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. 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. Universities widely accept it and qualifies for UCAS tariff points comparable to those 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, exam preparation, and note-taking.

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

Please note that this course is not suitable for those wanting to study medicine or dentistry at university. If you are interested in medicine or dentistry, 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 of 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 throughout the year and is based on several set pieces of work, including 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

This course may be free if you meet certain conditions:

• If you are not working or have a low income. You need to show proof of your income or benefits.
• If you are aged 19-23 and you do not have a full Level 3 qualification (a full L3 is the equivalent of two A-levels at A* - E grade). You need to show us proof of any qualifications you already have.
• Residency rules apply. You need to show you have permission to live, work and study in the UK without conditions, and live in London If you live outside London, you need to pay fees.
• There are some exceptions, such as certain visa types.

Check here which documents you need to show us, and which visa types are allowed.

If you do not meet the residency rules, you can still enrol on the course but you may have to pay some fees. All applicants are fee-assessed during enrolment.

If you are not eligible for a free or reduced-cost course, you need to pay the full fee yourself, or apply for an Advanced Learner Loan.

If you have to pay for your course, and decide to apply for an Advanced Learner Loan (ALL), the residency rules are different: https://www.gov.uk/advanced-learner-loan.

Some courses have additional 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 the requirements for specific degree courses, as 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.