HNC Healthcare Practice at University of the Highlands and Islands

Programme overview

The HNC Healthcare Practice is a one-year, full-time, mainly on-campus course at UHI Moray and UHI Perth that builds the skills and knowledge for careers in nursing, health and allied health professions. It prepares students for registration requirements for Health Care Support Workers and for the Associate Practitioner role, and includes work placements with shift work, weekends and night duty.

Duration: Full time: 1 year | Intake: September | Study mode: full-time | Location: Inverness, Scotland, United Kingdom

What you will study

Mandatory units are safe working practice for care, therapeutic relationships: understanding behaviour, understanding personal and professional development, sociology and health in Scotland, exploring mental health, healthcare practice: graded unit 1, the human body in health and illness, clinical skills for care practitioners and professional standards for care practice. Options may include health promotion in a changing society and administration of medication.

Career pathways

Health-related professions or pre-registration nurse education (adult, mental health, learning disability and children's nursing). Progression to BSc Adult or Mental Health Nursing with a B in the graded unit, or to year 2 of BA (Hons) Health and Social Studies.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Normally 2 Scottish Highers at grade C or above, or 1 A level at grade C or above, preferably in English or a science-related subject. If these do not include English and Maths, National 5 English and Maths at grade C or above are also needed. Alternatives: an appropriate Group Award at SCQF level 6 (such as NC Health and Social Care) plus 1 Higher at grade C or NC Health and Social Care plus profile grades CCB; SWAP Access to Nursing plus profile grades CCB; or completion of the Foundation Apprenticeship Social Services and Healthcare. Applicants without standard entry requirements are considered individually. Satisfactory Occupational Health Screening is required. Category 1 PVG course.

Domestic applicants: GBP 1,285 a year (2026/27). Students normally domiciled in Scotland; full-time HNC per year Source

International applicants: GBP 9,460 a year (2026/27). Full-time HNC per year; the course cannot be studied by international students needing a Student Route Visa Source

Intake: September

Duration: Full time: 1 year

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