How a foundation year prepares you for success in health and social care

By enrolling in a health and social care course with a foundation year, you will strengthen your academic skills. You will also gain a better understanding of what the course entails and determine whether this field aligns with your goals. It is a supportive entry point that lays a strong foundation for success throughout your degree and beyond.

Build core academic skills for a career in health and social care

The goal of the foundation year is to bring you up to speed for degree-level study by strengthening your academic skills. It acts as a stepping stone, especially for learners who are returning to education or changing fields. You will be introduced to essential skills that will form the backbone of your future success, such as academic writing, critical thinking and communication. Throughout the year, you will develop some of the following core academic skills:

1. Mastering academic writing and referencing: You will learn how to write clearly, reference correctly, and structure essays that meet university standards. These skills will help you complete your future coursework successfully.
2. Becoming an independent learner: You will be encouraged to manage your own time, research independently and engage in self-directed study. It will prepare you for the expectations of degree-level work.
3. Strengthening presentation and communication skills: You will practise speaking clearly, giving presentations and collaborating in discussions. These are two key skills that will benefit you in your academic and professional life.
4. Enhancing research and information literacy: You will learn how to find, assess and use research materials. It will support all aspects of your degree and future evidence-based practice in health and social care.
5. Gaining confidence in your academic journey: By the end of the year, you will feel more prepared, self-assured and focused, ready to move into Year 1 of your degree with solid foundations.

Develop health and social care sector knowledge and values

In addition to academic development, the foundation year of your health and social care degree also focuses on building sector-specific knowledge and instilling core professional values. These form the ethical and practical backbone of the health and social care industries. You will explore real-world care environments, understand the systems that support public health in the UK and begin to cultivate the compassion, professionalism and cultural awareness required in this field. This early foundation year prepares you for the demands of degree-level study and helps you step confidently into a people-focused, high-impact career.

1. Gain an introduction to the UK health and social care system: In the foundation year, you will learn about the key services and how care is delivered across the public and private sectors in the UK. You will also understand the structure, roles and responsibilities of different healthcare organisations.
2. Explore the principles of care, compassion and dignity: You will learn why empathy, respect and emotional intelligence are vital to a career in health and social care. These skills will help you provide efficient services to individuals, families and communities.
3. Understand health and well-being across communities: The foundation year degree in health and social care will teach you to examine how social, economic and environmental factors influence the health of different populations.
4. Build confidence in communication within care contexts: You will develop the ability to interact effectively with service users, families and professionals. You will learn how to use appropriate tone, language and sensitivity.
5. Study the foundations of professional practice: You will begin to build a sense of accountability, ethics and professionalism expected in health and social care-based environments. It will allow you to deliver services to the best of your ability.

Why choose GBS’s health and social care degree with a foundation year?

At GBS, we understand the unique needs of students who are returning to education or looking to enter a new career path. This is why our BSc (Hons) Health, Wellbeing and Social Care with Foundation Year provides a pathway to making a real difference in people’s lives. The foundation year will help you build your confidence and equip you with the essential study skills to succeed in higher education.

Throughout the course, you will gain a strong grounding in the core principles of health, wellbeing and social care and gradually develop advanced knowledge across areas such as behaviour, leadership, public health and care management.

What makes our course stand out is its structured approach, beginning with foundational skills and moving towards higher-level sector competencies. You will graduate with a qualification and also with the confidence, compassion and readiness to support communities and shape the future of care.

With GBS, you will not just study health and social care. You will prepare to lead it.