Health Wellbeing and Care in Society

Health, wellbeing and care in society is a degree that takes an interdisciplinary approach to understanding how health is produced, maintained, and distributed across populations and communities. It recognises that health is shaped not just by individual biology and behaviour but by the social, economic, and environmental conditions in which people live, and it draws on sociology, public health, social policy, and psychology to build a rounded and critical understanding of what care and wellbeing mean in practice.

At the University of Sunderland you will study across three years on a full-time programme. The curriculum explores global and local issues in health and care, examining how inequalities in health arise and persist, how health and social care services are organised and funded, and how community and voluntary organisations contribute to wellbeing. You will develop critical thinking, communication, and teamwork skills throughout, recognising that the ability to analyse evidence, engage with diverse perspectives, and work collaboratively are central to professional practice in health and social care contexts.

Employer partnerships and a continuing professional development focus embedded in the programme sharpen the practical relevance of your academic learning. You will be encouraged to reflect on your own values and assumptions about health, care, and justice, developing the kind of reflective practice that supports ongoing professional development.

Graduates work across the health, social care, and community sectors. Roles in health promotion, community development, social care management, public health research, and policy are all common directions. The voluntary and charity sector, housing organisations, local authorities, and NHS commissioning bodies also employ graduates with this background.

Teaching and education roles in health and social care are a further option. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in public health, social work, social policy, or health management, and the degree provides a solid foundation for professional training programmes in related fields. The analytical and communication skills the degree develops also travel well into roles in research, journalism, and communications focused on health and social care.