Online Access to HE Diploma for Pharmacy

Prepare for a Pharmacy degree through flexible online study

Would you like to study Pharmacy but do not have the traditional Level 3 qualifications required for higher education?

Academy Online Learning’s Pharmacy pathway provides a flexible, fully online route for adults preparing to apply for a Pharmacy degree or another biological or chemical science course.

You will study a subject-focused combination of Biology, Chemistry and Social Science while developing the research, academic writing and study skills needed for higher education.

The formal qualification you will receive is the Access to Higher Education Diploma (Health Science Professions). Pharmacy describes your intended progression route and the combination of subjects included in the pathway.

Can this Access to HE Diploma support an application for Pharmacy?

Yes. The diploma can support applications to Pharmacy and related biological and chemical science courses.

The pathway contains:

• 24 graded Level 3 Biology credits
• 15 graded Level 3 Chemistry credits
• Six graded Level 3 Social Science credits
• 15 ungraded academic and study skills credits

This provides 60 credits in total, including 45 graded Level 3 credits. The graded credits can be awarded at Pass, Merit or Distinction. Achieving Distinction grades across all 45 graded credits is equivalent to 144 UCAS Tariff points.

Every higher education provider sets its own entry requirements. Before enrolling, check the required Access diploma title, subjects, credits, grades and GCSE or Level 2 qualifications for each Pharmacy course you are considering.

Why does the Pharmacy pathway include Chemistry?

Chemistry is central to the study of medicines. It supports an understanding of molecular structures, chemical bonding, reactions, calculations and the ways substances interact with biological systems.

The pathway contains 15 graded Chemistry credits from:

• Chemistry and Society
• Chemistry for Biologists
• Chemistry of Drugs and Medicine

These units provide Level 3 scientific preparation for more advanced study. They do not train students to manufacture, formulate, prescribe or dispense medicines.

Why is Biology important for Pharmacy?

Pharmacy students need to understand the living systems on which medicines act. Biology provides a foundation for studying cells, biological molecules, organs, homeostasis, nutrition and disease.

The pathway contains Biology units covering:

• Biochemical molecules
• The endocrine system
• The human urinary system
• The musculoskeletal system
• Non-infectious disease
• Nutrition and digestion
• The structure and function of cells

This content helps students develop the scientific vocabulary and understanding required to explain biological processes at Level 3.

Will I study drugs and medicines?

Yes. Chemistry of Drugs and Medicine introduces relevant chemical principles, while Bio-Psychology: Behaviour and Drugs considers the effects of drugs on the nervous system and behaviour.

Students also study cells, biochemical molecules, human body systems and disease. Together, these subjects provide introductory scientific knowledge that can support later Pharmacy study.

The Access diploma is not a professional Pharmacy qualification. It does not qualify students to prescribe, prepare, supply, dispense or administer medicines.

What Social Science will I study?

The pathway contains six graded Social Science credits from:

• Bio-Psychology: Behaviour and Drugs
• Bio-Psychology: Behaviour and the Brain

These units introduce the central nervous system, brain function, nerve transmission, behaviour and the effects of drugs. They complement the scientific knowledge developed through the Biology and Chemistry units.

What academic skills will I develop?

The diploma includes 15 ungraded credits designed to prepare students for higher education. These units develop skills in:

• Academic writing
• Research and referencing
• Constructing evidence-based arguments
• Interpreting numerical information
• Understanding higher education opportunities
• Professional behaviour
• Using generative artificial intelligence safely and ethically

Students apply these skills throughout the course when researching subjects, evaluating evidence and completing assignments.

Is the Pharmacy Access course fully online?

Yes. The Access to HE Diploma is completed entirely online. You can access the learning materials and activities at any time and organise your studies around work, family or caring responsibilities.

There are:

• No classroom sessions
• No timetabled online lessons
• No examinations
• No laboratory attendance
• No clinical placements

Each unit is assessed through an assignment. Assessment activities may include essays, reports, presentations and structured questions.

You will need regular access to a laptop or desktop computer, a reliable internet connection and suitable word-processing and presentation software. Tablets and mobile phones should be avoided for completing assignments because they may not provide the functions or screen space needed for effective online study.

Does the course include laboratory experiments?

No. The diploma is an online academic qualification and does not include practical laboratory experiments or the use of specialist scientific equipment.

Students develop their understanding by working with scientific information, calculations, research and written explanations. Practical laboratory, clinical and patient-facing education forms part of later specialist Pharmacy training.

Do I need previous Biology or Chemistry qualifications?

No. AOLL does not require applicants to have previous Biology or Chemistry qualifications before beginning the diploma.

The learning materials introduce the relevant Level 3 concepts progressively. However, students should be prepared to:

• Learn scientific terminology
• Perform scientific calculations
• Interpret information and evidence
• Explain biological and chemical processes
• Research unfamiliar subjects
• Complete written assignments at Level 3

A suitable standard of written and spoken English is needed to understand the course materials and communicate scientific explanations effectively.

Do I need Pharmacy or healthcare experience?

No. Previous employment or voluntary experience in a pharmacy, hospital, laboratory or other healthcare environment is not required by AOLL.

Relevant experience may provide useful insight into communication, confidentiality, teamwork, patient safety and professional responsibilities. This could come from healthcare, care work, customer-facing employment, volunteering or caring responsibilities.

Professional training providers may set their own experience or selection requirements, so these should be checked separately.

How long does the online Pharmacy Access course take?

The course typically takes between eight and ten months to complete, although students normally purchase up to 12 months of study time.

Your precise completion time will depend on your study schedule, progress, assignment submissions and agreed deadlines. An Individual Learning Plan will help you organise your units and maintain steady progress.

Can I start the course at any time?

Yes. The online Pharmacy Access course can be started at any time of the year.

You do not need to wait for the beginning of an academic term. This provides additional flexibility for adults who need to organise their studies around existing responsibilities.

What support will I receive?

Students receive support from experienced, subject-specialist tutors throughout the course.

Tutor support may include:

• Guidance on the learning materials
• Help understanding assignment requirements
• Feedback on assessed work
• Telephone or video tutorials when appropriate
• Support with academic study skills
• Help organising progress through an Individual Learning Plan

AOLL also provides UCAS application guidance and an academic reference for eligible students who link their application to the centre.

What qualification will I receive?

Students who successfully complete all 60 credits will receive the:

Access to Higher Education Diploma (Health Science Professions)

The qualification is awarded through Skills and Education Group Access, a QAA-licensed Access Validating Agency.

Your certificate will show the formal diploma title. Your accompanying transcript will record the units, credits and grades you achieved, including your Biology, Chemistry and Social Science study.

Will the Access diploma qualify me as a pharmacist?

No. The Access to HE Diploma is a Level 3 academic qualification designed to prepare students for higher education. It does not provide professional Pharmacy competence or eligibility to register as a pharmacist.

In Great Britain, the usual professional route involves:

1. Completing the required entry qualifications.
2. Completing a General Pharmaceutical Council-accredited Master of Pharmacy qualification.
3. Successfully completing the required foundation training.
4. Passing the Common Registration Assessment.
5. Meeting the GPhC’s registration requirements.
6. Applying to join the pharmacist register.

The Access diploma may provide the first academic step towards this route, but it does not replace the MPharm, foundation training or professional registration requirements.

What is the difference between Pharmacy and Pharmacology?

Pharmacy concerns medicines and their safe and appropriate use. Professional Pharmacy training combines pharmaceutical science with clinical education, patient care and supervised practice.

Pharmacology is the scientific study of how drugs and other substances affect cells, organs and biological systems.

The subjects overlap, but they are different progression routes. Students intending to become registered pharmacists must follow an approved professional Pharmacy route.

Is this online Pharmacy Access course right for me?

This pathway may be suitable if you:

• Want to prepare for a Pharmacy or related science degree
• Need a Level 3 qualification for higher education
• Have been away from formal education
• Want to change career direction
• Prefer flexible online study
• Need to organise learning around existing responsibilities
• Want to develop Biology, Chemistry and academic study skills

Before enrolling, compare the complete unit and credit profile with the entry requirements for your intended progression route. This will help you confirm whether the pathway contains the subjects and credits you need.

Take the next step towards studying Pharmacy

The online Access to HE Diploma for Pharmacy allows you to develop Level 3 scientific knowledge without attending a college or sitting examinations.

You can start at any time of the year, study through flexible online learning and receive support from subject-specialist tutors as you work towards your Access to HE Diploma.

Review the complete unit list and progression requirements before enrolling, or contact Academy Online Learning if you need help understanding the course structure.

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