FDA Public Services Foundation degree at Hartlepool College of Further Education
FDA Public Services at HCFE is nationally recognised, awarded by a recognised UK degree-awarding body. You'll develop knowledge across core theory, research and methods, applied practice, specialist options, an independent project, and professional skills.
About this course
FDA Public Services is a Foundation degree (FDA) at HCFE, based in Hartlepool College. It runs 2 years, studied full-time.
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for General Studies, 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)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 70% (2022-23; 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.
Year 1 6 modules
- Contemporary Society and the Public ServicesCore
Module details
You develop an appreciation of the issues involved society and their effects on public services. You explore culture, family, groups and how they contribute to the structure of society, the development of individuals and groups and the structural influences on society. A wide range of contemporary issues in society and how they can impact on availability and provision of public services are also considered.
- Human and Criminal BehaviourCore
Module details
Examine key psychological approaches and theories, relating them to criminal behaviour and causes of crime. Explore behaviour including how people relate to each other and organisations, and how they learn and communicate.
- Leadership in the Public ServicesCore
Module details
By applying current theories, you gain the skills and understanding needed to be a manager or leader in an organisational context. Examine the relationship between management and leadership, and different perspectives in relation to their behaviour in public services. Explore the personal and professional skills needed for effective management and leadership, and the skills and attributes of successful leaders. Investigate situations where different leadership styles are appropriate within publi
- Self-analysis and ResearchCore
Module details
You develop the skills required for information gathering and research in the field of public services within an ethical context. Using a range of research methods, the practical focus means you develop the skills needed to undertake small scale projects. You use both qualitative and quantitative research methods, including statistical analysis. Information technology is used to research and analyse data so appropriate software is essential to complete this module. You review and analyse seconda
- Technology and the Public ServicesCore
Module details
Effective use of technology is at the heart of the operation of public services in the 21st century. UK governments have invested heavily in the design and implementation of technology projects for specific public service organisations. On this module you will identify the range of technology used by public service organisations, how that technology supports those organisations, their suppliers and customers, enhances the delivery of public services in the UK and the potential for future develop
- The UK Justice SystemCore
Module details
You are introduced to UK legal systems and their impact on the public services. Examine the differences between criminal and civil law and their effect on non-military services, and the role of the court martial in UK military services. Experience trial processes through a mock trial assessment and explore the public services' contribution to a trial.
Year 2 6 modules
- Criminal Law and the Public ServicesCore
Module details
Gain an understanding of the significance of actus reus and men's rea in criminal liability, applying the legal rules for criminal offences including homicide, theft, robbery and criminal damage. You also explore criminal law defences, appreciating how criminal responsibility can be limited or avoided.
- Forensics in the Public ServicesCore
Module details
Study the techniques for locating, recording, recovering and evaluating crime scene evidence and intelligence. Explore investigative practice and forensic strategies to ensure the integrity of evidence. You develop an understanding of the standards for forensics investigators in public services using real-world examples.
- Global Issues in the Public ServicesCore
Module details
Explore major current economic and environmental issues and their impact on the global economy. Investigate current conflicts from around the globe and the causes, impact and involvement of national and international organisations. Examine key international organisations and how they work with differing political systems, developing your understanding of how regime change can occur and how they manage these changes. Explore the impact of communications media on the portrayal of national and glob
- Research Project in the Public ServicesCore
Module details
Explore the different elements of formal research and the theory underpinning it, including the proposal, research methodologies, action planning, undertaking the research itself and presenting the findings. You develop your area of interest in readiness for future career aspirations.
- Theories relating to Crime and ViolenceCore
Module details
You gain an understanding of criminological theory relating to violent crime, with a particular emphasis on youth, drugs, hate, terrorist, intimate partner violence and sexual assault, as well as that serial murder to develop an insight of what potentially makes people behave in a particular criminal and violent manner. You also examine the impact of such crimes on victims, society and the public services.
- Wellbeing in the Public ServicesCore
Module details
Explore the factors behind mental health and understand its impact on society and the public services. The impact of mental health on offending, self-harm and suicide is explored, and the mental health of victims of crime is also be evaluated.
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 emphasises applied learning in public services, combining core interdisciplinary study with practical projects and professional development. You'll usually begin with foundational concepts and academic skills, alongside data and digital literacy, before moving to intermediate core study that connects the programme's themes. Year 2 typically includes team-based applied projects, optional modules for breadth, and elements such as independent research, placement experience, and professional skills modules. The course progresses from general foundations towards specialisation in areas you choose to pursue, grounding learning in real-world public services contexts throughout.
Who it's for
This course suits students with A-level qualifications or equivalent. Recent entrants typically held a UCAS tariff between 48 and 63 points. You should be interested in public services and prepared for a structured, practice-focused programme combining academic study with professional application.
University & format
This FDA in Public Services is delivered full-time over 2 years at Hartlepool College of Further Education, a higher education college located in Hartlepool. Teaching is in English. The qualification is a nationally recognised Foundation Degree (FDA) awarded by a recognised UK degree-awarding body.
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.
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.
UCAS tariff of entrants
Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 100% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Accepted students came in with a broad spread of qualifications and UCAS points. If you're worried about grades, this course has historically taken a wide range, and contextual offers may apply.
Will you get in? Plot your grades
Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.
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. 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
The cap depends on the UK nation the provider sits in; the provider's page is authoritative.
Check fees at HCFE →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 General Studies graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in general studies · 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 General Studies nationally
National figures for General Studies 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.
continued or completed
continued into the next year or completed their qualification
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Published threshold met. Sample size is not included in this snapshot. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Job market & outlook
How General Studies 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 General Studies 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
- Employers across sectors
- Public sector
- Corporates & charities
- Startups
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit General Studies graduates.
General PractitionerMatchMedicsGeneral ManagerParkside RecruitmentGeneral ManagerThe Management Recruitment Group (MRG)General ManagerBite TalentGeneral ForemanCONTRACT SCOTLAND LIMITEDGeneral PractitionerFlexzo AiIs 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.
Your entry chances
Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 8.1 out of 10: NSS 91.9% · continued 70%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
Combined and general studies across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around Hartlepool College
2,052 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 General Studies right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to HCFE from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by HCFE; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. 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 HCFE’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 HCFE and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at HCFE
Common questions
How competitive is entry?
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates earn?
What will it cost me?
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