Access to Higher Education Diploma (Health Science)

Key Facts

Level:
Level 3
Subject Sector:
1.2 Nursing and Subjects and Vocations Allied to Medicine
Credits:
60
Qualification No:
QAAQ004772
Price:
View price list
Age Range:
19+
QAA aim code:
40014873

Qualification Summary

The Diploma provides learners with a wide choice of units to support progression into Health Science degree programmes. The mandatory group ensures that learners have a good understanding of themes relevant to Health Science including topics related to chemistry and biology. Learners can select from a range of optional units linked to Health Science, with some variety of choice to include units which may be of specific interest if the learner has an interest in understanding more about health-related physics, chemistry and/or biology topics. In addition to the graded units, learners must choose from a selection of mandatory and optional ungraded units to support underpinning skills both for work within the sector or for further academic study.

Why choose this qualification?

This Access to HE Diploma has been fully reviewed and revalidated for the 2024-25 academic year. Updated resources are also available to Gateway Qualifications recognised centres.

The Access to Higher Education (HE) Diploma is an academic qualification that is designed to prepare learners for study at degree level. The diploma is designed to give the learner the relevant academic subject knowledge and underpinning study skills required to progress onto a relevant degree programme.

As an Access Validating Agency (AVA), all of our Access to Higher Education (HE) Diplomas are compliant with Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) regulations.

Units

Graded Academic Subject Content Units

Learners must complete 45 credits from the Mandatory Units: Graded Academic Subject Content, Optional Units: Research Graded Academic Subject Content and Optional Units: Graded Academic Subject Content groups.

Mandatory Units: Graded Academic Subject Content

Learners must complete 9 credits from the mandatory graded units.

Fundamental Concepts and Scientific Method in Biology

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU035236
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Practical Chemical Science for Health Studies

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU035030
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Optional Units: Research Graded Academic Subject Content

Learners must achieve 6 credits from this group.

Research: Extended Writing Project for Health Science

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU035066
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Research: Practical Investigation Project for Health Science

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU035068
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Optional Units: Graded Academic Subject Content

Learners must achieve 30 credits from this group.

Actions of Medicines on the Human Body

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034888
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Biochemistry and Biochemical Techniques

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU035369
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Chemical Basics and Atomic Structure

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034748
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Chemical Principles

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU035373
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Chemistry Fundamentals: Practicals

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU035375
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Circulation and Immunity

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU035198
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Energetics, Kinetics, Equilibria

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034874
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Fundamental Physics: Theory

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU035022
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Homeostasis

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034984
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Human Systems - Reproduction, Growth and Development

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034786
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Human Systems - The Muscular Skeletal System

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU035915
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Introduction to Biology: Cells and Tissues

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034746
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Introduction to Chemistry: Particles and Forces

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU035917
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Introduction to Genetics

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU035246
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Introduction to Organic Chemistry

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034794
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Mental Health and Illness

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU035010
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Nutrition, Digestion and Excretion

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU035919
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Organic and Biochemical Molecules

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU035014
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Physics: Medical Applications for Radiography

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU034818
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The Role of the Nervous and Endocrine System in Co-ordination and Control

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034986
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Ungraded Units

Learners must achieve 15 credits from the Mandatory Units: Ungraded and Optional Units: Ungraded groups.

Mandatory Units: Ungraded

Learners must achieve 6 credits from this group.

Preparation for Higher Education

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034710
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Professional Behaviours: Nursing and Health Professions

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU035178
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Mandatory Units: Ungraded Numeracy in a Health Context

Learners must achieve a maximum of 3 credits from this group.

Mathematics for Science

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034862
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Numeracy in a Health Context

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU035170
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Numeracy in a Health Context

Level:
Level 2
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU035168
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Optional Units: Ungraded

Learners must achieve 6 credits from this group.

Academic Writing Skills

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034692
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Communication - Speaking and Listening

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034696
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Communications - Reading and Writing

Level:
Level 2
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU035156
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Computer Data Protection

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034700
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Inclusivity and Disability

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034704
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Mathematics - Calculations

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034706
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Optimising Examination Performance

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034708
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Presenting Information Using ICT

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034714
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Problem Solving in the Workplace

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034716
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Promoting Wellbeing and Building Resilience

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034720
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References and Reliability of Sources

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034722
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Spreadsheets

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034726
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Statistics

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034728
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Study Skills for Higher Education

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034730
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Sustainability Project

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034732
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The Fundamentals of Environmental Sustainability

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034734
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Writing Reports

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034736
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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 Higher Education
b) Adults who have gone straight into industry (perhaps following apprenticeship routes) who wish to progress to Higher Education.

How this diploma meets learners' needs

The diploma will address the learning needs of these target groups with underpinning skills to support academic study and provide a level 3 qualification linked to their proposed Higher Education study. A broad range of knowledge will be acquired which support an understanding of Health Science including topics related to biology, chemistry and health related physics.

What this diploma covers

Learners will complete a planned, balanced and coherent programme of study, through which they have been able to acquire subject knowledge and develop academic skills which are relevant to the intended progression route(s). The units include a balance of units which allow the learners to study a broad range of topics 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.

Delivery methods

Delivery methods for the Access to Higher Education Diploma (Health Science) can include:

• Face to face
• Blended learning

Centres should take care to select ungraded units which prevent overlap of content.

Assessment Methods could include:

Investigations, exams, scientific reports, written question and answer, case studies, presentation, academic poster, worksheets or essay, depending on the choice of units.

Progression routes

Following successful completion of the Access to HE Diploma (Health Science) learners may progress to the following:

• BSc (Hons) Biochemistry
• BSc (Hons) Biology
• BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science
• BSc (Hons) Biomedicine
• BSc (Hons) Bioscience
• BSc (Hons) Dental Hygiene
• BSc (Hons) Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy
• BSc (Hons) Diagnostic Radiography
• BSc (Hons) Diagnostic Radiotherapy
• BSc (Hons) Dietetics
• BSc (Hons) Dietetics and Human Nutrition
• BSc (Hons) Healthcare Science (Life Sciences)
• BSc (Hons) Midwifery
• BSc (Hons) Nursing
• BSc (Hons) Nutrition and Human Health
• BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy
• BSc (Hons) Pharmaceutical Science
• BSc (Hons) Pharmacy
• BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy
• BSc (Hons) Radiography (Radiotherapy and Oncology)
• Dentistry BDS
Learners may also progress onto a wide range of apprenticeships including Dental Nurse, Dental Technician, Nursing and/or Trainee Nursing Associate

Provider approval criteria

Access to laboratory facilities will be required for some of the units.

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

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.

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