This programme is currently under development and may be subject to change
Course options
Key information
Duration: 3 years full time
UCAS code: B900
Institution code: R72
Campus: Egham
The course
Health Studies (BSc)
BSc Health Studies at Royal Holloway, University of London is a new degree with a focus on promoting healthier populations and environments, an exciting area leading to a huge variety of career pathways for graduates who are prepared to make a difference in the world.
Delivered by our new Department of Health Studies, this course 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.
Study BSc Health Studies and you will benefit from stimulating, interdisciplinary teaching to inspire and challenge you, and the flexibility to explore your own interests. You’ll be part of a supportive learning environment with small group seminars and tutorials encouraging development, cooperation and effective team-working.
Your course will include challenge led placements across all three years with community, national and international partners, plus frequent opportunities to network and collaborate with local and national partners in the sector.
The Health Studies department builds on world-class research and interdisciplinary collaborations at Royal Holloway and is developing new areas of growth with leading experts in health and environmental sectors, including the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and the Harvard-led Planetary Health Alliance.
Through a 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.
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.
We offer
- Teaching by multidisciplinary staff who are experts in their fields, drawing on their links with international research networks, human and environmental health collaborations across the world.
- Placement opportunities to gain real-world skills and experience that will enable you to connect knowledge to global health-related challenges.
- A portfolio development for employability built over three years to demonstrate skills acquired.
- An ideal preparation for a wide range of employment in roles such as Public Health Practitioners, Health Improvement Practitioners, Health and social care managers, Commissioners, Clinical managers, Health advisors, Health researchers, or in the Charity sector.
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
Year 1- Introduction to Human Science
- Introduction to Determinants of Health
- Introduction to Health Systems and QI framework
- Health Workforce
- Professional Placement 1
-
This module will describe the key principles of academic integrity, focusing on university assignments. Plagiarism, collusion and commissioning will be described as activities that undermine academic integrity, and the possible consequences of engaging in such activities will be described. Activities, with feedback, will provide you with opportunities to reflect and develop your understanding of academic integrity principles.
- Physical and mental health conditions
- Health promotion and protection frameworks
- Introduction to Sustainable Living
- Evaluating Evidence
- Introduction to Health Policy
- Interagency working and ethics
- Professional Placement 2
- Population wellbeing and risk
- Health Inequalities
- Research methods – Qualitative
- Research methods – Quantitative
- Dissertation
- Professional Placement 3
Optional Modules
Teaching & assessment
The course has a modular structure, with a mix of teaching modules each year. Some larger modules will address holistic areas in more depth or allow for extra time for project development and management, including a dissertation module.
You will be taught by staff from multidisciplinary backgrounds to allow exposure to diverse and global perspectives of health as well as innovative and creative application of theory.
A programme of lectures, seminars, tutorials and independent learning, both online and in-person will include a large emphasis on experiential and case based learning with peer support and group discussions. This ensures that all students are exposed to a professional environment in a safe space where you can develop your communication and networking skills in preparation for placements. Placements will be organised by the course team for all students and can be hybrid in nature depending on the placement provider and the demand for the project. You will undergo placements in small groups and therefore will also have peer support during this period as well as placement mentor and an academic supervisor.
Entry requirements
A Levels: ABB-BBB
At least five GCSEs at grade A*-C or 9-4 including English and Mathematics.
Where an applicant is taking the EPQ alongside A-levels, the EPQ will be taken into consideration and result in lower A-level grades being required. For students who are from backgrounds or personal circumstances that mean they are generally less likely to go to university, you may be eligible for an alternative lower offer. Follow the link to learn more about our contextual offers.
T-levels
We accept T-levels for admission to our undergraduate courses, with the following grades regarded as equivalent to our standard A-level requirements:
- AAA* – Distinction (A* on the core and distinction in the occupational specialism)
- AAA – Distinction
- BBB – Merit
- CCC – Pass (C or above on the core)
- DDD – Pass (D or E on the core)
Where a course specifies subject-specific requirements at A-level, T-level applicants are likely to be asked to offer this A-level alongside their T-level studies.
Your future career
Designed to equip a new generation of health practitioners with the skills to address health protection, health promotion and sustainable living frameworks, this degree will lead to rewarding career paths promoting the value of health for our communities and environment.
Our commitment to your future career is reflected in the diverse topics you will study on your degree course and through other initiatives.
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.
From roles in public health advice, voluntary services, wellbeing counselling, and community development projects to planetary health organisations and ecology, NGOs, private sector or higher education, your degree can lead you to a rewarding career in a diverse world.
Fees, funding & scholarships
Home (UK) students tuition fee per year*: £9,250
EU and international students tuition fee per year**: £20,000
Other essential costs***: TBC
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. For students starting a degree in the academic year 2022/23, the fee is £9,250 for that year, and is provided here as a guide. The fee for UK undergraduates starting in 2023/24 has not yet been confirmed.
**The UK Government has confirmed that EU nationals are no longer eligible to pay the same fees as UK students, nor be eligible for funding from the Student Loans Company. This means you are classified as an international student. At Royal Holloway, we wish to support a transition for those students affected by this change in status. Please see the fees and funding page for more information.
Fees for international students may increase year-on-year in line with the rate of inflation. The policy at Royal Holloway is that any increases in fees will not exceed 5% for continuing students. For further information see fees and funding and our terms and conditions.
***These estimated costs relate to studying this particular degree at Royal Holloway during the 2021/22 academic year, and are included as a guide. Costs, such as accommodation, food, books and other learning materials and printing etc., have not been included.
