Online Foundation Diploma in Health and Social Care, Level 4.

A UK foundation diploma in health and social care you study completely online, around your shifts. No exams, no deadlines. €220 a month for twelve months, and Malta gives up to 70% back when you finish.

Check if I qualify

5.0 on GoogleMost finish in about 10 monthsRecognised in Malta and the EU

Online Business SchoolDelivered byOnline Business School, UK
Your qualificationFoundation Diploma in Health and Social CareMQF Level 4 · UK awarded

Awarded by OTHM · Regulated by Ofqual · Recognised by MQRIC

Our students love studying this diploma online.

5.0out of 5 on Google
Saliha El Moutarif
1 review · 1 photo

“The online course is flexible, practical, and designed for busy mom’s or someone who work full-time … I have gained valuable skills and confidence while managing family life and working a full time job.”

Nicole Camilleri
2 reviews

“Their tutors were always there to support me whenever necessary, even on evenings and weekends.”

Jean Farrugia
13 reviews

“Incredible service from Elephant & Cross, they have been assisting me wherever needed and giving me instant support when requested. … I highly recommend them if you want flexibility in your studies!”

€220 a month. Then most of it back.

€220 a month, interest free, for twelve months. Finish, and Malta’s Get Qualified Scheme refunds up to 70% of it.

You pay€220a month12 interest-free payments · €2,640 in total
  • The diploma, tutoring, materials and certification
  • No sign-up fee, no interest, nothing hidden
  • Stop future payments whenever you need to
You get backup to70%Up to 70% back from the Malta Enterprise Get Qualified Scheme following graduation
  • Malta’s Get Qualified Scheme, Malta Enterprise
  • Claimed once you hold your certificate
  • We support you with the application

A minute on how the refund works.

What the Get Qualified Scheme is, who qualifies, and what you send when you finish.

Check if I qualify Get Qualified Scheme subject to Malta Enterprise Terms and Conditions

Study anytime. Completely online.

Built so you can keep your job while you do it.

How studying works
Personal and Professional Development in Health and Social CareModule 02 · Lesson 3 of 6Tue 22:40
  • Lecture, part 1Recorded · 21 minWatched
  • Lecture, part 2Recorded · 21 min23:10 left
  • Slides and notesPDF · 38 pagesDownload
  • Assignment brief2,000 words · no deadlineOpen

Everything is here from day one. Stop at 22:40 on a Tuesday, pick it up at 6am on Saturday.

Assignment 4Health, Safety and Wellbeing in Health and Social Care Settings · 2,000 wordsPass

Marked, with feedback

Strong analysis. Your recommendations follow from the evidence, which is the part most people miss. Two references need correcting, see comments.

Any questions on the feedback, book a session and we will go through it.

Your tutorOnline

I’m stuck on the safeguarding scenario and it’s late. 21:47

No problem. Tomorrow evening? 21:52

Tue18:00Booked1-to-1 with your tutor30 minutes · video call
Your portalFoundation Diploma in Health and Social CareIn progress
  1. 01 Responsibilities of a Health and Social Care WorkerPassed
  2. 02 Personal and Professional Development in Health and Social CarePassed
  3. 03 Effective Communication and Ethical Practice in Health and Social CareStarted
  4. 04 Health, Safety and Wellbeing in Health and Social Care SettingsWaiting for you
  5. Modules 05 to 06Waiting for you

No dates. Nothing is late. Pick it up when you can.

Luca Cachia, co-founder of Elephant & Cross

“When I look at the data, most of our students are studying at 6pm and on Sunday mornings. I don’t see that as a problem to fix, it’s the whole point. This course was built for working professionals, parents, busy people.”

Luca CachiaCo-founder, Elephant & Cross

Six modules. Six assignments. No exams.

What a care worker is responsible for, and how to do it well: communication, ethics, safety, safeguarding, person-centred care, handling information. Each module ends in one written assignment, marked by a tutor with feedback.

30 credits · EQF Level 4 · OTHM

Level 4Modules 1 to 66 modules

  1. 01Responsibilities of a Health and Social Care Worker

    Duties across care settings; working relationships and partnerships in practice.

  2. 02Personal and Professional Development in Health and Social Care

    Reflective practice, career development and self-evaluation.

  3. 03Effective Communication and Ethical Practice in Health and Social Care

    Communication that respects individual needs and rights; ethical, inclusive practice.

  4. 04Health, Safety and Wellbeing in Health and Social Care Settings

    Health and safety in care environments; recognising and responding to safeguarding concerns.

  5. 05Person-centred Approaches in Health and Social Care Settings

    Care built on strengths and preferences; supporting choice and dignity.

  6. 06Effective Handling of Information in Health and Social Care Settings

    Confidentiality; recording, storing and sharing information correctly.

Then, if you want it: the Level 5.

Online Business SchoolDelivered by Online Business School

Your 30 credits are the entry to the Diploma in Health and Social Care, Level 5: 120 credits, online, no exams, same portal and tutors. From there, the final year of the BSc (Hons) Health and Care Management.

About the Level 5 diploma
  1. Later, if you want itBSc (Hons) Health and Care ManagementFinal year only. One year, online, at Arden University.
  2. Next, if you want itDiploma in Health and Social Care, Level 5120 credits, online, no exams. Gets you into the final year of a degree.
  3. You are hereFoundation Diploma in Health and Social CareLevel 4, this course. The equivalent of A-levels. Gets you into the Level 5 above.
Andrew Critien, co-founder of Elephant & Cross

“Most people who start with the foundation didn’t finish school the way they wanted to. A year later they’ve got a Level 4 diploma and they’re ready to progress to Level 5. It’s so rewarding.”

Andrew CritienCo-founder, Elephant & Cross
Where you live

The jobs this diploma opens.

Care roles ask for a Level 3 or a Level 4 qualification. This diploma is the Level 4.

  • Care AssistantCare · Full time · Malta
    RequiresLevel 4 or equivalent You’ll have this
  • Health Care AssistantCare · Full time · Malta
    RequiresLevel 4 or equivalent You’ll have this
  • Support WorkerCare · Full time · Malta
    RequiresLevel 4 or equivalent You’ll have this
  • Home CarerCare · Full time · Malta
    RequiresLevel 4 or equivalent You’ll have this
  • Care Home AssistantCare · Full time · Malta
    RequiresLevel 4 or equivalent You’ll have this
  • Activities AssistantCare · Full time · Malta
    RequiresLevel 4 or equivalent You’ll have this

Already in the field? The usual next step is the Level 5 diploma.

Not this one yet: Social Care Worker (Ireland) is a protected title since December 2025, needing NFQ Level 7 and CORU registration.

Check if I qualify

“The online platform was accessible 24/7, allowing me to effectively balance my studies with my work commitments. … I feel more confident and prepared to progress in my career.”

Amy Bonnici · 1 review

In Malta, people with a tertiary qualification earn 43% more on average and are 2.8 times as likely to hold a managerial role. Two in three of Malta’s managers hold one.

In Ireland, people with a tertiary qualification earn 63% more on average and are 1.5 times as likely to hold a managerial role.

Tertiary starts at Level 5. This diploma is the step to it.

Eurostat: Structure of Earnings Survey 2022 (pay) and Labour Force Survey 2024 (management roles). Tertiary means ISCED 5 to 8; this qualification sits at ISCED 5. These are population averages rather than a promise about any individual.

Yes, it is a real qualification.

Before you pay anything, you get a recognition statement from MQRIC, Malta’s recognition centre. It says what the diploma is worth here.

The diploma is awarded by OTHM, a UK awarding organisation, and regulated by Ofqual, the UK government’s qualifications regulator. Level 4 on Malta’s framework and the EU framework, the equivalent of A-levels. Level 5 in Ireland. An employer anywhere in the EU reads it the same way.

Check if I qualify

Every course at this level: Diplomas in Malta · Diplomas in Ireland

Malta Qualifications Recognition Information CentreRecognition statement
Recognised
Qualification
Foundation Diploma in Health and Social Care
Awarding body
OTHM, United Kingdom
Regulated by
Ofqual
Level
MQF Level 4 · EQF Level 4
Credits
30 credits

Issued to you before you start. Illustration; the wording on the real statement is MQRIC’s.

Still not sure?

The four questions we get asked most, in two minutes each.

Pick a question

“I haven’t studied in fifteen years. Do I even qualify?”

Yes, in most cases. The formal entry is a Level 3 qualification or equivalent, such as O-levels or an MCAST Level 3. If you do not have one, years of work in care count instead. The course starts with academic skills, so you are not expected to remember them from school.

“I work full time. Where would the hours come from?”

Wherever you have them. Nothing is timetabled and nothing is due, so you can study on nights, on days off, or whenever the shift pattern allows. Most people finish in about ten months around a full-time job, and you can pause for up to 90 days.

“I was never any good at exams.”

There are none. Six written assignments about care practice, for example a reflective account of a shift. Each comes back with feedback, and you resubmit until you pass.

“I can’t afford it right now.”

€220 a month, and most of it comes back. Twelve interest-free payments, no deposit. Finish, and Malta’s Get Qualified Scheme refunds up to 70% as a tax credit. We support you with the application.

See the numbers
“Elephant & Cross is the best and easiest way to obtain Level 4 and Level 5 without having to quit your job. … You can study at your own pace with no assignments deadlines. … I enjoyed studying here and I thank the administrator for the establishment of ‘Elephant and Cross’.”
Abraham Roland 1 review

Do you qualify?

The formal entry is a Level 3 qualification or equivalent. You must be 16 or over, with good written English and a computer with internet. Choose what describes you.

What you hold
You meet the entry

You meet the formal entry requirement.

Send your details and we confirm it, tell you the next start date and what to send.

Check if I qualify
Ask us

Years working in care are considered case by case.

Online Business School can grant an exemption for strong professional experience. We tell you before you pay anything.

Check if I qualify

Who you are dealing with.

Online Business School delivers the course. Elephant & Cross enrols you and supports you from Malta.

Tuition centre

Online Business School

A UK online school delivering OTHM diplomas, Level 3 to Level 7, to students in more than 100 countries. Every module is taught through its online portal: recorded lectures, notes, and a tutor for the assignments. It offers Ofqual regulated qualifications.

Your support in Malta

Elephant & Cross

Online UK qualifications for working adults in Malta, based in Sliema since 2021. Founded by Andrew Critien and Luca Cachia. About 95% of our students work full time. We tell you if you qualify before you pay, handle the enrolment and the paperwork, and support you with the Get Qualified application when you finish.

5.0 on Google148 Tower Road, Sliema

“The team is professional, responsive, and genuinely committed to supporting their students every step of the way. … I would especially like to commend Andrew Critien for his unwavering support and dedication, making the entire process smoother and less stressful.”
Vladimir Farrugia 2 reviews · 2 photos

Still wondering?

Anything else, ask us. We reply within one working day.

What do I need to get in?

You must be 16 or over, with a Level 3 qualification such as O-levels or an MCAST Level 3 diploma, or equivalent. If you do not have one but have solid experience working in care, an exemption is usually granted. Good written English and a computer with internet.

Is the diploma recognised in Malta?

Yes. It is an OTHM diploma, regulated by Ofqual in the UK. MQRIC recognises it at MQF Level 4, the equivalent of A-levels. An employer in Malta or anywhere in the EU reads it at that level.

Are there exams?

No. You are assessed through six written assignments, one per module, marked by a tutor with feedback. You can resubmit until you pass.

How long does it take?

Most students finish in about ten months around a full-time job. There are no deadlines, and you can pause for up to 90 days.

How does the 70% refund work?

Malta’s Get Qualified Scheme refunds up to 70% of your fees as a tax credit once you finish. All Malta residents are eligible. We support you with the application.

What happens if I stop paying?

You can stop future instalments whenever you need to, and nothing more is charged. Payments already made are not refunded.

What comes after this?

Your 30 credits are the entry to the Level 5 Diploma in Health and Social Care: 120 credits, online, no exams, €220 a month. The Level 5 then takes you into the final year of a bachelor’s degree.

When can I start?

Intakes run throughout the year. Send your details and we tell you the next start date.

Online Foundation Diploma in Health and Social Care5.0 on Google€220 a month · up to 70% back

Check if I qualify

Check if you qualify.

Fifteen minutes. A straight yes or no. Nothing to pay before the call.

5.0 on Google15-minute callNo obligation

“Highly recommend, very helpful and appreciate the opportunity to study at my own pace. … Thank Andrew for his support and patience.”
Ishmael Micallef2 reviews · 5.0 on Google

No obligation. Nothing to pay before the call.