Course Overview
The Access to HE (Nursing pathway) is a programme that seeks to prepare people who wish to study towards a degree in the field of Nursing.
Entry Requirements
Applicants should have GCSE Maths and English at grade 4.
The Access to HE course will help you to develop the knowledge, skills and confidence you need to prepare you for university, without any assumptions about what you may have done in the past. Universities do specify a minimum entry requirement and we strongly recommend you research these prior to your interview at Nescot.
IMPORTANT:
You must complete the attached research task to be considered for this course.
What the course covers
The Access to Higher Education (HE) Diploma is a qualification which prepares students for study at university. It is designed for people who would like to study in Higher Education but who left school without the usual qualifications such as A levels or Level 3 BTEC. A wide range of people and organisations are involved in Access to HE. The Quality Assurance Agency for HE regulates Access courses.
The main components of the course are:
‚ Study Skills
‚ Mandatory Core Units
‚ Health Sciences specialist units (Nursing)
In order the gain the Access to HE Diploma, learners must achieve a total of 60 credits. Of these 60 credits, 45 credits must be achieved at Level 3 from graded subject specific units. Graded units can be awarded at Pass, Merit or Distinction. The remaining 15 credits must be achieved at Level 2 or Level 3 from study skills units which are ungraded.
Assessment is continual throughout the year and will take a variety of forms from assignments, written reports, case studies, work experience reports and examinations.
Fees and funding
Fees for Academic Year 2026/27
£5,040*
*Exam fee included
Please note: Fees are for 2026/27 entry and apply to students eligible for home fee status. The fees quoted are subject to personal circumstances and will be confirmed at the time of your enrolment, depending on eligibility criteria. For more information about financial support for students, please click here or email studentfinance@nescot.ac.uk
If you are aged 19 or over and want to study a course at Level 3, 4, 5 or 6 you MAY be eligible for an Advanced Learner Loan (ALL) to cover the course fees find out more here.
Progression
The programme offers progression to Higher Education; Honours Degrees, Foundation Degrees or Higher National Diplomas. The college offers a number of Higher Education courses in related subjects such as Osteopathic Medicine and Sports Science. The Access to HE Diploma allows successful students achieving a Merit profile to progress to these courses, subject to interview. It also provides access to a wider range of Degrees at other Universities.
The Osteopathic Medicine department at NESCOT welcomes applications from Access to Nursing students.
Many university courses will accept the Access to Higher Education Diploma as an entry qualification for related Higher Education programmes, but there may be some degrees for which this certificate alone may not be acceptable. The suitability of the course for your ultimate career aim will be discussed at interview. You should always check with the relevant institution if you have a particular course or university in mind.
Access to HE Diplomas are intended to provide a preparation for study in UK Higher Education but, while partnership arrangements and progression agreements may exist between particular Access to HE courses and particular Higher Education programmes, the award of a Diploma does not provide guaranteed entry to UK HE programmes.
Duration
32 weeks (11 hours per week – currently 9.30am to 4.45pm on Thursday and Fridays).