Health and Social Studies

Health and social studies is an interdisciplinary field that brings together knowledge from health sciences, sociology, social policy, and related disciplines to examine how health is shaped by social, cultural, economic, and environmental factors, and how health and social care systems respond to the needs of individuals and communities. It is a discipline that encourages you to look beyond individual behaviour to understand the structural determinants of health and wellbeing, and to think critically about how services and policies can better support people across the life course.

At the University of the Highlands and Islands, this part-time programme allows you to study at a pace suited to existing personal or professional commitments. You will explore the sociology of health and illness, the organisation of health and social care services, social policy, theories of inequality and how they relate to health outcomes, and the practical and ethical challenges that arise in health and care contexts. The programme is well-suited to those already working in healthcare, social care, or community settings, and it encourages you to connect academic learning directly to the professional and personal experience you bring to your studies.

Graduates are well-placed for careers in health and social care practice, policy, community development, public health, voluntary sector organisations, and health promotion. Many use the degree as a foundation for further professional training in nursing, social work, occupational therapy, or community health, while others move into management, commissioning, or research roles in health and social care organisations. The breadth of understanding the degree provides, combining individual and structural perspectives on health and wellbeing, is a genuine asset in any field where human health and social care are central to the work.