Health Studies - Level 3

You will develop a range of skills and techniques, personal qualities, and the attitudes essential for working life in nursing and the associated industries whilst on this course.

You will study units such as:

• Human Lifespan Development
• Working in Health and Social Care
• Anatomy and Physiology for Health and Social Care
• Current Research in Health and Social Care
• Meeting Individual Care and Support Needs
• Work Experience in Health and Social Care
• Principles of Safe Practice in Health and Social Care
• Promoting Public Health

Additional units across the 2 years will include subjects such as Infection Prevention and Control, Physiological Disorders and their Care, Nutritional Health, Health Psychology.

During the first year of study you will complete nine units, six of which will be submitted for the Extended Certificate which is an A-level equivalent with UCAS points. Units are assessed through a mix of external exams, and coursework assessment.

Progression to year 2 is dependent upon achieving an overall Merit from the first year units, and the completion of all required units. The qualifications that you achieve all carry appropriate UCAS tariff points, and individuals wishing to progress to University are encouraged to look in advance at the course entry requirements, to ensure that they will meet these from both a GCSE and Tariff point perspective.

You will need:

• 5 or more GCSEs at grade 4 or higher, which must include both English Language and maths, and preferably science. The science will be essential for anyone wanting to pursue a career in Paramedic Science.
• A satisfactory DBS check

Or:

• A relevant Level 2 qualification at Merit grade or higher
• Good grades at English and maths
• A satisfactory DBS check

If you are aged 19 or older, relevant industry experience may be accepted. However, you might also wish to look at courses such the Access programmes, which might be more suitable.

You will be invited to an information session to help us ensure the course is right for you.

How long is this course?

2 years

When does this course start?

02/09/2026

How many hours / days per week is this course?

Full-time courses at CWA are generally 3 - 4 days per week (though you may be in for an extra day if you are resitting English and / or Maths). The college day is typically longer than a day at school and students will need to plan their individual study in their free time (including individual study hours which are recorded at college in the Learning Resource Centre or other study areas). Work experience will be a key component of your course and most students will complete a minimum of 60 hours per academic year (on top of their college hours), depending on the course they are studying. CWA has a dedicated team of work placement co-ordinators to support you with this.

What can I do after this course at CWA?

Students typically progress onto Higher Education, including subject areas such as

• Midwifery
• Ambulance Technician
• Adult Nursing
• Paediatric Nursing
• Paramedic Science
• Occupational Therapy
• Mental Health Nursing
• Nursing Associate Apprenticeships

Age	Cost
16-18	Free*
19+	£7,350

* Some of our courses may have additional costs to cover trips, unform and equipment. These costs will be confirmed to you at enrolment.

Fee information

Though this course is free for those aged 16-18, there may be additional costs related to the programme, such as additional equipment and uniform, educational trips and work placement costs. Full details will be sent to applicants before enrolment.

Find all the information you need about course fees and financial help below.

Information on Fees and Financial Help

Adult (19+) learners

Depending on your age, course, educational history and personal circumstances, there may be options available for you to receive a course fully-funded by the government. Our fee calculator will help give you an idea on whether you'll be able to have your course fee waived or covered by an Advanced Learner Loan.

Complete our fee calculator

Learners with an active Education, Health & Care Plan

If you are aged 19 - 24 at the start of your course and have an active Education, Health & Care Plan (EHCP), any course up to and including level 3 will be fully-funded by the government. This means you will not have a course fee to pay and any equipment considered essential to complete your course will be provided by the college.

What qualification will I achieve?

• Year 1 L3 BTEC Extended Certificate.
• Year 2 L3 BTEC Extended Diploma

How is my course assessed?

This course is continually assessed by a combination of:

• Exams
• Project and assignment work
• Demonstration of competence in a range of practical skills

At the end of the second year, learners will complete an Extended Diploma in Health & Social Care (Health Studies).

All students are expected to complete study hours in the Learning Resource Centre, and complete 120hrs of work placement in each year of the course.

How many UCAS points will I achieve on this course?

Our level 3 vocational courses qualify for UCAS tariff points to apply for university in the same way as A-Levels. This course is an extended diploma which is delivered over two years and you could achieve up to 168 UCAS points (which is equivalent to three A* grades at A-Level).

BTEC extended diplomas are graded as a pass, merit, distinction or distinction star (with distinction star being the highest grade) with the overall grade being a combination of three grades which represent an aggregation of your performance on mandatory and optional units on the course.

The following table gives some examples on the amount of UCAS points you can achieve on a BTEC extended diploma:

BTEC grade	UCAS Points
3x D*	168
2x D*, D	160
D*DD	152
DDD	144
DDM	128
DMM	112
MMM	96
MMP	80
MPP	64
PPP	48

Depending on your circumstances, you may study a smaller qualification, such as a subsidiary diploma (for example, if you only complete one year) or general diploma which may carry less UCAS tariff points.

You can find more details and examples on the UCAS tariff points calculator here.