Access to Higher Education
Your route to a Health and Social Care degree without A-Levels. Study 100% online at your own pace, no exams, flexible start dates, dedicated tutor support.
The Access to Higher Education Diploma (Health and Social Care) is a nationally recognised Level 3 qualification, designed specifically to prepare adults for university-level study in health, social care and related disciplines. Awarded by the Skills & Education Group Access (QAA aim code: 4001468X), it is regulated by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) and widely accepted by universities across the UK.
Health and social care professionals support individuals who are at risk, unwell or have specific medical needs. They work with families, young people, the elderly and the seriously ill, helping people maintain good physical and mental health and live independently. This diploma gives you the academic foundation and the UCAS points to step into a degree and a career in this sector.
The course is delivered entirely online through our dedicated learning platform. You study at your own pace, submitting assignments when you’re ready. A dedicated personal tutor guides you through every unit, offering feedback and support throughout your 9–12 month journey.
Assessment is entirely portfolio and coursework based. There are no exams — you demonstrate your learning through written assignments, case studies, academic reports, presentations and reflective pieces, and your final grade directly determines the UCAS points you earn.
This Access to Higher Education Diploma is one of more than 20 Access pathways we offer. For the full picture, including how Access to HE compares with A-levels and which universities accept it, read our complete guide to Access to HE Diplomas. You may also be interested in the Access to HE Diploma (Nursing) or the Access to HE Diploma (Social Work). Not sure which pathway fits your degree? Start with what is Access to HE.
Using this diploma as a stepping stone into nursing? Read our complete guide on how to become a nurse for entry routes, NMC registration and Band 5 salary expectations.
The diploma is built from 17 units totalling 60 credits — 45 from graded academic units in health, psychology and social care, plus 15 ungraded credits in academic writing and study skills. Each unit ends with an assignment marked by your tutor.
Build the foundations of university-level writing. You learn how to plan, structure and present a written response for a specific audience and purpose, and how to apply academic conventions consistently to your own work — a skill you carry into every assignment that follows.
Develop the active reading techniques that distinguish university study from school. You explore different reading strategies, learn how language and context shape meaning across academic texts, and master practical note-making methods that turn dense reading into usable knowledge.
Examine how effective communication shapes patient outcomes. The unit covers the main methods and barriers of communication in healthcare settings, the analytical importance of communication skills in care, and the legal and ethical role of confidentiality and record keeping.
Compare the major schools of psychological thought — behaviourist, cognitive, biological, psychodynamic and humanistic. You analyse the differences between perspectives and apply them to contemporary issues in psychology, building the analytical vocabulary expected on a psychology or health degree.
Study the family as a social institution. The unit examines how families relate to wider society, the role relationships within families, and the influence of feminist scholarship on the academic study of family life.
Understand the core concepts of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and the legislation that underpins them, including the Equality Act 2010. You evaluate the effectiveness of NHS policies and initiatives in promoting EDI across diverse patient populations.
Explore how people change across the lifespan. The unit evaluates the nature–nurture debate, traces early socialisation and attachment formation, examines cognitive development in childhood, and considers the psychological changes that accompany ageing.
Investigate the modern healthcare profession from the inside. You examine how a chosen healthcare role has evolved, the regulatory frameworks that govern it, and the effectiveness of multidisciplinary team working in delivering safe, coordinated care.
Trace the development of the British welfare state from the Beveridge Report to today. The unit maps the main welfare services in contemporary Britain, evaluates the ideologies that shape provision, and analyses a current contemporary issue in welfare delivery.
Examine the science of mental processes — memory, attention, perception and problem-solving. You analyse how cognitive research has shaped our understanding of these processes, and evaluate how cognitive theories apply to real-world situations from eyewitness testimony to therapy.
Investigate why life outcomes differ so sharply across UK society. The unit explores the relationship between social differentiation and inequality, the main theoretical perspectives, and how class, gender and ethnicity shape opportunity.
Connect biology and behaviour through the concept of localisation of function. You evaluate the main methods used to investigate the brain — from neuroimaging to lesion studies — and examine how brain structure and behaviour interact.
Map the social care landscape in the UK. The unit covers adult and children’s social work provision, the role of voluntary and private sector providers, and the differing welfare needs of distinct service-user groups.
Evaluate one of the defining policy challenges of modern Britain. You compare definitions and theoretical explanations of poverty, examine its historical trajectory, study the measurement methods used by government and researchers, and assess recent anti-poverty policy interventions.
Study how chemistry shapes behaviour. The unit covers the role of neurotransmitters in regulating behaviour, the effects of psychoactive drugs, and the use of pharmacological treatments for psychological disorders — essential grounding for nursing, psychology and care careers.
Build practical and clinical understanding of dementia. You study the causes and prevalence of the major forms of dementia, the diagnostic pathway, and the treatment and care strategies that support people living with the condition and their families.
Examine prejudice and discrimination across psychological and sociological theory. The unit evaluates the legal frameworks that respond to discrimination in the UK, and considers the community-led initiatives working to overcome it in everyday life.
This diploma is designed for adult learners aged 19 and over. Formal academic qualifications are helpful but not always required — we assess each application individually.
Our enrolment advisers assess each application individually. We look at your life experience, motivation, and readiness to study — not just your qualifications.
Speak to our team — we're here to help you find the right course and funding option.
Call 01202 006 464You must achieve 60 credits in total to complete the diploma — 45 from graded academic units and 15 from ungraded skills units. Assessment is 100% coursework based across all 17 units, with no exams.
All assessment is portfolio and coursework based — no exams
A range of methods used: academic report, essay, case study, academic poster, journal article, portfolio, video or audio presentation
Assignments are submitted online through the learning platform
Your personal tutor provides detailed written feedback within 5 working days
You can resubmit work if your first attempt doesn’t meet the required standard
Grades awarded: Pass, Merit or Distinction — each corresponding to different UCAS point levels
An Access to HE Diploma in Health and Social Care opens the door to a rewarding career supporting people in your community. With your Level 3 diploma you can progress to a related degree, and from there into a wide range of professional roles.
£32,000 – £45,000typical salary range
Support vulnerable individuals and families through complex life situations. Requires a social work degree and HCPC registration.
£25,000 – £35,000typical salary range
Work with communities to identify needs, run projects and improve local services and wellbeing.
£28,000 – £42,000typical salary range
Design and deliver public health campaigns that help people make healthier choices.
£43,000 – 60,000typical salary range
Lead teams and services within the NHS or private healthcare. NHS Band 7–8.
£22,000 – £30,000typical salary range
Provide day-to-day care and support in residential, community or supported living settings.
£25,000 – 47,000typical salary range
Support clients with mental health and life challenges. Requires accredited counselling training.
Graduates of this course go on to universities across the UK, including Russell Group institutions. Enrol today and start your journey.
All plans include the same full course content, dedicated tutor, and your awarding body certification.
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Yes — the Access to HE Diploma is a nationally regulated Level 3 qualification approved by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA), and it is the standard pathway mature learners use to access university. Online delivery does not affect recognition; the award is identical whether studied online or in a classroom. Individual universities set their own grade conditions, so confirm the specific entry requirements with your chosen Health and Social Care or Social Work admissions team before you enrol.
There is no single threshold — each university sets its own conditions — but most Health and Social Care degree programmes require around 96–120 UCAS points, which corresponds broadly to a Pass or Merit profile across your units. More competitive degrees, particularly Social Work, often specify a higher number of Merit and Distinction credits. Once you have a conditional offer, our enrolment team can help you plan your study around the grade profile you need.
You need to be aged 19 or over, UK resident with a UK postcode, and hold Level 2 English and Maths — GCSE grade 4/C, Functional Skills Level 2, or working towards them alongside the diploma. Relevant care experience is valued but not formally required. Every application is reviewed individually — if you are unsure whether you are ready, our admissions team can assess your suitability before you commit.
The typical completion time is 9–12 months, based on around 10–15 hours of study per week. Because the course is self-paced and fully online, you can complete in less time or spread your studies over up to 24 months — fitting your learning around work, family and other commitments. There are no fixed term dates; you can start at any point in the year.
No. The Access to HE Diploma is 100% coursework and portfolio assessed across all 17 units. You submit written assignments, case studies, academic posters, journal articles and presentations online and receive detailed feedback from your tutor. There are no timed examinations at any point. Units are graded at Pass, Merit or Distinction — these grades determine your UCAS points total.
You can earn up to 144 UCAS points — equivalent to three A-Levels at top grades. The exact number depends on your grades across the graded units: a Pass profile earns approximately 96–120 points; Merit earns 120–132 points; Distinction earns up to 144 points. Most Health and Social Care degrees require around 96–120 UCAS points, so a Merit profile or above opens the widest range of choices.
The diploma covers four core areas: Psychology (developmental, cognitive and biopsychology), Sociology and Social Policy (family, welfare state, social inequality, poverty), Health and Care Practice (healthcare communication, equality and diversity, dementia, multidisciplinary teams), and Academic Skills (writing, reading and note making). Together these units give you both the subject knowledge and the academic skills needed for degree-level study.
Most graduates progress to degrees in Health and Social Care, Social Work, Health Studies, Nursing, Public Health, Counselling, Psychology or Community Studies. Some universities will also accept the diploma for entry into Sociology, Criminology and Education degrees. You should always check your target university’s entry requirements before you enrol — our enrolment team can help guide you toward the right pathway.
The Access to HE Diploma can be paid in full upfront with a pay-in-full discount, or you can spread the cost interest-free with a flexible monthly payment plan. There is no Student Finance scheme for Access to HE through learndirect — you pay learndirect directly, with no credit checks. Once you progress to your full undergraduate degree at a UK university, you can apply for the standard Student Finance package (tuition fee loan and maintenance loan) in the normal way. Our enrolment advisers will walk you through the payment options and confirm the right plan for your circumstances.
Yes — the course is built specifically for adult learners with existing commitments. Everything is delivered online with no fixed lecture times or attendance requirements. You access materials and submit assignments whenever it suits you — evenings, early mornings or weekends. Many learners complete this programme while working full time in care or support roles, or managing family responsibilities.
I’d been working as a care assistant for years but never thought I could go to university. This course changed that. The tutors were incredibly patient and the assignments built my confidence step by step. I’m now on a Social Work degree and loving every minute.
Aisha R.
Access to HE (Health and Social Care)
Studying online while raising two kids felt impossible at first, but the flexibility made it work. I finished in 11 months with a Merit profile and got onto my first-choice Health Studies degree. The dementia and biopsychology units were brilliant.
Laura J.
Access to HE (Health and Social Care)
I left school at 16 with no qualifications and started care work in my twenties. At 38 I decided to go for a degree. The tutor support was the difference — detailed feedback, encouragement when I needed it, and a clear path through every unit. Now I’m a year into my Social Work degree.
Mark P.
Access to HE (Health and Social Care)
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