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HNC HEALTHCARE PRACTICE

  • Start date:   August 2026
  • Level of Qualification:   SCQF Level 7
  • Course Type:   Full-time

HNC HEALTHCARE PRACTICE

HNC Healthcare Practice is an innovative and award-winning course designed to equip you with essential clinical knowledge and understanding. This course is not only a foundation for nursing but also a recognised pathway into other health professions such as paramedic science, midwifery (with additional biology study), and allied health disciplines including occupational therapy and physiotherapy.

Start date – August 2026
End date – June 2027
SCQF Level - 7
Mode – Full time

This course will prepare you for an undergraduate degree in Nursing and other health-related fields. This course will improve both your academic, professional and employability skills and is a step towards a rewarding career in the health sector.

It combines the required academic knowledge with the skills and competencies gained from a clinical placement within the care sector. 

We have a partnership with NHS Lothian where all HNC Healthcare Practice students are given the opportunity to apply for a position as a Healthcare Support Worker which is a paid position. If you are successful having gone through the NHS recruitment procedures you will be offered a contract for a minimum of 12 hours a week, which will enable you to complete your practice hours for your HNC. If you are not successful at your NHS interview then you will be placed in a care home where your hours are not paid at present.

Our partnership with NHS Lothian is a unique feature of this course and provides you with valuable insight into the realities of working in healthcare. This experience helps you to stand out when applying for employment or progressing to university. 

This qualification is also suitable if you want to work as a Health Care Support Worker.

Our friendly lecturing team are highly qualified and have diverse experience across health and social care including medicine, nursing, psychology, social work, and education.

  • What the course includes

    • Safe Working Practice for Care  
    • Clinical Skills for Care Practitioners - including practical skills and calculations 
    • Professional Standards for Care Practice  
    • The Human Body on Health and Illness 
    • Understanding Personal and Professional Development 
    • Sociology and Health in Scotland 
    • Therapeutic Relationships: Understanding Behaviour  
    • Exploring Mental Health  
    • Healthcare Practice Graded Unit 1 
1

Why choose this course

You will develop your skills and relate theory to practice through work experience within NHS Lothian. 

You will be required to complete a minimum of 288 hours work experience to achieve your HNC. 

Please note: It may be a requirement to work 12-hour shifts on your work experience, so you need to be available to do this. 

By the end of the course, you will not only have gained a recognised qualification at SCQF Level 7, but also hands-on experience in a healthcare setting, professional confidence, and a clear understanding of the next steps towards your chosen career. 

Entry requirements

Please note: This course is to prepare you for a career in healthcare and it is essential you are able to support others.

  • 2 Highers (including Biology or Human Biology). We will consider the following Highers English, Chemistry, Physics, Geography and Physical Education 
  • 5 National 5’s including English and Maths or equivalent 
  • Mature students without the formal qualifications would require to demonstrate their ability to study at the HNC level 
  • Your application may be considered if you have successfully completed a relevant NC at Level 6 which includes Biology 
  • Foundation Apprenticeship in a related subject plus study of science at school either biology or chemistry 
  • You must be eligible to join the PVG scheme and must not be barred or under consideration for listing (criminal record check)
  • If you want to study Nursing, you must meet the VISA requirements to study Nursing at University in Scotland and not be deemed to be an international student in relation to fees

We consider applications from those who do not have these qualifications but have considerable relevant life/work experience. 

If English is not your first language, ESOL Level 5 is the minimum, however ideally your English should be at Level 6 as you need to be at level 7 to progress to university for Nursing. 

  • Nursing

    Where it leads

    Progression opportunities: This HNC provides a recognised route into a wide range of health-related degree programmes. 

    Nursing: With sufficient practice hours and strong academic performance, students may articulate directly into Year 2 of Adult, Mental Health, or Learning Disability Nursing degrees at QMU, Edinburgh Napier University, Stirling or Robert Gordon University. Students can also apply for Year 1 entry to Child Health Nursing. 

    Midwifery: Students can progress to Year 1 entry of Midwifery programme, normally alongside further Higher Biology or Human Biology. 

    Paramedic Science: Many graduates use this HNC course to progress into Year 1 entry of Paramedic Science degrees, one of the most competitive and popular career routes. This is a recognised and well-established progression pathway. 

    Other Allied Health Professions: Students have also successfully progressed into Year 1 entry of degree programmes in Physiotherapy, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Radiography, Podiatry, Dietetics, Speech & Language Therapy, and Occupational Therapy. Some of these courses may also require Higher Biology or Human Biology in addition to the HNC. 

    100% of our successful students' progress directly into degree-level study, with some entering the second year of nursing programmes. Others secure employment with the NHS while continuing their studies. These achievements highlight the strength of the HNC as both an employment route and an academic steppingstone. 

    With experience and further study, previous students have progressed into a variety of health roles including paramedics, midwives, and allied health professionals, as well as senior healthcare support positions in hospitals and the community. 

Interview arrangements

If we invite you for interview, plan to be in college for around three hours. 

Please bring evidence of qualifications already gained and a pre-prepared personal statement (maximum of 300 words) which covers: 

The interview involves: 

  • Information session 
  • Individual discussion 
  • Group discussion

Interview questions you will be asked:

  • What do you understand the role of a Health and Social Care Worker is, including behaviours that would be expected by the worker? 
  • What do you think makes a great student and team member? 
  • How would you deal with a situation where you have had to work with someone you didn’t like or didn’t like you? 
  • What would you do if you saw a someone being treated in a way that made you feel uncomfortable? 

Fees, Finance & Funding

There may be help available to assist with your study related costs. Impartial, confidential help and advice on financial matters is available from the Student Funding Team - including Bursaries, Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA), Student Awards Agency for Scotland, Student Loans Company and student support funds. Click here to find out more

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