The wards, the laboratories, the consulting rooms, every corner of medicine and health science is shaped by the knowledge this diploma builds. The Access to HE Diploma (Science), Medical and Health Sciences Pathway is the route adults without science A levels take to reach the degrees that matter most: medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, nursing, and the allied health sciences.
This Level 3 qualification is awarded by OCN London, a QAA-recognised Access Validating Agency. It is for adults aged 19 and over who want to study health and medical sciences at a UK university but did not take science A levels, or who took them years ago and need a structured pathway back into the subject.
You will study 60 credits covering human biology, chemistry for health science, anatomy and physiology, cell biology, genetics, microbiology, and the fundamentals of pharmacology. Every unit is designed to map onto what first-year health and medical science undergraduates are expected to know. The curriculum mirrors what your target degree requires at entry.
Studied 100% online over 12 months, with no exams. Assessment is through essays, data interpretation tasks, case studies, and a final research project. You earn up to 144 UCAS points based on your grade profile. Your tutor provides detailed written feedback within 2 working days of every submission.
The pathway is particularly popular with career changers from non-science backgrounds, people who have spent years in administration, customer service, or the arts, and who know that medicine or health science is where they want to be.
An important note on medicine and dentistry: not all UK medical and dental schools accept the Access to HE Diploma. Some require specific A level grades in chemistry and biology. We recommend researching your target medical schools carefully, and our team can advise you on which programmes are most accessible via the Access to HE route.
Start anytime. Pay £99 a month interest-free over 24 months. Study around your existing life. The pathway that leads to the NHS, to the laboratory, and to the consulting room is open, this is how you get on it.
