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This programme offers a qualification that delivers the knowledge and skills required to support people with autism in a range of different situations. It is designed specifically for students who provide home, community and school-based services, and is therefore flexible, combining intensive workshop teaching, web-based study and work-based learning.
Overview
The Foundation Degree (FdSc) is completed by blended learning, usually over two years. It combines web-based guided study and discussions with work-based learning, allowing flexibility and a very practical approach. In the second year of the programme, you complete a work-based learning module that requires you to be working with children or adults with autism. You can either do this as part of your normal job role (including as a family carer) or as a placement, which you organise yourself.
The Tizard Centre: UK centre of excellence
The Tizard Centre is at the forefront of learning and research in autism, intellectual disability and community care and in 2013 received a Queen’s Anniversary Prize in recognition of its outstanding work in these areas.
Independent rankings
In the National Student Survey 2015, 90% of Social Policy students (the discipline closest to Health and Social Care) were satisfied with the quality of their course.
Social Policy was ranked 4th in The Guardian University Guide 2016; Social Work was ranked 1st for research quality in The Times Good University Guide 2016.
Course structure
The course structure below gives a flavour of the modules that will be available to you and provides details of the content of this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation. Most programmes will require you to study a combination of compulsory and optional modules. You may also have the option to take ‘wild’ modules from other programmes offered by the University in order that you may customise your programme and explore other subject areas of interest to you or that may further enhance your employability.
Teaching and assessment
We use a variety of teaching methods, including lectures, case study analysis, group projects and presentations, and individual and group tutorials. Many module convenors also offer additional ‘clinic’ hours to help with the preparation of coursework and for exams.
Assessment is by a mixture of coursework and examinations; to see assessment details for individual modules, click 'read more' within the course structure.
Programme aims
The programme aims to:
- develop awareness and understanding of the needs and characteristics of individuals with autism spectrum disorders
- enhance students' knowledge about the approaches to supporting individuals with autism spectrum disorders in different settings
- instil in students a critical appreciation of the research basis of intervention in autism and the application of different intervention approaches.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
You develop knowledge and understanding of:
- the definition and epidemiology of autism spectrum disorders
- the causes of autism
- the issues for supporting people with autism spectrum disorders in services and schools
- policy, funding and service models
- approaches and interventions in autism spectrum disorders, including early intervention
- supporting families of children with autism spectrum disorders
- capacity, empowerment, advocacy and protection
- theoretical and diagnostic approaches to autism spectrum disorders
- the research basis for intervention in autism spectrum disorders
- applied behaviour analysis and autism spectrum disorders.
Intellectual skills
You gain the following intellectual abilities:
- cross reference information, from various sources, to draw conclusions on how best to support individuals with ASD
- interpret available data and make arguments recognising alternative interpretations and limitations in the data or its method of collection.
Subject-specific skills
You gain subject-specific skills in the following:
- the ability to develop and apply an intervention to provide an autism-friendly environment and promote the quality of life of people with autism.
Transferable skills
You gain transferable skills in the following:
- the ability to communicate ideas and arguments to others, mainly in written form, prepare written assignments and reference the materials referred to in accordance with accepted conventions
- to improve your own learning: be reflective, adaptive and independent in your learning, explore personal strengths and weaknesses, and time management – by delivering academic work on time to the required standard
- abilities in IT: produce written documents, undertake online research, and study and learn independently using library and internet sources
- numeracy: use basic methods of presenting and interpreting data and information from different sources.
Careers
Our programmes provide you with knowledge and skills that will appeal to employers such as the NHS, local authority adults’ and children’s services, and the voluntary and private social and healthcare sector. You also develop transferable skills such as planning and organisation, teamwork, leadership.
This programme provides you with both academic and practical knowledge to help you provide better support to children and adults on the autism spectrum.
Entry requirements
Home/EU students
The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications, typical requirements are listed below, students offering alternative qualifications should contact the Admissions Office for further advice. It is not possible to offer places to all students who meet this typical offer/minimum requirement.
| Qualification | Typical offer/minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| A level | CDD Some experience of working with people with autism is recommended. Mature students who do not hold appropriate qualifications can apply, but will need to demonstrate that they have the skills/experience to study at degree level. References will be required. Students will be either in employment supporting children or adults with autism, a family carer of a child or adult with autism or be able to arrange a placement for the second year of the course. |
| Access to HE Diploma | The University of Kent will not necessarily make conditional offers to all access candidates but will continue to assess them on an individual basis. If an offer is made candidates will be required to obtain/pass the overall Access to Higher Education Diploma and may also be required to obtain a proportion of the total level 3 credits and/or credits in particular subjects at merit grade or above. |
| BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (formerly BTEC National Diploma) | Merit, Merit, Pass |
| International Baccalaureate | 34 points overall or 13 at HL |
International students
The University receives applications from over 140 different nationalities and consequently will consider applications from prospective students offering a wide range of international qualifications. Our International Development Office will be happy to advise prospective students on entry requirements. See our International Student website for further information about our country-specific requirements.
Please note that if you need to increase your level of qualification ready for undergraduate study, we offer a number of International Foundation Programmes through Kent International Pathways.
English Language Requirements
Please see our English language entry requirements web page.
Please note that if you are required to meet an English language condition, we offer a number of pre-sessional courses in English for Academic Purposes through Kent International Pathways.
General entry requirements
Please also see our general entry requirements.
Fees
The 2016/17 annual tuition fees for this programme are:
| UK/EU | Overseas | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time |
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
The Government has announced changes to allow undergraduate tuition fees to rise in line with inflation from 2017/18.
The University of Kent is currently considering whether to increase its regulated full-time tuition fees for all returning Home and EU undergraduates from £9,000 to £9,250 in September 2017. This would be subject to us satisfying the Government's Teaching Excellence Framework and the access regulator's requirements. The equivalent part-time fees for these courses might also rise by 2.8%.
For students continuing on this programme fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.* If you are uncertain about your fee status please contact information@kent.ac.uk
Funding
Kent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. Details of our proposed funding opportunities for 2016 entry can be found on our funding page.
General scholarships
Scholarships are available for excellence in academic performance, sport and music and are awarded on merit. For further information on the range of awards available and to make an application see our scholarships website.
The Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence
At Kent we recognise, encourage and reward excellence. We have created the Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence. For 2016 entry, the scholarship will be awarded to any applicant who achieves a minimum of AAA over three A levels, or the equivalent qualifications as specified on our scholarships pages. Please review the eligibility criteria on that page.