Access to HE Diploma (Health Science Professions)

Build the academic writing skills expected at university level. You learn how to plan and structure written responses for a defined audience and purpose, apply appropriate referencing conventions, and present your ideas with the clarity and evidence-based reasoning that health profession degree courses demand.

Develop the research literacy needed to navigate health-related literature with confidence. The module covers how to formulate focused research questions, locate and evaluate primary and secondary sources, and apply critical appraisal skills to assess the reliability of evidence in health and biomedical contexts.

Investigate the key concepts used to define, measure, and explain health and disease in populations and individuals. You examine the distinction between health and illness, explore biomedical and biopsychosocial models of disease, and build the conceptual vocabulary that underpins further study across health profession programmes.

Master the information literacy skills that enable effective and ethical academic research. The module develops your ability to locate credible sources across databases and repositories, evaluate information for accuracy, currency, and bias, and use findings responsibly in accordance with academic integrity principles.

Study the organisation of the human body from cellular and tissue level through to organ systems. You examine the structure and function of the major body systems, explore homeostatic mechanisms that maintain physiological balance, and build the biological foundation essential for degree-level health profession study.

Examine the anatomy and physiology of the musculoskeletal system, including bones, joints, cartilage, tendons, and skeletal muscle. You explore how the system supports movement and stability, examine common musculoskeletal conditions encountered in clinical practice, and develop the anatomical knowledge relevant to physiotherapy, nursing, and allied health programmes.

Investigate the structure and function of the endocrine system, the chemical communication network that coordinates long-term physiological regulation. The module covers the major endocrine glands and their hormones, examines feedback mechanisms that control hormone secretion, and analyses the pathophysiology of common endocrine disorders such as diabetes mellitus and thyroid disease.

Explore the principles of genetic inheritance and their relevance to human health and disease. You examine the mechanisms of DNA replication, gene expression, and chromosomal inheritance, trace patterns of dominant, recessive, and sex-linked conditions in family pedigrees, and consider how genetic knowledge informs counselling, diagnosis, and treatment in health practice.

Trace the biological changes that occur across the human lifespan, from conception and embryonic development through adolescence to ageing. You examine the physiological processes driving growth at each stage, explore the hormonal and environmental factors that influence development, and consider the health implications of developmental variation for clinical practice.

Analyse the biological mechanisms underlying major non-infectious diseases, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, metabolic disorders, and neurodegeneration. The module examines the genetic, lifestyle, and environmental risk factors that drive disease development, and explores how understanding these pathological processes informs prevention, early diagnosis, and clinical management.

Apply integrated biological and clinical knowledge to the diagnosis and management of common physiological disorders. The module examines the diagnostic reasoning process used in healthcare settings, analyses the evidence base for treatment approaches across a range of conditions, and develops the critical thinking skills that health profession students need at degree level.

Examine how communication quality directly shapes health outcomes and patient experience. You explore the principles of effective verbal, non-verbal, and written communication in clinical settings, examine barriers that affect communication across diverse patient groups, and analyse the legal and ethical dimensions of confidentiality, consent, and record keeping in health practice.

Investigate the spectrum of mental health conditions and the frameworks used to understand, diagnose, and treat them. The module examines the biological, psychological, and social factors that contribute to mental ill health, explores therapeutic and pharmacological interventions, and considers the role that stigma and inequalities play in shaping access to mental health services.

Connect neuroscience to human behaviour by examining the concept of localisation of brain function. You evaluate the investigative methods used in biopsychology – from neuroimaging to lesion studies – and explore how brain structure, neurochemistry, and behaviour interact in ways relevant to clinical neuroscience and health professional practice.

Analyse the psychological, behavioural, and social factors that influence physical health and illness. The module examines health behaviour models, the psychology of patient adherence and chronic illness adjustment, and the role that stress, social support, and cultural context play in shaping health outcomes across diverse populations.

Synthesise the research and academic skills developed across the Access to HE Health Professions programme into an independent project. You formulate a focused health-related research question, conduct a structured review of evidence, apply critical appraisal techniques, and present your findings in a format that demonstrates university-level academic competence.