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An image to illustrate the Diploma of Higher Education in Social Care (Scotland)
Social care in Scotland is ever more multidisciplinary and community-focused, with an urgent need for a skilled, adaptable workforce to deliver high‑quality services. This diploma deepens your understanding of social care and social work, enabling you to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to support vulnerable adults and children effectively in diverse settings. It emphasises collaboration across professional boundaries and places service users firmly at the centre. By completing this diploma, you become better equipped to respond with confidence and compassion in a rapidly changing care environment, ready to build compassionate, person-centred practice.
A recognised qualification in its own right, this Diploma of Higher Education is also equivalent to the first two-thirds of an honours degree, or the first half of an honours degree in Scotland.
This social care diploma has two stages, each comprising 120 credits.
Stage 1 will develop your awareness of the different components of good social care and social work practice while building essential study skills – including digital and information literacy, and reflective writing. Key concepts around how to communicate effectively and developing your listening skills will start opening up your thinking about how professional practice is informed and underpinned by theory.

ModulesCreditsStart month
You'll study both of the following:
Introducing health and social care (K102)60Oct | Feb
Foundations for social care and social work practice (K123)60Feb
If you're intending to seek entry into the BA (Hons) Social Work (Scotland) (Q41), you'll also need to complete You and your world: introducing the social sciences (D112) in addition to K102 and K123.

At Stage 2, a choice of subject areas enables you to tailor the diploma to your particular interests – including adult health and social care; mental health; end-of-life care; dementia care; the law and social work; and supporting children and young people.

ModulesCreditsStart month
You’ll choose 120 credits from:
Critical ideas in wellbeing and public health (K212)60Oct
Critical perspectives on mental health in society (K243)60Oct
Death, dying and bereavement (K220)60Oct
Social work law (K271)60Oct
Supporting children and young people's wellbeing (KE207)60Oct
KE207 and K271 are compulsory in the BA (Hons) Social Work (Scotland) (Q41), so if you're intending to seek entry into the degree, you should opt for these. To discuss the optimal study order, contact the Social Work Coordinator at The Open University in Scotland at [email protected].

By studying this diploma, you’ll:
You’ll be supported by personal tutors, flexible materials, community forums, and regular feedback.
You’ll be awarded a Diploma of Higher Education in Social Care (Scotland) upon successful completion.
You’ll have the opportunity to attend an award ceremony.
If you plan to work or study outside the UK, we recommend checking whether this qualification meets local requirements. Find out more about the international recognition of Open University qualifications.
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the qualification-specific regulations below and the academic regulations that are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.
We regularly review our curriculum to keep it up to date. This means the structure, availability, and content of the course or modules may change. We’ll update this page as soon as possible if there are any changes. If you have already registered for this qualification, we’ll inform you in good time of any upcoming changes where practicable. For more details, see our Academic Regulations or contact us.
You can achieve this diploma in as little as two years and have a maximum of 12 years to complete it. Our module-by-module approach gives you the flexibility to complete your qualification at a pace that works best for you.
You can complete this diploma in two years by studying at a pace equivalent to full-time. That’s similar to a student at a campus-based university.
You can complete this diploma in four years by studying part-time. That’s roughly half the rate of a student on a full-time course at a campus-based university.
At the OU, flexibility and support go hand in hand. You’ll be in control of when and where you study, with clear deadlines to guide your progress. Whether you’re balancing work, family or other commitments, our approach helps you fit learning into your life. Students consistently praise the support we provide, and from the very start, you’ll be part of a vibrant OU learning community.
As you progress through your qualification, you’ll have access to a dedicated online study space, expert tutor guidance, optional live tutorials, and a wide range of resources to help you succeed. The sections below outline what you can expect.
Your module website will be a central hub for your learning, giving you easy access to:
Discover how the OU’s module websites, course materials, and support tools help you study online with confidence.
Each module has a dedicated tutor who will guide you through your studies. They’ll provide feedback, help you find resources, mark your assignments and support your learning journey.
For extra support, you can attend optional live tutorials with your tutor. These are usually conducted online, and most are recorded so you can review them later.
See how OU tutors and tutorials help you build confidence, connect with others, and get the support you need to succeed in your studies.
Our assessments reinforce what you’ve learned and show your understanding. Assessment types vary by module and may include:
Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to a wide range of support services and be part of a vibrant learning community. Our subject-specific Student Support Teams can help with general queries and any updates to your OU account. You’ll also benefit from:
Discover the support network and learning tools you'll have access to throughout your studies.
There are no formal entry requirements to study this diploma, but you need to be working in or have access to a social care agency – for example, through paid employment or voluntary work.
You’ll need to organise and complete a period of 10 days preparation for practice during the study of the module Foundations for social care and social work practice (K123), which will ideally involve shadowing a qualified social worker.
If you’ve studied at university level before, you may be able to transfer the academic credit you've been awarded towards an OU qualification. This could save you time and money by reducing the modules you need to study.
It’s not just university study that can be considered; you can also transfer study from a wide range of professional or vocational qualifications, such as HNCs and HNDs.
You should apply to transfer credit before registering, at least four weeks before the registration closing date. We will need to know what you studied, where, and when, and you will need to provide evidence of your previous study.
For more details and to download an application form, visit our Credit Transfer website.

4 years
£4,088*
A diploma is worth 240 credits. The fee per year is based on studying one 60-credit module per year for 4 years.
£16,352*
Your course fees cover your tuition, assessment and study materials, but there are still a few additional costs that can come with studying. For this qualification, you'll need:
*The fee information provided here is valid for modules starting before 31 July 2027. Fees typically increase annually. In England, fees are subject to a fee limit, as set out in the University's Fee Rules.
Find out about all our available funding options below.
Pay for each module with a debit or credit card in one quick, simple payment.
More than 1 in 10 OU students are sponsored by their employer.
Combine your payment options to fund your studies the way you want.
If you’re a serving member of the British Armed Forces (or you’ve recently left), you may be eligible to use ELCs to cover up to 100% of your course fees.
You may be eligible for:
For more information about registering for this diploma, please contact the Social Work Co-ordinator at The Open University in Scotland: [email protected].

In addition to specific understanding and skills around health and social care, this certificate will build your confidence by steadily developing and enhancing your study skills – including digital and information literacy and reflective writing – and a range of essential employability skills in areas such as communication, IT, problem-solving, planning and organisation.
Some of the modules that make up this diploma course also form part of the BA (Honours) Social Work (Scotland) (Q41). If you're considering a career in social work, it provides an excellent introduction.
Please note, however, that this diploma course does not give automatic entry to the social work degree programme, which requires you to attend an interview and meet specific entry requirements, including working in a social care setting and meeting minimum academic requirements in maths and English.
Once you register with us (and for up to three years after you finish your studies), you'll have full access to our careers service for a wide range of information and advice. This includes online forums, website, interview simulation, vacancy service, as well as the option to email or speak to a careers adviser. Some areas of the careers service website are available for you to see now, including help with looking for and applying for jobs. You can also read more general information about how OU study enhances your career.
In the meantime, if you want to do some research around this qualification and where it might take you, we've put together a list of relevant job titles as a starting point. Some careers may require further study, training and/or work experience):
Check you meet the Entry requirements, then see How to apply.
Ask a question
Our prospectus will help you explore your course options, get a feel for life as an OU student, and register for study.
Request a prospectus
Check you meet the Entry requirements, then see How to apply.
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