16 September 2025 - 17 June 2026 ( 419 hours, 34 weeks )
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North Kensington Centre
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.
On successful completion of the course, you will achieve the following qualification: Access to HE Diploma (Medicine) [OCNLR]
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.
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.
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).
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.
