Bachelor of Science (Hons) Mental Health and Wellbeing with Foundation Year

at Wrexham Glyndwr University - Wrexham Campus United Kingdom

 With its special focus on comics, this degree will provide you with the technical and creative skills to develop both your illustrative style and flair for storytelling. The programme introduces a broad range of creative skills, from the generation of ideas to their technical production through printmaking, bookbinding, 3D materials, life drawing, traditional and digital media, with an emphasis on drawing and the development of a unique personal style. 

Students will

• Work with experienced and industry active staff, learn how to write stories, draw comics and produce a professional portfolio
• Have opportunities to explore visual sequencing, narrative imagery, anthropomorphism and character development
• Gain personal, professional and entrepreneurial skills, learning about the business of working as a freelance artist
• Be encouraged to work on live briefs and competitions

Key Course Features

• You will be part of a vibrant and creative community of commercial artists including children’s book artists, illustrators, animators, game artists and designers.
• You will be taught by a teaching team with a broad range of experience working professionally in the comics and illustration industries.
• We encourage our students to self-publish and learn how to produce high-quality production prototypes to pitch to the publishing industry through the use of our in-house Bindery.
• Our students have won illustration prizes and awards such as the Oxford University Press Illustration competition, the Macmillan Children’s Book competition, the Caldecott Society and D&AD awards and been nominated for prestigious Eisner and Silver Reuben Awards.

This popular degree is ideal for those interested in working with children and young people in informal and formal education settings. You'll learn the statutory requirements of curricula for primary education in both England and Wales, explore learning dispositions, and discover how to support pupils both academically and pastorally.

The course:

• Has a long history of providing a well-respected, successful and alternative pathway into mainstream primary teaching via a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE – Primary Education) or Post-compulsory qualification (PcET – Adult and Further Education 404 ).
• Keeps options open for a range of other career opportunities that involve work with children and young people.
• Is predominantly geared towards working with children between the ages of 3-13 years of age.
• Combines academic study and work experience.
• Draws upon theoretical perspectives from a wide range of disciplines including education, sociology, psychology, philosophy, health and social welfare/justice.
• Considers educational policies, processes and perspectives relating to the statutory requirements of early years’ curricula and Key Stage 2 of the National Curriculum in both England and Wales.
• Covers factors that impact the wellbeing and learning dispositions of children and young people.

*Is part of a subject area rated 3rd in Wales for teaching quality in the Education subject league tables, Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022.

Key Course Features

• Study contemporary topics which are directly related to the education of children.
• Experience extended placements within the children’s workforce.
• Engage in research whilst out on placement, guided by experienced practitioners.
• Use your current relevant employment as your placement or seek exciting new experiences.
• Receive support from an experienced staff team and academic tutorial system.

Take your hands-on computer networking skills to the next level with our industry-focused course. As the demand for specialists in the computer networking industry continues to grow, this course will support you to develop the specialist technical and consultative skills required to progress to higher technical and managerial positions within businesses, or work towards doctoral study.

Concentrating on practical networking rather than abstract concepts or theories in data communications, the programme is centred around real-world network problem-solving, the planning, design and development of network services and infrastructures,plus the  use and application of current and emerging hardware and protocols.

For your dissertation, you will be expected to investigate cutting-edge technologies, implement and test novel networking solutions, or develop or analyse original network applications.

Key Course Features

• Opportunity to study Computer Networking in-depth
• Lecture/tutorial and practical sessions are enhanced with additional, resource-rich online materials allowing you to continue independent learning through a variety of approaches
• Taught by staff leading research into the areas of the internet and computer networks
• Research activities are associated with the University’s research centre
• Learning progresses from design and building small networks to the techniques required for large public networks
• Options to complete external Cisco Certification qualifications

This new idea-driven skill based course is about everything from concept art to 3D Modelling, 3D Sculpting character development and level creation.
You’ll be part of a degree with innovation, creativity and employability at its heart as you bring concept to reality; the perfect preparation for a career in an exciting, fast-paced industry worth billions each year.
You will:

• see you gain experience in the design skills and techniques used to bring projects from concept to screen through digital painting, 3D modelling, 3D sculpting, 3D animation and game engine
• develop a mix of design and technical skills like environment/character design and creation, 3D modelling, texturing, level design, level creation, live briefs, and games production
• gain a sound knowledge of game and concept art, with an emphasis on innovation, design and creativity rather than the programming and technical aspects of the gaming industry
• use the latest industry standard software
• have the opportunity to get hands-on work with industry professionals on real-world projects to help develop your skills and experience

You can also choose to study this course as a foundation year BA (Hons) Game Art (four years including foundation year) or with an Industrial Placement year BA (Hons) Game Art (with Industrial Placement)

Key Course Features

• Strong links with industry and professional bodies such as Skillset, NAHEMI and various associations. Our Creative Futures student conference plays host to a large range of visiting guest speakers from the creative industries.
• There are Industry-focused visits to gain first hand insight into how creative media companies function and the variety of employment opportunities that are available in the development of your career aspirations. There are also other study trips to festivals and Video Game expos.
• Opportunities to enter competitions.
• Our purpose-built Centre for the Creative Industries features specialist facilities, such as our TV studio with green screening, and software such as software such as Maya, Mudbox, Unreal Engine 4, Substance Painter/Designer and Creative Cloud for creating Game Art and playable levels.
• There is strong pastoral care within a friendly creative community with an emphasis on team building and collaborative work. Contact hours with tutors is high with enthusiastic and supportive sta? who are knowledgeable, research-active practitioners.
• *1st in Wales and 10th in the UK for overall satisfaction in the area of Cinematics & Photography. (WGU analysis of unpublished NSS 2019 data).

Leading to a professional qualification in Social Work, Wrexham Glyndwr’s BA(Hons) Social Work course has been developed in close co-operation with social work partner agencies in the statutory and voluntary sectors, and in conjunction with individuals who are experts through experience.

Key Course Features

• is part of a subject area ranked first in Wales for overall student satisfaction, National Student Survey 2020.
• *is in a subject area ranked joint first in Wales for graduate outcomes, Complete University Guide 2021.
• Student Social Work students must be registered with Social Care Wales, which is the regulatory body for all Social Workers in Wales.
• This programme leads to a BA (Hons) degree with Qualified Social Worker status
• Many of our students are returners to education, sometimes after a long break, and we are experienced in offering appropriate support and study skills advice.
• Our local authority partners – Wrexham, Flintshire and Denbighshire – are contracted to find and support student practice learning opportunities
• At least one of your second or third-year practice learning opportunities will be in a statutory setting The programme enjoys the participation of the focus group Outside In. Outside In’s members include those who’ve used social care and health services and who have expertise through experience. They take part in teaching, assessment, programme management and recruitment of students. We run an innovative project in which Outside In members are enrolled alongside students to study one module per year with them
• The teaching team is research-active, specialising, amongst other areas, in government policy evaluation, alcohol and other drugs, the participation of individuals in social work education and research. 
• Students are offered the opportunity to have tutorials, assignment submission and other learning opportunities in Welsh 

Recent reports show how vital the automotive sector is to a prosperous UK economy with its contribution reaching over £20 billion. Last year, the manufacturing sector turned over a record-breaking £82 billion, marking the automotive industry as the UK’s largest manufacturing export sector. This is due to the hands of its 814,000 employees, and reports state that up to 28,000 new jobs will have to be fulfilled by 2020. 

This honours degree has been designed for the automotive industry in response to the shortfall of mechanical engineers. It is for those who have a strong interest in mechanical engineering and a clear desire to develop their knowledge and skills in automotive engineering. 

The course fully explores the engineering, design, analysis and development of modern cars using various race cars as support for teaching. It also puts emphasis on learning transferable skills applicable to many other industries.

You can also choose to study this course as a foundation year BEng Hons Automotive Engineering (with foundation year)

Key Course Features

• We have several Industry links: Toyota and Polybush are just some of the companies we currently work closely with
• You will access a specialist motorsport workshop as well as an industry standard production workshop to gain experience in using machinery.
• You will be given an access to various projects (projects are changing at all times – subjected to changes - currently Glyndwr Racing Alfa 159, MX5 racecar, Westfield amongst many others). Students are also currently running a Formula Student team.
• You will have a personal supervisor to oversee your academic progress and your personal welfare.
• Wrexham Glyndwr University is one of two education providers in the UK that are official Catia Certification centres. This means that students are able to gain Catia Certification in addition to their degree studies. (Students are required to pay a Certification fee of £50).

Digitally enabled technologies and services support most aspects of modern life. Ensuring information is safe and services are kept running is the responsibility of cyber security practitioners and computer security experts.

The subject area is first in Wales for learning opportunities and academic support (WGU analysis of unpublished 2019 NSS data).
This course:

• addresses the advances in cyber security through an in-depth understanding of IT security, hacking, forensics, and the future and emerging technologies associated with this rapidly changing field
• provides opportunities to undertake real-life projects, preparing you for work within the industry
• provides opportunities to build and configure computer and networked systems, as well as the necessary support systems, to enable them to work effectively in a range of employment environments
• explores the issues associated with managing these types of systems and in particular the necessary aspects of network security

Key Course Features

• Hands-on teaching of a range of cyber security skills, techniques and tools, such as: cryptography; authentication; access control; viruses and malware; penetration testing; risk management; and forensic investigation.
• The optional Industrial Placement Year gives students the opportunity to experience the workplace first-hand and gain valuable employment experience for the future.
• Extensive PC and networked computer facilities with Internet access.
• The course team have strong links to the North Wales Cyber Security Cluster, an industry-led forum for cyber security practitioners and employers, and students on the programme have opportunities to attend and be involved with their meetings and events.
• The University is home to ARCLab, which specializes in research in the field of Computing and Computer Science.
• Subject area is 1st in Wales for learning opportunities and academic support (WGU analysis of unpublished 2019 NSS data).

You can also choose to study this course as a foundation year BSc (Hons) Cyber Security (four years including foundation year)

This exciting course is specially designed for those wanting to work positively with children, young people, marginalised groups and communities. It has been ranked first in Wales for overall satisfaction in the National Student Survey 2020.

• Learn youth work methods, values and engagement skills for working to support individuals and groups with their personal, social and political development
• Gain a professional youth work qualification endorsed by Education Training Standards Wales
• Spend over a third of your time in placement activities
• Be able to register with the Education Workforce Council in Wales as a Youth Worker upon successful completion of the course
• Have opportunities for a part-funded placement through the Erasmus programme
• Enjoy the benefits of studying in a department with 43 years’ experience, links with employers across North Wales, North West England, and the Midlands, and partnerships with organisations across the statutory, voluntary and third sector
• Have the option to study a faith-based route in the first year and exit with a Certificate in Higher Education Youth and Community Work (faith-based), or to top up to the full degree and JNC Qualification*.

You can also choose to study this course as a foundation year BA (Hons) Youth and Community Work (JNC) (with foundation year)

Key Career Features

• A degree programme with professional endorsement, and course content aligned with National Occupational and Professional Standards in the sector.
• Opportunities for continuing professional development through additional training opportunities and professional networking on a course with strong links with employers and local training providers.
• Learn and gain experience with 800 hours of supervised fieldwork practice, with a placement in each year of study. This can be in a variety of settings either in the UK or internationally.
• Start the academic year with a learning experience with a partner project to see youth work skills in action.
• 1st in Wales for learning community, (WGU analysis of National Survey of Students 2019)
• Option to study a faith-based route in the first year of study by completing an additional module
• Develop skills in team work, positive communication, working with groups and individuals, reflective practice and leading others.
• Develop knowledge and core skills for youth work practice and informal education that are transferable to work with children, young people and adults in a range of different settings.

Studying Social and Cultural History at Wrexham Glyndwr University will introduce you to themes such as family, fashion, crime, art, politics and propaganda – from the Roman era through to the modern age. 

Alongside regular class-based teaching, there are also visits to country houses, historical archives, and sites of historical importance.  These provide a strong practical element to the degree and encourage engagement with a wide range of sources and experiences. We also offer a work placement module in a historical setting of your choice. 

Our degree is designed to be diverse and enjoyable, with a focus on the investigative and analytical elements of historical study.  This focus opens up a wide range of careers.  Our students have gone on to work as teachers, writers, researchers, financial analysts and members of the legal profession. 

*Our history subject area has been rated first in Wales and in the top 10 in the UK for student satisfaction, Complete University Guide 2021. 

The Foundation Year in Humanities will introduce students to a diverse range of themes and activities from the disciplines of History, English Literature, Creative Writing, Theatre and Media.

Key Course Features

• Wide-ranging degree – from Ancient Rome to Modern Britain - connected by important social and cultural themes
• Work experience opportunities - Placements are available in archives, libraries and heritage centres
• A blend of theory and practice -  Visits to aristocratic homes and other sites compliment class-based learning
• Develop your research, analysis, interpretation, communication and presentation skills
• Analyse primary documents from the past
• Study local, national and international history
• *Our history subject area has been rated first in Wales and in the top 10 in the UK for student satisfaction, Complete University Guide 2021. 

Cyber security plays an increasingly important role in our world of ever-evolving technology. This course will help you deepen your understanding of network security, penetration testing and computer forensics, whilst also adopting a systematic approach to information security management-from the varied perspectives to the technical elements.

You will explore several specialist technical disciplines. These will focus on areas such as developing secure software platforms and protecting against complex attack processes used to breach system security and create deficits in normal functionality.

To enhance your learning, the programme integrates professional skills which relate to audit, management and risk. These will address both cyber security and data protection regulations within institutions and organisations.

Topics you will cover include cryptography, ethical hacking and penetration testing, information security management, information risk management, software security and implementing secure systems.

Key Course Features

• This course offers you the opportunity to study Cyber Security in-depth.
• Lectures, tutorials and practical sessions are enhanced with additional, resource-rich online materials to support your independent learning.
• You will explore information assurance methodologies and testing operational security management, incident management, audit, assurance and review, business continuity management, and more.
• Our staff undertake leading research into several areas of Cyber Security which will give you the latest insight as you develop your own specialism.
• The research activities you undertake will be associated with the University’s thriving and, often collaborative, research centre.