51³Ô¹Ïapp

Key facts

Entry requirements

104 UCAS or DMM

Full entry requirements

UCAS code

B991

Institution code

D26

Duration

3 yrs full-time

Three years full-time

Fees

2025/26 UK tuition fees:
£9,535*

2025/26 international tuition:
£16,250

Additional costs

Entry requirements

104 UCAS or DMM

Full entry requirements

UCAS code

B991

Institution code

D26

Duration

3 yrs full-time

Three years full-time

Fees

2025/26 UK tuition fees:
£9,535*

2025/26 international tuition:
£16,250

Additional costs

Make a difference with 51³Ô¹Ïapp’s Health and Wellbeing in Society BA – explore health, policy, and social impact to shape better communities and brighter futures.

This versatile degree equips you with the skills, confidence, and knowledge to tackle today’s public health challenges and make a positive impact on individuals and communities. You’ll delve into a wide range of important topics, such as health psychology, public health, and health inequalities, gaining a deep understanding of the issues shaping modern healthcare.

With opportunities to tailor your learning to suit your interests, you can specialize in areas like substance use, mental health, or social exclusion. Real-world placement experiences allow you to apply your knowledge in professional settings, helping you build practical skills that employers value. Whether you want to work in healthcare, health promotion, or community services, this course prepares you for a rewarding and impactful career.

Key features

  • Top 20 for Health Studies: Our Health Studies courses are ranked 18th in the UK by The Complete University Guide 2025.
  • Build in-demand skills: Develop the essential skills and knowledge needed for careers in healthcare, public health, and community services.
  • Personalise your learning: Customise your studies with elective modules to specialise in areas like Substance Use and Addictive Behaviours, Mental Health and Wellbeing, and Social Exclusion.
  • Boost your employability: Gain practical experience through optional 80-hour placements in health-related services, enhancing your confidence and employability.
  • Global experience: Access global opportunities through 51³Ô¹Ïapp Global, with past students exploring poverty in Florida, supporting refugees in Berlin, and studying inequality in New York.
  • Become career ready: 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.
  • Broaden your horizons: 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 51³Ô¹Ïapp.
  • Focused learning: Block teaching lets you focus on one subject at a time, with a balanced schedule for better engagement.

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What you will study

Block 1: Introduction to Health, Wellbeing and Society

This module is designed to provide you with a historical perspective on the origins of social services, the development of the welfare state and the provision of welfare services during the latter half of the Twentieth Century and the beginning of the Twenty First Century. You will explore the basic concepts and debates concerning the nature of health and welfare and health and welfare service delivery and have the opportunity to develop a variety of academic study skills for both independent and group work.

Block 2: Introduction to Social Research Methods

This module introduces you to a range of social research methods used within social research. You will be introduced to some of the fundamental tools of social research and develop introductory level skills in research design, analysis and critical appraisal.

Block 3: Psychological and Social Theories of Health and Illness

This module introduces a range of psychological and sociological approaches, theories and concepts, which are relevant to understanding an individuals’ health and wellbeing. You will develop the skills needed to explain the impact of illness on the individual from psychological and sociological perspectives.

Block 4: Health Improvement and Lifestyle

This module is designed to introduce you to different perspectives on health improvement. The module considers the various processes that constitute health, including biology, physiology, policy, psychology and sociology. It also explores factors that influence health and lifestyle and the different approaches to improvement, locating these within a wider public health context.

Block 1: Health and Disease in Communities

This module introduces the discipline of epidemiology and key concepts and methods. The module examines the multi layered and multi-dimensional causes and risk factors that produce health inequalities and identifies the required action at all levels. It will provide a knowledge base to equip students to develop a critical understanding of the relationship between epidemiology and public health policy and practice, and of the challenges facing epidemiology in contemporary society.

Block 2: Debates and Dilemmas in Health and Health Care

This module furnishes you with the concepts and theories in fields of study such as ethics and politics to address contemporary health debates and dilemmas.

Block 3: Application of Psychological and Social Theories of Health and Illness

This module critically examines the way in which psychological factors contribute to health and illness. You will develop the skills needed to apply psychological concepts and theories within the field of health and health care to understand the occurrence, development and progression of illness.

Block 4: Applied Social Research Methods

This module builds upon Introduction to Social Research giving you a deeper insight into various social research methods within social research. You will be encouraged to extend their understanding of epistemological traditions, forms of research and ethical issues introduced in first year by developing a critical understanding of 'real world' research designs; understanding major methods of data collection and the fundamentals of data analysis in qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods research.

For Block 2:

Select one from the list below

  • Leadership and Management in Diverse Settings or
  • Contemporary Issues in Health Research or
  • Substance Use, Addictive Behaviour and Health

For Block 3:

Select one 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 1: Health Promotion and Public Health

This module reviews past and recent development in public health and considers concepts, principles and methodologies associated with different sub-fields of the subject. It introduces you to theories to guide practice, explores the evidence base for intervention and features a special focus on actions to improve the environment to create a more health-promoting setting. Important perspectives and themes are explored via a focus on a variety of topical issues and debates within the public health discourse from local, national and international standpoints.

Block 2: Leadership and Management in Diverse Settings (option)

This module familiarises you with key management and organisational theories relevant to diverse health settings, providing an opportunity to critically assess the application of these concepts and theories to the delivery of health and social care. The module will provide a knowledge base to help you develop a critical understanding of the theoretical, organisational and applied practices associated with the delivery of health and social care, as well as exploring the mixed economy of welfare and welfare pluralism.

Block 2: Contemporary Issues in Health Research (option)

This module is particularly for those wishing to pursue empirical research and to develop key research skills suitable for academic and health sector research careers. The module is built around current trends in health research linked to research interests and expertise of research staff. Topics covered may include (but are not limited to): sport and mental health, public inquiries and inquests. The module will allow you to ‘deconstruct’ research projects to understand the methodological processes and decision-making. The module will explore ethical dilemmas in contemporary research and the processes involved in ethical decision-making and management within higher education. The module will also cover dissemination practices such as presentations, academic peer-review processes and publishing matters. 

Block 2: Substance Use, Addictive Behaviour and Health (option)

This module introduces key concepts related to addictive behaviour and encourages you to critically analyse current global approaches to problematic substance use and permits you to develop viable alternatives. 

Block 3: Mental Health and Wellbeing (option)

This module explores what is meant by 'mental wellbeing' and investigates the many different influences that impact on this. Some of the topics covered will be: the link between exercise and mental wellbeing; the impact that society has on wellbeing; the link between mental health and physical health and an exploration of the value that practising mindfulness has on our wellbeing.

Block 3: Health, Wellbeing and Society in Professional Contexts (option)

This module aims to ensure that you understand the basic aspects of working within a variety of professional environments, and start to reflect on how your strengths, weaknesses and passions can guide you in making your career choices. You will be guided in developing skills and attitudes relevant to future employment through self-evaluation, and critical reflection on data protection, interpersonal skills, person-centered practice and professional portfolio development. Throughout this time, you will also complete 45 hours of work with 51³Ô¹Ïapp Local and/or another health-related professional environment. Following graduation, there will be a range of employment opportunities available to you, and this module seeks to prepare you for these by providing you with a broad appreciation of the range of work that you can undertake in your future career, and by supporting you as you begin to consider where you stand in relation to these.

Block 3: Health, Technology and Society (option)

This module will highlight to you the range of implications technology has on our daily lives and individuals’ health and wellbeing. The topics will be diverse in nature and cover elements such as internet addiction, cyberbullying, digital health inequalities and other current trends in digital health research.

Block 3: Social Exclusion and Health (option)

This module explores the concept of social exclusion. Different theoretical perspectives are reviewed. The module also explores related topics, for example, poverty, inequalities in health and social capital. Consideration is given to specific groups, for example, lone parent families, people with a disability, gypsies and travellers, the homeless and older people and the impact of social exclusion on these groups.

Block 3: Gender, Health and Health Care (option)

This module examines the relationship between gender and health. It seeks to explore the extent and character of gender differences in health care institutions, ideologies and practices. In particular, it examines the gender differences in relation to health status; the use of health care services; and the division of labour in health care. It also explores various gender-relevant themes in health and health care: for example, reproduction, sex work and domestic violence.

Block 4: Health and Wellbeing in Society Project

This module provides you with the opportunity to select and research, independently, a specialised topic in the health field in considerable depth. You may conduct an empirical or library-based study.

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.

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Our facilities

Health and Life Sciences facilities

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.

What makes us special

dmu-global-bnr

51³Ô¹Ïapp 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 51³Ô¹Ïapp 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 51³Ô¹Ïapp Global trips to places such as Florida, where they found out about the inequalities in health and social care services in the area.

Where we could take you

Health Psychology PG_image02

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.

Youth and Health

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.

Course specifications

Course title

Health and Wellbeing in Society

Award

BSc (Hons)

UCAS code

B991

Institution code

D26

Study level

Undergraduate

Study mode

Full-time

Start date

September

Duration

Three years full-time

Fees

2025/26 UK tuition fees:
£9,535*

2025/26 international tuition:
£16,250

*subject to the government, as is expected, passing legislation to formalise the increase.

Additional costs

Entry requirements

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

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

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.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language an IELTS score of 6.5 overall 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.