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Mental Health Professions Access to Higher Education Advanced (Level 3)

Student services staff supporting student.

Overview

Mental Health Professions Access to Higher Education Advanced (Level 3)

This brand new innovative course at Tresham College Wellingborough is a one year Level 3 intensive programme aimed at mature students (19+) without the standard qualifications to enter higher education. You will focus on developing core skills and knowledge in mental health, health, social sciences, and science.

You will be required to attend College in person for two days a week, with the third day being a blended online session.

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Course information

Need to know

Entry requirements

You must be aged 19 or over to apply and will need to have English Language and maths GCSE at grade 4 (GCSE Grade C) or above or equivalent Level 2 qualifications. If your first language is not English will need an IELTS score of 5.5 or higher.

You will also need to have good IT skills as all of your assignments will be carried out using either Word, Excel or PowerPoint. You can undertake IT Skills classes at our Learning Centres.

It is very important to research the entry criteria of the universities you would like to apply to. You will need a minimum of GCSE English and maths, in addition to your Access qualification, for entry onto degree-level courses. Many university courses can be very competitive and it’s important to understand and fulfil the entry requirements prior to applying. If you do not yet have these qualifications you may be able to enrol onto the Pre-Access course and undertake Functional Skills maths and/or English.

What qualification will I gain?

You will gain:

  • Access to Higher Education Diploma in Mental Health Professions

How will I be assessed?

You will be regularly assessed throughout out the course via a range of methods, including written, practical and oral assignments, as well as project work. To enable you to be successful on the course you will need to be able to use IT to produce essays, reports, presentations and statistical data.

Course content

What will I study?

During the course you will study the following units:

  • Understanding Mental Health
  • The Context of Mental Health Within Society
  • Introduction to Psychology
  • Psychology of Health
  • Patient Journey
  • Cells, tissues and organs
  • Blood and Circulation
  • Homeostasis for Healthcare
  • Reproductive biology
  • Disease and body defence
  • Musculoskeletal system
  • Cardiopulmonary System
  • Understanding Health and Disease
  • Practical Maths for Healthcare

Next steps

You will be required to attend College in person for two days a week, with the third day being a blended online session. This programme is recognised by all UK universities and higher education establishments as an entry qualification for degree level study. Previous students have progressed on to degrees and Higher National Diplomas both at the Bedford College Group and other universities in a wide range of subject areas.

Course progression includes:
University courses in a wide range of different subjects, including Mental Health Nursing.

Career progression includes:
Through a degree this course can be the route into a wide range of careers including: Nursing, Health Promotion, Health and Social Care and Mental Health.

Additional information

On successful completion of this course you can apply to university to study mental health nursing and a range of other healthcare courses. The College has especially good links with the University of Bedfordshire, The University of Northampton and Coventry University. We will also support you while you complete your university application.

To study a degree in Mental Health Nursing you will need to have GCSE English, maths and science at grade 4/C or above.

Please declare if you have English and maths GCSEs and/or Functional Skills qualifications – this information is required (please note: you will need to provide evidence prior to enrolment).

Pay by instalments

The College offers an instalment plan for Further Education and Higher Education courses to students where the total amount payable at the point of enrolment is £200 or more. Within the scheme there is an ability to pay up to 6 instalments, depending on the length of the courses and the final payment must be paid at least a month before the end of the course.

Trips and Costs

All Access students have the chance to go to London at the end of the academic year to visit museums and galleries or go sightseeing. The cost of return coach travel is around £30.

We require all students on this course to purchase a personalised medical scrubs uniform. The cost will be around £20 and these need to be worn for practical activities. These will be ordered once the course starts and will have the college logo on them.

There are 2 Industry Insights Weeks each academic year where students will have the chance to engage in enriching activities to improve their knowledge, skills, and behaviours by working with universities, employers, and visiting speakers.

Funding information

If you are aged 19 or over, you may qualify for an Advanced Learner Loan to help you pay the tuition fees for this course. Alternatively, you can pay by instalments to help make the cost more affordable. Find out more about your payment options here

If you complete one of our Access to Higher Education courses and use an Advanced Learner Loan to pay for your tuition fee, the Student Loans Company will write off the balance on the Advanced Learner Loan if you then go on to complete an undergraduate course.

Available Courses
Tresham College Wellingborough Campus
Starts: 08/09/2025
Type: Full Time
Length: 1 year
Day(s): Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
Time(s):
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Fees: 16-18 Yrs: n/a 19+ Yrs: £3022
Disclaimer

Whilst every effort is made to ensure the information on the Website is correct, some details may be subject to change. The Bedford College Group reserves the right to make amendments to the courses, dates, fees or other details, and to make cancellations or changes if numbers are insufficient. In the unfortunate situation that we have to cancel a course we will refund your fees in full, but we regret we are not able to offer any refund if you withdraw from your course or fail to start, and you will be liable to pay any outstanding fees that may be due.

Additional Learning Support

If you have a specific learning difficulty or disability, are deaf or hearing impaired, our Additional Learning Support team are on hand to give you assistance whenever you need it. Email: ALSteam@bedford.ac.uk or call us on 01234 291333.

Financial Support

For information regarding financial support, please visit the Financial Support section to see the support you may be entitled to apply for.

Accessibility

We have access arrangements in place to help students with disabilities or any other particular needs. Call us on 01234 291000 or 01536 413123 for more information.

 

Any questions?

If you would like to find out more about this or other courses, please use our Livechat below, email info@bedfordcollegegroup.ac.uk or call us on 0345 658 8990.