The Foundation Year aims to introduce you to the wide range of career opportunities that are available within the health and wellbeing field. It will provide a supportive university environment where you can grow in confidence and develop the knowledge and academic skills that you need to study at undergraduate level.

The first time we will all meet will be week commencing 16 September 2024 when you will be invited to join several Welcome Week Activities. During this week there will be opportunities to meet your fellow students, settle in and make new friends. We are here to give you the information and tools you need to make the most out of this exciting opportunity.

On 23 September 2024, you will start the first of your semester one modules. You may have concerns and apprehensions about starting university, the prospect of university can be daunting as it can be a big step up from your previous education. It might also be the first time you are leaving home, or you might not have studied for a long time. To assist with the transition, you will be assigned a personal academic tutor (PAT). Your PAT will be your first point of reference for any personal or general academic matters you might have throughout your time at the university. You will meet your PAT during welcome week and will have regular opportunities to meet with them throughout the year.

The Foundation Year is co-taught with other students studying towards a range of health and social care degrees as part of an interprofessional programme of learning and development.

As a Mental Health Nursing student, you will be learning alongside students studying:

• Adult Nursing,
• Child Nursing,
• Diagnostic Radiography,
• Health & Lifestyle Sciences,
• Mental Health & Wellbeing,
• Occupational Therapy,
• Operating Department Practice,
• Paramedic Science,
• Physiotherapy,
• Public Health,
• Social Work.

Your Foundation Year (1^st year of study, at level 0) is divided into two semesters. In each semester you will study three modules, as shown below:

Semester One - Sep 2024 – Jan 2025

• Personal and Academic Development
• Human Development
• Applied Digital and Numeracy Skills

Semester Two – Jan 2025 - May 2025

• Developing Communication Skills and Wellbeing
• Human Anatomy and Physiology
• Wider Determinants of Health

Please be assured that you will be fully supported when you start at CCCU to make sure that your transition to higher education is as smooth as possible and you will find the Foundation Year team welcoming and encouraging.

You will have various induction activities at the beginning of the academic year that will help to organise and plan your studies. The key to enjoying and getting the most from university and the course is to be fully engaged, participating with what is on offer right from the start. We are dedicated to helping you to reach your educational and career aspirations. So, enjoy the journey and celebrate your achievement in becoming a university student.

To find out how you can make the most of student life by visiting join our community.

The most important things at this stage are to ensure you have support and strategies in place to enable you to prepare for university and that you understand the commitment and flexibility required to do this successfully. We are happy to answer any questions you have. You also might like to give thought to how you will manage your time, balance your other life demands (e.g., work, childcare, social activities) and plan your finances effectively to get the most out of your studies. There are several Student Services that can offer advice, support, and help you to prepare for starting studies with us in September:

• Student FAQs: Ask the i-zone
• Student Support Services: for information about health and wellbeing, practical advice and support
• Study Skills
• Christ Church Students’ Union (CCSU): visit the Students’ Union webpages
• Careers and Enterprise Hub

We are proud to be an inclusive University that supports a diverse community of students. Please note that if you live with a disability or a mental health condition and would like to learn more about the support that we can offer please visit the Disability and Mental Health website.

Given you have worked hard to get into university, we recommend that you use the summer to prepare yourself to start your studies, taking time to relax and enjoy the moment knowing you are about to commence your university journey.

However, if you are keen to get started with your learning, we recommend that you read about topics relating to health and wellbeing in newspapers and online to gain insights into the current issues, and challenges facing healthcare, social care, and public health. Look at websites such as the Department of Health and Social Care and Public Health England websites to learn about government policies and priorities in relation to the public’s health and wellbeing. And check out the websites of reputable organisations such as the National Health Service, The Kings Fund, Office for Health Improvement and Disparities and the and the Royal Society for Public Health and the World Health Organization.

When undertaking reading think about the following key questions:

What is health? What does it mean to be healthy? And What do we mean by the term wellbeing? What does it mean to experience a sense of wellness?

Welcome and Induction, Uniform and Occupational Health

If you are a student at Canterbury, click the button below labelled Canterbury, and if you are a student at Medway, click the button labelled Medway, for information specific to you.

If you are keen to get started reading a textbook, we recommend the following:

• Cottrell, S. (2019) The Study Skills Handbook. 5th Ed. New York: Palgrave.
• Hughes, G. (2020) Be well, learn well: improve your wellbeing and academic performance. Macmillan International: Red Globe Press.

Study Skills books are a good general introduction to preparing to study in Higher Education.

However please note whilst these are recommended reading on your course you are not required to buy these books in advance of your studies, we have copies available in our libraries and these books are also available as e-books so that you can access them online when off campus once you commence your studies.

A full reading list, including recommended textbooks will be available when you start your course.

Please follow the links to the Library and the University Bookshop. CCCU students receive a discount at the university bookshop.