NQ Health Care Development (Level 5) (January)
- Location
- Cardonald Campus
- SCQF Level
- 5
- Start Date
- 26 Jan 2026
- Qualification Type
- NQ
- Course Type
- Short Full-Time
- Duration
- 18 weeks (January to June)
If you want to work in healthcare, this 18-week course will give you a broad knowledge of the standards and approaches that support care practice. You get an introduction to essential basic caring skills in our clinical skills lab and learn from our guest healthcare experts. This introductory course can be a springboard for further studies and also gives you a qualification to prepare you for working in the health and social services sector.
In just 18 weeks, you'll gain the essential knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to begin a rewarding career helping others.
What will I learn?
Examples of the units that may be undertaken in the NQ Health Care Development (Level 5) course are:
- Understanding Mental Health Issues: Explores common mental health conditions, their causes, and the impact they have on individuals and society.
- Healthy Eating in Care Settings: Examines the principles of nutrition and how to promote healthy eating to support wellbeing in care environments.
- Introduction to Academic Writing: Develops essential skills in planning, structuring, and writing academic assignments clearly and effectively.
- Social Influences: Investigates how social, cultural, and economic factors affect individuals’ health, wellbeing, and access to care.
- Coping Strategies and Building Resilience: Focuses on techniques and approaches to manage stress, build resilience, and support emotional wellbeing.
Entry requirements (minimum)
- Three National 4s, or equivalent, one of which should be English
- If English is not your first language you should have Intermediate ESOL or National 4 ESOL
- You should be aged 16 by the course start date.
The Scottish Credit and Qualifications (SCQF) Framework can help you to check if you're choosing the right level of study. Take a look at the SCQF Interactive Framework here.
Employer and industry links
The healthcare department has strong links with a wide range of employers in the NHS, Health and Social Care Partnerships and with the community, voluntary and private sectors.
Specialist speakers regularly visit to talk with classes about the role of their agency and job opportunities in the sector.
Jobs and further study
What's the best that could happen? If you successfully complete this course, you could continue your healthcare journey on NQ Health Care (Level 6) starting in August at Glasgow Clyde College.
Take a look at the course progression map for health care courses.
I've applied — what happens next?
You will receive an automated email confirming that we have received your application (remember to check your SPAM folder).
Your application will be reviewed by the admissions team and you will either be:
- Made a direct offer (unconditional or conditional)
- Invited to book an interview session
- Advised that your application is unsuccessful – you have not met the entry requirements for this course and are advised to contact the College Student Advice Centres to discuss alternative options which may be available to you.
- We aim not to reject an application and if you don’t meet the entry requirements you may be referred to a different course or level.
If you are invited to interview, you will be informed of the outcome of your interview by email within 14 working days. The outcome will be one of the following:
- Unconditional offer of a place – you have met all the entry requirements and your place is guaranteed. You will be required to accept this offer to secure your place.
- Conditional offer of a place – your place is secured pending you meeting the entry requirements. This may mean achieving school or college qualifications which you may not be able to provide to us yet. You will be required to accept this offer to secure your conditional place. Once your conditions are met this will change to an unconditional offer of a place which you must accept before you can enrol on the course.
- Waiting list – you have met all entry requirements, and have been interviewed however, the course is now full so you have been placed on a waiting list. If any spaces become available you may be contacted, usually around the course start date. We would advise that you also consider other application options.
- Reserve list – following your interview, you have unfortunately not been successful in this round of recruitment. We have placed your name on a Reserve list and your application may be reconsidered at a later date. This could happen any time up to the start date of the course but it is very possible that you will not be offered a place. We would advise that you also consider other application options.
- Unsuccessful – your interview has been unsuccessful. You may be offered a place on a course at a different level, or advised to contact the College Student Advice Centres to discuss alternative options which may be available to you.
Once an offer is received, you must reply within 14 working days or risk losing your place, as the system will automatically decline your offer after 14 days.
Once you have accepted your offer, you will be sent out instructions about student funding, joining instructions and induction date. This will normally be sent out in December / January.