Healthcare Practice HNC

Course code 115L

What is special about this course?

This course will give you the required skills and knowledge to take advantage of many different career opportunities in nursing, health and allied health professions. It will also prepare you for the new registration requirements for Health Care Support Workers and is preparation towards becoming an Associate Practitioner.

On completion you will be able to pursue a career in a health-related profession or pre-registration nurse education. You can also progress to the BA (Hons) Health and Social Studies.

Special features

  • The course has been designed to meet the needs of different paramedical and health care providers
  • You will undertake work placements as part of your course that include shift work, weekends and night duty

Accommodation

We offer modern student accommodation at a number of our locations.

Entry requirements

  • Normally 2 Scottish Highers at grade C or above OR
  • 1 A level at grade C or above
  • The above should preferably be in English or a science-related subject
  • If the above qualifications do not include English and Maths, you will also need to hold Nat 5 English and Maths at grade C or above
  • Alternatively, an appropriate Group Award at SCQF level 6 eg NC Health and Social Care plus 1 Higher at grade C or above, or NC Health and Social Care plus profile grades at CCB; or SWAP Access to Nursing plus profile grades at CCB
  • Completion of Foundation Apprenticeship Social Services and Healthcare
  • Prospective students without the standard entry requirements are encouraged to apply and will be considered on an individual basis
  • Applicants will require satisfactory Occupational Health Screening
  • This is a Category 1 PVG course: PVG Scheme membership is required to successfully achieve target qualification, where there is guaranteed contact with vulnerable groups in key elements of the course. For further information visit our PVG scheme webpage

Access routes

  • NC Health
  • NC Social Care
  • Access to Nursing
  • other appropriate group award at level 6

Year 1 - HNC

Mandatory units are:

  • Safe working practice for care 
  • Therapeutic relationships: understanding behaviour 
  • Understanding personal and professional development 
  • Sociology and health in Scotland 
  • Exploring mental health 
  • Healthcare practice: graded unit 1
  • The human body in health and illness
  • Clinical skills for care practitioners
  • Professional standards for care practice

Option units may include: 

  • Health promotion in a changing society
  • Administration of medication

Option units available may vary depending on study location, for more information contact your chosen campus

How will I study my course?

  • Full-time
  • You will learn through a combination of face-to-face lectures and tutorials, practical sessions and work placements, and online study via the university’s virtual learning environment (VLE)

How long will my course last?

  • Full-time: 1 year

Where can I study my course?

  • Moray
  • Perth

Start date

  • September

Fees

For students normally domiciled in Scotland, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

This includes

  • EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status in the UK,
  • EEA/Swiss nationals with settled status in the UK
  • EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.
Higher National Awards (HNC, HND) 2023-24 2024-25
Full-time per year £1,285 £1,285

Rest of UK students

For students normally domiciled in the rest of the UK (England, Wales and N. Ireland, including Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) and with a term time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

Higher National Awards (HNC, HND) 2023-24 2024-25
Full-time per year £7,110 £7,110

Fees are payable in advance each academic year unless otherwise agreed.

There are a number of funding options available to UK and EU students to help you pay for your studies and your cost of living while studying (see the Funding section opposite).

International students

For students who do not normally reside in the UK, including EU/EEA and Swiss nationals without settled or pre-settled status in the UK, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

This includes EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are not self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.

Higher National Awards (HNC, HND) 2023-24 2024-25
Full-time per year £7,980 £8,775

 

Funding

UHI has a number of scholarships, bursaries, awards, and discretionary fund opportunities available to new and current students. Please use the A-Z of funds or use the filter to see which ones may be relevant to you. All students are welcome to apply.

Further information on funding your studies is also available, please see the attached link or contact the relevant UHI partner.

Additional costs

  • You will be required to cover the cost of a uniform for your placement (approx £80)
  • You will also be required to cover the cost of a PVG check for undertaking placement (approx £60)

What can I do on completion of my course?

On completion of the HNC Healthcare Practice, you will be able to pursue a career in a health-related profession or pre-registration nurse education including adult nursing, mental health, learning disability and children's nursing, in accordance with the regulations of the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Can I progress into further study?

You may be able to progress to our BSc Adult or Mental Health Nursing, with a B in the graded unit, or to the second year of the BA (Hons) Health and Social Studies.

Is there more information available online?

QR Code - scan to visit course page

You can use the above QR code to connect directly to the course details.

Apply for Healthcare Practice HNC

I want to start in Aug/Sep 2024Aug/Sep 2025

We are delighted that you are thinking about studying at the University of the Highlands and Islands. We operate a fair and open admissions system committed to equality of opportunity and non-discrimination. We consider all applications on merit and on the basis of ability to achieve, without discrimination on grounds of gender, age, disability, ethnicity and socio-economic background. We welcome applications from all prospective students and aim to provide appropriate and efficient services to students with disabilities.