
FDSc Leader in Adult Care
- Study Mode: Full Time
- Location: High Wycombe
- Duration: Two Years
- Start Date: September 2025
Our Higher Technical Qualification (HTQ) programme is designed in collaboration with local employers to prepare you for a future career. We will give you the skills needed to excel within current practices and innovate beyond them to inspire future development.
On completion of this HTQ programme, you will have met the knowledge, skills and behaviour requirements to be effective leaders managing community and residential services. You’ll be able to ensure the delivery of services is safe, effective, caring, and responsive to service user needs.
Why study this subject?
As a Leader in Adult Care, you will guide and inspire teams to make positive differences to someone’s life when they are faced with physical, practical, social, emotional, psychological, or intellectual challenges. You will be a leader of the care team and will develop and implement a values-based culture at a service or unit level.
You may be responsible for business development, financial control, organisational resilience, and continuity as well as for managing risk and leading on organisational change.

Why study at Buckinghamshire New University?
Our HTQ programme has been developed with collaboration from employers at the Buckinghamshire Health and Social Care Academy and education groups where employers from the health and social care sectors identify skill shortage needs.
- We use feedback from students via modules evaluations, mid semester surveys and the NSS to continually improve our course.
- Diverse student body consisting of people from all backgrounds and lived experiences.
- Action plans are created based on your feedback which ensure your opinions are valued and acted upon.
- Staff are experienced in social care and will meet regularly to evaluate modules to ensure we meet the needs of local organisations.
- We work directly with local organisations to address skills shortages. This course gives employers the talent they demand and you the abilities to provide it.
Our student union was voted 1st in the UK (NSS2023) and because of the big deal all student union activities are free, thanks to our amazing community.
What facilities can I use?
This course is taught in our High Wycombe campus which is in the centre of Wycombe town. We have our library with IT rooms and books for you to borrow which is open 24 hours. In addition, we have laptop loans for you to use and a fully functional simulation suite to simulate a hospital environment where necessary. All software you need for the course is provided by the university.
What will I study on this course?
The FDSc Leader in Adult Care programme is a practice based Higher Technical Qualification (HTQ) accredited by the and aligned to the apprenticeship occupational standards.

This two-year HTQ programme is underpinned by values of Care, Compassion, Courage, Communication, Competence and Commitment which will support you to lead teams in delivering high quality care for adults in need.
We will ensure you meet the needs and requirements of local organisations to ensure safe, effective, and caring service at many levels of operation. You will study topics such as:
- Effective Communication in Social Care
- Legal Context of Social Care
- Policy Context of Social Care
- Developing Personal and Professional Practice
- Leadership and management in Adult Social Care
- Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults and Children
- Problem solving within complex care situations
We will help you become leaders in adult care who can lead and guide teams in making a positive difference in the lives of people, especially when faced with social, emotional, and psychological challenges.
How will I be taught and assessed?
The programme uses a range of teaching and learning methods including:
- Group work/ discussions
- Debates
- Seminars
- Role play
- Presentations
- Work related reflective practice
- Guest speakers
- Self-directed study
What are the course entry requirements?
A typical offer will require a UCAS tariff score of: 56 - 80
UCAS points can be obtained through qualifications such as A levels, T levels, BTEC or an Access to Higher Education course in a relevant subject. Please list all your qualifications on the application form as you will be asked to provide copies when we receive your application.
Every application will be assessed on its individual merits.
If you do not meet the entry requirements you may, if you have relevant professional experience, still be invited for interview, where you will be required to demonstrate the necessary knowledge and understanding for entry onto the course.
Previous study, professional and / or vocational experiences may be recognised as the equivalent learning experience and permit exemption from studying certain modules in accordance with our accreditation of prior learning (APL) process.
Modules
This provides a guide of the modules that make up your course. You can find more information about how your course is structured on our Academic Advice section.
What are the tuition fees
Home
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Home, Academic Year 2025 - 2026: £9,535 per year *
International
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Overseas/International, Academic Year 2025 - 2026: £15,150 per year *
Following the Government’s announcement of 4 November 2024, we will be increasing our full-time undergraduate tuition fees for UK students to £9,535 per year from the start of the 2025/26 academic year. Our part-time fees for UK undergraduate students will increase to £7,145 per annum. Please visit , on the Government’s website, for more information about the changes.
Tuition fees for Home undergraduate students (including with foundation year) may increase in subsequent years for both new and continuing students in line with an inflationary amount determined by the Government.  
Tuition fees for both new and continuing international students may be subject to an inflationary increase based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the 12-month period to 31 January each year.  
Tuition fees for postgraduate courses and CPD may be subject to an inflationary increase based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the 12-month period to 31 January each year. This increase will apply to both new and continuing students.  
We understand, and really appreciate, the significant financial commitment our students make when they choose to study at BNU. We take our responsibilities to our students very seriously, and are ambitious for each to reach their full potential and succeed in their chosen career. Our fees help us to continue providing our students with a high-quality education, and to invest in the services and facilities which create an excellent student experience at BNU.
The following factors will be considered by the University when we set the annual fees: measures of inflation such as the retail price indices; projected increases in University costs; and any changes in the level of funding for teaching received from the Government.
What are my career prospects?
After this programme you will be well placed to pursue jobs in the local area of Buckinghamshire, but also nationally and internationally in this area if you so choose. Due to the nature of the programme it has been designed with specific employment and skill demands in mind. Some of the job titles you could be qualified for are below:
Typical job titles include:
- Assistant Manager
- Deputy Manager
- Registered Manager
- Service Manager
- Unit Manager
Course leader
