The Access to HE Medicine Diploma is for students 19 years or older who require a level 3 qualification to study undergraduate medicine or a related degree. Several medical schools accept the Access to HE Medicine Diploma as a valid route of entry to undergraduate medicine, and this course would be accepted as a valid route of entry to a wide range of other health and science themed degrees. The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) have consulted extensively with medical schools and the Medical Schools Council (MSC) to develop a national subject descriptor for Access to HE Medicine Diplomas. The Truro College Access to HE Medicine Diploma complies with the structural requirements of the new subject descriptor. The aim of the subject descriptor is to bring greater standardisation to diplomas titled Access to HE Diploma (Medicine). This will allow the medical schools currently accepting Access to HE students for direct entry to have greater confidence in the content and rigour of assessment, and it may also encourage those medical schools not currently accepting Access to HE students to review their admissions policies. Learners will develop an understanding of key concepts in biology, chemistry and physics to underpin their future studies. In addition, learners conduct extensive laboratory work and become adept at conducting practical work with precision and skill. A big emphasis is also placed on professional behaviours, study skills and IT giving learners the tools to succeed at college and in a higher education setting.