Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility Access to HE Diploma (Health Science Professions) Courses - Birmingham & Black Country - Sandwell College

Full Time

Access to HE Diploma (Health Science Professions)

COURSE CODE
Access to HE Diploma (Health Science Professions)

COURSE DURATION
1 year full time

LOCATION
Online

START DATE
15/09/25

Course summary

· Are you an adult? · Do you want a career in healthcare? · Do you need a Level 3 Qualification to meet the entry requirements for university?  

Cost:

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. 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.

Course requirements

· 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 / compute

Blended course – 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.

 

  1. What does the course involve? What are the units?

Blended Course – 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.

COURSE UNITS:

 

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

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 measure.

·       Know how to use a calculator to solve problems and use appropriate tools to check their answers.

         Unit 4: Healthcare Communication

Upon successful completion of this unit you will:

  • Understand the main methods of communication
  • Understand the barriers to communication
  • Understand the value of developing good communication skills within the context of the health service
  • Understand the importance of confidentiality and record keeping

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: Professionalism and Multidisciplinary Teams

Upon successful completion of this unit you will:

  • Understand the impact of changes to the roles and responsibilities of a chosen health care professional
  • Understand regulation as a chosen health care profession
  • Be able to evaluate the effectiveness of the multidisciplinary team approach to working in a chosen health care setting.

 

Unit 7: 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 8: 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 9: 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 10: 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 11: 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 12: Nervous System

Upon successful completion of this unit you will:

  • Understand the basic structure and function of the nervous system.
  • Understand the nature of nerve impulses.
  • Be able to assess the principles of synaptic transmission.

Unit 13: Mental Health

Upon successful completion of this unit you will:

  • Understand how society determines and responds to three behaviours experienced by individuals suffering from mental ill health.
  • Understand the influence of biological, social and environmental factors in relation to mental health
  • Be able to evaluate different strategies for therapy and care of mental health disorders.

Unit 14: 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 15: 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.

 

Learning is assessed in a variety of methods to prepare you to study at university. These may include essays, report writing, online assessment, and presentations.

You must achieve 60 credits at Level 3 to be awarded the Access to HE Diploma:

Graded - 45 are Graded Credits in Academic Units at Pass, Merit or Distinction

Ungraded: 15 are Ungraded Credits in Study Skills.

 

Are there any additional costs the student be made aware of?

Your UCAS application for university entry will cost £28.50

You will be able to progress to university for an undergraduate degree or degree apprenticeship if you meet the entry requirements of your specific undergraduate course.

You will apply through UCAS – more details can be found via this website - https://www.ucas.com/

Learners who complete this qualification can progress to university for an Undergraduate Degree or Degree Apprenticeships.

What are the career routes for this course?

Adult Nursing, Children’s Nursing, Learning Disabilities Nursing, Mental Health Nursing, Midwifery, Physiotherapy, Paramedical Science, Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Audiology, Biomedical Science, Dental Hygiene and Therapy, Dietetics.

 

On successful completion of the Access to Higher Education Diploma (Health Professions), you will receive a Skills

& Education Group Access, QAA recognised, Access to Higher Education Diploma at Level 3 with 60

credits.

As part of your programme, you will also receive help as well as guidance on your university application

and the research you need to do to get the most out of your diploma.

 

Awarding body

Skills & 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 & Education Group Access

To discuss your options direct with the course tutor email

[email protected]

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