Degrees and courses for international students
You are viewing information for England.  Change country or region.
Mother holding baby

Certificate in Health and Social Care

This certificate is focused on two things. It provides a valuable introduction to learning in higher education and it also provides an authoritative overview of health and social care. Real-life case studies will give you an insight into what it is like to experience care and of working in care services. Whether you're involved in care work (paid or unpaid), use services yourself, or simply have a general interest, this course helps you build knowledge, understanding, a range of learning skills, as well as preparing you for further study.

Key features of the course

  • Provides a fascinating insight into the provision of health and social care services in the UK
  • Encourages you to draw on your own ideas and experiences
  • Introduces the essential skills of academic study
  • Builds a solid foundation for further study

Course Summary

Certificate

Certificate

  • Qualification unique to The Open University.
  • Focus on a particular profession or subject area.
  • Study for interest or career development.
  • A wide range of subjects and levels.
Course code
S33
Credits

Credits

  • Credits measure the student workload required for the successful completion of a module or qualification.
  • One credit represents about 10 hours of study over the duration of the course.
  • You are awarded credits after you have successfully completed a module.
  • For example, if you study a 60-credit module and successfully pass it, you will be awarded 60 credits.
60
How long it takes
Part time – 8 months
Time limit – 4 years
Study method
Distance learning
Enquire about this course
Register now
Course details Entry requirements Fees and funding Careers

Course details

This certificate has one stage, comprising 60 credits.

Prepare for OU study with an Access module

We offer two starting points depending on how confident you are or how long it’s been since you last studied. Choose to dive straight in at Stage 1, or if you’d prefer some extra preparation, you can get started with an optional Access module. See Entry requirements for more details.

Stage 1 (60 credits)

This certificate provides an authoritative overview of health and social care.
ModulesCredits
You'll study the following:
Introducing health and social care (K102)60

We regularly review our curriculum; therefore, the qualification described on this page – including its availability, its structure, and available modules – may change over time. If we make changes to this qualification, we’ll update this page as soon as possible. Once you’ve registered or are studying this qualification, where practicable, we’ll inform you in good time of any upcoming changes. If you’d like to know more about the circumstances in which the University might make changes to the curriculum, see our Academic Regulations or contact us. This description was last updated on 17 March 2021.

Accessibility

We make all our qualifications as accessible as possible and have a comprehensive range of services to support all our students. The Certificate in Health and Social Care uses a variety of study materials and has the following elements:

  • studying a mixture of printed and online material – online learning resources may include websites, audio/video media clips, and interactive activities such as online quizzes
  • working in a group with other students
  • using and producing diagrams and screenshots
  • finding external/third party material online
  • using feedback: continuous assessment involves receiving detailed feedback on your work from your tutor and using this feedback to improve your performance.

For more detailed information, see the Accessibility Statements on individual module descriptions. If you feel you may need additional support, visit Disability support to find more about what we offer.

Learning outcomes, teaching and assessment

This qualification develops your learning in four main areas:

  • Knowledge and understanding.
  • Cognitive skills.
  • Practical and professional skills.
  • Key skills.

The level and depth of your learning gradually increases as you work through the qualification. You’ll be supported throughout by the OU’s unique style of teaching and assessment – which includes a personal tutor to guide and comment on your work; top quality course texts; elearning resources like podcasts, interactive media and online materials; tutorial groups and community forums.

Read the detailed learning outcomes here

On completion

On completion of this undergraduate course, we'll award you the Certificate in Health and Social Care.

Recognition in your country

If you intend to use your Open University qualifications to seek work or undertake further study outside the UK, we recommend checking whether your intended qualification will meet local requirements for your chosen career. Read recognition in my country.

Regulations

As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the qualification-specific regulations below and the academic regulations that are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website. 

Entry requirements

There are no formal entry requirements for this qualification.

At The Open University we believe education should be open to all, so we provide a high-quality university education to anyone who wishes to realise their ambitions and fulfil their potential.

How much time do I need?

  • Most of our students study part time, completing 60 credits a year.
  • This will usually mean studying for 16–18 hours a week.
In this section:
How much will it cost?
Ways to pay for your qualification and other support

How much will it cost in England?

We believe cost shouldn’t be a barrier to achieving your potential. That’s why we work hard to keep the cost of study as low as possible and have a wide range of flexible ways to pay to help spread, or even reduce, the cost.

  • Fees are paid on a module-by-module basis – you won't have to pay for the whole of your qualification up front.
  • A qualification comprises a series of modules, each with an individual fee. Added together, they give you the total cost.
  • Most OU students study part time at a rate of 60 credits a year.
  • Our current fee for 60 credits is £3,168*.
  • Our current fee for 120 credits, which is equivalent to a year's full-time study, is £6,336*.
  • At current prices, the total cost of your qualification would be £3,168*.
    • .

*The fee information provided here is valid for modules starting before 31 July 2022. Fees normally increase annually in line with inflation and the University's strategic approach to fees.


Skills for career development

This certificate develops a range of key skills that will be of interest to employers in all sectors. These include the ability to communicate ideas and arguments in a logical and well-structured way; thinking critically; using a computer confidently; reading and interpreting simple tables, charts and graphs; and planning and managing your time effectively.

Career relevance

If you work in the frontline of care or are seeking employment in this area, this certificate will build your confidence and skills, and give your career a boost. It will supply the knowledge base for progression to professionally recognised qualifications in health and social care, and is the ideal starting point for academic qualifications such as a diploma or degree.

Exploring your options

Once you register with us (and for up to three years after you finish your studies), you’ll have full access to our careers service for a wide range of information and advice. This includes access to online forums, website, interview simulation, vacancy service as well as the option to email or speak to a careers adviser. Some areas of the careers service website are available for you to see now, including help with looking for and applying for jobs. You can also read more general information about how OU study enhances your career.

In the meantime if you want to do some research around this qualification and where it might take you, we’ve put together a list of relevant job titles as a starting point. (Note that most careers will require further study, training and/or work experience):

  • Care assistant
  • Health care assistant
  • Nursery nurse
  • Social worker
  • Adult nurse
  • Mental health nurse
  • Counsellor
  • Health promotion specialist
  • Advice worker
  • Care manager
  • Practice manager
  • Youth worker
  • Probation officer
  • Community development worker
  • Health visitor.

Register for this course

Start dates

Download a prospectus

Our prospectuses are your essential guide to studying with us, covering courses, fees and funding, career prospects and more.

Download prospectus