Intended learner groups
a) Adults who, because of social, educational or individual circumstances may have achieved few, if any, prior qualifications and wish to progress to HE
b) Adults who have gone straight into industry (perhaps following apprenticeship routes) who wish to progress to HE.
How this diploma meets learners' needs
The Diploma will provide them with underpinning skills to support academic study and provide a level 3 qualification linked to their proposed HE study. A broad range of knowledge will be acquired which support an understanding of medicine and will ensure that the learner is fully prepared for progression onto the relevant degrees.
What this diploma covers
The units include a balance of units which allow the learners to keep their options open until they have fully decided on their preferred route at degree level. The ungraded units have been chosen to support both progression into higher education and also to allow the learners to develop skills relevant to the subject area e.g. Mathematics for Science, Professional Behaviours for Medical Practitioners and Drug Calculations
Delivery methods
Face to face
Blended learning
Project, exam, practical investigation, report, annotated diagram, experiment, graphs and charts, short answer questions, written assignment. Some of the exam questions should be multiple choice questions to reflect the mode of assessment in higher education.
Professional Behaviours – As well as having an understanding of professional behaviours, Higher Education providers will expect students to demonstrate these behaviours.
Successful completion criteria
Learners are expected to require a pass in maths and English at GCSE level to progress onto a degree course. It is expected that they will also require a GCSE in Science. Learners should be made aware that they may be required to take an aptitude test, attend an interview and complete a DBS check prior to acceptance on a degree programme.
Progression routes
• BSc Medical Sciences
• BSc Applied Medical Sciences
• BSc Medical Biochemistry
• Biological Sciences BSc (Hons)
• Healthcare Science (Life Sciences) BSc (Hons)
• Healthcare Science (Cardiac Physiology) BSc Honours
• Biology BSc (Hons)
• Bioscience BSc (Hons)
• Chemistry BSc (Hons)
• Natural Sciences BSc (Hons)
• Bachelor of Medical Sciences with Hons Medicine
• MBChB Medicine
• BSc Biomedicine
• BSc Biomedical Science
• Healthcare Science (Cardiac Physiology) BSc Honours
Progression & entry requirements
N/A
Provider approval criteria
Depending on the choice of unit, centres will require access to relevant science equipment.