Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Health and Social Care

at University of Bedfordshire - Luton Campus United Kingdom

Develop the skills and confidence to deliver real-world, research-informed health and social care, on a degree course that opens up a wide range of career roles.

This course gives you a broad understanding of contemporary health and social care and its application in the wider social, policy, legal and organisational environment, both within the UK and internationally.

Areas of study incorporate sociology, public health, law and the human services. In your second and third years, follow your interests with optional units in mental health, disability, safeguarding, addictions, human rights and care of older people. In your final year, undertake an independent research project, with the support of our experienced academic team.

There is a strong vocational focus, ensuring you develop transferable, employability-enhancing skills. Take this course over four years and include a fee-free one-year placement in industry* where you gain practical experience, build your CV and meet potential future employers.

Why choose this course?

• Understand and confidently apply evidence-based theory to practice, delivering excellent health and social care outcomes to all those who access these services
• Study with an academic team who have wide experience in the field and are actively involved in health and social care research
• Benefit from the opportunities offering by the University of Bedfordshire’s new Health & Social Care Academy, run in partnership with local councils and NHS Trusts, to recruit and train health and social care workers
• Take the course with a placement year (see below) and benefit from our wide range of relevant placement opportunities including roles in research assistance, social media and community advocacy as well as internships
• If you need to step up into higher education, start with a Foundation Year (see below) which guarantees entry to the undergraduate course
• The course opens up career paths within local authorities, public health, civil service, social enterprises and the NHS as well as in the private and not-for-profit sectors
• Our Health and Social Care course received a 91% satisfaction rate in the National Student Survey 2020

The MSc in Cybersecurity seeks to address the increasing demand in cybersecurity related domains in both academic vocational qualifications and projection for an increased shortage of cybersecurity professionals in the industry.

The programme is delivered by a dedicated team of cybersecurity experts and active researchers in the area and gives also the opportunity to acquire certain units from the programme as dedicated credit-based short courses outside the normal MSc route.

Using cutting edge and leading teaching and training techniques the course helps the candidates to realise the unique complexity and challenges associated with cybersecurity in a highly dynamic and constantly evolving threat landscape in a blended programme that amalgamates both management and hands-on skills required by cybersecurity professionals.

The curriculum gives you skills that are valuable for a career within Information Security but it is also relevant for a much wider range of applications. The diverse skillset around management of security as delivered in the course will equip you with a meaningful GRC knowledge and relevant experience to excel your career prospects. This is quite prominent due to the problem recruiters have to get hold off security managers with these skills.

The systematic application of teaching and learning methods with the GIS goals and clear references made to the University’s employability framework should further help students to develop their career prospects throughout the programme.

Interactive sessions in the form of demos will also be delivered by the teaching staff and guest speakers to further leverage understanding and stimulate attention towards relevant and pragmatic issues in the area

Why choose this course?
Areas of study include

• Cyber threat intelligence
• Ethical Hacking
• Network Security
• Information Governance and Compliance
• Research methodologies and project management
• Tactical and strategic cybersecurity management
• MSc thesis in cybersecurity

The study of finance is key to understanding how businesses operate, governments exercise policies and countries operate and compete with each other.

This course will provide you with an intimate knowledge of the structural issues economies are facing and the way they are being realised in today’s economics affairs through the dominance of financial institutions.

Through blended learning you will study the theoretical background and work with industry on real business problems to develop the personal and professional skills you need to be a key player in this global, knowledge-based economy

Why choose this course?

• Study the related areas of economics, financial markets and portfolio management, accounting and finance and strategic management
• Gain advanced knowledge of financial organisations and institutions, as well as of government policies and the critical capabilities to apply theory to complex issues
• Explore your enterprise, creativity and independence – the skills required by employers - through your dissertation unit
• Develop your employability by undertaking a work placement with the opportunity to work on a live project
• Benefit from studying with a Business School that has partners across the world enabling you to examine the cross-culture perspectives essential to organisations in the global markets

The media impacts on our lives every day and shapes our understanding of the world. This course gives you the practical and analytical skills needed to work in the media industry - and the chance to specialise in a preferred area, whether it's radio, journalism or new media.

This degree provides you with both the academic skills to understand and analyse the media, and the practical skills to work within the industry as an effective communicator and analyst.

You explore the social, historical and political aspects of contemporary media (including radio, film, television, press, media institutions and new media technologies), unpacking how these ever-evolving areas work and the roles they play in modern life. Alongside this, you choose a specialist area (such as radio, online media or journalism) to develop your practical production experience.

You also produce a special project, creating a portfolio of work (ideal to show future employers) or writing a dissertation on an aspect of the media you would like to explore in more depth.

Why choose this course?

• Gives a solid grounding in how the media works, both nationally and globally
• Offers opportunities for specialisation in the area of your choice
• Your independent project helps develop your skills in research, problem solving and analysis as well as building personal confidence and communication skills
• Benefit from a course that paves the way to a career in the media industry but also in the creative industries (print and audio-visual media companies), PR and marketing, media research or teaching
• Take the course over four years and include a fee-free year’s placement in industry (see below), gaining experience and making contacts for the future
• If you need a step-up into higher education, start with a Foundation Year (see below) which guarantees entry to the degree course

The MBA (Marketing) is a flagship qualification designed to meet the needs and aspirations of early career individuals through the combination of a general management education with the specialist area of Marketing.

It is designed for individuals who want to develop both their management skills and new areas of business interest and those seeking fast track career progression opportunities.

This postgraduate degree aims to enhance your professional prospects by developing your capability to apply the latest thinking relating to organisational development and change in the competitive global context.

Successful completion of the MBA (Marketing) highlights your potential to have a real impact on the transformation of the organisation you join.

Our courses are designed to be engaging, attractive and flexible in the current global marketplace. There are six entry points through the year. This allows you to start when it is most suitable.

Your course takes place over three semesters. Depending upon when you join the course, this will determine the order of units which you will study. You will benefit by beginning your studies with others who started at one of the earlier points of entry.

Why choose this course?

• The course adopts a practical and applied business curriculum and aims to develop an advanced knowledge of organisations and their effective management in the dynamic competitive global context, and the ability to creatively apply this knowledge and understanding to complex issues to systematically and innovatively enhance strategic business and management practice.
• This offers a challenging learning opportunity to encourage the integration of theory and practice supported by experienced academics with substantial management experience.
• You will work with academics and professors of practice on live consultancy projects with leading employers in organisations across private, public and not-for-profit sectors to support your personal and professional development as a creative and innovative leader with the knowledge and skills needed in the global, knowledge-based economy.
• You will develop the attributes and skills expected of post-graduates confirmed by partner industry bodies including the Chartered Management Institute and the Confederation of British Industry, including team-working, negotiation skills, leadership, confidence and the ability to apply critical and creative thinking to complex and unclear problems to develop innovative solutions.

The MSc Automotive Engineering for Electric Vehicles is about educating and training senior vehicle developers and offering them in-depth technical training for R&D of next generation low carbon or non-carbon vehicles.

The course focuses on new and emerging sustainable automotive technologies, such as hybrid electric vehicles, battery electric vehicles and fuel cell vehicles.

Throughout the course, you will have the opportunity to use state-of-the-art design and advanced development and simulation tools, to vehicle development, design, calibration and optimisation.

By closely collaborating with local automotive and motorsport companies, you will contribute to real world solutions to vehicle R&D.

The Automotive Engineering Lab suite includes a range of experimental facilities, such as an engine test bed with full instrumentation, two advanced automotive engine demonstrators, various test rigs for vehicle aerodynamics, materials and engineering structure, machining workshop, etc. 3D printers and a CAE lab.

These form an important part of the course, allowing the exploration of many practical aspects of automotive engineering, and to further development of hands-on skills.

Why choose this course?

• State-of-the-art equipment for electric vehicles
• Access to a wide range of engineering facilities within the University’s STEM building
• Interdisciplinary consideration of alternative energy systems

Economics lies at the heart of the modern world and understanding its influence is critical to both business success and effective policy-making. This course gives you the analytical skills you need to stand out as a business economist in a demanding career field.

Our Business Economics BSc (Hons) allows you to explore the global economic system – including the factors that influence income, wealth and wellbeing - and to apply your knowledge and insight to the contemporary business world. You will engage with the theory behind key economic decisions and develop your understanding of how societies, governments, businesses, households, and individuals allocate their resources.

Your studies cover the foundations of business economics including business practice, financial markets, accounting and finance, data analytics, and applied economics before moving into specific areas such as labour economics, globalisation and econometrics.

Why choose this course?

• Apply economic theory to real-world business problems, with the analytical skills and subject knowledge to discuss your ideas and conclusions confidently
• Develop your skills and experience in critical thinking, problem solving, presentation and team-working as well as in using information technology
• Put theoretical knowledge into practice in your final-year specialist project
• Take the course over four years and include a fee-free year in industry (see below), building experience and making contacts for the future
• If you need to step up to higher education, start with a Foundation Year (see below) which guarantees entry to the undergraduate degree

Open doors to a vast range of careers in the rapidly growing tourism industry – from airlines to hotels, business and conference centres to eco-tourism destinations, the possibilities are almost endless.

This International Tourism Management course offers a sandwich year placement in the UK or abroad, giving you the chance to explore potential careers.

Your studies will focus on global issues such as the development and management of sustainable tourism and some of the most pressing issues in international tourism management, including the impact of new technology on travel, tourism and mobility, the environmental, economic and social impacts of tourism.

You will enjoy field trips  to tourist destinations or attractions, and an opportunity to specialise in visitor attractions, air transport, sports tourism or events management.

The University of Bedfordshire is a member of The Association for Tourism in Higher Education (ATHE). ATHE is the subject association for tourism in higher education in the UK. It represents universities that are leading providers of tourism programmes.

Why choose this course?

• Learn the skills needed to enter careers in a wide range of UK or international tourism management settings
• Study theory and practice in difference branches of tourism, including visitor attractions, air transport, heritage and sustainable tourism
• Develop your understanding of the industry, with a final year work placement in the UK or abroad, with the opportunity to develop additional foreign language skills
• Gain knowledge of strategic management of tourism-related businesses
• Explore a range of potential career options with companies like tour operators, destination management companies, airlines and major hotel chains
• Benefit from a course that opens up diverse career opportunities in a fast-growing industry, including in international tourism development, tour operations, air transport management, destination management, business development and marketing, as well as a range of further study opportunities.

In the pharmaceutical industry, there is a real need for skilled graduates with up-to-the-minute understanding of this fast-evolving field. This course gives you the knowledge you need to be a professional scientist, able to work in areas where there are significant skills gaps.

This BSc (Hons) degree integrates the development of drug, cosmetic and hygiene products with emerging areas such as systems biology, pharmacogenetics and translational medicine – areas which directly address the needs of the UK pharmaceutical industry.

Drawing on the School of Life Sciences’ established strengths in biomedical research, the course starts by giving you a common core of chemical, biomedical and pharmaceutical knowledge. The emphasis then shifts to deeper study of areas such as medicinal chemistry; drug discovery; drug development; and pharmacology. You also explore business aspects of the pharmaceutical and associated industries, looking at how science has evolved to meet current industry demands.

Why choose this course?

• Benefit from a degree that trains you in both the traditional areas of pharmaceutical research and new, emerging areas important for the future of the pharmaceutical industry
• Follow a career in a field that is one of the most research-led in the UK and includes pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, agrochemicals and veterinary medicine
• Gain a sought-after qualification in an area - such as systems pharmacology and medicinal chemistry – where a projected major skills gap has been identified
• Study a curriculum aligned to the areas of need identified by the British Pharmacological Society, including public health science and healthcare policy
• Gain valuable work experience through the School of Life Sciences’ strong links to the clinical and industrial sectors
• Take the course over four years and include a fee-free year in industry, gaining work experience, building your CV and making contacts for the future
• If you need to step up into higher education, start with a Foundation Year which guarantees a place on the degree course

As the various elements of the mass media converge, it is increasingly appropriate to develop a broader understanding of how different aspects of the media interconnect. This course examines key issues of media and communication, introducing principles of cultural theories and media research methods.

For this course you must complete a series of units that address the central issues and concepts informing the study of the media in a culturally diverse environment as the nowadays society.

The course offers units dealing with fundamental principles and topics of the subject area (e.g. Current research in mass communications; Media institutions, structure and policies; and Research Methods in the area of media); and a core unit focuses on international development.

The course includes a final self-directed independent study project, in the form of a dissertation based on a research project. It is this project work that provides you with the opportunity to tailor the course to your own interests (subject to staff supervisory expertise).

You can start your studies in October and complete the course in 12 months. Alternatively start the course in February and complete it over 15 months

Why choose this course?

• Study the theories, which underpin the practice of media and communication, and discuss theoretical aspects of media through a range of case studies.
• Apply knowledge of the media and its cultural forms to the analysis of contemporary issues
• Employ skills in critical analysis, research, and communication as well as an array of generic and creative skills to propose solutions to contemporary issues in mass communications
• Develop and employ strong academic skills in research and critical thinking, problem-solving and analysis.
• Apply knowledge of cultural and media processes to the examination of policy and ethical issues, whether in the public domain or in other aspects of democratic participation and citizenship.
• Acquire skills needed to continue your studies and progress into MPhil and PhD.