Access to Higher Education Diploma: Health

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 to get where you need to be.

Upon applying for the Diploma you will need to have an interview, complete initial assessments for maths, English and comprehension, at one of our enrolment events, before being accepted on the course.  You will be provided with an invite to an interview at one of our open events and be given information on how you can prepare.

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.

Across the year, we engage with local universities to support students who are making decisions about their next steps. We have previously engaged with Northumbria University, Teesside University, The University of Sunderland, New College Durham, Cumbria University.

Students on the access course make use of facilities at the Baltic Campus including our libraries, laboratories and classroom environments.

You will also have access to our Careers and Guidance Team to help you with your application to university and to help you prepare for interviews and assessments.

Many of our students progress to local and national universities to study a degree in Midwifery or other related degree programmes. Some of the courses our students have progressed to are:

• Adult Nursing
• LD Nursing
• Mental Health Nursing
• Children’s Nursing
• Paramedic Sciences
• Occupational Therapy
• Physiotherapy
• Nutrition
• Dental Hygiene
• Social Work
• Psychology
• Sociology

To search university programmes and their entry requirements, you can use the UCAS website

The standard entry requires are GCSE grade 4 or above in math and English.

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.

Level 2 Functional Skills may be considered.

You can apply for an Advanced Learner Loan to cover the course fees. 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. More information can be found here.

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 some people, this course may be free. This is dependent on your individual circumstances.

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 2294 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.

You must be over 18 years old to apply for this course.

For suitable courses 16-18 year olds please see our 16-18 offer.