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:
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.
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.
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!
Many of our students progress to local and national universities to study degree programmes.
Some of the courses our students have progressed to are:
To search university programmes and their entry requirements, you can use the UCAS website.
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.”
If you are aged 19-23 and do not yet have a full level three qualification, you can study this course for free.
If you are over 23 and need help to cover the cost of this course, you can apply for an Advanced Learner Loan.
This is a low interest loan with no upfront fees or payments, no credit checks and is paid back in instalments once you are earning a certain amount.
Once you have completed the Access to HE course, if you go onto complete a higher education degree course, the remaining balance of your Advanced Learner Loan, including any interest, will be ‘written off’, which means you won’t have to pay it back.
If you do apply for an Advanced Learner Loan you may also be eligible for additional grants to help with costs associated with the course such as travel or childcare through the Advanced Learner Loans.
For one-to-one advice, please contact our friendly team who will be able to give you the right information. You can reach them on email at [email protected] or 0191 490 0300 or via Live Chat.
Please note: The fee shown may be subject to change. If this happens, you will be contacted directly before the course is due to start.
All courses will run subject to sufficient student numbers.
Whatever support you need, we’re here for you and will make sure you get the most out of your time at college. We have expert teams in place to look after every single one of our students.
To contact our dedicated Learning Support team email [email protected] or head to Live Chat
Knowledge
Law and Government: Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
English Language: Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Biology: Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
Chemistry: Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
Customer and Personal Service: Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Median Salary
£33,744
Averge Qualifications
Psychology: Knowledge of human behaviour and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioural and affective disorders.
Therapy and Counselling: Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counselling and guidance.
Medicine and Dentistry: Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
Education and Training: Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
£30,147
Personnel and Human Resources: Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labour relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
Administration and Management: Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modelling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
£34,944
£38,523
Clerical: Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
Sociology and Anthropology: Knowledge of group behaviour and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
£38,565
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Using mathematics to solve problems.
Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
JOIN OUR SPORTS ACADEMIES
Eight specialist sport academies, all offering first class training, coaching and playing opportunities for everyone, regardless of what you study.
Connect with our Academy socials:
Enrolment Event
Monday 16 March 2026
Say Hello to HE Music
Monday 23 March 2026
UPCOMING EVENTS.
Find out about all our upcoming events here. Simply sign up and come along.
View or download our course guide for 16-18 year olds.