Access to HE Level 3 Diploma – Health & Social Care

You will cover topics relevant to further study in the areas of health and social care. Modules range from academic (e.g. health and disease) through to practical (e.g. drug calculations and report writing), so you will get an excellent all-round learning experience, readying you for further study in the area of your choice.

If your goal is to study in higher education towards a career in one of the health and social care professions, then this is the ideal course for you. The Diploma is accepted for entry on to degree programmes by the majority of UK universities and colleges.

Before you can study at university, you will be required to have a Level 2 qualification in English and Maths, such as a GCSE or Functional Skills. You may have an equivalent qualification from you country if you completed high school outside the UK. If you don’t have English or Maths, we’ll offer you the opportunity to take Functional Skills alongside the Access course in the extended March – December Access course.

There are no academic requirements, but you will need to attend an interview and complete a Maths and English assessment.

You must be aged 19 or over by September of the year you start the course. You need to fulfil residency requirements to be eligible for government funding (we’ll check this when you apply).

It’s helpful if you have Maths and/or English at Level 2 (GCSE or Functional Skills).

Ruskin is a friendly and inclusive college, with an ethos that puts you very much at the centre of the learning experience. It is the ideal environment to set out on your path to your rewarding career in health and social care, especially if you are an adult returning to education.

STUDY SKILLS UNITS:

• Drug Calculations and Health Related Charts
• Finding and Reading Information
• Writing Standard English
• Report Writing
• Note-taking and Note-making

SUBJECT-SPECIFIC UNITS:

• The Role of the Health or Social Care Professional

BIOLOGY

• Cells
• Genes and Inheritance
• Health and Disease
• Human Biology
• Human Tissues and Systems
• The Musculo-Skeletal System

PSYCHOLOGY

• Foundations of Psychology
• Mental Health and Illness
• Treatment of Abnormal Behaviour

NURSING AND HEALTHCARE STUDIES

• Ethical Issues in Health Care
• Reflection on Work Placement in a Health or Social Care Setting

You will be assessed through a programme of coursework.

Guided learning hours

Guided learning hours are the hours you spend learning with your training provider or on your own. The guided learning hours for this qualification are:

• Level 3: 450 hours

Usual course length

Completing the Access to Higher Education Diploma: Health & Social Care usually takes:

• 31 weeks full time, 3 days a week, Wed – Fri, 9.30am – 3pm

This course prepares you for degree-level study in preparation for a career in the health field. Although the qualification has not been designed to lead directly to employment, it will support you to take steps towards a career in a range of related professions.

Full course cost: £3022. We will help you access financial support if you are entitled to it: find out if you are eligible.