Health and Wellbeing in Society BSc (Hons)

The Health and Wellbeing in Society BSc (Hons) is a dynamic social science course that equips students with the skills to understand and analyse contemporary developments across the UK health scene.

You deserve a positive teaching and learning experience, where you feel part of a supportive and nurturing community. That’s why most students will enjoy an innovative approach to learning using block teaching, where you will study one module at a time. You’ll benefit from regular assessments - rather than lots of exams at the end of the year - and a simple timetable that allows you to engage with your subject and enjoy other aspects of university life such as sports, societies, meeting friends and discovering your new city. By studying with the same peers and tutor for each block, you’ll build friendships and a sense of belonging.

Overview

This versatile degree programme boasts an interprofessional and dynamic approach to learning that provides students with a framework for exploring key issues in contemporary public health in the UK. In addition to consideration of different theoretical perspectives, alongside the application of theory to current public health challenges, students have the opportunity to tailor their learning to fit specific career interests, build their confidence and acquire specialist skills sought by employers.

As a student, you will explore and critically evaluate a range of issues that define the current health scene, with a specific focus on factors related to wellbeing. You will cover varied and extremely relevant topics, including: health psychology, health sociology, public health, health promotion, health and social care management and health inequalities. You will have the opportunity to choose from elective modules in year three including Substance Use, Addictive Behaviour and Health; Mental Health and Wellbeing, and Social Exclusion and Health.

We also offer a Health, Wellbeing and Society in Professional Contexts placement module in year three providing students with the opportunity to develop competencies to become effective and efficient workers in health and social care services. During this module you will engage in self-evaluation to determine existing skills and identify areas for development. You can also complete an optional 80 hours of work experience with DMU local health (or related) services to enhance your future career prospects (subject to availability).

Key features

Our course content and teaching are designed to help you secure jobs in the healthcare sector by developing skills sought by graduate employers.
You can tailor your learning to your career interests, helping you develop specialist knowledge along with the transferable skills needed for a diverse range of career opportunities.

Join a supportive learning environment where all students benefit from the guidance of a personal tutor throughout their studies.
You will study a range of topics including psychological and sociological theories of health and illness, debates and dilemmas in health and health care, and mental health and wellbeing.
Our Health, Wellbeing and Society in Professional Contexts module allows you to take advantage of placement opportunities in a variety of health and community settings.
Graduates go on to careers in health and health promotion, in a range of health and community settings, charitable organisations and local councils. Many graduates pursue further postgraduate study, including the Masters by Research MA/MSc at DMU.
Our students have gained international experience related to their studies through our DMU Global programme, which has previously involved our students exploring poverty in Florida, supporting refugees in Berlin and considering diversity and inequality in New York.

Benefit from block teaching, where most students study one subject at a time. A simple timetable will allow you to really engage with your learning, receive regular feedback and assessments, get to know your course mates and enjoy a better study-life balance.

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UK
EU/International

Institution code: D26

UCAS course code: B991

Start date: September

Duration: Three years full-time

Location: De Montfort University Leicester UK

Fees and funding:

2025/26 tuition fees for UK students: £9,250

Additional costs: You may incur additional costs for this programme, including the cost of travelling to and from project/placement locations.

How to apply

Order a prospectus

Book an Open Day

Submit a study-related enquiry

Institution code: D26

UCAS course code: B991

Start date: September

Duration: Three years full-time

Location: De Montfort University Leicester UK

Fees and funding:

2024/25 tuition fees for international students: £15,750

Find out more about available funding for international students.

Additional costs: You may incur additional costs for this programme, including the cost of travelling to and from project/placement locations.

How to apply

Order a prospectus

Submit a study-related enquiry

Entry criteria

GCSEs

Five GCSEs at grade C/4 or above including: English and Maths

Plus one of the following:

A Level

A minimum of 104 UCAS points from 2 or more A levels

T Levels

Merit

BTEC

BTEC National Diploma - at Distinction/Merit/Merit
BTEC Extended Diploma - at Distinction/Merit/Merit

Further information about BTEC equivalencies

Access course

Pass in the QAA Access to HE with 104 UCAS points, with 30 Level 3 credits at Merit.

We will normally require students to have had a break from full-time education before undertaking the Access course.

International Baccalaureate 24+ points

English language requirements

If English is not your first language an IELTS score of 6.5 overall with 5.5 in each band (or equivalent) when you start the course is essential.

English Language tuition, delivered by our British Council-accredited Centre for English Language Learning, is available both before and throughout the course if you need it.

Interview: No

Work experience: No

Personal statement selection criteria

Clear communication skills, including good grammar and spelling
Information relevant to the course applied for
Interest in the course demonstrated with explanation and evidence
Work and life experience

UCAS Tariff changes

Students applying for courses starting in September will be made offers based on the latest UCAS Tariff.

Structure and assessment

First Year

Block 1: Introduction to Health, Wellbeing and Society
Block 2: Introduction to Social Research Methods
Block 3: Psychological and Social Theories of Health and Illness
Block 4: Health Improvement and Lifestyle

Second Year

Block 1: Health and Disease in Communities
Block 2: Debates and Dilemmas in Health and Health Care
Block 3: Application of Psychological and Social Theories of Health and Illness
Block 4: Applied Social Research Methods

Third Year

Block 1: Health Promotion and Public Health

Block 2:

Select from the list below

Leadership and Management in Diverse Settings or

Contemporary Issues in Health Research or
Substance Use, Addictive Behaviour and Health

Block 3:

Select from the list below

Mental Health and Wellbeing or
Health, Wellbeing and Society in Professional Contexts or
Health, Technology and Society or

Social Exclusion and Health or
Gender, Health and Health Care

Block 4: Health and Wellbeing in Society Project

See detailed module information

Note: All modules are indicative and based on the current academic session. Course information is correct at the time of publication and is subject to review. Exact modules may, therefore, vary for your intake in order to keep content current. If there are changes to your course we will, where reasonable, take steps to inform you as appropriate.

This is a full-time course. Each module is worth 30 credits. A variety of teaching and learning methods are adopted, including:

Lectures
Seminars
Workshops
Group Work
Problem Solving
Guided Reading
E-Learning

Assessment methods are tailored to individual learning styles, and include:

Essays
Portfolios
Reports
Presentations
Reflective logs
Case studies

Typically you will have between 6 and 9 hours contact time each week. These will be timetabled between the hours of 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday. You are expected to engage in additional self-directed study throughout the course.

Our expert academics, many of whom are engaged in research in the fields of health and healthcare, as well as new and emerging fields, bring their expertise to the classroom to provide an exciting, diverse and research rich curriculum.

Course academics’ areas of expertise include: individual experiences of mental health in a range of contexts; infertility; amputation; sickle-cell disease; disability; and abuse and neglect.

Our research active team members pride themselves on their significant methodological expertise and methodological plurality. Our team members boast an impressive publication profile and have been featured in the media.

In addition, our teaching team includes staff members with significant experience in health and social care professions, enriching your learning experience even further.

Facilities and features

Hawthorn Building

Substantial investment in Health and Life Sciences has developed our teaching and learning facilities to help you develop your practical experience and theoretical knowledge beyond the classroom.

The 19th century Hawthorn Building has facilities designed to replicate current practice in health and life sciences, including contemporary analytical chemistry and formulation laboratories, audiology booths and nursing and midwifery clinical skills suites.

Meanwhile, the ten-storey Edith Murphy building provides a dedicated learning space, featuring classrooms, a lecture theatre, computer labs and meeting rooms.

Library

The main Kimberlin Library is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year (other than in exceptional circumstances) and offers a huge range of online resources, all of which can be remotely accessed from anywhere you choose.

The library is run by dedicated staff who offer additional support to students, including help with academic writing, research strategies, literature searching and reference management and assistive technology, and mathematical skills for non-maths students. There is also a Just Ask service for help and advice, available via email or telephone.

More flexible ways to learn

We offer an equitable and inclusive approach to learning and teaching for all our students. Known as the Universal Design for Learning (UDL), our teaching approach has been recognised as sector leading. UDL means we offer a wide variety of support, facilities and technology to all students, including those with disabilities and specific learning differences.

Just one of the ways we do this is by using ‘DMU Replay’ – a technology providing all students with anytime access to audio and/or visual material of lectures. This means students can revise taught material in a way that suits them best, whether it's replaying a recording of a class or adapting written material shared in class using specialist software.

Opportunities and careers

Placements

As part of this course you will have the opportunity to complete an optional placement which offers invaluable professional experience. Placements are typically provided by the NHS, educational establishments, social care settings and private providers across the East Midlands.

Our Careers Team can help you secure a placement through activities such as mock interviews and practice aptitude tests, and you will be assigned a personal tutor to support you throughout your placement.

This helps students develop various skills that enhance their employability and foster a greater understanding of contemporary health issues by applying theory to practice.

DMU Global

This is our innovative international experience programme which aims to enrich your studies and expand your cultural horizons – helping you to become a global graduate, equipped to meet the needs of employers across the world.

Through DMU Global, we offer a wide range of opportunities including on-campus and UK activities, overseas study, internships, faculty-led field trips and volunteering, as well as Erasmus+ and international exchanges.

Students on this course have previously undertaken DMU Global trips to places such as Florida, where they found out about the inequalities in health and social care services in the area.

Graduate careers

Our graduates go on to work in a variety of areas including health promotion and education, public health, community development, and research.

Specific avenues pursued by our students include: public health researcher, mental health support worker, community health board clerical officer, healthcare support worker, drug rehabilitation officer, low / high intensity IAPT therapist (CBT), health service manager, care home manager, health promotion specialist, medical sales representative.

The course is also an excellent foundation for postgraduate study, including our Global Health MSc

Take your next steps

Nine halls of residence and around 2,300 rooms, all of which are within easy walking distance of the campus.

Run by students for students, DSU offers more than 150 societies and almost 40 different sports clubs for you to get involved in.

Health and Wellbeing in Society BSc (Hons)

Block teaching designed around you

Overview

Find your new home at DMU

Entry criteria

Structure and assessment

Course modules

Teaching and assessments

Academic expertise