Health and Human Sciences - Access to Higher Education Diploma

If you would like to study Health and Human Sciences at university but left school without the qualifications you need, then this Access to HE course could be for you. Each year, over 20,000 Access to HE students apply for a degree course at a UK university; if you go onto complete a relevant degree at university, your Advanced Learner Loan will be written off by Student Finance England.

This course will help you get the qualifications you need to study health and human sciences, or a related course, at university. The qualification will provide you with a general introduction to the basic concepts, methods, and key areas of knowledge within the field, including nursing.

You will also have a personal tutor who will support you during the year and who will advise you on your applications to higher education institutions. The course requires approximately 3-4 days attendance in college per week, with an additional 15 hours of private study per week.

Topics covered can include:

• Study skills
• Psychology
• Sociology research
• Maths
• Specialist modules in Biology

You will need:

• To be aged 19 or older
• GCSE English and Maths at grade 4 or above (or A*-C)

All applicants must have an interview to confirm that the course is suitable for them.

From Friday 1st April, all students aged 18 and over on health and social care courses who wish to undertake a placement in any CQC registered setting will need to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19. 

This course is assessed through coursework assignments, tests and examinations throughout the course, which are set and marked by your teachers and externally moderated by OCN London.

Assessment is continuous over the whole year and is based on a number of set pieces of work such as essays, projects, presentations and tests.

You may be entitled to support towards the cost of studies.

• If you are aged 19 or over, you may need to cover the cost of your course, but you can get a government loan for this. What's more, if you then complete a Higher Education course, you won't have to repay the loan for the Access course. Find out more here

Once you have completed your Access to HE course, you can progress to a Higher Education degree at a university or college.

You should check requirements for specific degree courses - different Higher Education institutions may have different entry requirements for similar courses.