Access to HE Diploma (Science)

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: 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 4: Chemistry and Society

Upon successful completion of this unit, you will:

• Understand an aspect of the history of chemistry.
• Understand the importance of chemistry in modern life.
• Be able to evaluate use and occurrence of an element.

Unit 5: Redox and Periodicity

Upon successful completion of this unit, you will:

• Be able to identify and apply oxidation and reduction principles.
• Understand
• Understand the chemistry of  Group 2 elements and compounds and halogens

Unit 6: Atoms Bonds and Structures

Upon successful completion of this unit, you will:

• Understand atomic structure.
• Understand bonding, structure and properties
• Be able to analyse intermolecular forces.

Unit 7: Chemistry of Drugs

Upon successful completion of this unit, you will:

• Understand the key definitions used in medicinal chemistry
• Understand the significance of the molecular structure of drugs upon their function.
• Understand analytic methods used for drug detection.
• Understand the importance of isomerism in drug action.
• Be able to analyse common processes involved in drug design.

Unit 8: Chemistry of Pollution

Upon successful completion of this unit, you will:

• Understand the causes and effects of atmospheric pollution.
• Understand the effects of rising CO₂ levels on the chemistry of the oceans.
• Understand causes and effects of pollution of the hydrosphere.
• Be able to evaluate sources of trace-metal pollution and their effects on local soils and/or water courses

Unit 9: 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 10: 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 11: Cell Division and Genetics

Upon successful completion of this unit, you will:

• Understand mitosis.
• Understand meiosis.
• Understand genetic variation.

Unit 12: The Laws of Physics

Upon successful completion of this unit, you will:

• Understand force and motion.
• Understand energy conservation and momentum.
• Understand wave motion.
• Understand reflection and refraction.
• Understand magnetism and electrical current behaviours.

Unit 13: The principles and Properties  of the Electromagnetic Spectrum

Upon successful completion of this unit, you will:

• Understand electromagnetic waves.
• Understand visible and ultraviolet light including their applications.
• Understand microwaves and infrared light.
• Explain how intermolecular forces influence boiling and melting points of substances.
• Understand the use of x-rays in medical settings

Unit 14: Radioactivity in Medicine

Upon successful completion of this unit, you will:

• Understand the nature of radioactive decay.
• Understand the need for safety precautions when handling radioactive isotopes.
• Analyse the beneficial uses of radioactive isotopes.

Unit 15: Medical Physics

Upon successful completion of this unit, you will:

• Understand the structure and operation of the eye and the correction of simple eye defects.
• Understand the structure of the ear, the process of hearing and identify and explain simple methods of detecting hearing abnormalities through interpretation of simple tests.
• Understand the electromagnetic spectrum and explain how different types of electromagnetic waves are used in medical physics.
• Understand medical uses of ultrasound imaging techniques.
• Understand therapeutic uses of radioactivity

Be able to analyse techniques used to monitor the functioning of the nervous and cardiovascular systems

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?

Biomedical Science, Chemistry, Physics, Biochemical Science, Medical Sciences, Neuroscience, General Science, Radiography, Dietetics

On successful completion of the Access to Higher Education Diploma (Science), 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.