Access to Healthcare

Many Access students feel they have not yet fully developed their potential. This programme offers the chance to get to grips with the skills, knowledge and understanding to succeed in Higher Education.

Students who have completed the course have been hugely successful in gaining places on highly competitive programmes such as Midwifery, Mental Health / Adult / Paediatric Nursing, Paramedic Training and Operating Department Practice (ODP).

Degree courses often require students to have a particular number of credits in the science subjects so careful research is essential. In addition to the Access Diploma, GCSE Maths and English at grade C (some will accept alternative level 2 qualifications) are also a requirement. Some midwifery courses now require GCSE grade C (or new grading 9-4 for GCSE) in a Science subject as well. Therefore you are strongly advised to contact the universities you are interested in to check GCSE entry requirements prior to applying for Access. In addition we recommend that you gain care work experience either paid or voluntary to support your application to HE as some courses are competitive.

Please research HE requirements very carefully. A STRONG COMMITMENT IS NEEDED AS THE COURSE IS VERY INTENSIVE.

Acceptance onto the Access programme is conditional on:

• A satisfactory reference
• Attending taster days: Monday 1st July - Wednesday 3rd July 2019 (3 days)
• Completing a research task over the summer
• A draft of your personal statement

We want you to achieve to the very best of your ability at CRC. To make this happen we offer both learning and personal support by specialist staff tailored to meet your specific needs.

Assessment is by coursework and examination. The Access diploma consists of 60 credits, 45 of which are graded. Credits are awarded through assessment at the end of or during each module. These assessments may be written such as essays / research projects; oral e.g. presentations and there may also be examinations.

The Access programme takes 36 weeks, starting at the beginning of September and finishing in late June the following year. In addition to timetabled classes, it is expected that students will complete at least 15 hours of further independent study per week.