City College Plymouth

FdSc Community and Public Services

Institution code C83
Duration

3 years

Course type

Part-time

Study location City College Plymouth

We are a College with a national reputation for promoting enterprise, employability and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Study in a friendly, supportive higher education community with dedicated and enthusiastic lecturers delivering courses designed with employers, ensuring that you graduate with industry-relevant skills and knowledge.

Course details

  • Year 1

  • Core modules

    CITY1115
    21st Century Democracy

    This module will examine theories and types of democracy and how they're applied to governance. It will question what we mean by democracy, exploring developments and opportunities related to democracy in 21st century. It will also consider political ideologies, the political parties and the influence of non- state actors on 21st Century democracy. Students will examine power and influence, including supranational.

    CITY1116
    Crime and Justice Services

    This module examines the structure and roles of organisations within the Criminal Justice System of England and Wales taking into account current trends and prospective policies in law and order. It also examines issues of policing and the theories which underpin criminal justice delivery.

    CITY1117
    Equality and Diversity

    This module is concerned with recognising and promoting discussion on the central issues concerning Equality and Diversity. It examines the way issues of equality and diversity have been understood and incorporated into British society and how these have been translated into working practice within the UK Public Services.

    CITY1118
    Community and Public Services

    This module will explore and critically examine community and public service organisations to give students a better understanding of what constitutes public and community services and the roles they play in wider society. It will consider how organisations use collaboration to address challenges.

  • Year 2

  • Core modules

    CITY1119
    Applied Social Psychology

    This module will provide an opportunity to explore the application of social psychological theories in a variety of community and public service settings. It will support students in developing knowledge and understanding of how these theories can be used to understand behaviour.

    CITY1120
    Developing Community and Public Service Competencies 1

    This module offers a practice-based student learning experience designed to provide an understanding of community and public service competencies and to develop these skills and abilities within a practice- based learning environment. Students will develop skills necessary for a successful career in community and public services such as, ICT, data and information analysis, research, communication and teamwork.

    CITY2128
    Enterprise and the Economy

    This module aims to develop an understanding of the concepts of enterprise, risk taking and innovations within the context of a wide variety of national and international organisational and market settings. It will also give students a build on students conceptual understanding of the objectives of macroeconomic policy the instruments for achieving them and associated constraints within this process.

    CITY2132
    Policy and Social Justice

    This module will explore the role of public policy and social justice in today's society. It will critically examine theories of social justice, the state and non-state actors engaged in various social justice movements and the practical application of policy to address social justice issues. Students will evaluate the theories of social justice such as procedural and distributive justice and how these are applied.

  • Final year

  • Core modules

    CITY2129
    Theory of Crime and Criminal behaviour

    Studying the meaning, extent & the wide ranging effects of crime for individuals & society. It studies theoretic & practical aspects of the causes & effects of crime & criminal behaviour from the perspective of the individual, society & institutions. Students will study how theories of crime are applied when assessing criminal behaviour & the Criminal Justice System, incl. probation.

    CITY2130
    Developing Competencies in the Community and Public Services (2)

    Focusing on research, this module offers a practice-based learning experience, building on the knowledge gained at L4 to further develop public service competencies to prepare students for employment. Students will have the opportunity to develop skills such as project management, bid/tender writing, research, needs assessment and personal skills such as resilience, self-management, decision-making and leadership.

    CITY2131
    Managing in Public and Community Services

    This module is designed to provide students with the opportunity to critically examine theories of management and their application to the Community and Public Services Sector. Students will examine the impact of transformation and change in organisations within community and public services. Also the factors which impact and influence organisational decision making and management including social policy and finance.

    CITY2133
    Rehabilitation and Resettlement

    This module considers the rehabilitation of offenders, efforts to curb re-offending and the resettlement of inmates after release from institutions. Students will examine these complex issues in context of social justice and policy. Students will gain an understanding of what programmes of rehabilitation are used, issues of resettlement from the community and offender perspectives and the impact of length of sentences.

The modules shown for this course are those currently being studied by our students, or are proposed new modules. Please note that programme structures and individual modules are subject to amendment from time to time as part of the University’s curriculum enrichment programme and in line with changes in the University’s policies and requirements.

Fees, costs and funding

As this course is delivered by one of our partner colleges, please contact the college directly for information on fees and funding.

* UK Government announcement on tuition fees

On Monday 4 November 2024, the UK Government announced a proposal to increase tuition fees for home undergraduate students from £9,250 to £9,535 per annum from September 2025 onwards. The University of Plymouth intends to apply this new fee from September 2025. However, implementation of this increase will be subject to parliamentary procedure. This change applies to new students starting their studies in September 2025. For current and returning students, the University is reviewing fees and will update you as soon as possible.

How to apply

For further information and to apply for this course, please contact the college's admissions team directly using the contact details below. 

Progression routes

Completing this course enables you to progress onto these related courses and programmes with the University of Plymouth at level 5 or level 6, as specifically defined by this programme’s progression agreement.

For further information, including the progression from foundation degree form, please visit https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/business-partners/partnerships/academic-partnerships/study-guide/progression-to-honours-degree

Our partnership with City College Plymouth

The University of Plymouth has developed partnerships with institutions around the world with the sole purpose of making higher education more accessible to those people who need something just a little different.

Our Academic Partnerships enable students to enrol for a degree at a partnership institution closer to home, or engage in distance learning – even when they’re in the middle of the ocean. They are there for those people looking to return to education, or enhance their professional development. Full- or part-time; foundation degree to masters-level – we cater for a huge variety of needs and aspirations.

Many of our partners offer specialist degrees, unique facilities, and smaller class sizes at a competitive price. And as a student of two institutions, you get the best of both worlds; a supportive learning environment as part of a close-knit community, and a university-level qualification awarded by the University of Plymouth. You’ll enjoy not only the facilities and services your partnership institution provides, but also all of the additional support and resources you need from us, and you’ll automatically become a member of our Students’ Union, too.

We are continuing to grow the number of partner institutions and expand our academic community to new locations around the UK and overseas. Why not visit the Academic Partnerships page on our website for a full list of partners and for more details on studying with us?

One of our partners delivers this particular course – so please visit their website for full course details, entry requirements, tuition fees and information on what student life is like there. 

Please contact City College Plymouth to apply for this course:

City College Plymouth
Devonport
Plymouth
PL1 5QG

Tel: +441752305300
Email: info@cityplym.ac.uk

Open days

Partner college open days

This course is run at one of our partner colleges. Open days are held at the college and more details of these can be found on the college website. You'll find contact details below, on this page.

University of Plymouth open days

You are also very welcome to attend a University of Plymouth open day, to get a flavour of the courses you can progress to from a partner college. There will however be limited information on this specific course and college.

Studying with City College Plymouth

Just one-and-a-half miles from the University of Plymouth, we’re one of the largest colleges in the South West, with two main sites linked by shuttle buses, with a dynamic Students’ Union and Student Liaison Team.
Plymouth students working on a group project