Overview
Health and Social Care BTEC Level 3 National Diploma, equivalent to two A Levels.
The Health and Social Care Diploma is a fantastic pathway for someone wanting to work in public services or the medical, and health and social care sectors.
We offer two Health and Social Care pathways including the Health and Social Care AAQ, which is equivalent to one A Level. Both courses offer a varied content, aimed at providing students with the knowledge, understanding and skills required for careers in health care and social care. However, with the Diploma you will be studying double the breadth of content and therefore double the number of lessons, coursework and UCAS points. This course can be combined with one other A Level or another single AAQ to complete your study programme.
Visits, case studies and input from visiting speakers form an important part of the course, giving students an opportunity to understand what is being studied in relation to real care settings.
The Diploma course is no longer available for Entry 2026. Please visit the Health and Social Care BTEC Level 3 Certificate
Entry Requirements
In addition to the College Entry Requirements, to qualify for this course you will also need to achieve a minimum of:
- Grade 4 GCSE English Language
Course Details
The Diploma course has eight units;
First Year Units
- Unit 1 ‘Human Lifespan Development’ covers physical, intellectual, emotional and social development across the human lifespan, the factors affecting development, and the effects of aging. (exam unit).
- Unit 5 ‘Meeting Individual Care and Support Needs’ develops your understanding of the provision of support for people who have particular needs. It covers anti-discriminatory practices, ethical principles, communication approaches, and how professionals work in teams. (coursework unit).
- Unit 2 ‘Working in Health and Social Care’ (exam unit).
- Unit 14 ‘Physiological Disorders and their care’ (coursework unit).
Second Year Units:-
- Unit 4 – Research into Health and Social Care (exam unit)
- Unit 19 – Nutritional Health in Health and Social Care (coursework unit)
- Unit 7 – Safe Environments (coursework unit)
- Unit 8 – Promoting Public Health (coursework unit)
Assessment
The Diploma course consists of eight units studied over two years. Three units are exams assessment. The other five units are coursework.
Subject Combinations
The Health and Social Care Diploma is equivalent to two A Levels, so you will need to choose another A Level or single vocational course to complete your study programme.
Courses which are commonly taken alongside it and combine well in supporting a career pathway include; Sociology, Psychology, Biology, Geography, History, English Language, Physical Education and the Human Biology AAQ and many others.
University Destinations
Health and Social Care is a highly respected qualification, with more than half of our students progressing onto university.
Here are some typical University Destinations that our Health and Social Care students go on to. Click on a destination to see some examples of courses they have taken;
Careers
Students can progress to university for a wide variety of courses including Occupational Therapy, Nursing, Midwifery, Primary Teaching, Early Childhood Studies and Social Work.
Other students have gone straight into employment in a variety of fields related to the course – for example, going on to work as Nursery Assistants or Care Assistants as well as joining the Ambulance Service.
FAQs
Is it a good idea to take another vocational course alongside the Health and Social Care Diploma?
Taking a programme consisting predominantly of coursework-based courses is demanding in relation to the sheer volume of assignments and deadlines you would be managing, but it may be the right thing to do in particular circumstances. However, including one or more A Level course in your study programme can also help you to develop your skills for example in essay writing, which is helpful for progression to study at a higher level afterwards. For guidance on how to decide on a study programmes, visit Choosing the Right Subjects
What extra support/enrichment activities are on offer?
Many students on this course take part in the College’s Community Volunteers. This involves assisting in a local nursery or school or daycentre on a weekly basis for two terms. There may also be an opportunity to take part in simulated Clinical Skills sessions at Kingston University. In addition, the department provides support in terms of guidance on careers, including support with personal statements and mock interviews.
How many lessons do I have a week?
For the Diploma, equivalent to two A Levels, you will receive eight time-tabled lessons a week and expectation to complete a further 10 hours on pre-reading and completing coursework.
For the Extended Certificate, equivalent to one A Level, you will receive four time-tabled lessons a week and an expectation to complete a further six hours working on pre-reading and completing coursework.