How do top up degrees work?
Dream of making a difference in people’s lives through a career in health and social care? From patient care and support to health administration and community outreach – our Health and Social Care Course can set you on the path to success.
Accredited by Qualifi and recognised by leading health organisations, our online Health and Social Care course covers everything from health and safety, patient care, and support services to health administration, policy, and community outreach.
With personalised 1-2-1 expert tutoring support, our programme will deepen your understanding of the health and social care sector. As the industry evolves, studying Health and Social Care will equip you with the skills needed for a diverse range of high-level careers in a competitive market.
The undergraduate Level 4 and 5 Health and Social Care course is a 240-credit course designed to fast-track students to the final year of an associated Undergraduate degree within the Health and Social Care sector. The final year top-up degree can be completed at a UK University on campus or via distance learning.
The Level 4 modules and assignments of this course are equivalent to the first year of a university degree. The Level 5 modules and assignments are equivalent to the second year of a university degree.
This course is eligible for ELCAS funding.
*free laptop if you pay in full, excluding payment plans and ELCAS funded learners
First Name Last Name Your Email (required) Phone Your Course Health and Social Care Payment options
Talk to our team
Students on our Health and Social Care course can complete a Level 4 (120 credits), Level 5 (120 credits) or a combined Level 4 & 5 (240 credits) Qualifi diploma, designed to provide students with the skills needed to succeed in the Health and Social Care industry.
The course is completed online and you can start at any time, it’s completely flexible. Each module (Level 4 & Level 5) consists of 40 hours of guided online learning, with an additional 30-50 hours worth of optional materials that include recommended exercises, readings, digital resources and self-test tasks.
To complete this course you’ll submit 6 online assignments at Level 4 and 5 online assignments at Level 5. Assignments are approximately 2,000-3,000 words each. Once you’ve passed your course, you’ll be awarded with a Qualifi diploma and you’ll be able to top up your qualification to a bachelor’s degree at a range of UK universities.
During this Health and Social Care course you’ll have access to 1-2-1 tutor support and webinars, social learning forums and additional materials to complete your diploma with ease. You can find out more about the support you’ll have available on our Student Resources page. You can also read about the academic credentials we meet and associations we’re part of to make sure you have the best learning experience.
Level 4 Module Listing
Academic study skills
The aim of this module is to enable learners to develop the necessary skills and understanding to study effectively within higher education. This will enable learners to acquire the necessary reflective and critical thinking skills required to achieve individual learning potential.
Communicating in health and social care
The aim of this module is to develop the learner’s awareness of different forms of communication used in health and social care settings and its importance for effective service delivery.
An introduction to healthcare policy
The aim of this module is to develop the learners awareness of different influences on healthcare and their effect on the development of policy. Evaluation of healthcare policy will allow learners to examine what are the key contemporary issues for those making policy, providers and those receiving support.
Reflective practice
This module is designed to introduce the learner to reflective practice in all its forms. Reflections on practice and in practice are important concepts in health and social care and feed into the idea of self -development linking theory to practice.
Managing people in health and social care
The aim of this module is to enable learners to understand the processes involved in the recruitment, management and development of people in the health and social care workplace. In this module learners will investigate the processes involved in the management of individuals in the health and social care workplace and how to facilitate change in the organisation.
Sociology: concepts in health and ill health
The aim of this module is for learners to gain an understanding of sociological concepts of health and ill health and their application to care practice in health and social care. It will enable learners to gain an understanding of the nature of contemporary society and its influences on the perception of health and ill health. Learners will explore how society is structured in terms of age, gender, ethnicity, social class, family and households and its impact on health and well-being.
Level 5 module listing
Principles underpinning health and social care
All health and social care professionals have professional codes of conduct. The aim of this module is to develop understanding of the values, theories and policies underpinning health and social care practice and the mechanisms that exist to promote good practice within the sector.
The management of quality in health and social care
Quality is an essential component of health and social care services and a concept with many different interpretations and perspectives. The aim of this module is for learners to develop an understanding of different perspectives on health and social care service quality and how it is evaluated in order to empower and involve users of services.
Research project
This module aims to develop the learner’s skills of independent enquiry and critical analysis by undertaking a small pilot investigation of direct relevance to their higher education programme or professional development.
Partnership working in health and social care
The aim of this module is to enable learners to develop an understanding of the importance of working positively in partnership with others in health and social care. Learners will explore the nature of partnership on three levels. First, they will examine partnerships with users of services that empower individuals to make informed decisions and encourage independence. Second, they will consider partnerships between different professionals within health and social care and explore inter-agency working. Finally, learners will investigate organisational partnerships and examine different ways of joint working.
Working with service users with complex needs
The aim of this unit is to help learners to understand issues of health, disability and illness and how health care professionals can empower those with complex physical and mental health needs to determine their own care.
The Qualifi Level 4/5 Diploma in Health and Social Care has 6 written assignments at Level 4 and 5 written assignments at Level 5. The assignments are approximately 2,000-3,000 words each.
Assignment Unit titles:
The assignment unit titles for the Level 4 course are:
More information about the Level 4 units can be found here https://qualifi.net/qualifi-level-4-diploma-in-health-and-social-care/
The assignment unit titles for the Level 5 course are:
More information about the Level 5 units can be found here: https://qualifi.net/qualifi-level-5-diploma-in-health-and-social-care/
To enrol in our Level 4 Health and Social Care course, you must be at least 18 years old and have a full secondary education, meaning you must have a minimum of 2 A-levels or equivalent.
If you don’t have 2 A-levels or the equivalent, such as NVQ Level 3, you may also be able to enrol based on your work experience. To find out more, talk to one of our helpful team members at: 0333 772 1158
To enrol on the Level 5 Health and Social Care course, you must have completed the Level 4 Qualifi diploma in Health and Social Care.
Level 4: £2,200
Enrol with a £50 deposit and then £89.60 a month for 24 months, interest free.
Level 5: £2,200
Level 4 & 5: £2,900
Enrol with a £50 deposit and then £118.75 a month for 24 months, interest free.
Students can make payment using one of the following methods:
Successful completion of the full Level 4 and 5 Health & Social Care Course and final year of an accredited Undergraduate degree programme will act as a springboard to a professional career in Health & Social Care services. The course pulls together theory and practice for those who wish to work with people in a caring environment.
A Health & Social Care degree covers a range of issues and helps you develop the skills to follow a career in health, social care, leisure or education. Here is a list of possible career paths you may take after completing the full degree:
For more information on where a degree in health & social care management can take you, please visit: www.prospects.ac.uk/careers-advice/what-can-i-do-with-my-degree/health-studies
Once you’ve completed your online Level 4 & 5 Health and Social Care course you have the opportunity to complete a third-year top-up degree programme, known as a ‘BA top up’, from a wide range of UK universities.
Students can apply to any university offering the BA top up and you can choose to study for your degree either online or in-person on campus.
If you decide to top up to a full undergraduate degree through an accredited UK university, the costs are listed below. Please note, the below costs are for distance learning/online only. You have the option of finishing on campus; costs will vary depending on which university you chose to complete the final year at.
Anglia Ruskin University
Management and Leadership in Health and Social Care (top-up) BSc (Hons)
University of Derby
Integrative Health and Social Care (Top- Up) BSc (Hons)
University of Bolton
BSc Honours Health and Social Care top-up
Level 4 Diploma in Health and Social Care – Sample Certificate and Transcript
Qualification Number: 601/5058/0
Level 5 Sample Certificate and Transcript
Qualification Number: 601/5442/1
Package includes:
Once you enrol in the Health and Social Care Course, you’ll have access to our expert tutors. Our friendly team, with years of experience, is always here to provide advice and support. Whether you have a quick question about a module or need detailed feedback on your assignments, we’re ready to help.
The Program Leader for this course is Eke Glory, who has over ten years of experience in the Healthcare and Training sectors. Glory is a qualified assessor and lecturer, dedicated to delivering programmes in Health and Social Care.
I chose to study with Online Business School because it’s the best platform for higher education. It helped me build my confidence and portfolio, and the teachers are incredibly helpful and supportive. My experience with OBS allowed me to reflect on my practice at work, which helped me achieve my goals and even secure a higher position.
What I liked most about OBS is how user-friendly the platform is, the availability of webinars for each assignment, and the 24/7 support from teachers. For current or prospective students, I highly recommend OBS. The careers advisor will guide you to the best courses, and you’ll learn to think critically, recognize challenges, and find the best outcomes.
As for my future plans, I intend to continue my studies with the goal of earning a degree.
I chose to study with Online Business School because of its accessible study platform and the high standard of quality it offers. Throughout my studies, I’ve gained valuable insights into research and how to align business strategies with objectives to effectively respond to external challenges and opportunities.
What I appreciated most about the course was the accessibility and the strong online support. My advice to current or prospective students is to stay committed to your study schedule. As for my future plans, I intend to pursue an MBA top-up.
It’s really simple to enrol on our Health and Social Care course, it only takes a few moments and you can either enrol online or over the phone, it’s entirely up to you:
No, we like to keep things simple here at Online Business School, so you won’t need to go to an interview to enrol on our Health and Social Care course. All you’ll need to do is complete a short application form to make sure you meet the criteria for the course, for example, you must have a full secondary education.
The duration of our diploma in Health and Social Care is completely flexible and entirely up to you – we allow 5 years to complete the course, which means you can work at a pace that suits you and your life. You can also study the modules in any order at any time so you have complete control of your learning.
Our Health and Social Care includes some great added extras to help you succeed, from 1-2-1 tutoring support and online learning resources to a FREE laptop and Student Membership card.
You don’t need any previous work experience to enrol on our Health and Social Care course, however, to meet the criteria to enrol , you must be at least 18 years old and have a full secondary education.