Nursing - Level 3 Access to Higher Education Diploma

The Access to Higher Education Diploma (Nursing) is a Level 3 qualification which prepares adult learners without traditional qualifications to study Nursing at university.

The qualification gives you the relevant academic subject knowledge needed for higher education study, and the opportunity to develop study skills to help you to succeed. Access Diplomas are well-established and widely accepted by universities, qualifying for UCAS tariff points that are comparable to the tariff points for three A levels.

This particular course will provide you with the foundation knowledge of a range of healthcare professions, including Mental Health, Adult, and Child Nursing, Midwifery, and other related degrees. You will learn important study skills relevant to science, including undertaking effective research, collecting and analysing scientific data and writing experiment reports and essays. Additional modules will help you develop your study and research skills and assist with your personal development for further study.

This course is delivered at the Centre for Applied Sciences.

You will study modules including:

• The Role of the Health or Social Care Professional
• Anatomy and Physiology
• Cells
• Genes and inheritance
• Human Tissues and Systems
• Communication Skills in a Professional Setting
• Ethical Dilemmas
• Mental Health Conditions
• Arithmetic Skills for Health Studies

You will need to:

• Be aged 19 or older
• Have four GCSEs at grade 4 or above (A* - C), including GCSE English, GCSE Maths and GCSE Science (Double Award)
• Have at least 2 weeks of relevant work experience
• Attend an interview to confirm that the course is suitable for you

This course is assessed through coursework assignments, tests and examinations throughout the course, which are set and marked by your teachers and externally moderated by OCN London. Assessment is continuous over the whole year and is based on a number of set pieces of work such as essays, projects, presentations and tests.

Adults - Access to Higher Education

If you will be aged 19 to 23 prior to the start date of your course, and do not already have a full Level 3 qualification, you may be eligible for a Level 3 entitlement, in which case your study with us will be free. Otherwise, you will have to pay the fees yourself or apply for an Advanced Learner Loan.

Please see here for the documents you will need to show us.

Some courses will have other associated costs, such as for specialist materials and trips. Many of our students are eligible for financial support, see here for details.

Learners primarily progress to Higher Education study in areas related to Health Sciences. These may include some of the following areas of Degree level study:

• Adult Nursing
• Child Nursing
• Mental Health Nursing
• Midwifery
• Health Promotion
• Public Health
• Occupational Therapy
• Related Science Degrees

Suzanne has been working at the Centre for Applied Sciences for over 15 years. She teaches the anatomy and physiology on the Access to Medicine, as well as the Access to Biomedical Science courses.

Before coming to work at the college, Suzanne worked as a clinician in the NHS. As well as many years of teaching practice, she has a wealth of relevant practical experience, which she can bring to the classroom.

Mark Ashby joined City and Islington College in 2006. Prior to this, he worked as a Molecular Biologist studying bacteria at Imperial College London, University of Auckland, Queen Mary University of London, University College London, and the University of the West Indies, with at least 14 refereed publications, including one in the world’s top-ranked microbiology journal.

During this time, he also became a secondary Science teacher in South East London for 4 years. At City and Islington College, he teaches Microbiology and research skills in Applied Science BTEC courses, making use of his research experience.

Jen has been teaching biology for eight years and a member of the CANDI teaching staff for two. They studied exercise science with a focus on neuroscience and biomechanics in Australia which led to three years as an exercise practitioner working with patients who had experienced neurological disorders. Upon completing their teacher training in Melbourne, Australia, Jen moved to London six years ago. 

Jen is deeply passionate about sharing a love of learning with every student, working to create an inclusive and welcoming classroom in which students enjoy being. 

The teachers listed may change, these shown are an example of the teachers who teach on these programmes.