FDA Social Welfare, Advice & Guidance Practice Foundation degree at East Coast College
FDA Social Welfare, Advice & Guidance Practice at East Coast College. Taught over two years full-time at the University of Suffolk in Great Yarmouth, the course weaves together core theoretical knowledge, research and methods, applied practice, specialist options, an independent project and professional…
About this course
Discover the FdA Social Welfare, Advice and Guidance Practice at the University of Suffolk, designed for professionals in welfare, social care and guidance roles From the provider’s course page.
FDA Social Welfare, Advice & Guidance Practice is a Foundation degree (FDA) at East Coast College, based in University of Suffolk (Great Yarmouth). It runs 2 years, studied full-time.
For Social sciences graduates from this provider, 90% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 45% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £30,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Sociology & Social Sciences, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Stronger evidence Published sample: 1,170. Cohort 2021-22. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 90% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2021-23. Continuation 70% (2021-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
- Personal Professional and Academic Development
Module details
This module focuses on fostering self-awareness, reflective practice, and professional identity, which are crucial for effective practice. The module also emphasizes the development of academic skills, such as critical thinking, research, and effective communication.
- Foundations of Mental Health and Wellbeing Across the Lifespan
Module details
This module explores the biological, psychological, and social factors that influence mental health at different life stages, equipping you with the knowledge to support diverse populations effectively.
- Safeguarding Adults and Children in Practice
Module details
It is important that all practitioners recognise their professional roles, and responsibilities in protecting vulnerable people. This module adopts a multi-disciplinary and inter-agency perspective in relationship to the welfare and safeguarding of children and adults.
- Guidance & Counselling Skills – Using the Skilled Helper Approach
Module details
You will explore Humanistic and Person-centred Counselling using Egan's Skilled Helper model, and will have the opportunity to develop skills used in practice and evaluate your own development using self-reflection and peer reviews as well as assessments in practice by the module assessors.
- Empowerment and Social Justice: Advocacy in Practice
Module details
This module aims to provide you with the knowledge and skills necessary to advocate effectively for social justice and empowerment within your practice. Advocacy is one of the foundations of social welfare, as it involves promoting the rights and well-being of individuals and communities, particularly those who are marginalized or vulnerable.
- Society, Individualism and Social Welfare
Module details
This module aims to explore the interaction between society, individualism, and social welfare. It seeks to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of how individual and collective needs are balanced within different welfare systems and the implications of these balances for social justice and equity.
- Public Health Promotion for Mental Health and Wellbeing
Module details
This module aims to explore the meanings of mental health and wellbeing as they impact upon the individual, family and society within the context of UK public health promotion. Understanding the varying definitions of mental health and illness is crucial as these definitions have significant implications for service users.
- Building Sustainable, collaborative and Integrated Services
Module details
Building sustainable, collaborative, and integrated services is crucial for sustainable services. These services are essential for long-term growth, resilience, and efficiency to prioritise the efficient use of resources, reducing waste and minimizing environmental impact, aligning with global efforts to combat climate change.
- Enhancing Leadership Skills through Reflective Supervision
Module details
The module is designed to equip you with essential tools for effective leadership in complex environments. Reflective supervision is a structured process with reflective discussions with a supervisor or mentor, to promote continuous professional development, self-awareness, and improved decision-making.
- Ethical Decision Making: Practice Values and Dilemmas in Professional Practice
Module details
An understanding of the values which underpin social welfare organisations practice and influence the knowledge and skills base of services, is necessary for all practitioners. This knowledge and these skills underpin professional practice, in order to become competent and reflective.
- Advancing Professional Practice: Digital and Technological Developments
Module details
The integration of digital and technological advancements into professional practice is essential for maintaining current practice and enhancing service delivery, this module is designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills necessary to utilise these advancements effectively.
- Application of Research to Professional Practice
Module details
The aim of this module is to extend your knowledge and appreciation of research issues, from an examination and understanding of methodology and means of application, to an understanding of research in the broad context of professional practice. A range of practice related topics will be utilised to explore the content of this module.
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
This foundation degree is designed for professionals already working in welfare, social care and guidance roles. You'll study how societies define and respond to inequality and harm, beginning with core sociology, class, gender, race and social order. Year 1 typically covers social problems and policy alongside practical research methods: interviews, surveys and research ethics. In Year 2, you'll move to social theory and more advanced data analysis, alongside applied specialisations such as criminology, social policy, gender and identity, migration, research methods, or social work routes. The course usually progresses from foundational concepts to specialist options grounded in real-world practice, helping you deepen expertise in your particular area of welfare and guidance work.
Who it's for
You're suited to this course if you work or aspire to work in social welfare, advice or guidance, and want structured qualifications to deepen your practice. You're drawn to understanding how social systems affect people, and you want to develop both the knowledge and the practical confidence to help others navigate them. You're comfortable with a balance of theory and hands-on work, and you're ready to commit to full-time study whilst building on professional experience. Most students arrive with A-level qualifications or equivalent.
Careers & job market
Across Sociology & Social Sciences courses nationally, 85% of graduates are in work or further study within 15 months, with 55% in highly skilled roles or continuing their education. Graduate earnings data shows national starting salaries (at 15 months) range from £23,000 to £30,000, rising to £24,650–£34,800 after five years. Your foundation degree is nationally recognised, giving you a stepping stone towards honours degrees or direct entry into specialist welfare and guidance posts.
University & format
This Foundation degree (FDA) is delivered full-time over 2 years at East Coast College, based at the University of Suffolk in Great Yarmouth. Instruction is in English. As a recognised UK degree-awarding body qualification, your FDA Social Welfare, Advice & Guidance Practice award is nationally recognised. Check the university's funding pages for bursaries and scholarships.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
Provider-published requirement; check the linked course page before applying.
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 85% |
| No / unknown prior qualifications | 5% |
| Other | 5% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course (code L500). One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Provider fee page. The cap depends on the UK nation the provider sits in; the provider's page is authoritative.
Check fees at East Coast College →Check the finance route that applies to you
Support depends on ordinary residence, assessed fee status, course and provider nation. The provider nation is unresolved here, so no national cap or loan amount is being guessed.
Find your official student-finance route →Paying for it
- Tuition fee loan: applied for through the student-finance body for the UK nation you live in.
- Living-cost support: means-tested on household income, from your nation's student-finance body.
- Repayment: only above the income threshold set by your nation's student-finance system.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
Each UK nation runs its own student-finance system; check gov.uk for the rates that apply to you.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Sociology & Social Sciences graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £30,000 | £23,000 – £33,000 | 1170 |
| 3 years after | £18,500 | £13,000 – £23,000 | 55 |
| 5 years after | £23,000 | £16,500 – £27,500 | 55 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Stronger evidence. Published sample: 1,170. Cohort 2021-22.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in sociology & social sciences · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Sociology & Social Sciences nationally
National figures for Sociology & Social Sciences graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Stronger evidence. Published sample: 1,170. Cohort 2021-22. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Sociology & Social Sciences courses at the same study level.
Compared with 751 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
UK occupations graduates enter
Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.
- Teaching and Childcare Support OccupationDiscover Uni category · 35% of published destinations
- Teaching ProfessionalsSOC 2020 231 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £42,660
- Welfare and housing associate professionalsSOC 2020 322 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £27,937
- Caring personal servicesSOC 2020 613 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £23,668
- Teaching and Childcare Associate ProfessionalsSOC 2020 323 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £20,261
Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 45; response rate: 60%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Job market & outlook
How Sociology & Social Sciences graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Sociology & Social Sciences graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Local authorities
- Charities & NGOs
- Research organisations
- Government & universities
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Sociology & Social Sciences graduates.
Sociology AdjunctCommonwealth Of VirginiaSociology ECT - High-Achieving Secondary School in BrightonMarchant RecruitmentHead of Psychology and SociologyTeacherActiveIs this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
Home tuition is regulated and the cap depends on the UK nation the provider sits in; check the provider's course page for the exact figure. Eligible students can apply for a tuition fee loan and living-cost support from the student-finance body for the UK nation they live in. Repayment thresholds differ by nation.
Where graduates go
90% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £30,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 7.9 out of 10: NSS 75.9% · in work or study 90% · continued 70%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
Social sciences across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around University of Suffolk (Great Yarmouth)
1,420 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is Sociology & Social Sciences right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to East Coast College from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is £15,900 / year for this course (from the provider’s fee page). You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check East Coast College’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with East Coast College and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at East Coast College
Sociology & Social Sciences at other universities
Common questions
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
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