Pathway to a degree in Healthcare

Our part-time Pathway to a degree in Healthcare course has been designed for adults who want to return to education to apply to study for a degree.

Modules are taught in the evenings and at weekends. You will study in a relaxed and supportive environment. After studying the pathway, you will be able to make an application to study an undergraduate degree in these subject areas:

adult nursing
mental health nursing
child nursing
midwifery
occupational therapy
radiotherapy and oncology
diagnostic radiography
physiotherapy

How it works

The pathway is made up of 60 credits. This includes two compulsory core modules, made up of 20 credits each, and additional optional modules that will equal 20 credits.

Applicants wishing to enrol on this pathway will need to have gained five GCSEs, grades A-C/9-4. These should include mathematics and English or Welsh (if you went to a Welsh-medium school).

The Pathway to a degree in Diagnostic Radiography and Imaging is full, and we are no longer taking applications for 2025/26.

For the Pathway to a degree in Diagnostic Radiography and Imaging, you will need to have gained five GCSEs, grades A-C/9-4. These should include 2 Sciences (2x individual Sciences: Biology/Chemistry/Physics/ Science/Additional Science, or Double-award Science), mathematics and English or Welsh (if you went to a Welsh-medium school).

For the Pathway to a degree in Radiotherapy and Oncology, you will need to have gained five GCSEs, grades A-C/9-4. These should include 2 Sciences (2x individual Sciences: Biology/Chemistry/Physics/ Science/Additional Science, or Double-award Science), Mathematics and English or Welsh (if you went to a Welsh-medium school).

Physiotherapy applicants need to have 7 GCSEs A-C/9-4. These should include Maths, English/Welsh (if you went to a Welsh-medium school) and one Science GCSE (Biology/Chemistry/Physics/Science/Additional Science). Students also need to have achieved a Biology A Level, grade B or above.

Midwifery applicants need to have 5 GCSEs, grade A-C/9-4. These should include Maths, English/Welsh (if you went to a Welsh-medium school) and Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Science/Additional Science).

Pathway modules

Core modules

Public Policy for Health (20 credits)
Introduction to Human Biology (20 credits)

Optional modules

Medical Imaging and the Human Body (10 credits)
Diseases and Disorders of the Brain (10 credits)
Introduction to Social Science (20 credits)
Research Methods (10 credits)
Developmental Psychology (10 credits)
Abnormal Psychology (20 credits)
Social Psychology (10 credits)

Degrees that this pathway leads to

Under normal circumstances, you can expect to complete the pathway within one year, but you can take longer if needed.

Cost

Find out about funding and finance.

Contact us

If you have any queries or would like to know more about this route, email your query to pathways@cardiff.ac.uk.

Remember to add your name and the type of nursing that interests you in the subject header of the email (for example, 'Your Name - Mental Health Nursing')

In the main body of the email, enter a contact telephone number and let us know if you have the required qualifications (5 GCSEs including English/Welsh and Maths).

If you do not have the required qualifications, please tell us what qualifications you hold.

A member of the Pathways team will respond to your email as soon as possible.