Access to Higher Education Diploma (Veterinary Science).

You must hold Level 2 qualifications in both English and Maths, or be working towards them alongside studying your Access to Higher Education Diploma. You also need to have a UK address to enrol.

University Entry Criteria

It must be reiterated that each university will set its own admission criteria. So, you must check with your desired institution if your Access to HE Diploma and other qualifications will be accepted.

In many cases, to get started on healthcare courses at university, you will need:

• A certain number of credits passed with a merit or a distinction grade
• A face-to-face interview at the university
• Literacy and numeracy assessments provided by the university
• Course-related work placements or work experience
• GCSE Grade C/4 or above in Maths and English (or equivalent Level 2 such as Functional Skills/Key Skills, etc.)

It is your responsibility to check that your Access to HE Diploma will be accepted as part of these entry requirements for your chosen degree. learndirect will not be held accountable if completing this Access to Higher Education Diploma doesn’t secure you a position with a higher education institution.

Minimum age restriction

This course is ideally suited to those who have completed full-time education but have not achieved the grades required to get into university.

Average completion timeframe

The average time it takes our learners to complete the course is 9-12 months.

Assessment requirements

A range of assessment methodologies are used, including: academic report, essay, presentation (video and audio recording), scenario analysis, illustrated report, series of questions, work sheet, academic writing skills tasks

Exams required

There are no exams included in the assessment of the course.

Membership required?

No membership is required to enrol on this course.

Additional requirements

Learners must be actively studying for a minimum of six months before results can be ratified and certificates ordered. The six month period does not start until you have passed unit 2 of your course and you must be submitting assignments regularly (in line with the deadlines in your Individual Learning Plan) to meet this six month requirement. Certificates can only be issued once your course is paid for in full.

Certification Timeframe

You can expect to receive your certificate 12-16 weeks from your final assignment being marked and graded, depending on the time of year. You will be provided with regular updates throughout the certification process so that you are fully informed of your individual timeframes.

All course fees, inclusive of all payment plans including our Premium Credit Limited option, must be settled before certification can be ordered.

*You will have access to the course for 24 months.

Unit 1: Animal Cells, Locomotion and Senses

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the biology of animal cells.
• Understand locomotion of different non-human animals.
• Understand sensory organs in non-human animals.

Unit 2: Animal Patterns of Behaviour, Communication and Welfare Issues

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand non-human animal behaviour patterns and conditioning.
• Understand non-human animal communication.
• Understand animal welfare needs and issues affecting welfare of animals in specific contexts.
• Understand animal welfare law and groups in the UK.

Unit 3: Major Physiological Processes of Non-Human Animals

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand feeding behaviours of different non-human animals.
• Understand the respiratory and circulatory differences between different animals.
• Understand how a range of different types of animals move.
• Understand reproductive processes and factors of a range of different animals.

Unit 4: The Digestive System and Dietary Needs of Non-Human Animals

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand nutrient requirements and sources for an animal.
• Understand the need for a balanced diet in animals.
• Understand digestive systems of animals and the impact of ruminating.
• Be able to calculate the energy requirements and nutritional values required to keep animals healthy.
• Understand the causes, signs, impact, and treatments for issues arising from nutritional imbalance.

Unit 5: Cell Division and Genetic Variation

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand cell division.
• Understand genetic variation.

Unit 6: Cellular and Subcellular Metabolism

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand cell metabolism including metabolic pathways.
• Understand the process of producing ATP via the tricarboxylic acid cycle.
• Understand the dark reactions phase which occurs during photosynthesis.
• Understand how subcellular organelles generate ATP.

Unit 7: Arrangement and Trends in the Periodic Table

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the arrangement of elements in the periodic table.
• Understand the periodicity of period 3 of the periodic table.
• Understand ionisation energies in relation to period 3.
• Understand the oxidation and reduction effects of reactions.
• Understand reactions of the Group 2 metals.

Unit 8: Atomic Structure, Electronic Structures, and bonds

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand atomic structure and relative atomic mass.
• Be able to write and interpret electronic structures.
• Understand ion formation and ion bonds.
• Understand covalent bonds formation.

Unit 9: Hydrocarbons, Alkanes and Alkenes

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the impact of organic compounds.
• Understand alkane structure and reactions.
• Understand alkene structure and reactions.

Unit 10: Molarity and chemical change

On completion of this unit you will:

• Be able to calculate solution concentrations.
• Understand enthalpy change.
• Be able to analyse data to determine reaction order.
• Understand chemical equilibrium.

Unit 11: The structure and bonding of molecules

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand electronic configuration.
• Understand different types of chemical bond.
• Understand polarisation and intermolecular forces.
• Understand the structure and properties of different molecules and compounds.
• Be able to apply electron pair repulsion theory.
• Understand the nature of organic chemicals.

Unit 12: Applied Statistical Research

On completion of this unit you will:

• Be able to devise a statistical investigation.
• Be able to collect and statistically process data.
• Be able to apply data analysis to an investigation aim and hypotheses.
• Be able to critically evaluate an investigation.

Unit 13: Exploring Cellular Structure and Activity

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand cellular structure.
• Understand the processes and products of cellular metabolism.
• Understand cellular growth, division, and the impact of cancer at a cellular level.

Unit 14: Exploring the Structure of the Atom

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the properties of protons, electrons, and neutrons.
• Understand the distribution of protons, neutrons, and electrons in an atom/isotope.
• Understand s, p, and d orbitals.
• Understand the relationship between ionisation energies and reactivity.
• Understand how ionisation energy data is reflected in the periodic table.

Unit 15: Planning and Writing an Assignment

On completion of this unit you will:

• Be able to select and assess appropriate source information in response to a task.
• Be able to reference sources used in a recognised style.
• Understand different reading strategies.
• Be able to take effective notes.
• Be able to plan, draft and produce a written assignment.

Unit 16: Writing and Studying Academic Texts

On completion of this unit you will:

• Be able to write academically and with relevance.
• Be able to interpret and express ideas in a piece of academic work.
• Be able to analyse and summarise text, and appreciate the problems caused by plagiarism.

Your work will be assessed through assignments at the end of each unit. These will provide you with the opportunity to check up on your knowledge and advance. After each assignment, your tutor will offer feedback to help you not only progress further but also improve your skills. This Access to HE Diploma is a Level 3 Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) regulated qualification.

To successfully achieve your qualification, you will need a total of 60 credits. Of these, 45 will come from graded units of academic content, while the following 15 will be drawn from ungraded units concerning study skills.