Access to Higher Education Diploma: Allied Health Professionals
Start Date
Mon Sep 02 2024
Day / Time
Weekdays
Duration
1 year
Fees
£3384
If you’re 19 years or older and dream of working in the NHS Allied Health Professions such as Dietitians, Occupational Therapists, Osteopaths, Paramedics, Physiotherapists and Radiographers but don't yet have the qualifications you need, then our Access to HE Diploma in Allied Health Professions could be for you.
The course is validated through Ascentis and is a recognised QAA qualification.
This one-year intensive programme is designed to support you to get the qualifications you need to get into university to study for a degree in the Allied Health Professions.
Run by a team of friendly, supportive and approachable teaching professionals, the course has been designed to support you in your career journey.
For more information on Allied Health Professions, please visit the NHS Allied Health Professionals Website.
On the course you will study:
- Biology
- Introduction to cell biology
- Biomolecules and Key Biochemical Principles
- Aspects of Human Physiology
- Homeostasis
- Chemistry
- Core Principles of chemistry
- Mathematics
- Introduction to mathematics
- Foundations in Statistics
- Psychology and Sociology
- Defining, classifying and explaining disorders
- Approaches in psychology
- Lifespan development
- Research project (social issues in healthcare)
- Health and illness
- English
- Introduction to language analysis
- Language to persuade
You will complete ongoing assessments during your time with us.
This will include essays, reports, portfolios, case studies, exams and other assessment types to help you show your understanding of the topics covered in the course.
You will also carry out your own research project into social issues in healthcare.
Our teachers are ambitious, talented and passionate about making your experience at college the very best it can be.
They have up-to-date industry experience to share with you and the energy and enthusiasm to help you get where you need to be.
They also understand that returning to study as an adult can be tough and that you'll have lots of other priorities to juggle.
They pride themselves on offering lots of one-to-one support to help you do your very best.
Although work experience is not a mandatory element of this course we strongly recommend you complete voluntary work in a health environment to support your progression to university.
There may be opportunities to gain work experience with our own employer partners.
We can support you through this and we have our very own industry placement and business development team ready to offer help and advice.
Students on the access course make use of facilities at the Baltic campus including our libraries, laboratories, clinical practice rooms and classroom environments.
You will have access to our Careers and Guidance team to help you with your university application and to help you prepare for interviews and assessments.
You will also have access to our dedicated welfare and wellbeing team.
Our welfare and wellbeing officers can offer help and advice on emotional support, relationship issues, coping strategies, time management and referrals to other services such as counselling.
Between now and the start of the course, do some research into UCAS personal statements. You will need to do one as part of your UCAS application.
Visit BBC Bitesize and have a look at some of the level two English and Maths revision packages on offer.
Look at the science revision packages too, if this is relevant to your course!
The standard entry requirements are GCSE grade 4 or above in maths and English or Level 2 Functional Skills (only for certain degrees).
GCSEs in Science might be a requirement for some Allied Health Degrees, so it is worth checking on the entry requirements page of your preferred degree.
If you have relevant industry experience in the heath or social care sector or personal experience in a caring role for a family member, for example caring for a family member with a disability, we would encourage you to apply.
Many of our students progress to local and national universities to study degree programmes.
Some of the courses our students have progressed to are:
- Paramedic Sciences
- Occupational Therapy
- Social Work
- Psychology
- Operating Department Practitioner
- Dietetics
- Osteopathy
- Physiotherapy
- Podiatry
- Radiography
- Speech and Language Therapy.
To search university programmes and their entry requirements, you can use the UCAS website.
You will be required to attend an assessment event before enrolling in this course.
Sometimes this can include taking a short online assessment in maths and English to test your suitability for the programme if you do not have GCSEs at grade 4/C or recent Functional Skills at Level 2.
If you are aged 19-23 and do not yet have a full level three qualification, you will get the course for free!
If you are aged 24 or higher, or already have a full level three qualification, the full cost of the course is £3,384.
But, the full amount can be covered by the Adult Advanced Learning Loan.
Student Finance England will “write off” the loan once you complete a university degree following on from the Access to HE Diploma, meaning you would not pay anything back.
One of our former students had this to say about our access course.
“If someone had told me a few years ago that I’d be on my way to Durham University I honestly would have laughed in their face. Gateshead College has totally helped me turn my life around and aim for something I never thought I would ever do. I’m so indebted to everyone who has supported me throughout and I am beyond grateful.”
