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 18th September 2023 when you will be invited to join several Welcome 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 25th September 2023, 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 somewhat daunting as it is 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. Your personal tutor 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 Personal Academic Tutor during welcome week and will have regular opportunities to meet with them throughout the year.
The Foundation Year is a co-taught interprofessional programme.
As a Public Health and Health Promotion student you will be learning alongside students studying Adult Nursing, Child Nursing, Mental Health Nursing, Midwifery, Social Work, Diagnostic Radiography, Operating Department Practice, Occupational Therapy, Paramedic Science, or Physiotherapy.
The Level 0 course (Foundation Year) is divided into two semesters. In each semester you will study three modules, as shown below:
Semester One
- Academic Skills for Higher Education: Health and Wellbeing
- Human Development through the Life Course
- Introduction to Healthcare, Social Care and Public Health
Semester Two
- Communicating for Health and Wellbeing
- Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology
- Introduction to Social and Environmental Aspects of Health and Wellbeing
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 friendly and encouraging.
You will have 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 aspirations… So, enjoy 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 placement and university and 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 with us in September:
We are proud to be an inclusive University that supports a diverse community of students. Please note that if you have a disability or would like to learn more about the support that we can offer to students, please visit the Disability and Mental Health website.
Welcome and induction
Click here to view this course’s Welcome Schedule in UniTimetables. Please note:
- The Monday 10am ‘online resources’ session is for all students and will be online. To join this session, please use the following link: https://eu.bbcollab.com/guest/f92610ccdda149fd97a5df8060fc624d.
- Events on Tuesday and Thursday are for Medway students only.
- Events on Wednesday and 9.30am/2pm on Friday are for Canterbury students only.
- The Friday 1pm Course Director Q&A/Welcome Week wrap-up is for all students.
For help with using UniTimetables, please see our user guide.
And don’t forget to attend our other welcome events throughout the week including Freshers’ and Welcome events as both Canterbury and Medway – see here for full details.
Given you have worked very hard to get into university, we recommend that you use the summer to prepare yourself to start your foundation year and take some time to relax and enjoy the moment knowing you are about to commence your university journey.However, if you are keen to get started, we recommend the following reading:
- Cottrell, S. (2019) The Study Skills Handbook. 5th Ed. New York: Palgrave.
This Study Skills Handbook is a good general introduction to the skills needed to study in Higher Education.
- Boyd, B, and Bee, H. (2019) Lifespan Development, Global Edition. 8th Ed. London: Pearson Education.
This text outlines how we will be studying Human Development through the Life Course.
Please note that you are not required to buy these books as we have copies available in our libraries and these are also available as e-books so that you can access them online when off campus.
In addition to reading textbooks, we recommend that you also regularly 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 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?
What is wellbeing? What does it mean to experience a sense of wellness?
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. Students receive a discount at the university bookshop.
