When & Where

Quick Facts

  • Availability Yes
  • Course Code K24SHEF03A
  • Suitable For 19 year olds and up are permitted on this course

What you will learn

An Access to HE Diploma in Medicine could be your first step towards a career in areas related to medicine and medical science. This programme provides a thorough grounding in scientific principles in preparation for study in the areas of medicine or medical sciences. All students will take units in study skills, human biology, chemistry and physics.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  • Study skills: professional behaviours for medical practitioners, reading and comprehension of scientific writing, report writing, use and comprehension of numerical data, examination skills (15 credits)
  • Chemistry: fundamental principles in chemistry, concepts in physical chemistry, the chemistry of aqueous solutions, the chemistry of organic compounds (18 credits)
  • Physics: motion energy and forces, waves, medical imaging (9 credits)
  • Biology: fundamental concepts in cellular biology, principles in human digestion, the circulatory and respiratory systems, the musculo-skeletal system (18 credits)

On successful completion of the course, you will achieve the following qualification: Access to HE Diploma (Medicine) [OCNLR]

Class format and activities

The Access to HE: Medicine programme prepares students for degree courses such as Medciine and Dentistry. It also prepares students for applied science related degree courses such as Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Science, Pharmacology, Biomedical Science, and Physiology. The course will be offered as an in-person course at our Waterloo centre. To achieve the Access to HE Diploma students must achieve 60 credits: 45 @ L3 (graded) and 15 @ L3 (ungraded study skills). Achievement on your course will be measured by completion of assignments. Your progress towards achieving the learning outcomes will be reviewed throughout the course. At the start of the course you will have an opportunity to discuss these with your tutor and set your own personal targets, linked to the learning outcomes and future goals i.e.: progression to another course.

Entry requirements

You must be aged 19 or over. ,• You should have GCSEs in Maths and English (grades A – C or grades 4 - 9) or a recognised equivalent. You will need these two qualifications in addition to the Access to HE Diploma to progress to university. Some universities will require a minimum of B/6 in 5 GCSEs including English, Maths, and Science. If you wish to study medicine at university we will expect for you to hold these qualifications to gain entry to the Access to Medicine.

What you need to know before you enrol

Your Access course will be very enjoyable, but also requires real dedication and commitment if you are going to succeed. Excellent attendance and punctuality is required from all students. This course requires study/completion of activities outside of class time. Your course requires attendance around two and a half days a week with one class held in the evening. The course runs from the beginning of September to the end of June. We endeavour to prepare students for the demands of a University degree course in just nine short months. It is therefore essential that you think about how you are going to balance work, family and social life with your studies. Assessment of the Access to HE diploma is by coursework completed throughout the year. You will be expected to do regular reading and written work in addition to your attendance in classes. Applicants for many degrees in the sciences, and all those in the health professions (medicine) will sit entry tests in English and Maths at the university, as well as attend a group or individual interview. Applicants for medicine will be required to sit the UCAT. Applicants are expected to show a high degree of verbal and written communication skills. For those interested in health profession degrees work experience in a relevant health or care setting is normally an essential entry requirement (either through paid employment or voluntary work).

What you need

You will require access to paper, pens, pencil, ruler, graph paper and scientific calculator. You will also need access to a laptop/tablet/desktop and reliable WiFi for completion of your assignments.

What you can do next

This Access programme prepares students for medical science-based degree courses such as Medicine and Dentistry. This Access programme also prepares students for degree level study in Anatomy, Physiology, Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Science or Pharmacology, Biosciences or Biomedical Science.

Cost

  • Full fee
    £3384
  • Concession fee
    £3384
  • Student Loan information