Access to HE Level 3 Diploma – Nursing

You will cover topics relevant to further study in the area of nursing. Modules range from Biology to Ethics and Values, so you will get an excellent all-round learning experience, readying you for further study. An Access to HE Diploma is accepted for entry on to degree programmes by the majority of UK universities.

If your goal is to study in higher education towards a career in nursing or healthcare, then this is the ideal course for you. Upon Successful completion of this course you can progress onto a higher education course in:

• midwifery;
• occupational therapy;
• paramedicine, or
• social work.

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 age 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). If, however, you do not have your Level 2 qualifications, you may be able to complete these alongside your Access course.

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 nursing, especially if you are an adult returning to education.

The course dates we offer fit around school holidays, making it easier to manage your studies alongside family commitments.

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
• Human Tissues and Systems
• Blood
• Cardiovascular System
• Homeostasis and Controlling Factors in the Body
• Reproductive System
• Genes and Inheritance

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

Your course will be a mixture of lectures, set work and quizzes.

You will be assessed through a programme of coursework. Your work will be graded at Pass, Merit or Distinction.

Most students will gain Pass marks at the beginning and get higher grades as the course progresses.

You may not have studied science for some time or you may never have done so; don’t worry. Over the course you will cover everything you need in order to succeed in your Nursing degree. To get an idea of the sort of topics you will be studying, take a look at this video, which covers some of the first Biology unit about Cells.

Free short courses

You can brush up on your skills before your course. Try these free Open University courses in English and Maths or choose from a wide range of free online course at Ruskin that could be helpful with your studies.

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: Nursing 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 nursing. 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 health professions.

At the end of the course universities will offer you a place following an interview and they will ask for a number of Credits at Pass, Merit or Distinction. They will never ask for all Distinctions in all your units. You can find out more about this on the UCAS website.

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