs and requirements whilst studying at Swansea University.

Study Abroad and Global Opportunities

To learn more about study abroad, visit our Go Global webpages. Enrolment on a programme with a semester/year abroad does not guarantee you a semester/year abroad placement. Spaces are limited and subject to a competitive selection process. In the event you do not secure a semester/year abroad placement, you will be transferred to the standard variant of your degree scheme without a semester or year abroad.

International summer programmes are open to students from all schools. Programmes typically range from 2 to 6 weeks, across destinations such as Sri Lanka, South Korea, Fiji, Bali, the USA and across Europe. For more information about programmes and eligibility visit our Summer Abroad webpages.

How to Apply

You should also familiarise yourself with the NHS Wales Values and Standards of Behaviour.

If you are working in the Local Health Boards please contact your respective educational officers to discuss your application in the first instance:

  • Arianne Labayo, Swansea Bay University Health Board 
  • Allyson Thomas, Hywel Dda University Health Board

If you are working in an independent health and care setting please complete the universities Health Care Science application form, personal statement, provide evidence of your qualifications and a letter of support from your manager. 

Placement requirements

During the programme students will be required to complete the ‘All Wales Practice Assessment Document’. In order to do this, the placement area must be able to facilitate this by providing direct access to patient care and be able to provide a practice supervisor and assessor that has undertaken recent relevant training. For more information, please contact Claire Jackson, C.M.Jackson@Swansea.ac.uk.

Intakes

October - closing date 31st of May

March - closing date 31st of October

Please contact CPD for further information.

Application Deadlines

We recommend that you submit your application to our courses as early as you can in advance of our application deadlines. Courses will close earlier than the application deadlines listed if all available places are filled. You can find further information on our Application Deadlines webpage.

  • Overview
  • Related Pages
  • Back
  • Undergraduate courses
  • Undergraduate courses coming soon
  • Entry requirements
  • Accommodation
  • Open Days
  • School of Aerospace, Civil, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Courses
  • School of Biosciences, Geography and Physics Undergraduate Courses
  • School of Culture and Communication Undergraduate Courses
  • School of Engineering and Applied Sciences Undergraduate Courses
  • School of Health and Social Care Undergraduate Courses
    • Healthcare Science (Audiology), BSc (Hons)
    • Adult Nursing, Flexible Part-time, BSc (Hons)
    • Healthcare Science (Cardiac Physiology), BSc (Hons)
    • Healthcare Science (Medical Engineering), BSc (Hons)
    • BSc (Hons) Healthcare Science (Audiology) - Part-time
    • Healthcare Science (Neurophysiology), BSc (Hons)
    • Healthcare Science (Nuclear Medicine), BSc (Hons)
    • BSc Healthcare Science (Rehabilitation Engineering) - Part-time
    • Healthcare Science (Radiation Physics), BSc (Hons)
    • BS (Hons) Healthcare Science (Medical Engineering) - Part-time
    • Healthcare Science (Radiotherapy Physics), BSc (Hons)
    • Healthcare Science (Rehabilitation Engineering), BSc (Hons)
    • Healthcare Science (Respiratory and Sleep Physiology), BSc (Hons)
    • Basic Audiological Practice, HECert
    • General Practice Nursing, BSc (Hons)
    • Child Nursing, BSc (Hons)
    • Adult Nursing (Swansea), BSc (Hons)
    • Adult Nursing (Part-time), BSc (Hons)
    • Adult Nursing (Carmarthen), BSc (Hons)
    • Nursing (Mental Health), BSc (Hons)
    • Mental Health Nursing (Part-time), BSc (Hons)
    • Nursing Flexible Part-Time (Mental Health), BSc
    • Child Nursing (Part-time), BSc (Hons)
    • Learning Disability Nursing, BSc (Hons)
    • Maternity Care, HECert
    • Midwifery, BMid (Hons)
    • Occupational Therapy, BSc (Hons)
    • Operating Department Practice, BSc (Hons)
    • Osteopathy, M.Ost
    • Paramedic Science, BSc (Hons)
    • Enhanced Paramedic Practice, BSc (Hons)
    • Paramedic Science for Emergency Medical Technicians, BSc (Hons)
    • Health and Social Care, BSc (Hons)
    • Social Work, BSc (Hons)
  • Law Undergraduate Courses
  • School of Management Undergraduate Courses
  • School of Mathematics and Computer Science Undergraduate Courses
  • Medical School Undergraduate Courses
  • School of Psychology Undergraduate Courses
  • School of Social Sciences Undergraduate Courses
  • Undergraduate Programme Changes
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