Access to Higher Education – Nursing & Midwifery
Qualification Gained: ASCENTIS Access to HE Diploma (Nursing and Midwifery)
Study LevelLevel 3 Course TypeAccess to Higher Education Duration1 Year Start DateSeptember 2025 Study ModeFull-time LocationDavid Hockney BuildingOverview
Ready to take the next step towards a career in nursing or midwifery? Our Access to Higher Education Diploma in Nursing and Midwifery is your pathway to university and a life-changing profession in healthcare. This one-year course is designed for adults aged 19 and over who are passionate about delivering compassionate care and supporting individuals and families at some of the most critical moments in their lives. Whether you’re aiming to become a nurse or midwife, this programme equips you with the academic knowledge, confidence, and practical skills to succeed at university and beyond.
You’ll study a combination of health and science modules tailored to nursing and midwifery, exploring areas such as anatomy, healthcare ethics, human biology, and professional practice. Alongside subject knowledge, you’ll also build essential skills in academic writing, research, and critical thinking. As part of your learning experience, you’ll benefit from a range of enrichment opportunities, including:
- A taster day at the University of Bradford, where you’ll attend subject-specific lectures and connect with current students
- A visit to the Thackray Museum of Medicine in Leeds to explore the history of healthcare and deepen your understanding of patient care
- Workshops in nutrition, CPR training, and even a British Sign Language taster session
- Support from our dedicated academic librarians to help you develop effective study and referencing skills
Key Info
In addition to the skills gained in Biology and Social Issues, you will also develop skills in independent research, critical thinking and evaluative skills, study skills, interview skills, and interpersonal skills. Your learning materials will be accessed online, in units, at set times throughout the course. You will work through your materials as advised. You will have access to your tutors online. You will be supported through individual and group tutorials within a virtual classroom space. By the end of the course, you’ll be fully prepared for the demands of
higher education and ready to apply for degree-level study in:
- Adult
Nursing - Child
Nursing - Mental
Health Nursing - Midwifery
- Or
other related health and social care fields
- Introduction to Cell Biology
- Carrying out a Practical Investigation (Biology)
- Biomolecules and Key Biochemical Principles
- Homeostatis, Co-ordination and Control and the Excretory System
- Human Reproductive Biology
- Cardiovascular, Respiratory and Gasto-intestinal Systems
- Introduction to Issues in Health and Social Care
- Research Project (Social Issues in Healthcare)
- Health and Social Care Provision
- Mental Health and Wellbeing
- Principles of Safeguarding in Health and Social Care
- Developing Skills for Studying
- Preparing to Progress
- ICT – Presentation Software
- Entry to this course requires GCSE English Language, Maths and Science at a grade 4 or C.
- You are at least 19 years old on 1st September.
- Some Universities will accept 12 credits at Distinction in the Biology units of this course in lieu of GCSE Biology. It is your responsibility to check that your Mathematics and English Language qualifications are accepted for the Higher Education Institution course you wish to eventually apply for. Induction for this course will begin at the start of September.
- We may accept 12 credits of science from the Access to HE course as an alternative to a GCSE in science. In these cases, we would have a conversation with the student to check whether your chosen degree allows this substitution. It is the students responsibility to check the GCSE requirements of their chosen university.
You will have both formative and summative assessments for each unit. Formative assessments will be continuous and check your learning and understanding. These will include quizzes, online practice assessments and self-marked, reflective work. Summative assessments will be assessed through a range of assessment methods for example, reports; essays; presentations.
Successful completion of this course can lead to progression to further education or employment in the Health industry in a role related to Nursing and Midwifery. You will develop the necessary skills to progress onto Higher Education.
FE Tuition: £3,384.00 per academic year
Other Costs: You may be eligible for free or reduced course fees. If eligible, you could take out an Advanced Learner Loan (Advanced Learner Loan – Bradford College) to cover the cost of your Access to HE Diploma. This loan will be written off if you go on to successfully complete a HE course, for example, a degree.
This is representative of the most common fees scenario, but actual fees can vary depending on a number of factors. Please contact us if you need more guidance.
If you have any questions or require any additional information, please contact [email protected]
Disclaimer: Our prospectus, college documents and website are simply here to offer a guide. We accept no liability for any inaccurate statements and are not responsible for any negative outcomes if you rely on an inaccurate statement. We reserve the right to withdraw any programmes or service at any time.
