The BSc (Hons) Health Services Management is studied by distance learning with ICS. This programme offers students the opportunity to study all aspects of Health Services Management and to consider its relevance in a wider Health Care context

Entry to Level 1 or the Full Programme

To enrol on the first Level or the Full Programme you must normally hold 200 UCAS tariff points or equivalent.

A good standard of English is needed in order to successfully complete the programme.  In the case of applicants whose first language is not English, then IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent) is required.  International qualifications will be checked for appropriate matriculation to UK Higher Education undergraduate programmes.

Entry on a Modular Basis

If you do not hold the required tariff points for Level 1 or Full Programme entry, studies will be permitted on a modular basis, following a guidance interview with a student advisor.

Overseas students should be aware that all exams MUST be taken in the UK at one of our approved exam venues. Students should also be aware that they are expected to cover all costs in attending the exams.

Students may be admitted through Accreditation of Experiential Learning (AEL) or Accreditation of Certificated Learning (ACL) processes.

Health Services Management aims to:

• Provide the opportunity for students to explore the interaction between the theory, practice and principles of Health Services Management;
• Facilitate the development of effective strategies in Health Services Management by the encouragement of reflection in practice;
• Provide understanding of the core concepts affecting management of change and strategic management;
• Provide understanding of the social, economic, environmental and political context which influences decision making in Health Services Management;
• Apply a critical and analytical approach to principles and practices of Health Services Management. To enable students to understand what employers are looking for when they recruit, develop and promote staff
• Provide opportunities for students to develop, demonstrate, and evidence these skills to prospective employers
• Develop personal and ethical skills
• Develop skills required for independent academic research

Knowledge

• Selected themes and issues in Health.
• The historical development of health welfare institutions in the UK, and of their contemporary activities and organisation.
• The factors which influence on health
• Research skills

Thinking skills

• Obtain, summarise and synthesise material from a range of sources to analyse issues in health.
• Apply theory in the assessment of health policy intervention and development.
• Identify, synthesise and evaluate relevant primary and secondary data.
• Recognise the diversity of perspectives underpinning Health Policy.
• Reflect on your own knowledge base and develop strategies to enhance your learning

Subject-Based Practical skills

• Problem-solving skills
• Data collection and research skills
• Evaluative and analytical skills
• Sensitivity to the values and interests of others
• Locate and retrieve information from a variety of sources
• Independent learning

Skills for life and work (general skills)

• Convey ideas in an appropriate format, including, where appropriate, the presentation of data
• Participate effectively in groups to achieve joint learning outcomes
• Manage time effectively
• Critically reflect on the value of one's own work
• The ability to select and utilise appropriate computer software.
• Set goals, plan a work programme
• The development of their own style of independent learning
• Work independently

The expected duration of this programme is 3 years when attended in full-time mode or 4-5 years in part-time mode. Support, however, may be available for longer - up to eight years, if necessary (this is the maximum time from first enrolment that students have to complete the programme).

There are three entry points per year on to the programme: September, February and May. A student, normally registering for 6 modules in one year would do so in a full-time attendance mode of study and a student registering for up to 4 modules in one year would do so in part-time attendance mode of study.

A typical full-time student will take six 20-credit modules per year, but you may choose to take fewer than this. To graduate as an honours degree student you will need to have completed six modules at level one, six at level 2 and six at level 3.

For the BSc (Hons) Health Services Management single programme all six modules at Levels 1 are core modules. At Levels 2 & 3 students must study four core modules and two modules from a choice of three.

To study Health Services Management as a Major in a Major/Minor Combined Honours, four core modules at each Level must be studied. The remaining modules will come from another discipline of choice.

To study Health Services Management as part of a Joint Honours Degree, there are three core Health modules at Level 1. If the level 1 Skills is taken in the other discipline, then you cannot take the Health Skills module and must take the alternative module offered. You must then do three core modules at Level 2, unless the Research Skills module is taken in the other discipline then you must take the alternative Health module offered, and three core modules at Level 3 unless the Employability and/or Project modules are taken in the other discipline then you must take the alternative Health module offered.

To study Health Services Management as a Minor in a Major/Minor Combined Honours, two core modules must be studied at all Levels 1, 2, and 3 with the remaining modules in the other discipline.

In order to gain an Honours degree you will need to obtain 360 credits including:

• A minimum of 120 credits at Level one or higher PLUS
• A minimum of 120 credits at Level two or higher PLUS
• A minimum of 120 credits at Level three or higher

In order to gain an Ordinary degree you will need to obtain a minimum of 300 credits including:

• A minimum of 120 credits at Level one or higher PLUS
• A minimum of 120 credits at Level two or higher PLUS
• A minimum of 60 credits at level three or higher

In order to gain a Diploma of Higher Education you will need to obtain at least 240 credits including a minimum of 120 credits at Level one or higher and 120 credits at Level two or higher.

In order to gain a Certificate of Higher Education you will need to obtain 120 credits at Level 1 or higher.

In order to gain a University Undergraduate Certificate students will need to obtain 40 credits at Level 0 or higher.

In order to gain a University Undergraduate Associate Certificate students will need to obtain 20 credits at Level 0 or higher.

Only one final award may be obtained.

Knowledge is developed through

• Guided reading
• Knowledge-based activities with feedback
• On-line question/ answer forums

Thinking skills are developed through

• Reflective/ thinking activities with feedback
• Analytical activities with feedback
• Evaluative activities with feedback
• Problem-solving activities with feedback
• On-line question/ answer forums

Practical skills are developed through

• Practical/ physical activities with feedback
• IT activities with feedback
• Research skills-based activities with feedback

Skills for life and work (general skills) are developed through

• The study medium, i.e. distance learning
• Planning activities with feedback
• IT activities with feedback
• All other activities with feedback
• Project work

Knowledge is assessed by

• Coursework
• Essays
• Examinations

Thinking skills are assessed by

• Coursework
• Examinations
• Project work

Practical skills are assessed by

• Practical reports
• Portfolio compilation
• IT exercises
• Case study exercises
• Project work

Skills for life and work (general skills) are assessed by

• Project work
• Group work
• IT exercises