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Access to HE Diploma (Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences)

Key Facts

Level:
Level 3
Subject Sector:
2.1 Science
Credits:
60
Qualification No:
QAAQ002500
Price:
£140.00 per learner
Age Range:
19+
QAA aim code:
40008472

Qualification Summary

The Diploma will provide learners with the underpinning skills to support academic study and provide a level 3 qualification linked to their proposed HE study. A broad range of scientific and pharmaceutical skills will be acquired, whilst the underpinning mathematical skills will ensure that the learner is fully prepared for progression onto relevant degrees.

The Diploma covers a range of specialist pharmaceutical units as well as having a strong emphasis on both biology and chemistry and learners will have the opportunity to study all three subjects to give a balanced view of skills to enable progression to pharmacy or science based degree programmes.

The mandatory group ensures that learners have a fundamental understanding of biology, anatomy and physiology and basic chemistry principles and then learners can select from a range of optional units. All learners must complete a minimum of 30 credits overall in science subjects which will ensure a strong science base to the Diploma.

Learners must choose from a selection of mandatory and optional ungraded units to support underpinning skills, including a mandatory mathematics unit covering topics related to science.

Why choose this qualification?

The Diploma will provide learners with the underpinning skills to support academic study and provide a level 3 qualification linked to their proposed HE study. A broad range of scientific and pharmaceutical skills will be acquired, whilst the underpinning mathematical skills will ensure that the learner is fully prepared for progression onto relevant degrees.

The Diploma covers a range of specialist pharmaceutical units as well as having a strong emphasis on both biology and chemistry and learners will have the opportunity to study all three subjects to give a balanced view of skills to enable progression to pharmacy or science based degree programmes.

The mandatory group ensures that learners have a fundamental understanding of biology, anatomy and physiology and basic chemistry principles and then learners can select from a range of optional units. All learners must complete a minimum of 30 credits overall in science subjects which will ensure a strong science base to the diploma.

Learners must choose from a selection of mandatory and optional ungraded units to support underpinning skills, including a mandatory mathematics unit covering topics related to science.

Rules of Combination

Students must complete 18 Credits from the Mandatory Graded Units group, 6 credits from the Optional Graded Units: Research group, 12 Credits from the Optional Graded Units: Chemistry & Biology group, 6 Credits from the Optional Graded Units: Pharmacy group and 3 credits from the Optional Graded: Mathematics group.

Units

Graded Research Units

Learners must complete 6 credits from this group.

Research: Extended Writing Project for Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU026096
Click here to view full unit details

Research: Practical Investigation Project for Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU026094
Click here to view full unit details
Mandatory Units: Graded Academic Subject Content

Learners must complete 18 credits from this group.

Actions of Medicines on the Human Body

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU025359
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Fundamental Chemistry

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU006301
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Human Anatomy and Physiology

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU006413
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Introduction to Organic Chemistry

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU006603
Click here to view full unit details
Optional Graded Units: Chemistry & Biology

Learners must complete 12 credits from this group.

An Introduction to Health and Disease

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU018205
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Cells and Tissues

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU025366
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Experimental Techniques in Chemistry

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU006297
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Fundamental Concepts and Scientific Method in Biology

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU006307
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Further Organic Chemistry

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU007822
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Human Body Systems - Circulation and Gaseous Exchange

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU006415
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The Endocrine System

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU017109
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Understanding Genetics

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU018996
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Optional Graded Units: Mathematics

Learners must complete 3 credits from this group.

Mathematics: Algebra, Exponentials and Logarithms

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU007424
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Quantitative Methods - Statistics

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU007442
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Optional Graded Units: Pharmacy

Learners must complete 6 credits from this group.

Communication within Pharmacy Services

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU025355
Click here to view full unit details

Community Pharmacy Practice

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU025353
Click here to view full unit details

Fundamentals of Pharmaceutics

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU025351
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Pharmacy Law, Ethics and Practice

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU025349
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Understanding Medicine Manufacture

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU025361
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Ungraded Units

Learners must also complete 15 Credits from the Ungraded group.

Mandatory Units: Ungraded

Learners must complete 9 credits from this group.

Academic Writing Skills

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU025276
Click here to view full unit details

Mathematics for Science

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU013859
Click here to view full unit details

Preparation for Higher Education

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU025532
Click here to view full unit details
Optional Ungraded Units

Learners must complete 6 credits from this group.

Communication - Speaking and Listening

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU007560
Click here to view full unit details

Optimising Examination Performance

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU025280
Click here to view full unit details

Practical Science Skills

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU010772
Click here to view full unit details

Promoting Wellbeing and Building Resilience

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU028487
Click here to view full unit details

Study Skills

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU018318
Click here to view full unit details

Work Placement

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU025609
Click here to view full unit details

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.

Learners who have followed these routes may need to refresh/develop their skills in specific areas as well as learning more about subjects in which they have an interest. If the learner has gone straight into employment, they may not have studied at Level 3 and so this Access Diploma will help them to build on existing scientific skills and provide a good grounding for further academic study.

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 scientific and pharmaceutical skills will be acquired, whilst the underpinning mathematical skills will ensure that the learner is fully prepared for progression onto relevant degrees.

Learners must take a minimum of 30 credits across both biology and chemistry topics which allows them to thoroughly explore the subjects and allow for flexibility to progress onto the chosen degree. Mathematics is an important element of any science degree so having to complete a mathematics unit as part of the ungraded units will support progression too.

What this diploma covers

The units include a balance of science units as well as pharmacy based 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. practical science skills and communication (as pharmacists must learn to listen and communicate effectively with members of the public as well as colleagues).

Delivery methods

• Face to face
• Blended learning
• Work placements would also be beneficial and access to laboratories will be required to produce the evidence for some of the more practical based units.

Successful completion criteria

Learners will probably require a pass in a science subject alongside maths and English at GCSE level to progress onto a degree course.

Progression routes

Progression routes are into a range of pharmacy and pharmaceutical science degrees including:
• MPharm Pharmacy
• Pharmaceutical Science BSc (H)

Or science based degrees:
• Biological Sciences BSc (Hons)
• Healthcare Science (Life Sciences) BSc (Hons)
• Biology BSc (Hons)
• Bioscience BSc (Hons)
• Chemistry BSc (Hons)
• Natural Sciences BSc (Hons)
• BSc Biomedicine
• BSc Biomedical Science

Alternatively, learners may progress onto higher or degree apprenticeships, for example:
• Healthcare science associate (Level 4)
• Healthcare science practitioner (degree)
• Laboratory scientist (degree)
• Mammography Assistant Practitioner (Level 4)
• Paramedic (degree)
• Registered Nurse (degree)
• Healthcare assistant practitioner (Level 5)

Provider approval criteria

Access to a laboratory is vital to undertake this diploma.

Funding information

There are now two main sources for funding information, a straightforward ESFA Qualification Search and the more detailed Find a Learning Aim website.

The new Find a learning aim (FALA) service provides a search tool that you can use to check the funding status of any qualification, framework, unit, standard or T Level:

View this qualification on the ESFA’s Find a learning aim website

The Education and Skills Funding Agency search provides funding information on qualifications. It does not provide funding information for units, non-regulated activity and work placements, for this information please use Find a learning aim (FALA).

View this qualification on the ESFA Qualification Funding Search

How to find a learning aim

If you’re not sure how to use the new find a learning aim website, we’ve created a handy walkthrough to help you:

How to Use: Find a learning Aim

Additional funding information for Access to HE

  • Access to HE is eligible for funding as part of the legal entitlement offer.
  • Access to HE is eligible for funding via Advanced Learner Loans and appears on the Advanced Learner Loans catalogues published by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA).
  • Access to HE Diplomas are designed for adult learners aged 19+ and the ESFA only funds young people on these programmes by exception, as stated in paragraph 149, page 39 of the Funding guidance for young people 2020 to 2021.

We have done our best to collate and summarise the key information, and wherever possible we alert our providers to changes in funding policy.

This funding information is provided in good faith and it is always advisable to check directly with the funding agencies before committing to delivery.

The following support materials will help you deliver this qualification.

Access to HE Quick Guides

Information for Access Centres

Access to HE Administration

Assignment briefs

Centres approved to deliver our Access to HE Diplomas can download assignment briefs for a selection of units in this Diploma. Assignment briefs can be downloaded by logging to Prism and locating the relevant unit. More assignment briefs are being added not all units currently have assignment briefs available.

The assignment briefs can be easily adapted to suit your needs. We recommend checking the rules of combination for the Diploma and adapting the brief accordingly.

To provide a flavour of what’s available, you can download the below samples for free:

Log in to Prism to download more assignment briefs

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