Preparation for Health Professionals, Cert HE
Begin your training in the healthcare sector on our programme and be fully equipped to progress to the next stage of your career.
This one-year course is designed to prepare and upskill you for entry onto a fully accredited nursing or midwifery degree at the University of Greenwich. It provides a strong foundation, core knowledge and the practical skills required for a range of health professions. Upon successful completion, you could progress onto one of the following accredited nursing or midwifery degrees at the University of Greenwich:
- BSc Hons Adult Nursing
- BSc Hons Adult Nursing (Medway)
- BSc Hons Children’s Nursing
- BSc Hons Mental Health Nursing
- BSc Hons Mental Health Nursing (Medway)
- BSc Hons Midwifery
- BSc Hons Midwifery (Medway)
If you do progress on to one of the accredited nursing or midwifery degrees listed above, these degrees will fully prepare you, through NHS placements and use of state-of-the-art simulation facilities, for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and your career as a nurse or midwife.
At the University of Greenwich our nursing courses are in the top 4 among nursing schools in London (The Complete University Guide 2025), and Nursing and Midwifery courses are ranked joint 2nd in London for student satisfaction (Complete University Guide League Tables 2025). This course is the start of your journey towards success in your future career in healthcare.
UCAS points
72 (full requirements below)
Course/institution codes
B729
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School
Location
Duration
1 year full-time
Start month
September
2025/26 fees
To be confirmedWhat you should know about this course
* The Department for Education has indicated that it intends to raise the Home tuition fee limit from £9,250 to £9,535 for 2025/26.
What you will study
About the course team
You will be taught by an experienced team of experts, which include senior academics, technical officers, and practitioners with industry experience and current professional registration. The core members of the course team consists of Alice Neal, Senior Lecturer in Mental Health Nursing, Caroline Medcraft, Programme Leader for Adult Nursing and Alwin Puthenpurakal, current Year 1 Leader on the NMC accredited Adult Nursing pathway.
Come and meet us
We are offering virtual events so that you can still experience how Greenwich could be the right university for you.
Next Open Days
Got a question?
To find out more about our Open Days and Campus Tours or if you need any assistance, please email opendays@gre.ac.uk.
Clearing entry requirements
Typical UCAS points for Clearing entry: 72.
GCSE requirement: GCSE English Language grade 4/C
Please call our Clearing Line or join live chat now to discuss your options.
If you don’t meet the criteria, please do speak to one of our clearing advisors by calling our Clearing Line or join Live Chat now to discuss your options.
For progression on to our nursing or midwifery degrees
Upon successful completion of this CertHE, you could progress onto one of the following accredited nursing or midwifery degrees at the University of Greenwich:
- BSc Hons Adult Nursing – taught at either our Avery Hill or Medway campus
- BSc Hons Children's Nursing – taught at our Avery Hill campus
- BSc Hons Mental Health Nursing – taught at either our Avery Hill or Medway campus
- BSc Hons Midwifery – taught at either our Avery Hill or Medway campus
To progress onto one of these degrees, you will be required to:
- Achieve overall 55% pass from your Preparation for Health Professionals, Cert HE
- Complete a Suitability Declaration
- Pass an interview
- Pass an Occupational Health check
- Pass an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
Please note these are not required for entry onto the Cert HE, only to progress onto one of the above Nursing or Midwifery degrees.
Available to overseas students?
No
Can I use Prior Learning?
Applications for prior learning will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
How you will learn
Teaching
Learning takes place through a combination of timetabled learning and independent study.
You can view more information about how each module is taught within our 'What you will study' section.
Seminars and workshops enable you to discuss and develop your understanding of topics covered in lectures in smaller groups. You will also be able to meet your personal tutor. Timetabled learning may fall between 9am and 9pm depending on your courses and tutorials.
Class sizes
Class sizes vary by module. Lectures are normally attended by larger groups, and seminars/tutorials by smaller groups. This can vary more widely for modules that are shared between degrees. All students will have opportunities for one-to-one time with their tutors.
Independent learning
Outside of timetabled sessions, you are also expected to dedicate around 30 hours a week to self-study. This may involve further reading and research, preparing coursework and presentations, and preparing for tests and exams. Our facilities are designed to support you in these activities.
We encourage you to join societies and participate in sporting and other activities to engage in the wider life of the university community.
Overall workload
Two modules a term.
The workload will be approximately two days a week on campus to include teaching and tutorials. Where possible we endeavour to have these as two whole days depending on availability of teaching spaces.
Assessment
You can view how each module is assessed within our 'What you will study' section.
Each course has formal assessments which count towards your grade. Some courses may also include 'practice' assignments, which help you monitor progress and do not count towards your final grade.
Feedback summary
We aim to provide feedback on assignments and to release examination results within 15 working days.
Dates and timetables
The academic year runs from September to June.
Full teaching timetables are not usually available until term has started. For any queries, please use our contact form.
Official statistics on Discover Uni
Full time
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
2025/26 fees
To be confirmed.University is a great investment in your future. English-domiciled graduate annual salaries were £10,500 more than non-graduates in 2023 - and the UK Government projects that 88% of new jobs by 2035 will be at graduate level.
(Source: DfE Graduate labour market statistics: 2023/DfE Labour market and skills projections: 2020 to 2035).
* The Department for Education has indicated that it intends to raise the Home tuition fee limit from £9,250 to £9,535 for 2025/26.
Home tuition fee limits: Find out more
Other costs
Scholarships and bursaries
We offer a wide range of financial help including scholarships and bursaries.
The Greenwich Bursary
This bursary is worth £700 for new undergraduate students with a low household income, entering Year 0 or 1 who meet the eligibility criteria.
Financial support
We want your time at university to be enjoyable, rewarding, and free of unnecessary stress, so planning your finances before you come to university can help to reduce financial concerns. We can offer advice on living costs and budgeting, as well as on awards, allowances and loans.
Careers and placements
Will I have a work placement?
There is no work placement on this programme.
What sort of careers do graduates pursue?
This programme will allow you to progress onto a three year NMC or HCPC accredited degree pathway to become a nurse or other allied health professional depending on your own, personal interests. Upon successful completion of this CertHE, you could progress onto one of the following accredited nursing or midwifery degrees at the University of Greenwich:
BSc Hons Adult Nursing – taught at either our Avery Hill or Medway campus
BSc Hons Children's Nursing – taught at our Avery Hill campus
BSc Hons Mental Health Nursing – taught at either our Avery Hill or Medway campus
BSc Hons Midwifery – taught at either our Avery Hill or Medway campus
You could also progress onto other allied health provisions such as Speech and Language Therapy, Physiotherapy or Operating Department Practitioner. Graduates could also enter the health care sector in non-clinical roles in the public sector (NHS, Social Care, Government), the private sector, and the voluntary and social enterprise sectors.
This programme is not NMC or HCPC accredited.
Do you provide employability services?
Our Employability & Careers Service (ECS) is committed to supporting our students and recent graduates in their transition towards a rewarding graduate destination. We aim to empower our students to achieve their potential, with support including:
- CV and cover letter checks
- Application support
- One-to-one careers advice
- Interview tips and support
- Careers fairs
- Internships
- Graduate jobs.
Accommodation
Avery Hill
Our Avery Hill halls of residence are a home away from home to over 1,200 students. For those studying in Greenwich, our free shuttle bus service takes you to Greenwich campus in only 25 minutes. Excellent transport links also mean you can be in central London in under 30 minutes, and you're a short walk away from the historic Eltham Palace.
The Avery Hill student village has many useful facilities including a convenience store, launderette and two cafes. The halls are an ideal option for those wanting access to the hustle and bustle of London while living in a safe and relaxing parkland environment.
With our seven different halls, you have a variety of options depending on your preferences and budget. Rooms start at £133.98/wk and include Wi-Fi, utility bills, access to our on-site gym, 24/7 security and 24-hour residential support.
Support and advice
Academic skills and study support
All University of Greenwich students have access to an online student services portal as well as allocated pastoral and academic tutorial support who are explained and introduced to you at the beginning of the course.
Support from the department
The university of Greenwich prides itself on its values of ‘education with boundaries’ and ‘inclusivity’. As such there is a full support network available from ‘Greenwich Inclusion Plans (GIPs)’ to assist with extra study/exam time, etc. To our new, dedicated, Faculty Student Advisors who are available to you throughout your programme for personal or independent academic support.
Do you provide employability services?
Our Employability & Careers Service (ECS) is committed to supporting our students and recent graduates in their transition towards a rewarding graduate destination. We aim to empower our students to achieve their potential, with support including:
- CV and cover letter checks
- Application support
- One-to-one careers advice
- Interview tips and support
- Careers fairs
- Internships
- Graduate jobs.
Not quite what you were looking for?
We've got plenty of other courses for you to choose from. Browse our undergraduate courses or check our related courses below.....
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You’ll learn from our expert, research-active tutors and be well supported during your work placement. You’ll benefit from great job prospects thanks to our strong links with NHS trusts and social care providers.
Visit our health and social care degrees page.
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Health and social care degrees
Nursing at the University of Greenwich
Our nursing degree provides the essential knowledge and abilities to become a skilled nurse. You’ll benefit from our excellent links with health service providers, and you could get support of at least £5,000 a year, which you won’t need to pay back.
Visit our nursing degrees page.
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