Access to HE Diploma (Health & Human Sciences) - classroom full-time for Adults

Course Code: P227450

Key Information

  • Course type

    Access to Higher Education

  • Campus:

    Highbury Campus

  • Start Date:

    15 Sept 2025

  • Duration:

    1 year

  • Attendance:

    Full-time

  • Fees:

    £3,384.00 or Free

Access to HE Diploma (Health and Human Sciences) - Classroom (Full-time)

This course is suitable for adult returners to learning or those with few or no traditional qualifications to help you prepare for higher education and university. You are free to study different subject combinations according to the entry requirements of the university of your choice. Students from our Access to Higher Education courses have moved on to many of the country's universities, including Southampton, Warwick, York, Manchester, various London HEIs, Portsmouth, Surrey and Sussex.

The subjects most suited to your choice of career and/or higher education qualification are:

Nursing & Midwifery:

  • human biology
  • health studies
  • psychology or further biology
  • sociology.

Social work:

  • human biology
  • health studies
  • psychology
  • sociology.

Human sciences:

  • human biology
  • biology
  • chemistry
  • health studies
  • psychology
  • physics
  • sociology
  • statistics.

You will be advised at interview as to which subjects you should choose by staff who have vast experience in a wide array of career areas and excellent contacts with a host of local and national higher education providers, including many universities.

The programme includes weekly study skills sessions and Level 3 English to prepare you for higher education, including group and one-to-one support tutorials.

If you're a UK resident aged 19 or over then fees may be payable, however you can apply for the government backed Advanced Learner Loan. This will be paid back in monthly instalments, however payments only begin once you've finished the Access to HE diploma and are earning over a certain salary - please check here for up-to-date details.

Ideally, once you've finished the Access to HE diploma you'll then go on to complete a higher education (HE) qualification, such as a degree course. The outstanding balance of your Advanced Learner Loan will then be written off.

You will achieve a nationally recognised Access Certificate, giving you the confidence to go on to university.  In addition, you can gain certificates in GCSE English and maths.

GCSEs at grade C (4) or above in maths and English are required. You will also be asked to complete diagnostic assessments in both maths and English to establish that you are ready to study at Level 3. In addition, students need good motivation and a commitment to complete the diploma and proceed on to a degree or other higher education qualification locally or elsewhere throughout the UK.

As part of the induction process, you will be required to undertake diagnostic assessments at Level 2 in maths and English and produce a piece of free writing.

You are required to attend three to four days a week, in a combination of mornings and afternoons. All students are expected to attend tutorials once a week.

The course is taught by a mixture of classroom teaching, key skills, tutorials, assignments and self-directed study. You will have a variety of assessment methods including essays, presentation, seminars and time-constrained assignments.

School Leavers under the age of 19 do not have to pay fees on any full time courses, though may have to pay for their second year if turning 19 during their studies. If you’re aged 19 or over you might qualify for an Advanced Learner Loan. It’s easy to apply for and you won’t have to pay anything back until you’re earning over £25,000. If you are studying a part-time course and you receive one of the following benefits, or you depend financially on someone who does, you may be entitled to have your tuition fees waived: Job Seekers Allowance, Income Support. You will, however, have to pay any awarding body/assessment fees (unless you are on a first full level 2 course). * If you are in receipt of Working Tax Credit or receive other allowances, you may be eligible to claim concessionary rates. If you are entitled to a fee concession you will be asked to provide proof of your entitlement. It is essential that you inform us if your entitlement changes at any time during your course.

Degree titles that you might progress on to include:

  • criminology
  • dental nursing
  • human physiology
  • midwifery
  • nursing
  • occupational therapy
  • ODP
  • paramedic science
  • physiotherapy
  • podiatry
  • psychology
  • radiography
  • social work
  • sociology

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