Health and Care Management with Foundation Year

Health and care management sits at the intersection of healthcare knowledge and management practice, addressing the growing need for professionals who understand both the clinical and organisational dimensions of health and social care systems. As integrated care systems bring health and social care providers together in new organisational arrangements, and as the complexity of managing diverse teams, budgets, quality frameworks, and regulatory requirements increases, people who can lead effectively within and across health and care settings are in increasing demand. This degree provides a foundation for that role, combining an understanding of how health and care services work with the management and leadership skills needed to help them function well.

At Arden University, this four-year full-time programme includes a foundation year, which provides the academic preparation needed before the main degree begins, making the course accessible to students from a wider range of prior educational backgrounds. The degree integrates health and care knowledge with management principles including leadership, finance, project management, quality improvement, and organisational behaviour, preparing you to contribute effectively to managerial roles within NHS trusts, social care providers, private clinics, charitable sector organisations, local councils, and the broader health and care workforce. The curriculum reflects the realities of contemporary health and care management, including the move towards integrated care systems and the increasing role of data and digital technology in how services are planned and evaluated.

Graduates are prepared for careers in health and care management across a wide range of settings. Common destinations include roles as service managers, team leaders, operations managers, quality improvement coordinators, and commissioners within NHS and social care organisations. The private healthcare sector, hospices, mental health organisations, housing associations, and local government also recruit graduates with this combination of clinical context and management training.

Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in health management, public health, social policy, or business administration, building the specialist leadership expertise needed for senior roles in health and care systems.