Health and Social Care SCQF Level 6

What is special about this course?

This course is for those that are interested in a career in health and social care, but aren’t quite sure in which role, or for those who already know their chosen career.


The National Certificate in Health and Social Care is nationally recognised qualification for people who want to work in a variety of healthcare or social services setting and in a variety of roles, supporting people with varying needs. 

The course will give you an opportunity to research and investigate the wide range of job roles and services that support people, giving you valuable insight into working within the sector, and supporting people of all ages. 

It will give you a deep understanding of working with people, and through the mixture of practical and theory-based classes, it will help you to integrate knowledge and theory into practice, including the importance of anti-discriminatory practice, in line with the National Care Standards and Scottish Social Services Council Codes of Practice.

Practical experience may be through practice placement and undertaking core units of an SVQ 2 in social Services and Healthcare or through class-based role play and simulation.

There is a strong focus on employability skills enabling you to enter the workplace on completion or progress onto the HNC in Social Services.

Entry requirements

  • 4 National 5s at C or above, one must be English.
  • You will be required to attend an interview and complete a short piece of written work.
  • PVG Scheme membership is required to successfully achieve target qualification, where there is guaranteed contact with vulnerable groups in key elements of the course. For further information visit our PVG webpage.

We do sometimes make changes to the course depending on the needs of industry and our students, but this is an indication of the types of units you will study:

  • Human development and behaviour
  • Social influences
  • Values and principles
  • Understanding mental health and mental illness
  • Stress and stress management
  • Working in health and social care settings
  • Understanding and supporting people in health and social care.
  • Practical care skills
  • Communication
  • Study skills and preparation for further education.

How will I study my course?

  • Full Time

Practical and classroom learning

How long will my course last?

1 Academic Year

Full time 

Where can I study my course?

    • Inverness Campus

Start date

August 

Fees

Fee information for FULL TIME Further Education courses

If you have been living in the UK for at least 3 years, are ordinary resident in Scotland before the course start date it is likely that you will not have to pay fees for your full time course.  Please check our Fee Waiver Policy.

Full time students will automatically receive the fee waiver if they are eligible. We will use the information provided on your course application form to determine whether you are eligible. 

Scottish students

Further Education course  (SQCF 1-6)

2021-22

2022-23

Full-time per year

£1,410

£1,790

Rest of UK students

For students normally domiciled in the rest of the UK (England, Wales and N. Ireland, including Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) and with a term time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

Further Education course  (SQCF 1-6)

2022-23

Full-time

£5,970

International students

For students who do not normally reside in the UK, including EU/EEA and Swiss nationals without settled or pre-settled status in the UK, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

Further Education course  (SQCF 1-6)

2022-23

Full time

£5,970

 Fees are payable on enrolment each academic year.

Please contact credit.control.ic@uhi.ac.uk if you have any further questions on fees.

Fee information for PART TIME Further Education courses

A Fee Waiver could be available to help with the payment of course fees depending on your personal circumstances, please check our Fee Waiver Policy to see if you are eligible.

Scottish students

Further Education (SCQF 1-6) level 

2021-22

2022-23

Part-time (per credit)

£122

£122

Rest of UK and International students 

Further Education (SCQF 1-6) level 

2022-23

Part-time (per credit)

£485

Fees are payable on enrolment each academic year.

Please contact credit.control.ic@uhi.ac.uk if you have any further questions on fees.

What can I do on completion of my course?

This course builds the foundations to a career in either nursing, health or social care, eg nurse education or paramedic education.  

Is there more information available online?

QR Code - scan to visit course page

You can use the above QR code to connect directly to the course details.

Apply for Health and Social Care SCQF Level 6

I want to start in 2023/24

We are delighted that you are thinking about studying at UHI Inverness. UHI Inverness operates a fair and open admissions system committed to equality of opportunity and non-discrimination. We consider all applications on merit and on the basis of ability to achieve, without discrimination on grounds of age, disability, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity status, race, religion and/or belief, sex, sexual orientation or socio-economic background. We welcome applications from all prospective students and aim to provide appropriate and efficient services to students with disabilities.