Academic Preparation for Health Courses

Start date

21 September 2026

11 January 2027

Duration

16 weeks, part-time

Credits: 30 Honours level credits

Code: HPG0001

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About the course

Reasons to study

You'll have the opportunity to develop a variety of transferable skills, as well as life-long learning skills and reflective practice.
You'll learn about essay and report writing, academic referencing, assignment planning, reflective practice and understanding of evidence-based practice.
Supported by an academic team you'll undertake a series of weekly activities and online reading via the University’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).

This short course has been designed to bridge the gap for those individuals who do not yet meet the entry criteria for their chosen health degree level course. It may also be useful for those individuals who have not been in education for over 5 years. This blended learning course provides the opportunity for you to develop the academic skills required to progress in higher education and successfully complete your academic studies.

Why Academic Preparation for Health Courses

This short course assists you in developing a variety of transferable skills, as well as life-long learning skills and reflective practice. It will also help you enhance your organisation and IT skills. You'll learn about essay and report writing, academic referencing, assignment planning, reflective practice and understanding of evidence-based practice. Supported by an academic team you'll undertake a series of weekly activities and online reading via the University’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).

Course detail

Teaching and Assessment

The course is delivered through a range of teaching methods including lectures, tutorial support and guided independent study.

Assessment involves the submission of a written assignment and reflection. Your module specification/course handbook will provide full details of the assessment criteria applying to your course.

This course has modules making up 30 credits, with each credit being 10 hours of study (300 hours in total). An average [Approximately*] 2% (6 hours) of the study time on this course is spent with your tutors [face to face or online] in [lectures, seminars, tutorials, practicals and workshops]. The remainder of the time will be spent on independent study. Assessments takes place through a variety of [exams, coursework, etc].

Subject to mode of study. *Based on current core and compulsory modules. Calculated using data from the academic year 2024/25, as of November 2024.

Teaching

The teaching year for most courses normally starts in September with breaks at Christmas and Easter, finishing with a main examination/assessment period around May/June. Teaching on other courses including professional courses, postgraduate taught, research, distance learning and apprenticeship may have other start dates including January and May. All start dates can be found on each course page and term dates are also available. Students on a full-time course may have to attend every day of the week. Students who choose to study a full-time course on a part-time basis will generally attend modules at the same time as our full-time students. Timetables are normally available one month before registration.

Our courses are taught at our University campus and you can expect that your lectures and seminars will be held face to face, except in cases of emergency or if specifically stated otherwise in the module description.

Feedback

Feedback (usually written) is normally provided on all coursework submissions within three term time weeks – unless the submission was made towards the end of the session in which case feedback would be available on request after the formal publication of results. Feedback on exam performance/final coursework is available on request after the publication of results.

Progression

You may progress to the next stage of your course or research degree, subject to meeting University assessment criteria and professional, statutory, or regulatory body guidelines.

Teaching excellence

The University of Huddersfield has been rated Gold in all three aspects of the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023. We were the only university in Yorkshire and the Humber and the North West to achieve Gold ratings in all three aspects of the TEF among those announced in September 2023. In fact only 13 Universities, out of the 96 that were announced in September 2023, were Gold in all three ratings.
Our teaching staff rank first in England for the proportion with higher degrees and teaching qualifications, as well as being top five for those holding doctorates (HESA 2025). So you’ll learn from some of the best, helping you to be the best.
We are joint first in the country for National Teaching Fellowships, which mark the UK’s best lecturers in Higher Education, winning a total of 23 since 2008 (2024 data).
We won the first Global Teaching Excellence Award, recognising the University’s commitment to world-class teaching and its success in developing students as independent learners and critical thinkers (Higher Education Academy, 2017).

Entry requirements

In addition to the University’s general minimum entry requirements you must also:

have 64 UCAS tariff points from relevant Level 3 qualifications

If you have alternative qualifications, along with relevant working experience, these will be considered on an individual basis. Any alternative qualifications must meet the University's minimum entry requirements.

If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 6.0 overall with no element lower than 5.5, or equivalent. Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our International Entry Requirements page.

For further information please see the University's minimum entry requirements.

Facilities

University campus

Inside the University's extensive library.

Health Students having a group discussion.

Student Central is a hive of activity.

Relax with friends in the Campus Kitchen.

Enhance your career

Previous graduates from courses in this subject area have gone on to work in a variety of roles such as Advice worker, Care manager, Community development worker, Community education officer, Family support worker, Health improvement practitioner, Health service manager, Youth worker, Equality, diversity and inclusion officer.*

*Source: Prospects
**Percentage of the University’s graduates go on to work and/or further study within fifteen months of graduating. (HESA Graduate Outcomes 2021/22, UK domiciled, other activities excluded).

89.6%** Graduates employed

Career support

We know you’re coming to university to study on your chosen subject, meet new people and broaden your horizons. However, we also work with you to focus on life after you have graduated to help you towards achieving your ambitions.

So, while you’re here (and even after you graduate) the Careers and Employability Service offer professional help, support and guidance, including industry-supported workshops, careers fairs and one-to-one guidance sessions. Find out more about the service

Further study

There are options available to you, should you wish to proceed onto further postgraduate study upon the successful completion of your studies. If you would like to undertake longer term, more specialised research, we offer several flexible routes to a PhD. For more information, visit our Research and Innovation page

Inspiring Graduate

“The Academic Preparation for Health Courses programme provided the opportunity for me to gain the additional qualifications I required to study Operating Department Practice (Degree Apprenticeship) BSc(Hons). It also enabled me to develop many skills and prepared me academically for my further study.

“I would recommend the course studying the course at the University, as it is easily accessible and well structured. There was lots of support and guidance available which helped me complete my course on time and with no issues. There are a wide range of facilities available on campus and everything is within close walking distance and easy to access. My learning experience so far at the University has been excellent.“

Natalie French, completed Academic Preparation for Health Courses in 2022 and is now studying Operating Department Practice (Degree Apprenticeship) BSc(Hons)

Career support

“The Academic Preparation for Health Courses programme provided the opportunity for me to gain the additional qualifications I required to study Operating Department Practice (Degree Apprenticeship) BSc(Hons). It also enabled me to develop many skills and prepared me academically for my further study.

“I would recommend the course studying the course at the University, as it is easily accessible and well structured. There was lots of support and guidance available which helped me complete my course on time and with no issues. There are a wide range of facilities available on campus and everything is within close walking distance and easy to access. My learning experience so far at the University has been excellent.“

Natalie French, completed Academic Preparation for Health Courses in 2022 and is now studying Operating Department Practice (Degree Apprenticeship) BSc(Hons)

Student support

At the University of Huddersfield, you'll find support networks and services to help you get ahead in your studies and social life. Whether you study at undergraduate or postgraduate level, you'll soon discover that you're never far away from our dedicated staff and resources to help you to navigate through your personal student journey. Find out more about all our support services.

Research excellence

Research plays an important role in informing all our teaching and learning activities. Through research our staff remain up to date with the latest developments in their field, which means they can help you to develop knowledge and skills that are current and highly relevant.

Find out more about our research staff and centres

Fees and Finance

Tuition Fees - part-time

The information provided below is for those applying to study at the University of Huddersfield in the academic year 2025/26. Please note that tuition fees for subsequent years may rise in line with inflation (RPI-X) and/or Government policy. This webpage will be updated with 2026/27 tuition fees as information becomes available.

This course may be eligible for funding from Health Education Yorkshire and the Humber. You must have your employer’s support in order to access to a funded place. Employers can draw on CPD funding to fund this course.

If you are not eligible for funding the tuition fee for this course for 2025/26 entry is £600.

Tuition fees will cover the cost of your study at the University as well as charges for registration, tuition, supervision and examinations. For more information about funding, fees and finance for UK students, including what your tuition fee covers, please see Fees and finance.

If you are an EU or international student coming to study at the University of Huddersfield, please visit the International Fees and Finance pages for full details of tuition fees and support available.

Please email the Student Finance Office or call 01484 472210 for more information about fees and finance.

Fees and Finance

Tuition Fees - part-time

If you are not eligible for funding the tuition fee for this course for 2025/26 entry is £600.

Please email the Student Finance Office or call 01484 472210 for more information about fees and finance.

Important information

Although we always try and ensure we deliver our courses as described, sometimes we may have to make changes for the following reasons

When you enrol as a student of the University, your study and time with us will be governed by our terms and conditions, Handbook of Regulations and associated policies. It is important that you familiarise yourself with these as you will be asked to agree to them when you join us as a student. You will find a guide to the key terms here, along with the Student Protection Plan.

Although we always try and ensure we deliver our courses as described, sometimes we may have to make changes for the following reasons

Changes to a course you have applied for but are not yet enrolled on

If we propose to make a major change to a course that you are holding an offer for, then we will tell you as soon as possible so that you can decide whether to withdraw your application prior to enrolment. We may occasionally have to withdraw a course you have applied for or combine your programme with another programme if we consider this reasonably necessary to ensure a good student experience, for example if there are not enough applicants. Where this is the case we will notify you as soon as reasonably possible and we will discuss with you other suitable courses we can transfer your application to. If you do not wish to transfer to another course with us, you may cancel your application and we will refund you any deposits or fees you have paid to us.

Changes to your course after you enrol as a student

Changes to option modules:

Where your course allows you to choose modules from a range of options, we will review these each year and change them to reflect the expertise of our staff, current trends in research and as a result of student feedback or demand for certain modules. We will always ensure that you have an equivalent range of options to that advertised for the course. We will let you know in good time the options available for you to choose for the following year.

Major changes:

We will only make major changes to non-optional modules on a course if it is necessary for us to do so and provided such changes are reasonable. A major change is a change that substantially changes the outcomes, or a significant part of your course, such as the nature of the award or a substantial change to module content, teaching days (part time provision), type of delivery or assessment of the core curriculum. For example, it may be necessary to make a major change to reflect changes in the law or the requirements of the University’s regulators or a commissioning or accrediting body. We may also make changes to improve the course in response to student, examiners’ or other course evaluators’ feedback or to ensure you are being taught current best practice. Major changes may also be necessary because of circumstances outside our reasonable control, such as a key member of staff leaving the University or being unable to teach, where they have a particular specialism that can’t be adequately covered by other members of staff; or due to damage or interruption to buildings, facilities or equipment, or pandemics.

Major changes would usually be made with effect from the next academic year, but may happen sooner in an emergency. We will notify you as soon as possible should we need to make a major change and will carry out suitable consultation. If you reasonably believe that the proposed change will cause you detriment or hardship we will, if appropriate, work with you to try to reduce the adverse effect on you or find an appropriate solution. Where an appropriate solution cannot be found and you contact us in writing before the change takes effect you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the University without liability to the University for future tuition fees. We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so.

In exceptional circumstances, we may, for reasons outside of our control, be forced to discontinue or suspend your course. Where this is the case, a formal exit strategy will be followed in accordance with the student protection plan.

The Office for Students (OfS) is the principal regulator for the University.