Healthcare Professions Access to Higher Education Advanced (Blended learning)

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. Applicants may be accepted on the Access Diploma with one of these, subject to a successful interview and entry test to show you are working at level 2. You will have to gain the other level 2 during the same year to progress to university. 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. We currently offer GCSE and Functional Skills which you may be able to enrol on alongside your Access course to gain these qualifications. Many university courses can be very competitive and it’s important to understand and fulfil the entry requirements prior to applying. Work experience (paid or voluntary) in a health care setting will improve your chances.

During the course you will study the following units: Core Skills

• English
• Maths
• Research Project
• Study Skills

Health and Social Science Units:

• Introduction to Psychology
• Sociology of Health
• Developing Professional Practice
• Health Promotion
• Understand Mental Health

Specialist Nursing & Midwifery units:

• Cells, tissues and organs
• Blood and Circulation
• Homeostasis
• Nutrition and digestion
• Reproductive biology
• Disease and defence
• Mendelian and genetics
• Drugs and food additives

NB: units subject to change.

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.

You will gain:

Access to Higher Education Diploma Healthcare Professions

You will attend college one day a week. 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, such as: Nursing, Health and Social Care Practice, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Midwifery.

Career progression includes:

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

On successful completion of this course you can apply to university to study nursing or midwifery and a range of other healthcare courses. 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.

In order for learners to progress on to an undergraduate degree at a British university, it is essential that learners have achieved a minimum of a grade C in Maths and English. All applicants are advised to have a good idea of their preferred university options prior to attending the interview.

Please note that when applying for this course you will be directed to an application form to ensure that we collate the necessary information to process your application for this type of course.

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.

18 year olds may apply and will need to have English Language and maths GCSE at grade C (4) or above or equivalent level 2 qualifications before the start of the course and be subject to a successful interview.