Medical Biosciences - Level 3 Access to Higher Education Diploma

If you would like to study a Medical Biosciences or Medical-related degree at university, but left school without the qualifications you need, then this Access to HE course could be for you.

This QAA-recognised qualification is a route into university courses such as Medical Biosciences, Dental Hygiene, Radiography, Pharmacy, or Neuroscience, to name a few. It is well-established and widely accepted by universities, qualifying for UCAS tariff points that are comparable to the tariff points for three A levels.

Each year, over 20,000 Access to HE students apply for a degree course at a UK university; if you go on to complete a relevant degree at university, your Advanced Learner Loan will be written off by Student Finance England.

This course will help you get the qualifications you need to study a range of Bioscience and Medical-related degrees at university.

You will learn study skills such as report writing, reading and comprehension of numerical data, preparation for exams and note-taking.

You will also have a personal tutor who will support you during the year and who will advise you on your applications to higher education institutions.

Please note that this course is not suitable for those wanting to study strictly medicine or dentistry courses at university – if you are interested in medicine or dentistry then please consider our Access to Higher Education Medicine Diploma instead.

For this Access to Medical Biosciences programme, we complete a total number of 60 credits:

• 45 credits from graded academic subject content units at Level 3
• 15 credits are required from ungraded units at Level 3

Topics covered can include:

• Biology / Human Biology – 15 graded Level 3 credits
• Chemistry – 18 graded Level 3 credits
• Physics & Maths – 12 graded Level 3 credits
• Study skills – 15 ungraded Level 3 credits 

The course is taught as a Blended programme with both on-site and online learning. Typically, this will require you to attend College 3 days a week, each day is 4.5 hours:

• 2 days are online teaching & learning via Teams
• 1 day is on-site in our specialised laboratories at the Angel Campus

You will need:

• To be aged 19 or older
• A minimum of two weeks relevant work experience, if applicable
• GCSE English and Maths at grade 4 or above (or A*- C)

All applicants must have an interview to confirm that the course is suitable for them.

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. The science units are graded to pass, merit or distinction; you cannot resit units to achieve upgrades.

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.

Please be aware that the course is demanding, and it is expected that a similar number of hours of independent study per week is required to complete coursework and revise for in-course exams.

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.

Once you have completed your Access to HE course, you can progress to a Higher Education degree at a university or college.

You should check requirements for specific degree courses - different Higher Education institutions may have different entry requirements for similar courses.

We recommend that you check you have completed relevant work experience, such as work placements in clinics, dental surgeries, pharmacies or residential homes etc. in preparation for your personal statement.