Whether you’re at the start of your career, are looking to brush up on your skills or are seeking a qualification, the OU has a range of flexible study options perfect for healthcare workers at levels 2-4 of the Career Framework - ideal for healthcare assistants, healthcare support workers and assistant practitioners.

New or returning to study?

If you’re new to learning or it’s been a while since you last studied, we have a range of introductory courses designed to ease you into OU learning, focussing on topics from maths to health. Our Openings courses have been specially designed to give you the perfect introduction to university-level study.

Find out more about Openings courses

Enhance your skills and understanding

If you’re looking to build on your skills and understanding, why not try one of our short health science courses. We offer courses on topics ranging from Understanding the Autism Spectrum to Diabetes Care - all of which are ideal for anyone looking to build their knowledge around a particular subject or hone their skills before moving on to further study.

Find out more about our health sciences short courses

Enhancing your practice and career

Our new Learning & Development opportunities for healthcare workers working at levels 2-4 are the perfect way for you to develop your skills and understanding as your role evolves. Our flexible step on – step off progression route allows you to determine the pace and direction of your studies dependent on your circumstances and ambition. Here’s how it works:

You can study an individual course

You can choose to study just one course and stop there. K101: An introduction to health and social care is an excellent starting point for anyone working in health and social care. It provides a rich and up-to-date introduction to the sector, viewed from the perspective of care workers and service users.

Keep going and get a qualification

As your role evolves and you begin to play an even more substantial role in patient care, you can enhance your skills and understanding by studying further courses that build together to form qualifications that will help you to take your career to the next level. Add our practice-based course K117: Enhancing your healthcare practice to your K101 studies and you will be awarded a Certificate of Higher Education in Healthcare Practice.

You can step off the pathway at this point or continue with your studies and work towards our Foundation Degree in Healthcare Practice – perfect for anyone aspiring to work as an Assistant Practitioner. This programme of study is also offered as the Diploma of Higher Education in Healthcare Practice for those living and working in Scotland.

You might even want to continue and work towards a BA or BSC (Hons) in Health and Social Care – the choice is yours.

Want to find out more? If so, please visit our HCA web pages which give you information specific to the region/nation where you live.

Thinking about a career in nursing?

If you are a healthcare assistant, support worker, or assistant practitioner who is interested in a career in nursing, you’ll be delighted to hear about our flexible, part-time pre-registration nursing programme. Studying nursing with the OU means you don’t have to make the choice between studying or a career – our flexible programme fits in around your existing work and home commitments. Find out more about pre-registration nursing