STUDY

Undergraduate

FdA Social Welfare, Advice & Guidance Practice

Cup of coffee
Institution code: S82
UCAS code: L500
Start date: September 2025
Duration: Two years full-time, attendance at the College is one day per week
Location: East Coast College (Great Yarmouth)
Typical Offer: Please call our Clearing Hotline on 01473 338352 to discuss your qualifications and suitability for 2025 entry.
Institution code: S82
UCAS code: L500
Start date: September 2025
Duration: Two years full-time, attendance at the College is one day per week
Location: East Coast College (Great Yarmouth)
Typical Offer: Please call our Clearing Hotline on 01473 338352 to discuss your qualifications and suitability for 2025 entry.
Course information table
Institution code: S82
UCAS code: L500
Start date: September 2026
Duration: Two years full-time, attendance at the College is one day per week
Location: East Coast College (Great Yarmouth)
Typical Offer: 80 UCAS tariff points (or above)
Course information table
Institution code: S82
UCAS code: L500
Start date: September 2026
Course information table
Duration: Two years full-time, attendance at the College is one day per week
Location: East Coast College (Great Yarmouth)
Typical Offer: 80 UCAS tariff points (or above)

Overview

This exciting and dynamic course has been developed to meet the education and training requirements of a range of individuals employed within the statutory, voluntary and not-for-profit welfare, advice, guidance and social care sectors.

It offers you the opportunity to enhance your work-based skills and achieve a recognised academic qualification. The course has been developed in liaison with employers and employees in the social care sector, including agencies who deliver information, advice and guidance support and has been tailored to meet the specific training requirements of the sector. The you will study a range of modules in which you are able to shape and enhance your own practice and interests.

This course is delivered in The Place – a brand-new £17m university centre, library and learning hub, which in the former Palmers building in Great Yarmouth Town centre.

On successful completion of this course, you can continue to gain a full BA (Hons) degree on the one-year BA (Hons) Applied Care Practice [Progression Route] at University of Suffolk at East Coast College.

As voted for by students, Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2025, winner University of the Year.

Course Modules

You will study a range of modules, the course has been developed to be flexible with delivery, and can be tailored to meet the specific needs of individual students and their work place. This flexibility could include twilight or evening teaching. The Learn Virtual Learning Environment will also be used so that you can discuss and learn with their peers whilst working in practice. You will be expected to undertake private study to meet the requirements of the course. 

Full downloadable information regarding all University of Suffolk courses, including Key Facts, Course Aims, Course Structure and Assessment, is available in the Definitive Course Record.  

East Coast College building

This module focuses on fostering self-awareness, reflective practice, and professional identity, which are crucial for effective practice.  The module also emphasizes the development of academic skills, such as critical thinking, research, and effective communication.

This module explores the biological, psychological, and social factors that influence mental health at different life stages, equipping you with the knowledge to support diverse populations effectively.

It is important that all practitioners recognise their professional roles, and responsibilities in protecting vulnerable people. This module adopts a multi-disciplinary and inter-agency perspective in relationship to the welfare and safeguarding of children and adults. 

You will explore Humanistic and Person-centred Counselling using Egan’s Skilled Helper model, and will have the opportunity to develop skills used in practice and evaluate your own development using self-reflection and peer reviews as well as assessments in practice by the module assessors. 

This module aims to provide you with the knowledge and skills necessary to advocate effectively for social justice and empowerment within your practice. Advocacy is one of the foundations of social welfare, as it involves promoting the rights and well-being of individuals and communities, particularly those who are marginalized or vulnerable.

This module aims to explore the interaction between society, individualism, and social welfare. It seeks to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of how individual and collective needs are balanced within different welfare systems and the implications of these balances for social justice and equity.

This module aims to explore the meanings of mental health and wellbeing as they impact upon the individual, family and society within the context of UK public health promotion. Understanding the varying definitions of mental health and illness is crucial as these definitions have significant implications for service users.

Building sustainable, collaborative, and integrated services is crucial for sustainable services. These services are essential for long-term growth, resilience, and efficiency to prioritise the efficient use of resources, reducing waste and minimizing environmental impact, aligning with global efforts to combat climate change.

The module is designed to equip you with essential tools for effective leadership in complex environments. Reflective supervision is a structured process with reflective discussions with a supervisor or mentor, to promote continuous professional development, self-awareness, and improved decision-making.

An understanding of the values which underpin social welfare organisations practice and influence the knowledge and skills base of services, is necessary for all practitioners.  This knowledge and these skills underpin professional practice, in order to become competent and reflective.

The integration of digital and technological advancements into professional practice is essential for maintaining current practice and enhancing service delivery, this module is designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills necessary to utilise these advancements effectively.

The aim of this module is to extend your knowledge and appreciation of research issues, from an examination and understanding of methodology and means of application, to an understanding of research in the broad context of professional practice.  A range of practice related topics will be utilised to explore the content of this module.

Course Modules

Students study a range of modules, the course has been developed to be flexible with delivery, and can be tailored to meet the specific needs of individual students and their work place. This flexibility could include twilight or evening teaching. The Learn Virtual Learning Environment will also be used so that students can discuss and learn with their peers whilst working in practice. Students will be expected to undertake private study to meet the requirements of the course. 

Students will be expected to be working within a related field as case study learning forms a substantial part of the course. 

Full downloadable information regarding all University of Suffolk courses, including Key Facts, Course Aims, Course Structure and Assessment, is available in the Definitive Course Record.

East Coast College building

This module focuses on fostering self-awareness, reflective practice, and professional identity, which are crucial for effective practice.  The module also emphasizes the development of academic skills, such as critical thinking, research, and effective communication.

This module explores the biological, psychological, and social factors that influence mental health at different life stages, equipping you with the knowledge to support diverse populations effectively.

It is important that all practitioners recognise their professional roles, and responsibilities in protecting vulnerable people. This module adopts a multi-disciplinary and inter-agency perspective in relationship to the welfare and safeguarding of children and adults. 

You will explore Humanistic and Person-centred Counselling using Egan’s Skilled Helper model, and will have the opportunity to develop skills used in practice and evaluate your own development using self-reflection and peer reviews as well as assessments in practice by the module assessors. 

This module aims to provide you with the knowledge and skills necessary to advocate effectively for social justice and empowerment within your practice. Advocacy is one of the foundations of social welfare, as it involves promoting the rights and well-being of individuals and communities, particularly those who are marginalized or vulnerable.

This module aims to explore the interaction between society, individualism, and social welfare. It seeks to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of how individual and collective needs are balanced within different welfare systems and the implications of these balances for social justice and equity.

This module aims to explore the meanings of mental health and wellbeing as they impact upon the individual, family and society within the context of UK public health promotion. Understanding the varying definitions of mental health and illness is crucial as these definitions have significant implications for service users.

Building sustainable, collaborative, and integrated services is crucial for sustainable services. These services are essential for long-term growth, resilience, and efficiency to prioritise the efficient use of resources, reducing waste and minimizing environmental impact, aligning with global efforts to combat climate change.

The module is designed to equip you with essential tools for effective leadership in complex environments. Reflective supervision is a structured process with reflective discussions with a supervisor or mentor, to promote continuous professional development, self-awareness, and improved decision-making.

An understanding of the values which underpin social welfare organisations practice and influence the knowledge and skills base of services, is necessary for all practitioners.  This knowledge and these skills underpin professional practice, in order to become competent and reflective.

The integration of digital and technological advancements into professional practice is essential for maintaining current practice and enhancing service delivery, this module is designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills necessary to utilise these advancements effectively.

The aim of this module is to extend your knowledge and appreciation of research issues, from an examination and understanding of methodology and means of application, to an understanding of research in the broad context of professional practice.  A range of practice related topics will be utilised to explore the content of this module.

Entry Requirements

Entry Requirements

Fees and Funding

UK Full-time Tuition Fee

£8,220

per year
UK Part-time Tuition Fee

£1,370*

per 20 credit module
International Full-time Tuition Fee

£15,090

per year

*Please contact Student Centre for further information on part-time fees

Further Information

At University of Suffolk, your tuition fees provide access to all the usual teaching and learning facilities that you would expect. However, there may be additional costs associated with you course that you will need to budget for.

UK fees and finance UK bursaries and scholarships International fees and scholarships

Fees and Funding

UK Full-time Tuition Fee

£8,220*

per year
UK Part-time Tuition Fee

£1,370**

per 20 credit module
International Full-time Tuition Fee

£15,090

per year

*Maximum tuition fees chargeable to Home-fee students are set by the UK Government normally in the autumn or early winter in the year prior to the year of entry (e.g. autumn 2025 for entry in 2026/27). The University of Suffolk reserves the right to increase tuition fees for 2026/27 if the UK Government increases the maximum annual fee. **Please contact Student Centre for further information on part-time fees.

Further Information

At University of Suffolk, your tuition fees provide access to all the usual teaching and learning facilities that you would expect. However, there may be additional costs associated with you course that you will need to budget for.

UK fees and finance UK bursaries and scholarships International fees and scholarships
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Career Opportunities

This course is intended those working or seeking to work within welfare, advice, guidance and social care services with the ability to apply theory to practice within these areas, potential roles include;

  • Family Support Workers
  • Youth Workers
  • Guidance Advisers
  • Assistant Case Managers
  • Learning Disability Support Workers
  • Online Community Coordinators
  • Trainee Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners
  • Mental Health Support Workers, Management
  • Supervisory positions in voluntary, private and statutory sectors

How to Apply in Clearing

To study this course on a full-time basis, you can apply in Clearing. You'll need to provide evidence of your academic qualifications, and showcase your skills, qualities and passion for the subject.

Apply Now in Clearing Further Information on Applying
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