Key information for BSc in Applied Health Care

Code: SE928 | Level: 7 | Duration: 3 years | Delivery: Fulltime | Credits: 180

Location for BSc in Applied Health Care

Location: Waterford | Campus: Cork Road

Application Information for BSc in Applied Health Care

Next Intake: Rolling Intake | Application Status: Open | Fee Information Link: /current-students/fees-and-grants/fees/lll-fees

Study Options for BSc in Applied Health Care

Work placement options: Available (View details at https://www.setu.ie/engage/access-our-talent) | Study abroad options: Available (View details at https://www.setu.ie/global/global-mobility)

International Applicants information for BSc in Applied Health Care

International Application Status: Open | Application Information Link: https://www.setu.ie/global/study-at-setu/applying-to-setu | International Fees Link: https://www.setu.ie/current-students/fees-and-grants/fees/global-fees

What modules are taught in BSc in Applied Health Care?

Year 1: Sem 1: Learning to Learn | Sem 2: Life Skills for Health & Wellbeing, Sem 1: Care of Older Adult 1 | Sem 2: Fundamentals of Care 1, Sem 1: Psychology for Health Care | Sem 2: Medical Surgery Care 1, Sem 1: Anatomy & Physiology 1 | Sem 2: Anatomy & Physiology 2, Sem 1: Introduction to Healthcare Informatics | Sem 2: Placement 1, Sem 1: Principles of Health Promotion | Sem 2: | Year 2: Sem 3: Fundamentals of Care 2 | Sem 4: **Professional Development & Community**, Sem 3: Pharmacology for Health Care 1 | Sem 4: Medical Surgical Care 3, Sem 3: Medical Surgical 2 | Sem 4: Introduction to Mental Health Care, Sem 3: Placement 2 | Sem 4: Activity Co-ordination for Older Adult*, Sem 3: | Sem 4: Nutrition for Health*, Sem 3: | Sem 4: Pharmacology for Health Care*, Sem 3: | Sem 4: Placement 3*, Sem 3: | Sem 4: **Please note that it may not be possible to undertake an elective module because of timetabling or other constraints.** | Year 3: Sem 5: Introduction to Evidence Based Health Care | Sem 6: Management of Care, Sem 5: Introduction to Intellectual Diability Care* | Sem 6: Management of Care Placement, Sem 5: Introduction to Technical roles in Applied Health Care | Sem 6: Connected Health, Sem 5: Applying Psychology & Sociology to Health Care | Sem 6: Placement 5, Sem 5: Medical Surgical Care 4* | Sem 6: *=Elective Modules

SE928 Waterford

Bachelor of Science

Applied Health Care

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Programme Overview

The BSc in Applied Health Care is a ground-breaking three-year programme—the first of its kind in Ireland—designed to help students understand the diverse healthcare needs of individuals across the human lifespan. Delivered in a purpose-built, state-of-the-art learning environment, the degree uses the holistic KSVSE framework (Knowledge, Science, Values and Attitudes, Skills, and Experience) to prepare graduates for direct care delivery, health research, and modern digital healthcare models.

Practical Learning & Clinical Placement

Clinical experience is an essential core element of the degree. Students complete clinical placements in each year of the course across a wide variety of healthcare settings throughout the South East region. These ongoing placements allow students to continually bridge theory and practice, developing real-world clinical confidence, communication skills, and practical competence in real healthcare environments.

Coursework

The curriculum covers the scientific, clinical, and technological foundations of modern healthcare delivery:

Direct Patient & Lifespan Care: Understanding biological science and tailored care requirements for patients from paediatric to geriatric stages.
Clinical Skills & Healthcare Science: Mastering evidence-based health practices, patient safety, biological sciences, and hands-on clinical techniques.
Values, Attitudes & Ethics: Developing professional healthcare ethics, empathetic communication, patient advocacy, and person-centred care values.
Digital & Remote Healthcare: Preparing for modern care delivery models, including internet-based health services and telehealth operations.

Career Opportunities

The degree provides a versatile foundation for students interested in exploring diverse career pathways across the healthcare, pharmaceutical, and research sectors:

Direct Healthcare Practitioner (Hospitals & Community Care Settings)
General Practice & Primary Care Coordinator
Telehealth & Digital Health Services Specialist
Pharmaceutical Industry & Health Research Assistant
Postgraduate Study & Professional Healthcare Progression Pathways

Upon completion of the degree, graduates are fully equipped to deliver direct, high-quality patient care in traditional and digital environments, manage community health initiatives, or pursue further specialized postgraduate training in health sciences and research.

Year 1

Semester 1	Semester 2
Learning to Learn	Life Skills for Health & Wellbeing
Care of Older Adult 1	Fundamentals of Care 1
Psychology for Health Care	Medical Surgery Care 1
Anatomy & Physiology 1	Anatomy & Physiology 2
Introduction to Healthcare Informatics	Placement 1
Principles of Health Promotion

Year 2

Semester 3	Semester 4
Fundamentals of Care 2	Professional Development & Community
Pharmacology for Health Care 1	Medical Surgical Care 3
Medical Surgical 2	Introduction to Mental Health Care
Placement 2	Activity Co-ordination for Older Adult*
	Nutrition for Health*
	Pharmacology for Health Care*
	Placement 3*
	Please note that it may not be possible to undertake an elective module because of timetabling or other constraints.

Year 3

Semester 5	Semester 6
Introduction to Evidence Based Health Care	Management of Care
Introduction to Intellectual Diability Care*	Management of Care Placement
Introduction to Technical roles in Applied Health Care	Connected Health
Applying Psychology & Sociology to Health Care	Placement 5
Medical Surgical Care 4*	*=Elective Modules

Leaving Cert: Minimum entry requirements

5 subjects: O6/H7
English or Irish: O6/H7
Mathematics: O6/H7

Advanced and Equivalent Entry:

Prior to Placement

Prior to going on placement, students will be required to have satisfactory Garda Vetting/Police Clearance, Mandatory Training (CPR, Manual Handling) and Occupational Health. This will be coordinated by SETU Waterford staff. All placements will be discussed on an individual basis with students and where possible will reflect their specific areas of interest in direct health care delivery.

Students who complete this level 7 degree programme can choose either to graduate after three years or progress on to a related level 8 degree.

Information on how to progress is on our advanced entry page.

Completion of a level 8 programme will also enable students to undertake taught Masters programmes or Masters degrees by research at SETU Waterford or other third-level colleges.

BSc in Applied Health Care career opportunities

Graduates may gain employment in the following areas:

Applied health care provision in variety of settings including hospitals, clinics, community care settings, nursing homes.
Managing and coordinating General Practices
Sales representatives in the pharmaceutical industry
Delivery of health care in the emerging tele-health industry
Health research
Postgraduate study

International Links

Graduates of the BSc in Applied Health Care have the opportunity to progress to Napier University, Edinburgh, Scotland to undertake MSc programs in Nursing, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Social Work.

Graduates may also progress to Columbus Technical College and pursue further education in the field of nursing and continue further studies to become a US registered nurse. Jessie Benson a year 3 BSc in Applied Healthcare student recently returned from a two week summer program in America, visiting in Columbus Technical College (CTC), Georgia. Jessie got to experience American college life during her stay, undertaking classes with American nursing students and visiting a range of health care facilities where students do placements.

Further opportunities

Successfully completing all aspects of this Level 7 BSc in Applied Healthcare allows you the option to apply for an add-on year which is a Level 8 BSc (Hons) in Applied Healthcare (SE900 AHC). This will allow you to access post-graduate MSc programs in England within health care.

CourseCast Podcast

Listen to our CourseCast Applied Healthcare episode to hear real insights from students and lecturers about this course, what you’ll learn, and where it can lead.

CourseCast 15 Jun 2026

Applied Healthcare

In this episode, you can hear about the BSC and the BSC (Hons) in Applied Healthcare. This is the first programme of its kind in Ireland and is designed to help students understand the varied needs of patients and enable the delivery of direct health care in hospitals, community care, general practice, pharmaceutical industry and health research. Guests on this episode of CourseCast were Ruth Maher, Programme Lead; Dr Louise Bennett, course lecturer, and by recent graduate Catherine Goulding.

Listen on podcasts.setu.ie