About the course
Whatever your background and however complicated and busy your life may be, there is always a way back into education.
Access to Higher Education courses are a great starting point to retrain for a new and exciting career or get the degree that you promised yourself. Access to Higher Education makes it possible.
Designed for students aged 19 and over, these courses lead to a 60 credit Level 3 Diploma and are a flexible alternative to A Levels. The qualifications are widely recognised by UK universities and earn up to 144 UCAS points.
If you are not sure that you a ready to take the step to apply for an Access to Higher Education full year programme, why not join our fully funded 12 week Pre-Access course, to brush up on your study skills and get ready to get back into education.
This course provides a recognised route to Higher Education courses for all branches of Nursing, Midwifery, Social Work, ODP and other health care programmes.
It can also provide a route to study degree courses in subjects such as Psychology and Early Childhood Studies.
Entry requirements
There are no formal academic requirements for this course, a Level 2 qualification in English and Maths is advisable and will be required for entrance to university.
Find out more about Maths and English qualifications offered at the college.
Qualifications
Nursing and Health Professions Access to HE Diploma Level 3
What you'll learn (core modules)
Modules include:
- Psychology - Abnormal Psychology
- Psychology - Health
- Psychology - Stress and Illness
- Sociology - Health & Illness
- Sociology - Research Methods
- Sociology - Disability
- Physiology - Cells
- Physiology - Genetics
- Physiology - Growth and Development
- Physiology - Body Systems
- Physiology - Health & Disease
- Research Project
- Study Skills
- Maths
- Physiology Key Concepts
How will I be assessed?
A number of different assessments are used on the Access course.
These include essay writing; presentations; research reports; exams; an e-portfolio of Higher Education Study Skills and an Independent Research Project.
These assessments will develop your academic skills in line with university expectations ensuring a smooth transition into degree level study programmes.
Where is the course delivered? (facilities/classrooms)
The course is delivered at:
University Studies Campus
73 Western Way
Bury St Edmunds
Suffolk IP33 3SP
Where will this course take me?
You will be able to progress to degrees such as Adult Nursing, Mental Health Nursing, Midwifery, Occupational Health, Social Work and ODP.
You can also access degrees here at USWSC in subjects such as Psychology, Psychology & Criminology, Sociology & Criminology, and Early Childhood Studies.
If you need help with funding
We offer flexible payment plans to help spread the cost of fees.
If you are aged between 19 and 23 and studying for your first full Level 3 qualification, your course will be fully funded through our Adult Education Budget and you will not incur any fees.
If you are 19-23 and already have a full level 3 qualification or are over 24, you can apply for an Advanced Learner Loan to fund your course.
For students studying Access to HE diplomas, Student Finance England will write off any outstanding Advanced Learner Loan balances taken out to pay for an Access course should you complete a degree. This means that you would not have to repay your access loan.
Study is hard enough without struggling to pay for the things that you may need to undertake your course. A discretionary bursary fund, depending on household income and family circumstances may provide support for travel, childcare and materials required for your course. Apply for a Bursary..
I'm interested. What should I do now?
Please apply online, or email us to find out more: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Days & times
Starting 08/09/2025
Monday 09:00 - 17:00
Wednesday 09:00 - 17:00