Course options
Key information
Duration: 4 years full time
UCAS code: B90F
Institution code: R72
Campus: Egham
The course
Health Studies with Integrated Foundation Year
Our Integrated Foundation Year for science is a thorough, skills-building course that will give you everything you need to start your study of BSc Health Studies with confidence.
Healthy populations underpin society and can help us provide answers to fundamental questions. Our Foundation Year sets you up so that you’re ready to take on those questions - providing you with opportunities to gain knowledge and understanding in a progressive structure to get started on your chosen degree at university. Once you have completed your Foundation year, you will normally progress onto the full degree course, BSc Health Studies. There may also be flexibility to move onto a degree in another department.
Delivered by our new Department of Health Studies, the BSc Health Studies degree is designed to equip a new generation of health practitioners with the skills to address health protection, health promotion and sustainable living frameworks to address 21st -century issues that impact human and environmental health.
You’ll be part of a supportive learning environment with small group seminars and tutorials encouraging development, co-operation, and effective team-working. Through our collaborative approach to learning and practical experience, you will learn how to evaluate, discuss, and practice solution-focused approaches to various challenges that affect health and wellbeing in society. You’ll develop your understanding of the relationship between health frameworks and the environment through a global health focus and systems approach thinking.
Your course will include challenge led placements with community, national and international partners, plus frequent opportunities to network and collaborate with local and national partners in the sector, with a focus on developing your employability skills.
From navigating and influencing systems, writing policy, managing data and developing research skills, to having the confidence to build partnerships and drive essential projects, you will graduate with the knowledge and exposure to go on to a rewarding career promoting the value of health for our communities and environment, and to bring about lasting changes that save lives.
From time to time, we make changes to our courses to improve the student and learning experience. If we make a significant change to your chosen course, we’ll let you know as soon as possible.
Course structure
Core Modules
Foundation Year
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Global and Planetary Health is built around global issues. Each topic will embody issues of global importance and be based on authentic and topical world events.
The module is intended to deliver an interdisciplinary, academically authentic introduction to global issues, which satisfies a wide range of interests appealing to students wanting to progress onto a range of life science subjects. Therefore, readings and lectures will approach the topics from a life sciences perspective. Topics covered are likely to include Virtual reality, Health apps, Internet of medical things, Mental Health, Climate catastrophe, Global biodiversity crisis, Technology for monitoring the environment and The ‘One Health’ approach. The module also aims to help students develop their study skills to succeed on the Integrated Foundation Programme and as undergraduates. It introduces students to thinking and reading critically. It explains what it means to be 'critical'. The module also focuses on writing, teaching students about the writing process, how to find and review literature, how to build an argument in essays, how to use academic English, and how to cite and reference to avoid plagiarism. Finally, it offers practical advice on planning study work, becoming more organised, and finding further guidance if needed.
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Students will learn key topics in pre-HE-level biological and earth sciences through an interdisciplinary, chronological curriculum. The module content is divided into three broad sections: origins, present and future. The history of the earth affords the opportunity to learn topics in biological chemistry, metabolism and physiology alongside planetary science and palaeontology. The second section of the module gives students the chance to learn about key challenges in communicable and non-communicable disease, climate change, biodiversity and the impact of environmental pollutants on human health. In the module’s final section the focus will shift to the future, and students will learn some of the opportunities presented in the management of ecosystem services, nucleic acid-based technologies and renewable energy sources.
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This module aims to develop the mathematical skills of students on Life Sciences degrees with an Integrated Foundation Year, in order to prepare them for their undergraduate degrees. Students will learn to apply mathematical principles to a variety of applications within Life Sciences, including applications in healthcare, chemistry, microbiology and marine biology. Each week, students will cover a new mathematical concept and practice calculations in areas including (but not limited to): unit conversions, balancing equations, functions, logs, exponentials and trigonometry. With each mathematical concept, they will apply the skills they have learnt to real-world situations within the different Life Sciences disciplines.
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Students will learn about key topics in pre-HE level Environmental Science, through an interdisciplinary, chronological curriculum. The course will start with an overview of the origins of the planet, and then consider important concepts in Environmental Science such as nutrient cycling and succession. Finally, it will consider how the environment and the species within it are affected by human actions and how these effects might be mitigated.
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Students will learn about the key systems, e.g. circulatory, ventilatory and reproductive in a broad range of species including humans, plants and a wider range of vertebrate and invertebrate species. This approach will allow key chemical concepts to be explored at this level, as well as anatomical and physiological adaptations to life. They will also learn about the impact of disease on these systems. This module will be beneficial to the biological science, biomedical science and health studies students, for whom a detailed knowledge of the range of organ systems will enable them to not only extend their knowledge but, particularly for health studies students to put into context the anatomy and physiology that will form part of their practice in the workplace.
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This module aims to develop the statistics skills of students on Life Sciences degrees with an Integrated Foundation Year, in order to prepare them for their undergraduate degrees. Students will learn to apply statistical analysis to a variety of applications within Life Sciences, including applications in geology, ecology, biomedical sciences and health studies. Each week, students will cover a statistics concept or statistical test and practice calculations in areas including (but not limited to): interpreting p-values and errors, linear regression, Chi-squared tests, Wilcoxon test, and principal component analysis. With each concept, they will apply the skills they have learnt to real-world datasets within the different Life Sciences disciplines.
Year 1
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The aim of this module is to provide a holistic overview of the human structure and functioning through an interdisciplinary approach which enables students to understand the interconnecting perspectives across the biological, psychological, social and environmental sciences.
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This module will provide students with an understanding of the wider social and environmental determinants of health and how the determinants impact health attitudes, behaviours, and health outcomes. This will also address strategies and interventions at the individual, community, national and global levels.
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This module aims to provide an overview of health systems from a multi-disciplinary perspective. Students will gain understanding of the role of public and environmental health policy, organisational structures, technology and management on the health and wellbeing outcomes. It will equip students to be effective health leaders.
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The aim of this module is to provide an understanding of the different health professional roles and how they play a vital role in treatment, rehabilitation and improving health and wellbeing in health and social care.
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This module will have some structured lectures and seminars to prepare, guide and supervise students before, during and after the four weeks of professional placement attendance. This module enables students to synthesize the knowledge and understanding gained from theory into practical application to gain and enhance skills required of a competent and reflective practitioner. The focus will be on experiential learning supported by reflection and critical analysis. The Professional Placement1 will focus on equipping students with communication, influencing, health practice competencies and team working skills for career development. Evidence of skills gained, a SWOT analysis and Personal Development Plan (PDP) will be collated into an E- Portfolio.
Year 2
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This module aims to provide students with an understanding of physical and mental health conditions. It explores the relationships between physiology, physical health, lifestyle factors and mental health and wellbeing.
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The aim of the module is to provide students with concepts and theories of health promotion and health protection frameworks. This will give students an understanding of the determinants of health, strategies and interventions that can be undertaken at the global, community, or individual levels to improve health.
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This module aims to provide an interdisciplinary understanding of sustainability and the way organisations and individuals can impact the environment and the population health outcomes. This will equip students to adopt a critical approach to solutions and strategies for sustainable living.
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The module aims to develop knowledge and an understanding of the purpose and process of research and enable students to demonstrate research awareness and evidence-based practice to support services and the wider healthcare outcomes.
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The module aims to explore the policy priorities in the health and social care sector and the impact policy has in key areas of local, national and global health and social care settings.
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The module aims to provide students with knowledge, understanding and skills essential for partnership working and ethical practice at organisational and individual practitioner levels. It addresses the theoretical, policy and practice challenges and provides students the opportunity to analyse and develop more effective inter-professional working.
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This module will have some structured lectures and seminars to prepare, guide and supervise students before, during and after the mandatory four weeks of professional placement attendance. This module enables students to synthesize the knowledge and understanding gained from theory into practical application to gain and enhance skills required of a competent and reflective practitioner. The focus will be on experiential learning supported by reflection and critical analysis. The Professional Placement2 will be building up on the previous year and focus on the student’s preparedness to navigate health systems, apply health policy, evaluating evidence and set targets for own development towards professional career. Evidence of skills gained (certificates of completion, induction records), an updated SWOT analysis and Personal Development Plan (PDP) will be collated into an E- Portfolio.
Year 3
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This module aims to provide knowledge and understanding of the issues and concepts relating to population health wellbeing and risk by investigating determinants of health and assessing causality. This will give students evidence-based understanding of the complexities and risk to human and population health from social, economic and environmental factors.
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The aim of the module is to provide students with an understanding of the influence of the determinants of health, power and discrimination, and the impact on social inclusion and exclusion. The students will use social theory and lived narratives to understand social issues and learn ways to challenge inequality in health across the population.
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The aim of this module is to enable a student to carry out their research plan drafted from the previous research methods module. This allows the student to plan, manage and carry out the research process using the methodology selected for investigation. Students will immerse themselves in the current literature to develop their research and navigate systems like ethics applications or access to resources for implementation as appropriate. They will manage their timeline and resources to be able to complete their project. Students will be able to choose their area of interest and will be provided with a supervisor for the duration of their project.
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This module will have some structured lectures and seminars to prepare, guide and supervise students before, during and after the mandatory four weeks of professional placement attendance. This module enables students to synthesize the knowledge and understanding gained from theory into practical application to gain and enhance skills required of a competent and reflective practitioner. The focus will be on experiential learning supported by reflection and critical analysis. The Professional Placement3 will focus on equipping the students to lead, manage and facilitate change in health settings and set targets for own development towards professional career. Evidence of skills gained (certificates of completion, induction records, project plans), an updated SWOT analysis and Personal Development Plan (PDP) will be collated into an E- Portfolio.
Optional Modules
Year 3
There are a number of optional course modules available in year 3 of your degree, these options will be confirmed here.
Teaching & assessment
In your Foundation Year, teaching methods include a mixture of lectures, practical classes and workshops, individual tutorials, and supervisory sessions. Outside of the classroom you’ll undertake guided and independent practice. You will be assigned a Personal Tutor in the Department of Health Studies and will have regular scheduled sessions. In the Foundation Year, you’ll also be assigned a Personal Tutor in the Centre for the Development of Academic Skills (CeDAS). Assessments are varied; practical exercises, weekly problem sheets, set exercises, written examinations, laboratory reports. In addition, the Foundation Year offers a full range of skills-based training.
For your degree course, teaching methods will include a mixture of lectures, seminars, individual tutorials, and practical field and laboratory work. Outside the classroom, students will be expected to undertake study to understand the taught material, and to carry out the assessed coursework. Assessment will be through a combination of examinations, project(s) and practical work.
Entry requirements
A Levels: CCC
At least five GCSEs at grade A*-C or 9-4 including English and Mathematics and one science or biology.
Mature students who do not have traditional study are invited to submit work experience or evidence of further study in line with university accredited or experiential evaluation requirements.
Other UK and Ireland Qualifications
EU requirements
Your future career
Our commitment to your future career is reflected in the diverse topics you will study on your degree course and through other initiatives. You’ll develop your knowledge of contemporary issues around global population health, the impact on the environment and of the environment as a health determinant with a multidisciplinary approach.
You will graduate with the knowledge, transferable research and employability skills that will make you a highly desirable candidate for employers in a variety of sectors, including employment in the NHS workforce, government health sector, social care as well as NGOs and charities.
This degree will provide you with critical thinking and research method skills, which are paramount in a number of careers. The degree has a strong vocational strand running throughout, utilising links with local authorities and charities in the health and social care sector. You will prepare for your future career, whether you are interested in working in a professional role or undertaking future training at the Postgraduate level.
Fees, funding & scholarships
Home (UK) students tuition fee per year*: £9,250
Eligible EU students tuition fee per year**: £21,400
Foundation year essential costs***: There are no single associated costs greater than £50 per item on this course.
How do I pay for it? Find out more about funding options, including loans, scholarships and bursaries. UK students who have already taken out a tuition fee loan for undergraduate study should check their eligibility for additional funding directly with the relevant awards body.
*The tuition fee for UK undergraduates is controlled by Government regulations. The fee for the academic year 2024/25 is £9,250 and is provided here as a guide. The fee for UK undergraduates starting in 2025/26 has not yet been set, but will be advertised here once confirmed.
**This figure is the fee for EU students starting a degree in the academic year 2025/26.
Royal Holloway reserves the right to increase tuition fees annually for overseas fee-paying students. The increase for continuing students who start their degree in 2025/26 will be 5%. For further information see fees and funding and the terms and conditions.
*** These estimated costs relate to studying this particular degree at Royal Holloway during the 2025/26 academic year and are included as a guide. Costs, such as accommodation, food, books and other learning materials and printing, have not been included.
