Level 3 Access to Higher Education Diploma (Health Professionals)

Take the first step toward a rewarding career in healthcare. Meet the university entry requirements by studying a range of qualifications through our online Access to Higher Education courses.

If you want to work in healthcare and truly help improve people’s day-to-day lives, the Access to Higher Education Diploma (Health Professionals) is a Level 3 course built to help you move into a variety of health-related degree programmes. If you’re missing the grades you would usually need to apply straight to university, this diploma gives you the knowledge and practical skills to get where you want to be.

This course is designed with progression in mind. You’ll follow a pathway that supports you to study a degree in a health discipline. Along the way, you’ll cover the foundations you’ll need for university study, including what health professionals do, what their responsibilities look like, and an overview of the history of the National Health Service (NHS).

Once you finish the diploma, you may be able to progress to university to study a wide range of degrees, such as Nursing, Midwifery, Pharmacy, Paramedic Science, Physiotherapy and more.

The course is delivered through the following units:

• • Progressing to Higher Education
  • Academic Study Techniques
  • Professional Behaviours
  • Numeracy in a Health Context
  • Understanding Stress
  • The History of the National Service
  • Roles and Responsibilities of the Health Care Professional
  • Inequalities in Health and Illness
  • Human Cell Biology
  • Respiration and Circulation
  • Nutrition and Digestion
  • Homeostasis and the Endocrine System
  • The Nervous System
  • The Human Muscular and Skeletal System
  • The Urinary System
  • Reproduction
  • Human Immunity
  • Understanding Poverty

To join our Access to Higher Education Diplomas, you’ll need to meet these entry requirements:

• • You must be 19 or older when your course starts
  • You’ll need a Level 2 Maths and English qualification (GCSE or equivalent, including Level 2 qualifications completed outside of England). Copies of your certificates will be requested during enrolment
  • You must be able to use a laptop confidently
  • You’ll need reliable internet access
  • You must be a resident of England

Most applicants are expected to hold at least two Level 2 qualifications, or something higher. That said, we may still be able to look at candidates who only have an English qualification. If you need it, we can provide support for Functional Skills in English and/or Maths during your Access to HE course.

As part of the enrolment process, you’ll take part in a telephone interview and complete a written assessment. This is to make sure the level of the course is right for you.

What about entry requirements for university?

Many students work through an Access to Higher Education Diploma as part of a longer-term plan to progress to university.

While your tutors will support and guide you with your application, it’s still down to you to check the specific entry requirements for the university course you want to apply for.

Your Access to HE Diploma includes units worth 45 graded credits and 15 credits that are ungraded. You’ll complete several assignments across your modules, and these will come together in your electronic portfolio. Assessment happens through structured written assignments, so you build a clear collection of work as you go.

Access courses are aimed at people who haven’t studied in a while, so if you left school without the qualifications needed to join university straight away, this can be a really solid route. You’ll build up a strong base of knowledge and skills, helping you feel ready for degree level study. Whether you’re changing careers, returning to learning after time away, or you’re excited about a subject you care about, an Access to HE course might be the right step for you.

Yes. This course is accredited by AIM Group. When you complete it, you’ll receive a national qualification that is accepted by many universities across England and Wales as part of their entry requirements.

You’ll study part-time over 47 weeks. We deliver the course to reflect university-style timetables, with your learning organised into grouped study periods, which we call modules.

Our Access to HE Diplomas are delivered online, which makes studying far more flexible. You can learn wherever you are. You’ll have access to our online platform, where you’ll study independently, strengthen your understanding, and complete interactive activities that help bring your learning to life.

And no, online learning doesn’t mean you’re left on your own. You’ll have full support from experienced tutors, plus help from our engagement support team throughout the course.

Because it’s an online programme, you’ll need access to a laptop or PC to complete your diploma work.

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If you’d like to pay for this course yourself, you can request interest free instalments through Premium Credit.

Get in touch with our team today, or call 01388 777129 for more details!

If you’d like to pay for this course yourself, you can request interest free instalments through Premium Credit.

Get in touch with our team today, or call 01388 777129 for more details!

Prefer to self-fund instead of using Premium Credit? That’s absolutely fine. We accept the following payment options:

Pay in 12 Interest Free Instalments

If you want to spread the cost using interest free payments, you can apply for finance with Premium Credit.

Call us on 01388 777 129 to discuss whether it’s right for you.

We want the whole enrolment process to feel as straightforward as possible. That’s why you’ll have a dedicated team who work hard to make sure you get fast responses, and that you’re fully enrolled, properly inducted, and set up on the programme without unnecessary delays.