Access to Higher Education Diploma (Health Professions) – Classroom Learning
The Access to Higher Education Diploma is a nationally recognised Level 3 qualification accredited by Gateway Qualifications, an authorised validating agency which awards nationally recognised certification for Access programmes.
This course is suitable for those who have been out of full time education for some time and are aiming to progress onto further study at university or higher education courses.
This course provides entry to a wide range of degree courses and professional training.
Your learning will be facilitated by a range of activities ranging from, teacher input, group work, seminar presentations, research activities and personal study.
The Access Main Course offers a programme of academic study, equivalent to A Levels, leading to entry on degree and diploma courses. It has two elements:
1. Core Studies (Seminar Presentations, Study Skills, Academic Writing and Academic/Group/Personal Tutorials).
2. Additional or Specialist Studies (chosen according to your needs and the course of study which you want to pursue).
ESNEFT Career Start Programme
Working in partnership with employers, including hospitals and care organisations, our fantastic new Centre for Health and Social Care Professions is providing a range of training and qualifications to meet the demand for new recruits within the health and care sectors.
Courses are designed to address local skills shortages and are delivered by highly-qualified tutors with a diverse range of professional healthcare experiences.
Located on the fourth floor of our South Wing building, the Centre for Health and Social Care Professions encompasses 2,000 square metres of innovative teaching facilities.
The centre incorporates interactive learning technology to provide skills laboratories in realistic working environments, and well-equipped classrooms to ensure students are prepared for higher education (university) or employment.
Learning resources in the centre include:
- Dedicated skills rooms for role-play and recorded assessments, a dental surgery and decontamination room
- An interactive facility where bespoke environments can be created to develop interpersonal and problem-solving skills around a realistic backdrop
- Rooms for collaborative learning, as well as meeting and conference rooms to support apprenticeship assessments
In 2021 the East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT) partnered with our own Centre for Health and Social Care Professions here at Colchester Institute, with a whole new floor dedicated to provide exclusive training to our learners, so they can be career ready at the end of their time with us. ESNEFT is one of the biggest NHS Trusts in East Anglia and provides hospital and community services throughout Suffolk and North Essex.
Work in Health and Social Care
Nurturing a future-ready workforce with skills development alongside qualifications
In the field of health and social care, skills development and qualifications are crucial for professionals to deliver high-quality care and support to individuals in need, this is why all of our students complete mandatory placements
as part of their study and follow our newly developed P3 programme.
The P3 Programme
Focusing on Preparation, Placement and Progression (P³), all students will develop the skills and professional behaviours expected to be seen in the workplace which will be delivered through a variety of workshops and online learning. This will offer students an assessed competency prior to embarking on a placement through a variety of workshops, online learning and the Care Certificate.
All Health and Social Care students must complete this mandatory training prior to starting on their placements which includes:
- Clinical and health skills development
- Up to 72 hours of additional teaching with clinical experts throughout the year
- Roleplays and reflective exercises
- Communication and study skills
Further progression activities support learners throughout the academic year ready for their next steps, such as:
- UCAS support
- Interview and employment-ready workshops
- Academic literacy development
- Resilience and wellbeing activities
Those studying under the Centre are referred to as ‘Professionals in Training’ and will follow the NHS 6Cs philosophy; care, courage, commitment, compassion, competence and communication. These behaviours are monitored and rewarded throughout the course.
Students will be expected to work in a variety of settings to develop different skills, and the College has placements in over 150 workplaces.
ESNEFT Career Start Programme
The aim of our Career Start Programme is to develop the key employability skills and qualities in our students, so that we can prepare them for a career within the sector by the time they leave us to progress on their career path.
Those who are successful in accessing the programme will have demonstrated a positive attitude to the NHS 6Cs approach and towards their own development. They will be offered a student placement, a training package within a hospital environment and a guaranteed interview for a ‘real’ job in the NHS.
These students will be given:
- Clinical work placement at Colchester or Ipswich Hospital
- An allocated supervisor
- Compulsory NHS induction training
- An NHS mentor to support them throughout the programme
- Online training modules
- Masterclasses at the Iceni Centre, at Colchester General Hospital
- Interactive training sessions
By completing the mandatory skills training, our students will be able to access more substantial student placements which are more practical in nature and will be guaranteed a job interview on successful completion of the Career Start Programme.
Who is eligible to benefit from this opportunity?
This programme will be open to existing students on Level 2 and Level 3 Health and Social Care programmes, Level 3 Applied Science and our Access to Higher Education Diploma in Health Professions.
There are limited spaces available on this programme, students will be selected by achievement and their commitment and dedication to their studies. These will be our shining stars who choose a vocation (pathway) within the NHS.
Students must be, at least, 17 and a half by the time they finish this programme and ready to start work, which could be full-time, part-time or even fitted around a higher education course of study. For paediatric areas, students must be 18 before they start their placements.
Why should you apply for this programme?
- You’ll have access to NHS apprenticeships
- You’ll gain lived experience in Health and Social Care settings first-hand
- Your job application is prioritised above non-Career Start Programme applicants
- You will develop your care values according to the NHS 6Cs approach early, which are essential for any relevant role
How do you apply?
Your tutors and our partners at ESNEFT will talk to you about this opportunity in your first term at college.
The facilities in the Health and Social Care department are excellent, we get good access to lots of practical sessions in actual healthcare settings. The experiences we get from the work placement are also excellent, we wouldn’t get the same placement opportunities at any other college. I started at Colchester Institute studying Level 2 Health and Social Care and I’m now an employee of ESNEFT after finishing the Career Start programme. The programme provided access to additional training, where I learnt specific skills to ensure I progressed directly into a career in the NHS.
Martha
Martha
Individual Interviews
You should prepare a written response to the questions below, and during your 20 minute interview be prepared to answer questions on what you have researched. You should bring in and submit your notes of this research (word-processed or handwritten) as these will also be used to assess you for selection. The interview process involves determining whether you have sufficiently researched you chosen degree pathway.
Please also bring in the email correspondence you have had with the universities you are intending to apply to, providing such information as the required GCSE maths and English/Level 2 qualifications.
You should take time to research your chosen Higher Education programme and future career, you will be asked questions about your research at interview.
- What have you been doing in the last 3-4 years?
- At which University and which Higher Education programme do you wish to progress onto following the Access programme?
- What has influenced your choice of Higher Education programme?
- Describe some of your strengths and explain how these can be applied to further study or your career goal.
- Describe some of your weaknesses and how you could improve them.
- Where do you wish to study?
- What qualifications are required to progress onto your Higher Education programme, including Access grade, preferred subjects to be studied and Access Diploma type.
- Details of any work experience/voluntary work required.
- Mode of HE study e.g. modules studied on the programme, work placements, exams.
- In relation to a career, what do you know about factors such as shift patterns, pay, location, jobs market etc.
- What is the level of competition for a place on the higher education course to which you would like to apply?
- What alternative course/s have you researched if your degree application is unsuccessful?
Use the UCAS link to help you research which university course programme you wish to progress to following completion of your Access to Higher Education Diploma
Access to Higher Education Diploma (Health Professions)
Course Outline: The Access to Higher Education Diploma course will offer you the ideal preparation for further study in higher education or training.
| Level | Level 3 |
|---|---|
| Location | Colchester |
| Duration | One Year |
| Study Mode | Full-Time |
| Campus / Adult Skills Centre | Colchester Campus |
| Start Date | September 2025 |
| Applications | Applications for starting in September or October 2025 are open |
| Attendance | Approximately 3 days per week |
| Fee(s) | Health Professions: £3,384 |
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Disclaimer
All fees, prices and funding information shown on this page are for courses starting in the 2024-25 academic year unless stated otherwise, and are correct at the time of entering/printing information, however these may be subject to change due to factors outside of our control. The College cannot accept legal or financial liability as a result of any such changes.
Courses fees are generally not confirmed for September until June / July due to the above factors.
The course information describes programmes offered by Colchester Institute. The College takes all reasonable steps to provide courses as described, but cannot guarantee provision. The information is for guidance and does not form any part of a contract.
The College reserves the right to update and amend information as and when necessary. Colchester Institute will do its best to provide the courses shown, but may have to modify or withdraw a course depending on customer demand and other factors.
