Certificate of Higher Education - Health Fd

Developed for military personnel, their families and veterans. Use the skills and knowledge you acquire to progress onto a health-related honours degree of your choice. Study from anywhere in the world.

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Overview

Since being awarded the Armed Forces Gold Covenant, we have worked closely with the Defence Medical Academy to identify service needs for serving military personnel and veterans, and have developed this exciting new course.

Our course has been designed with serving military personnel and veterans in mind and offers the opportunity to build on your existing skills and experience. This course is delivered 100% online and can be accessed from anywhere in the UK and around the world. We aim to provide you with the additional knowledge and qualification required to progress onto a health-related honours degree.

You will be joining a close-knit, diverse, friendly community and can expect a supportive and engaging learning environment from day one of your studies with us. Each module within the course has an underpinning healthcare focus utilising your highly valuable military healthcare experience.

Find out more about how we support our Armed Forces transitioning to university life.

Why us?

The course was designed by veterans and reservists ensuring the needs of service personnel (active and retired) are considered
At present and with current research we are the only Higher Education Institute that offers a military-focused Certificate of Higher Education which is delivered with a blended learning approach

Supported by the Defence Medical Academy
You will be taught and supported by veterans and reservists
A nationally recognised qualification

Course structure

You will be taught via engaging and interactive methods. Lectures, discussions, and tutorials will provide feedback and support.

Each of the modules has an assessment element such as poster design, presentation, exam, and essay.

You will require access to a computer, laptop, or tablet as this course is delivered fully online.

Course modules

Continued Professional and Personal Development (30 credits)

Prepare to study at university level, with a focus on health-related subjects. Develop key academic skills, like researching, writing, and critical thinking, while building on your existing knowledge and experience. Using reflective practice, you'll strengthen your confidence and grow the professional and scholarly abilities needed to succeed in Higher Education.

Foundations of Health Science and Wellbeing (30 credits)

Want to understand the key mental and physical challenges affecting individuals and communities today? Examine how social factors and health inequalities impact certain groups, including those in local and military communities.

You'll also explore the experiences of service leavers, veterans, and their families, and considers the strategies and policies designed to reduce these inequalities and support wellbeing.

Foundations in Healthcare Numeracy and Medication Management (30 credits)

Build your confidence and skills when using maths safely and accurately in a healthcare setting. You'll explore how numeracy plays a vital role in patient safety, especially when calculating and delivering medication dosages. Through an interactive e-learning programme and online assessments, you'll develop the core numerical skills needed for nursing and allied health roles, while also understanding how accurate calculations help reduce errors and improve outcomes in patient care.

Health Project (30 credits)

Ever wondered how health initiatives get off the ground in hospitals, public health organisations, or education settings?

Choose a topic that aligns with your interests or career goals and design your very own health project. To do so, you'll create an academic poster to present your ideas. Develop skills in planning, presenting, and communicating ideas. These are key tools if you want to make an impact in health and social care.

Depending on your qualifications and experience, there may be an opportunity for you to use an Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) or Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning (RPEL) for some modules. Please contact Terry McDermott-Moses for more information: terry.mcdermott-moses@sunderland.ac.uk.

Facilities

This distance-learning course can be studied from anywhere in the world. You'll need internet access to use our Virtual Learning Environment, where you will access specially designed learning materials, e-books, e-journals, relevant websites and multimedia.

Entry requirements

We don’t currently display entry requirements for United States. Please contact the Student Admin team on studentadmin@sunderland.ac.uk or 0191 515 3154.

We usually require applicants to hold Numeracy and Literacy Level 2.

Profiling is required for students who wish to use an Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) for the Health project module. If the student is deemed appropriate for APL, they will be required to produce a portfolio of evidence, including experience, qualifications and an essay.

Fees and finance

The fee for this course is £5,400 if you are from the UK/Ireland/EU settled/pre-settled. We are unable to accept applications from international students.

If you currently serve (or have recently served) within the Armed Forces, then the Ministry of Defence's ELCAS scheme may be able to help cover your funding for this course. For more information, see our Funding for Armed Forces personnel page.

If you are currently serving, or have recently served, in the British Armed Forces and are looking to enhance your education, you could be eligible to receive help with funding your studies:

Service Leavers Scheme

This scheme pays the tuition fees for ex-service people who have not previously studied at higher education level.

Armed Forces Bereavement Scheme

This scheme provides university scholarships for children of those who lost their lives in the line of duty.

Enhanced Learning Credits Scheme

This University of Sunderland is a registered learning provider with the Ministry of Defence's ELCAS scheme. The scheme provides financial support to British Armed Forces personnel to support their studies at university.

To apply for the ELCAS scheme, visit the ELCAS website to find out if you match the criteria for funding. The website has everything you need to submit your funding application. You will need to apply at least five weeks before the start of your course.

After your application for funding, once you make your application for your course, you will need to mention our Learning Provider Reference number: 1290.

This information was correct at the time of publication.

A woman in an army uniform receives a certificate while people applaud

Career ready

On completion of the course, a Certificate of Higher Education will be awarded. With this Level 4 Certificate, you will have the opportunity to access a health-related honours degree at the University of Sunderland. It is also a recognisable qualification, enabling employment with the NHS or other healthcare workforce.

Further study

On completion of this course, you may be eligible to apply for the following. Please note, some courses may require an interview:

Related courses

Contact

For more information on studying this course, contact: Programme Leader terry.mcdermott-moses@sunderland.ac.uk or Senior Lecturer garry.heeson@sunderland.ac.uk.

Page last updated: 30 July 2025

We aim to provide clear, accurate and timely information to prospective and current students. We continuously review and enhance course content in consultation with our students and the information provided on our website is the latest available. If you have received an offer from us to start a course, we will communicate any important changes to you in writing. We will always seek to ensure that our prospective students are fully aware of the basis on which they are accepting an offer.