Access to Sheffield (Health Professions)

Learn which healthcare profession is right for you by getting involved in a range of activities during the programme. You’ll take part in Adult Nursing, Orthoptics, Speech and Language Therapy, and Pharmacy taster sessions as well as other experiences to strengthen your future applications. You’ll also gain genuine insight into what studying a health-related degree at Sheffield is really like by working with current undergraduate students throughout the programme.

Programme structure

Year 12

• Welcome and team building day  - Meet fellow Access to Sheffield (Healthcare Professions) students and take part in a variety of team-building and subject-specific activities. 
• Taster Sessions – As part of the programme, you’ll participate in a range of subject-focused activities designed to introduce the health-related degree courses available at the University of Sheffield. These sessions will explore Pharmacy, Adult Nursing, Orthoptics, and Speech and Language Therapy, while also providing a broader insight into these careers and professional practice within the NHS. 
• Residential Summer School - Get a look at life as an undergraduate studying a healthcare degree in this three day summer school. You’ll take part in a range of interactive and hands-on activities, including subject taster sessions, mock interviews, group projects, clinical skills workshops, and sessions focused on the NHS. You’ll also have the opportunity to participate in social activities during the evenings and stay in our award-winning student accommodation. 

Year 13

• During Y13 you’ll be enrolled onto our Access to Sheffield (Y13 to Uni) programme. You’ll be able to access support with academic attainment and your university journey.
• UCAS Guidance and Personal Statements - We'll help you prepare a strong UCAS application, including focused work on personal statements. You can also get 1-2-1 personal statement help from our current health students.
• Taster sessions - Attend an activity showcasing the different healthcare degrees 
• One to One Session - You’ll be given the opportunity to take part in a mock interview prior to the real thing (if an interview forms part of your degree course application process).
• Celebration evening - If you successfully complete both phases of Access to Sheffield (Health Professions), you'll be invited to a celebration evening, along with your parents and supporters, to celebrate your involvement and success with other Access to Sheffield students from across all six programmes. There will also be tailored sessions for the parents/supporters to engage with.

Contextual offer

You’ll be eligible for a contextual offer from the University of Sheffield if you complete the programme, subject to conditions, including passing an interview (where required). 

If you want to take a one year break before applying to the University of Sheffield, or need to resit A Levels to achieve a higher grade, the contextual offer would be made available in the following year only.  You can read our access admissions policies for more information. 

Eligibility

Access to Sheffield (Health Professions) is for students from target groups who are currently underrepresented in Higher Education.  Participants are expected to attend events on campus, so must be living within commutable distance of the university, for a 9am arrival.  

Students must expect to be a home fee paying student, unless identified as a forced migrant. 

GCSE requirements

You must have achieved a minimum of five GCSEs at grade 9-6, plus a minimum of grade 4 in English, Maths and Science subjects (if not already included). 

A Level requirements

You must be taking 1 x science subject at A Level (please note if you are interested in applying for Pharmacy, you must be taking Chemistry and one other science). 

Students must meet one or more of the following criteria in addition to the academic requirements detailed above: 

• Are eligible for free school meals
• Live in an area of disadvantage, measured by IMD
• Care experienced
• A care leaver 
• Young carers 
• Experiencing estrangement 
• A forced migrant 

If other qualifications are being studied, refer to the programme contact to discuss. Each application will be considered on a case-by-case basis. As this is a programme for 16-18 year olds we can only accept students starting Y12 in September who are no older than 17 years old as of 1 September in this application cycle. 

How to apply

Applications open in September and close early November. 

Please note you can only apply for the programme at the start of Year 12. We then work with the same students until the end of  Year 13.  Students cannot apply in Year 13. 

Talk to your head of sixth form or your course leader to find out more.  They will tell you if you are eligible based upon the criteria and information we have provided for them.  You will then need to complete the online application form, via your registered school/college coordinator. 

Contact us

Email: health.accesstosheffield@sheffield.ac.uk

Telephone: +44 114 22 21027