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Can an Access to HE Diploma Lead to an NHS Degree Apprenticeship?

Yes. An Access to Higher Education Diploma can be accepted as the Level 3 entry qualification for some NHS and healthcare degree apprenticeships.

If you want to become a nurse, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, radiographer or another healthcare professional, university is not always limited to the traditional full-time student route.

Some healthcare professions can also be entered through a degree apprenticeship, where you are employed while completing the university degree required for your profession.

An Access to HE Diploma in Health Science Professions can help provide the Level 3 academic qualifications required for entry to some of these opportunities.

However, apprenticeship entry requirements vary between NHS employers and universities, so students should always check the requirements for the particular apprenticeship they intend to apply for.

What is a healthcare degree apprenticeship?

A healthcare degree apprenticeship combines university study with paid employment.

Rather than attending university solely as a full-time student, an apprentice is employed and completes academic study and workplace training as part of the apprenticeship.

Healthcare degree apprenticeships are available in a growing range of professions, which can include:

Adult Nursing
Children's Nursing
Mental Health Nursing
Physiotherapy
Occupational Therapy
Diagnostic Radiography
Therapeutic Radiography
Dietetics
Paramedic Science
Healthcare Science

The professions and apprenticeship vacancies available vary by NHS employer and location.

Can I use an Access to HE Diploma to apply for a degree apprenticeship?

Potentially, yes.

Some healthcare degree apprenticeships specifically list a QAA-recognised Access to HE Diploma among their accepted Level 3 entry qualifications.

Others may ask more generally for a suitable Level 3 qualification, while some specify particular subjects, credits or grades.

This means that simply seeing "Level 3 qualification required" does not automatically mean that every Level 3 qualification will be accepted.

Before starting an Access to HE Diploma with the intention of progressing to a degree apprenticeship, you should check the entry requirements of the employer and university offering the apprenticeship.

Is an Access to HE Diploma the same as an NVQ Level 3?

No.

An Access to HE Diploma and an NVQ Level 3 can both be Level 3 qualifications, but they have different purposes.

An Access to HE Diploma is an academic qualification specifically designed to prepare adults for higher education.

An NVQ Level 3 is a vocational qualification designed primarily to demonstrate competence within a particular occupational area.

Therefore, if an apprenticeship specifically requires an NVQ Level 3, you should not assume that an Access to HE Diploma will automatically be accepted instead.

However, where the entry requirements specifically include an Access to HE Diploma, A levels, BTEC or equivalent academic Level 3 qualifications, an Access diploma may provide an appropriate route.

What is the Access to HE Diploma?

The Access to Higher Education Diploma is a full Level 3 qualification regulated by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA).

An Access to HE Diploma contains 60 credits.

Of these, 45 credits are from graded academic units at Level 3. The remaining 15 credits are from ungraded units at Level 2 or Level 3.

Access to HE Diplomas are designed particularly for adults who want to progress to higher education but may not have the traditional qualifications normally required for university entry.

Do I still need GCSE or Functional Skills Maths and English?

Possibly.

Healthcare degree apprenticeships frequently have separate English and maths entry requirements.

Depending on the apprenticeship and university, applicants may need qualifications such as:

GCSE English and Maths at the required grades; or
accepted Level 2 equivalent qualifications, which may include Functional Skills Level 2.

The requirements are separate from the Level 3 qualification used to meet the academic entry criteria.

Therefore, having an Access to HE Diploma does not necessarily remove the requirement to demonstrate the appropriate Level 2 English and maths qualifications.

Can I become a nurse through an Access to HE Diploma and a degree apprenticeship?

Yes, this can be a possible progression route.

Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeships combine employment with the degree-level education required to become a registered nurse.

Some nursing degree apprenticeships accept an appropriate Access to HE Diploma as a Level 3 entry qualification.

There may, however, be additional requirements relating to English and maths, healthcare experience, employment and the content and grades achieved within the Access diploma.

Can I become a physiotherapist through an Access to HE Diploma and a degree apprenticeship?

Potentially, yes.

Physiotherapist Degree Apprenticeships are available in England and some providers accept an appropriate Access to HE Diploma for academic entry.

Physiotherapy courses can have particularly specific science requirements. An employer or university may require a certain number of Level 3 credits in Biology or another relevant science, as well as a particular Distinction and Merit profile.

If physiotherapy is your intended destination, you should check the exact university entry requirements before enrolling.

Can I use an Access to HE Diploma for a radiography degree apprenticeship?

Some Diagnostic and Therapeutic Radiography Degree Apprenticeships accept Access to HE qualifications.

Requirements can include a QAA-recognised Access to HE Diploma in a relevant subject, with particular requirements for Level 3 credits, science content and grades.

Always check the requirements of the particular radiography apprenticeship and its partner university.

Do I have to work for the NHS before applying?

It depends on the apprenticeship.

This is one of the biggest differences between applying for a conventional university degree and applying for a degree apprenticeship.

Some NHS degree apprenticeships are designed for existing NHS employees who want to progress from their current role.

Others may be advertised as apprenticeship vacancies that applicants can apply for externally.

You should therefore check whether the opportunity is:

An internal apprenticeship – available to existing employees of that NHS organisation;

An apprenticeship vacancy – where a new applicant can apply for the job and apprenticeship together.

Completing an Access to HE Diploma does not itself guarantee an apprenticeship position.

Do I apply for a healthcare degree apprenticeship through UCAS?

Not necessarily.

Traditional undergraduate healthcare degrees are commonly applied for through UCAS.

Degree apprenticeships work differently because an apprenticeship involves employment as well as university study.

Depending on the opportunity, you may apply through an NHS employer, NHS Jobs, an apprenticeship vacancy service or another recruitment process specified by the employer.

The employer and university then work together to determine whether you meet the requirements for the apprenticeship and degree.

Do I get paid while completing an NHS degree apprenticeship?

Yes.

An apprentice is an employee and receives a salary from their employer while completing the apprenticeship.

This is one of the major differences between the traditional university route and the apprenticeship route.

The apprentice combines their job with the training and university study required by the apprenticeship.

Do I have to pay university tuition fees on a degree apprenticeship?

Eligible apprenticeship training is funded through the apprenticeship funding system rather than through the normal undergraduate student tuition fee arrangement.

This means an apprentice does not normally take out the standard university tuition fee loan to pay for the apprenticeship training.

The exact funding arrangements depend upon the apprenticeship, employer and applicable government funding rules.

Can I do an apprenticeship if I already have an Access to HE Diploma?

Having previous qualifications does not automatically prevent someone from undertaking an apprenticeship.

Previous learning and experience are considered when an apprenticeship provider assesses an applicant's eligibility and training requirements.

The important question is whether the apprenticeship will provide substantial new occupational knowledge and skills rather than simply duplicating training the applicant has already completed.

An Access to HE Diploma and a healthcare degree apprenticeship serve very different purposes: the Access diploma provides preparation for higher education, while the degree apprenticeship develops the knowledge, skills and professional competence required for the occupation.

What is the difference between the traditional university and degree apprenticeship routes?

Traditional university route

Access to HE Diploma → Apply to university → Healthcare degree → Professional registration/employment

This may be the most suitable route for students who want to study their degree through the conventional university system.

Degree apprenticeship route

Access to HE Diploma → Meet Level 3 entry requirements → Secure suitable apprenticeship employment → Complete healthcare degree apprenticeship → Professional registration

This route can suit applicants who want to combine employment, workplace learning and university study.

Neither route is automatically better. Availability, entry requirements and personal circumstances will determine which is most appropriate.

Which Access to HE Diploma is suitable for healthcare degree apprenticeships?

Academy Online Learning offers an online Access to HE Diploma in Health Science Professions designed to prepare adult learners for progression to higher education in health and science-related subjects.

The diploma includes Level 3 academic study in relevant areas of science and health.

If you are specifically intending to progress to a degree apprenticeship, we strongly recommend checking the entry requirements of your intended apprenticeship and partner university before enrolling.

This is particularly important for professions such as Physiotherapy, Radiography and Dietetics, where universities may specify particular science subjects, numbers of credits and grades.

Can Academy Online Learning guarantee that my Access Diploma will be accepted?

No Access to HE provider can guarantee admission to a particular university course or degree apprenticeship.

Entry decisions are made by the university and, for apprenticeships, the employer.

Requirements can also change.

If you already know which healthcare profession, university or NHS apprenticeship you want to progress to, check its current entry requirements before enrolling.

Is an Access to HE Diploma worth considering if I want an NHS degree apprenticeship?

Yes, if the apprenticeship you are interested in requires a Level 3 academic qualification and accepts an Access to HE Diploma.

For an adult who does not already hold suitable Level 3 qualifications, an Access to HE Diploma can provide a route towards meeting the academic entry requirements for some healthcare degree apprenticeships.

The key is to work backwards from your intended career:

Choose your healthcare profession → investigate degree apprenticeships → check their entry requirements → confirm whether an Access to HE Diploma is accepted → choose an appropriate Access diploma.

This helps ensure that the qualification you study contains the subjects and credits required for your intended progression route.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can an Access to HE Diploma get me an NHS apprenticeship?
An Access to HE Diploma can meet the Level 3 academic entry requirements for some NHS degree apprenticeships, but you must also meet the employer's and university's other requirements and secure an apprenticeship position.

Is Access to HE equivalent to Level 3?
Yes. The Access to HE Diploma is a full Level 3 qualification regulated by QAA.

Is an Access to HE Diploma equivalent to an NVQ Level 3?
They are at the same qualification level but are not the same type of qualification. An Access diploma is primarily academic preparation for higher education, while an NVQ is primarily an occupational competence qualification.

Can I do a nursing degree apprenticeship with an Access course?
Some Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeships accept an appropriate Access to HE Diploma as a Level 3 entry qualification. Requirements vary between employers and universities.

Can I do a physiotherapy degree apprenticeship with an Access course?
Some Physiotherapist Degree Apprenticeships accept Access to HE qualifications, but science, Biology, credit and grade requirements can be specific.

Can I get an NHS apprenticeship without A levels?
Potentially. Some degree apprenticeships accept alternative Level 3 qualifications including Access to HE Diplomas and BTECs instead of A levels.

Do NHS apprenticeships require Maths and English?
Many have English and maths requirements in addition to their Level 3 entry requirements. The qualifications and grades accepted vary by apprenticeship and university.

Can adults apply for NHS degree apprenticeships?
Yes. Apprenticeships are not restricted to school leavers. Applicants must meet the requirements of the particular apprenticeship, employer and training provider.

Will I have to pay university fees as a degree apprentice?
Eligible apprenticeship training is funded through the apprenticeship funding system rather than through the normal undergraduate tuition fee arrangement.

Do I need to already work for the NHS?
Not always. Some healthcare degree apprenticeships are offered to existing employees, while other employers recruit people directly into apprenticeship positions. Check each vacancy carefully.