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Applied Science Level 3

This Pearson BTEC Level 3 Foundation / Extended Diploma is for learners who want to continue their education through applied learning and who aim to progress to higher education and ultimately to employment in the science industry sector.

The qualification is equivalent in size to 3 A Levels studied over two years. Learners wishing to take this qualification will have successfully completed a Level 2 programme of learning, with GCSEs or vocational qualifications.

The requirements of the qualification will mean learners develop the transferable and higher-order skills that are highly regarded by both higher education and employers. For example, practical and analytical skills, reading scientific text, problem solving and carrying out practical laboratory tasks. In addition to your main programme, you will also engage in activities to develop your English, maths and employability skills.

The course gave me a broad introduction to science which helped me understand what direction I want to take my career in, as I have been able to learn about so many areas. I have a much better understanding of the subject and where I would like to develop my skills further.Kyle Taylor - Applied Science

Course Info

Do I have to pay a fee?

How to make an Application

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Course Content

Applied Science Level 3 Foundation / Extended Diploma – Course Content

The BTEC Level 3 Foundation / Extended Diploma in Applied Science will allow students to develop the practical skills and theoretical knowledge for progression in the sciences. Throughout the course students will have the opportunity to develop their practical knowledge and skills by performing a variety of biology, physics and chemistry experimental work. Students will learn how to work safely within a laboratory environment and how to use maths and statistics to analyse experimental data.

Topics in first year include:

Principles and Applications of Science I
Practical Scientific Procedures and Techniques
Science Investigation Skills
Laboratory Techniques and their Application
Physiology of Human Body Systems
Microbiology and Microbiological Techniques

Topics in second year include:

Principles and Applications of Science II
Investigative Project
Contemporary Issues in Science
Biological Molecules and Metabolic Pathways
Genetics and Genetic Engineering
Applications of Organic Chemistry
Medical Physics Applications

ESNEFT Career Start Programme

Working in partnership with employers, including hospitals and care organisations, our fantastic new Centre for Health and Social Care Professions is providing a range of training and qualifications to meet the demand for new recruits within the health and care sectors.

Courses are designed to address local skills shortages and are delivered by highly-qualified tutors with a diverse range of professional healthcare experiences.

Located on the fourth floor of our South Wing building, the Centre for Health and Social Care Professions encompasses 2,000 square metres of innovative teaching facilities.

The centre incorporates interactive learning technology to provide skills laboratories in realistic working environments, and well-equipped classrooms to ensure students are prepared for higher education (university) or employment.

Learning resources in the centre include:

Dedicated skills rooms for role-play and recorded assessments, a dental surgery and decontamination room
An interactive facility where bespoke environments can be created to develop interpersonal and problem-solving skills around a realistic backdrop
Rooms for collaborative learning, as well as meeting and conference rooms to support apprenticeship assessments

In 2021 the East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT) partnered with our own Centre for Health and Social Care Professions here at Colchester Institute, with a whole new floor dedicated to provide exclusive training to our learners, so they can be career ready at the end of their time with us. ESNEFT is one of the biggest NHS Trusts in East Anglia and provides hospital and community services throughout Suffolk and North Essex.

Suzanne Kinsey | Area Head for Access, Health and Social Care, and Science

Suzanne Kinsey , Head of Health and Social Care and Science

“Our students are loving the new facilities and how they’re able to learn in an environment that reflects the industry. Our partnership with the East Suffolk and North Essex Foundation Trust (ESNEFT) means that we’re able to provide real skills training for direct progression into the NHS. I’m so excited about the opportunities this relationship provides for our students.”

Work in Health and Social Care

Nurturing a future-ready workforce with skills development alongside qualifications

In the field of health and social care, skills development and qualifications are crucial for professionals to deliver high-quality care and support to individuals in need, this is why all of our students complete mandatory placements
as part of their study and follow our newly developed P³ programme.

The P³ Programme

Focusing on Preparation, Placement and Progression (P³), all students will develop the skills and professional behaviours expected to be seen in the workplace which will be delivered through a variety of workshops and online learning. This will offer students an assessed competency prior to embarking on a placement through a variety of workshops, online learning and the Care Certificate.

All Health and Social Care students must complete this mandatory training prior to starting on their placements which includes:

Clinical and health skills development
Up to 72 hours of additional teaching with clinical experts throughout the year
Roleplays and reflective exercises
Communication and study skills

Further progression activities support learners throughout the academic year ready for their next steps, such as:

UCAS support
Interview and employment-ready workshops
Academic literacy development
Resilience and wellbeing activities

Those studying under the Centre are referred to as ‘Professionals in Training’ and will follow the NHS 6Cs philosophy; care, courage, commitment, compassion, competence and communication. These behaviours are monitored and rewarded throughout the course.

Students will be expected to work in a variety of settings to develop different skills, and the College has placements in over 150 workplaces.

ESNEFT Career Start Programme

The aim of our Career Start Programme is to develop the key employability skills and qualities in our students, so that we can prepare them for a career within the sector by the time they leave us to progress on their career path.

Those who are successful in accessing the programme will have demonstrated a positive attitude to the NHS 6Cs approach and towards their own development. They will be offered a student placement, a training package within a hospital environment and a guaranteed interview for a ‘real’ job in the NHS.

These students will be given:

Clinical work placement at Colchester or Ipswich Hospital
An allocated supervisor
Compulsory NHS induction training
An NHS mentor to support them throughout the programme
Online training modules
Masterclasses at the Iceni Centre, at Colchester General Hospital
Interactive training sessions

By completing the mandatory skills training, our students will be able to access more substantial student placements which are more practical in nature and will be guaranteed a job interview on successful completion of the Career Start Programme.

Who is eligible to benefit from this opportunity?

This programme will be open to existing students on Level 2 and Level 3 Health and Social Care programmes, Level 3 Applied Science and our Access to Higher Education Diploma in Health Professions.

There are limited spaces available on this programme, students will be selected by achievement and their commitment and dedication to their studies. These will be our shining stars who choose a vocation (pathway) within the NHS.

Students must be, at least, 17 and a half by the time they finish this programme and ready to start work, which could be full-time, part-time or even fitted around a higher education course of study. For paediatric areas, students must be 18 before they start their placements.

Why should you apply for this programme?

You’ll have access to NHS apprenticeships
You’ll gain lived experience in Health and Social Care settings first-hand
Your job application is prioritised above non-Career Start Programme applicants
You will develop your care values according to the NHS 6Cs approach early, which are essential for any relevant role

How do you apply?

Your tutors and our partners at ESNEFT will talk to you about this opportunity in your first term at college.

The facilities in the Health and Social Care department are excellent, we get good access to lots of practical sessions in actual healthcare settings. The experiences we get from the work placement are also excellent, we wouldn’t get the same placement opportunities at any other college. I started at Colchester Institute studying Level 2 Health and Social Care and I’m now an employee of ESNEFT after finishing the Career Start programme. The programme provided access to additional training, where I learnt specific skills to ensure I progressed directly into a career in the NHS.
Martha

How Will I Be Assessed?

Learners will be assessed by a mixture of coursework and examinations.

In your first year you will sit two external examinations and four internally assessed units and in your second year you will sit two external examinations and five internally assessed units.

Entry Requirements

5 GCSEs (9-4) including English, Maths and Science, or satisfactory results (Merit/Distinction) in a relevant Level 2 qualification and an interview.

Career Opportunities

This qualification provides a route to employment as a science technician or assistant practitioner working in a wide variety of roles in the science industry or in organisations that use science. These can include roles such as medical physics technician, research laboratory technician, quality control technician, scientific journalist.

Course Progression

Our students have progressed on to a range of science related degree programmes such as Genetics, Engineering, Chemistry, Nursing, Physical Sciences, Physiotherapy, Marine Biology, Biological science, Biomedical Science and Microbiology. The course has a strong emphasis on practical laboratory work. It is the equivalent to 3 A Levels and provides a sound stepping stone to employment or to University.

All students aged 16-18 on the first day of their course will have their course fully-funded by the government.

Costs of studying

If you are/will be aged 16, 17 or 18 on the 31st August in the calendar year when you begin a programme of study, you DO NOT pay tuition fees, College registration fees or examination/board registration fees. However, there are some courses which have additional costs which could include:

equipment costs – such as uniforms, kits, boots, etc.
trips and enrichment activities
DBS checks (formerly CRB checks)

For students with an identified low household income, there may be financial support available. Bursary awards can help with your course related costs such as travel, books and equipment and much more.

19+ - Do I have to pay a fee?

The information in this section applies solely to this course and the criteria for a fee waiver is not transferable to any other course offered by the College.

You will not pay tuition fees if you are:

under 19 on the 31st August 2023

aged 19-24 on the 31st August 2023 and have an active Education, Health and Care Plan

aged 19 – 23 and have not already achieved a full Level 3 qualification* (In some cases, if you need to first enrol on a lower level course, before progressing to a Level 3, this may also be fully funded by the government)

* This means that you have not previously attained a full Level 3 or equivalent (2 A Levels or 4 AS Levels, or QAA Access to Higher Education (HE) Diploma at Level 3, or a Level 3 Tech level or applied general qualification (e.g. BTEC)).

You will pay tuition fees if you are:

aged 19 – 23 at the start of this course and have previously achieved a full Level 3 qualification

aged 24+ and have not previously achieved a full Level 3 qualification

Learners required to pay tuition fees can either self-fund (whereby you or your employer pays for the course) or apply for an Advanced Learner Loan to cover all, or part, of the tuition fees for this course. The minimum loan you can get is £300, but the maximum will depend on how much the fees are and the type of course you take.

Advanced Learner Loans

Am I eligible for an Advanced Learner Loan?

To qualify for an advanced learner loan to cover the fees for this course you must be:

19 years old or over on the first day of your course (there’s no upper age limit)
A UK national or have ‘settled status’ (this means there are no restrictions on how long you can stay)
Living in the UK on the first day of your course, and have lived in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for three years immediately before this

Most learners that fall into this bracket will be eligible, it doesn’t depend on your household income and there’s no credit check!

If your nationality or residency status is different to the above, then please contact the national Advanced Learner Loan helpline on 0300 100 0619 or check the Advanced Learner Loan website where you will be able to find further information on eligibility.

How do I apply for an Advanced Learner Loan?

Once you have applied and been offered a place on the course, the college will provide you with a ‘learning and funding information letter’. These are normally sent out in early July.

You need this to complete the loan application and you cannot apply for a loan until you have received this.

Once you have applied for a loan and it has been approved you will receive an official letter from Student Finance England.

Am I eligible for a bursary?

Applicants thinking of enrolling on this course can apply for funding to help with the costs associated with attending college. Bursary funds are targeted at students where there is an identified low household income.

The bursary fund cannot provide help with costs unrelated to your course, such as general living expenses, nor can it be used as an attendance incentive.

Applications to the fund are not normally considered if the household income exceeds £25,000 but may be considered in some instances if the household is experiencing severe financial hardship.

The 16-19 Bursary Fund is aimed at helping:

Students who are aged 16, 17 or 18 on the 31st August 2023

Students aged 19 who started a two-year programme before their 19th birthday

Students aged 19 or over on 31st August 2023 who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)

If you do not meet the above criteria then you are likely to be eligible for support through either the:

19+ Bursary Fund

Advanced Learner Loan Bursary Fund (for students paying Level 3 tuition fees for with an advanced learner loan)*

*Awards from the Advanced Learner Loans Bursary Fund can only be made to students who have received an Advanced Learner Loan. If you do not intend to apply for an advanced learner loan or if your application has been unsuccessful you will not be eligible for an award from this particular fund.

Funds are targeted at course related costs such as travel, childcare, books and equipment.

Regardless of income or employment status, students self-funding (including where an employer is covering course fees), are not eligible for financial assistance through any discretionary bursary funds.

When can I apply?

******Applications for student funding for learners starting in September 2023 are now open. Applications can be made from this page using the button below.*****

For courses starting in September 2023, applications should be made by 1st November 2023. If you find yourself in financial hardship after this date it is important that you still contact Student Services. Applications received after 1st November will be considered on a pro-rata basis subject to need and the availability of funds.

16-19 Bursary Information

19+ Bursary Information

Payment Options

Payment should be made in full at the time of enrolment. Acceptable payment methods include Debit Card and Credit Card (excluding American Express). Please note that we are no longer able to accept cash or cheque payments.

Can I pay in instalments?

Yes, you can spread the cost of fees. Any student of the College who pays his/her own programme costs is entitled to do so on a monthly payment plan basis, providing the total course fees exceed £200 and the student is aged 19 years, or over, on 31st August in the current academic year.

Where total course fees exceed £200 you (or your employer, if they are paying your course fees) can choose to pay your fees in instalments through a monthly payment plan and 40% of the fee or £500 (whichever is lower) will be payable at enrolment.

The balance must be paid within 6 months or by the end date if the course is less than 6 months in duration.

The monthly instalment payments will also be set up at the point of enrolment, or if you are enrolling using our online enrolment process, a member of our Finance team will contact you to set up the instalment plan after you have submitted your online enrolment.

In order to pay through monthly instalments, students must sign the Colchester Institute Instalment Payment Plan terms and conditions!

If a student fails to sign up to an instalment plan at enrolment all fees will become due for payment within 30 days.

Failure to fulfil any terms and conditions of an instalment agreement will result in you becoming immediately liable for the full outstanding balance and you may not be entitled to pay any future fees by instalments.

Please download and save the form below, then fill it in and sign it. These forms can either be emailed to registry@colchester.ac.uk prior to enrolment, or if you are completing an online enrolment you can upload these documents during the enrolment process.

Further Education Fee Instalment Student Terms and Conditions

Employers who are funding a student’s fees must complete and sign an authorisation form which must be submitted either prior to or at enrolment together with an advance payment of 40% of the course fee or £500, whichever is lower. This can be paid via the online store prior to or at the point of Enrolment.

If the advance payment is not made prior to or at Enrolment the student will not be eligible to attend college.

Further Education Employer Authorisation Form, Instalment Plan, Terms and Conditions

How to make an Application – Watch our video guide!

****Applications for courses starting in September 2023 are now closed****

The application window for full-time courses and joint apprenticeship applications starting in September 2024 opens on Monday 2nd October at 12pm.

Before submitting your online application, make sure you have got an email address which you will check frequently and which is professional and appropriate for this purpose, and use this when you create your account. Submit the application as early as possible and remember to make a note of your USERNAME and PASSWORD details! You will need these later.

We have prepared a step-by-step video guide below – please view this video which will guide you through the application process.

Application Do's and Don'ts

Application Tips

If you have chosen the study programme you would like to apply for then you are almost there. We recommend that you read our handy application tips, watch our video and then make your application.

You can only apply for one full-time programme and one apprenticeship. You can do this together within the same application form, in what is known as a joint application.

Remember, you cannot study more than one core subject. For example, you would not be able to study two full-time programmes in different subjects simultaneously. You would take Plumbing or Music, not Plumbing and Music.

Your subject will be your primary qualification and forms the bulk of your programme of study.

Application Dos

Apply as early as possible. We start accepting applications from 2nd October 2023 and have set an initial deadline of 31st January 2024 for a priority application on your chosen programme (subject to you satisfying the entry requirements), although we still accept applications after this date but may not be able to guarantee you a place on your chosen programme.
Think carefully about your course choice before you apply. Talk to your head of year or careers adviser at school to make sure you have explored all your options and have found a course that suits you best. You may wish to attend one of our open days to find out more before applying.
Make sure you attend any interviews or assessments we invite you to. These are a mandatory part of our process. They give you the opportunity to find out more about our courses, as well as allowing us to make sure you are on the most appropriate course for you. Some courses may invite you to attend a second interview or audition to demonstrate your skills and to ensure you are on the most appropriate level for you.
Please let us know if your contact details or address change. We will use a variety of letters, emails and texts to communicate with you throughout the process, and the information we provide is both confidential and vital to your application. If you move home or change your phone number and don’t inform us of any changes, you could miss some vital information.

Application Don’ts

Do not make multiple applications. If you are unsure, for example, of which construction/trade subject you would like to study, please only make an application for one of them. Likewise, if you later wish you had applied for a different course, please don’t worry – we can change your application. Whatever the reason for wanting to change, there is no need to make another application.
Do not use a school email address when you create your account. Remember, you will need to access this account later in the summer after you have left school.
Do not create another account if you have previously applied. If you have applied in previous years, please do not create a new account. If you are unsure, contact us to check which username and password to use.

Just call us on 01206 712777

Applied Science Level 3

Level	Level 3
Location	Colchester
Duration	Two Years: Year 1: Foundation Diploma \| Year 2: Extended Diploma
Study Mode	Full-Time
Campus / Adult Skills Centre	Colchester Campus
Start Date	September 2024
Fee(s)	16-18 year olds: Free 19+: £7,395 (This fee covers the full two-year course)

Course Enquiry Line: 01206 712 777 Open Event Updates Receive Updates For Parents & Guardians

Advanced Learner Loan Available

Other courses in this area

Level 3 Courses

Disclaimer

All fees, prices and funding information shown on this page are for courses starting in the 2023-24 academic year unless stated otherwise, and are correct at the time of entering/printing information, however these may be subject to change due to factors outside of our control. The College cannot accept legal or financial liability as a result of any such changes.

Courses fees are generally not confirmed for September until June / July due to the above factors.

The course information describes programmes offered by Colchester Institute. The College takes all reasonable steps to provide courses as described, but cannot guarantee provision. The information is for guidance and does not form any part of a contract.

The College reserves the right to update and amend information as and when necessary. Colchester Institute will do its best to provide the courses shown, but may have to modify or withdraw a course depending on customer demand and other factors.