Program Overview

This top-up degree provides an excellent opportunity to extend your learning and experience within the field of complementary therapies to achieve a BSc (Hons) Complementary Healthcare (with Practitioner Status) within the well-established Centre for Complementary Healthcare at Cardiff Met.

Having gained appropriate recognised qualifications in massage, aromatherapy and reflexology and relevant underpinning knowledge at Levels 4 & 5, you will be able to focus on developing the skills and experience required for graduate employment as part of a multi-disciplinary team at two different placements (one per term). You will use all three modalities, often in combination, to treat clients with a wide variety of physical and mental health concerns and to support their families and carers. The opportunity to work alongside or observe other healthcare professionals is a valuable learning activity offered by a number of placements.

Current work placements include the palliative care unit at the local NHS Trust cancer hospital; a number of other palliative care settings; a supported living complex and a short-term residential facility supporting mental health needs and the mental health unit for the Cardiff & Vale University Health Board. Students have an on-site placement supervisor as well as support from a named member of the teaching team.

Alongside attending placement students work as a team to operate all aspects of the university’s Complementary Healthcare Clinic which is fee-paying and open to the general public.

In addition to the work-based learning opportunities, students are able to extend and develop their therapy and differential diagnosis skills via the Advanced Practice and Biopsychosocial Influences in Health modules.

A major component of the top-up year is completion of a research project. This is often an extension of an area of interest already identified at Level 4 or 5 and should be discussed with the programme team at interview.

This top-up opportunity will undoubtedly enhance employment opportunities and enable therapists to extend and broaden their potential client base.