Level 3 Access to HE Diploma (Health Science Professions) Online

Course Code

Access to HE Diploma (Health Science Professions)

Course Type

Course Duration

1 academic year

Location

Online

Start Date

15 September, 2025
Teacher demonstrating to Health & Social Care student

Are you an adult (19+)?

    • You must be 19 years old or over to meet the college’s entry requirements for the Online Access to HE courses.

Do you want a career in healthcare?

      •  This course is tailored for adults pursuing careers in:
        • Nursing (all fields)
        • Midwifery
        • Physiotherapy
        • Paramedic Science
        • Occupational Therapy
        • Dental Hygiene and Therapy
        • Other health-related fields

Do you need a Level 3 Qualification to get into university?

If you don’t already have A-levels or an equivalent Level 3 qualification, the Access to HE Diploma provides a recognised route into university-level study.

 

· You will need GCSE English at Grade A-C (4-9) or equivalent (Level 2 Functional Skills) and GCSE

Maths at Grade A-C (4-9) or equivalent (Level 2 Functional Skills).

· Some Universities will only accept GCSEs to meet entry requirements. They will also require you to

have additional GCSEs at Grade A-C (4-9) for some courses, including a science for some pathways.

· As the course is fully online you must have strong ICT skills to enable you to cope with the

demands of the course.

· You must have your own laptop / computer

This course is delivered online through the platform Moodle. Moodle allows learners to achieve recognised Access to Higher Education Diplomas from home, on the move or in the workplace. Moodle is more than just a delivery tool, course materials, assessments and interactive content are mapped to your specific regulated diploma through a cloud-based Virtual Learning Environment. You will have the opportunity to come into college for ‘drop-in’ support sessions with your specialist tutor who can provide guidance and support with your assignments and access remote support during the working week.

Your study materials, resources, textbooks and assignments are provided and supported using the Moodle platform, with ongoing support from the experienced and subject specialist Access to HE curriculum team.

Modules:

Unit 1: Researching and Understanding Opportunities in Higher Education

Upon successful completion of this unit, you will:

  • Understand the range of opportunities available in Higher Education.
  • Understand the advantages and disadvantages of choosing a particular Higher Education opportunity.
  • Be able to action plan for the development of career related abilities and skills.
  • Understand the importance of broader life experiences and transferable skills in relation to progression to Higher Education.

Unit 2: Academic Writing Skills

Upon successful completion of this unit, you will:

  • Be able to structure a written response
  • Be able to develop a structured response to a plan
  • Be able to present the response appropriately for audience and purpose
  • Understand how to apply academic writing principles to own work

Unit 3: Numeracy in a Health Context

Upon successful completion of this unit you will:

  • Understand and use the four rules of number including in relation to units of measure.
  • Understand and use decimals, fractions and percentages, including in relation to units of
  • Know how to use a calculator to solve problems and use appropriate tools to check their answers.

Unit 4: Reflective Practice

Upon successful completion of this unit you will:

  • Understand the importance of self-awareness in personal and professional contexts
  • Understand the different models of reflection
  • Be able to apply reflective writing to enhance personal and professional development

Unit 5: Professional Behaviours: Nursing and Health Professions

Upon successful completion of this unit you will:

  • Understand the characteristics required to be a health professional making reference to the relevant professional and regulatory body’s and the Professional Standards Authority standards for registration in relation to, patient-centred care and concepts of professionalism as they apply to conduct, performance and ethics of those on the relevant professional and regulatory body’s register
  • Understand effective communication and teamworking skills.
  • Know how to manage risk and deal effectively with problems.
  • Reflect on own personal and professional practice and develop a personal and professional development plan.

Unit 6: The Structure and Function of Cells

Upon successful completion of this unit you will:

  • Understand cellular structure and organisation
  • Be able to analyse cellular activity.
  • Be able to analyse the cell cycle.

Unit 7: Systems Physiology

Upon successful completion of this unit you will::

  • Understand the structure, function and role played by the cardiovascular system.
  • Understand the structure, function and role played by the respiratory system
  • Understand the structure, function and role played by the digestive system.
  • Be able to analyse the basic principles of physiology.

Unit 8: Cardiovascular Emergencies

Upon successful completion of this unit you will:

  • Understand the cardiovascular system.
  • Understand cardiovascular disease
  • Be able to evaluate the impact of cardiovascular trauma.
  • Understand how a patient experiencing cardiac irregularities is assessed by paramedics
  • Understand how a patient experiencing cardiac irregularities is treated by paramedics.

Unit 9: Respiratory Emergencies

Upon successful completion of this unit you will:

  • Understand the respiratory system.
  • Be able to evaluate respiratory illnesses
  • Understand the impact of trauma and obstruction to the respiratory system
  • Understand how a patient experiencing respiratory difficulties is initially assessed.
  • Understand how a patient experiencing respiratory difficulties is treated by paramedics

Unit 10: Human Musculoskeletal System

Upon successful completion of this unit you will:

  • Understand the human skeleton and how it relates to locomotion
  • Be able to analyse muscle contraction.
  • Understand the development of bone

Unit 11: Infection and Immunity

Upon successful completion of this unit you will:

  • Understand how the human body responds to infection
  • Understand the cause and transmission of different pathogens
  • Be able to analyse how infections can be prevented by vaccination.
  • Understand the mechanism of action of antibiotics.

Unit 12: Endocrine System

Upon successful completion of this unit you will:

  • Understand terms hormone and endocrine gland
  • Be able to analyse homeostasis and feedback mechanisms.
  • Understand the action of hormones

Unit 13: Biopsychology: Behaviour and the Brain

Upon successful completion of this unit, you will:

  • Understand the concept of localisation of function
  • Be able to evaluate methods of investigating the relationship between the brain and behaviour
  • Understand the interaction between the brain and behaviour

 Unit 14: Psychological Disorders and Therapeutic Strategies

Upon successful completion of this unit, you will:

  • Understand theoretical explanations for a psychological disorder
  • Know the theoretical basis for different therapeutic strategies used in the treatment of psychological disorders.
  • Be able to evaluate the effectiveness of different treatments for psychological disorders

 Unit 15: Early Attachment and Development

Upon successful completion of this unit, you will:

  • Understand the importance of early relationships in child development
  • Understand explanations of the development of individual differences
  • Understand the development of a healthy embryo and foetus.

Cost:

Your UCAS application for university entry will cost £28.50

Some learners are fully funded for the course depending on individual circumstances and eligibility criteria or there is the option for an advanced learner loan which will be discussed with you at enrolment by the funding team.

The advanced learner loan, if required, will cover the cost of your Access Course. Loan eligibility does not depend on your income and there are no credit checks. Student Finance England who are responsible for the loans will ‘write-off’  any outstanding advanced learner loan balances as soon as you complete a higher education course. This means you do not have to pay back your advanced learner loan if you complete your degree programme.

Self-funded students will pay £3384.00

As this is a fully online course, there is no enrichment available.

To successfully complete the Access to Higher Education (HE) Diploma, you need to earn 60 credits at Level 3, which are broken down as follows:

1. Graded Credits (45 credits)

  • These come from academic subject units.
  • Each credit is awarded a grade: Pass, Merit, or Distinction.
  • These grades contribute to your overall diploma grade and are important for university applications.

2. Ungraded Credits (15 credits)

  • These are typically in study skills (e.g., academic writing, research techniques, reflective practice).
  • They don’t carry a grade but are essential for helping you prepare for university-level work.

Assessment Methods

To assess your learning and help prepare you for university, you will be asked to complete:

  • Essays
  • Reports
  • Journal articles
  • Academic posters
  • Short answer question papers
  • Workbooks
  • Presentations

These diverse methods help build the skills you’ll need for higher education.

Awarding body:

Skills and Education Group Access

An Access Validating Agency with a strong social purpose to recognise achievement, particularly for those who have benefited least from their previous educational experiences, Skills and Education Group Access supports the needs of learners, providers, businesses and communities by enabling progression into higher education.

Skills and Education Group

Once you’ve successfully earned your 60 credits, you’ll be eligible to apply for:

  • Undergraduate Degrees
  • Degree Apprenticeships
    (As long as you meet the specific entry requirements of your chosen course or institution.)

Applying to University

  • You’ll apply through UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service).
  • The UCAS website provides guidance on:
    • How to apply
    • Course search
    • Application deadlines
    • Personal statements
    • Tracking offers

🔗 Visit the UCAS website

Important:

  • Each university and course might have different grade requirements (e.g., number of Distinctions or Merits).
  • Some competitive courses may require additional qualifications (like GCSE Maths or English at grade C/4 or above).

Common Progression Routes Include:

  • Nursing (All Fields):
    • Adult Nursing
    • Children’s Nursing
    • Learning Disabilities Nursing
    • Mental Health Nursing
  • Midwifery
  • Allied Health Professions:
    • Physiotherapy
    • Occupational Therapy
    • Speech and Language Therapy
    • Paramedical Science (e.g., Paramedic Practice)
    • Dietetics
    • Audiology
  • Health Sciences:
    • Biomedical Science
    • Dental Hygiene and Therapy

These courses typically lead to careers in the NHS or healthcare-related sectors.

Course Details

Qualification

Study Mode

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