Level 3 Access to HE Diploma (Physio & Sport Therapy) - Evening Sept 2025-26

The Access to Higher Education (HE) Diploma is for learners aged 19+ who do not have the qualifications required to enter HE. Each year around 30,000 learners in the UK take Access programs and many go on to succeed in HE and embark on life changing new careers. The Physio and Sports Therapy Diploma can give you Access to a wide range of Healthcare degrees or job roles within the healthcare and private sectors.

During the course you will be studying two main subject sets: Biology and Chemistry in addition to study skills.
Some of the topics covered in chemistry are fundamentals of chemistry and organic chemistry.
Some of the topics covered in biology are cell biology, aspects of human physiology and the musculoskeletal system you will also conduct an experimental research project.

An Access to HE Diploma will help you to progress to study at university. It will also help you improve your employment prospects. After this course you may be able to progress to the world of work as a Physiotherapy Assistant or Physiotherapy Support Worker.

After this course you could apply for further study in HE. There are many options to study health related degrees including physiotherapy and sports science. This can lead to a career working in the private sector, as a sports physiotherapist, or in the NHS ? from outpatients and occupational health, orthopaedics and paediatrics, to rehabilitation and care for stroke and trauma victims.

Our entry requirements are in place to support our students in achieving the qualifications they have chosen to study. In addition to the entry requirements, all students will be regularly assessed by East Durham College at an early stage in their study programme. This is to ensure that students are enrolled onto courses which suit their abilities – following assessment, there may be occasions when students are transferred to a relevant course at a higher or lower level in order to ensure they are enrolled on to the right course for them to achieve and progress.

You will be required to hold a level 2 qualification in Maths and English for study on this course (Grades C or 4). No additional Level 2 qualifications are required but they would be beneficial.

Entry onto any course at EDC may have entry requirements in addition to exam results; this includes but is not limited to DBS checks, references, fitness to practice and at times physical requirements to be capable of achieving the practical elements of the course without assistance. Entry onto any course at East Durham College is subject to final approval from the Assistant Principal.

All assessments are assessed internally and include assignments, essays, reports, research projects and controlled assessments.

September 2025

This course is classroom based and runs over two evenings per week from 6pm to 9pm, over 36 weeks from September to July.