It’s day four of Colleges Week 2026! Today, HSDC is celebrating its incredible Higher Education (HE) offering. In particular, the College is incredibly proud of its commitment to meeting urgent national skills needs through its HE provision in the Health & Social Care department.
HSDC offers two main HE Courses in this area – the Level 4 and 5 Foundation Degrees in Health & Social Care, and the Level 6 BA (Hons) degree in Adult Social Care, delivered in partnership with the University of Chichester. These programmes offer a flexible, accessible and affordable route into one of the UK’s most in-demand sectors, supporting both local communities and the national workforce pipeline.
HSDC has achieved consistently outstanding results on this programme, a testament to the hard work of our students and the industry expertise of lecturers. Since launching the programme, 88% of students have achieved a 2:1 classification or higher, whilst almost one in four have achieved the very best First-Class degrees.
Tracy Pickford, who teaches on the HE courses, spoke about the transformative impact of the Health & Social care degrees on offer at HSDC:
“Our Health and Social Care degree programme proves that with determination and commitment, higher education is truly achievable for everyone. Many of our students have progressed from Level 1 through to completing the full degree – several achieving a First – while studying in supportive, familiar surroundings with personalised guidance. From my own experience, a Foundation Degree can be life-changing: it builds confidence, develops sector-relevant expertise, and opens doors to promotions, new careers, and opportunities that simply wouldn’t be possible without higher level study.”
Social care remains one of the UK’s most understaffed industries, with employers nationally reporting an urgent need for qualified professionals. HSDC’s HE pathways here have been designed specifically to address these skills shortages, providing students with the practical knowledge, applied theory and professional confidence needed to succeed in a wide range of care-focused careers.
The programmes emphasise real-world practice, industry-aligned teaching and modules that span psychology, mental health, legislation and community care – giving graduates the breadth of understanding required in modern health and social care environments. This strong alignment to employer needs in the Social Care sector reflects HSDC’s commitment to technical excellence for the real world.
Unlike traditional university routes, HSDC’s Health & Social Care HE pathways have been shaped around the needs of adult returners, students who are also employed, career changers, and those already working in the sector.
Sarah Courtney, a student on the course, said:
“I have acquired practical experience with various tools, techniques and technologies. This hands-on experience and knowledge has enhanced my competitiveness in the job market and gives me the chance to make immediate contributions in a professional environment.”
These courses are taught one day per week, allowing learners to balance their studying with employment, family or caring responsibilities. The tuition fees are also only £5,500 per year, making an HSDC degree around £4,000 cheaper per year than a typical university course, whilst still being fully eligible for Student Finance. Students who complete the Level 6 course will also receive a 20% discount on postgraduate fees through the University of Chichester, supporting long-term career progression into roles such as social work, specialist care practice and leadership.
These courses are also taught with smaller class sizes, meaning that lecturers can offer substantial 1:1 support, ideal for students who want to build their confidence as well as strong technical skills. The Health & Social Care HE Courses are all delivered at the Havant Campus, although our students do have full access to the University of Chichester’s facilities, including libraries and specialist study spaces.
This accessibility resonates with HSDC’s mission to raise aspirations across the board, supporting learners to achieve high level qualifications that they may not have initially considered. Most importantly, these courses empower learners to step into a sector that urgently needs skilled, compassionate professionals – and to make a measurable difference in their communities from day one.
To find out more about HSDC’s Higher Education courses in Health & Social Care, click here: https://www.hsdc.ac.uk/course-finder/?keyword=&campus=-1&study_type=1108&interest=1066