Health & Social Care: NQ (Level 5)

Close-up of two healthcare students reviewing patient notes in a practical classroom setting.

Qualification

Study Mode

Full Time, Part Time

Duration

1 or 2 Years - 2.5 Days p/w

Start date

Aug 2026

Campus

East End

Applications open January 2026

Course overview

Take your first step into a caring career that makes a real difference.

The NQ Health and Social Care (Level 5) course is the perfect starting point if you’re new to studying or working in care. Whether you’re leaving school or returning to education after a break, this course provides a supportive introduction to the values, knowledge, and skills that form the foundation of a career in health and social care.

You’ll learn about human development, social influences, and the importance of compassion, communication, and respect when working with others.

Delivered through engaging lessons and practical learning, the course prepares you for progression to higher-level study — such as NC Health and Social Care (Level 6) — or for entry-level employment in the care sector.

This course is also an ideal progression route from National 4 Care or a similar introductory programme.

This course is ideal for:

School leavers or adult returners with little or no previous experience in care who want to begin their learning journey.
Learners who have completed National 4 Care or equivalent qualifications and are ready to progress.
Individuals who want to develop practical and communication skills for working in health or social care settings.
Those with a genuine interest in helping others and understanding how care supports people across all ages and abilities.

What you will learn

You’ll develop essential knowledge and practical skills to prepare for future study or work in the care sector.

Core topics include:

Values and Principles in Care – understand the core ethics and responsibilities of care professionals.
Human Development and Behaviour – explore how people grow and change throughout life.
Social Influences – discover how family, community, and environment affect wellbeing.
Introduction to Mental Health – gain awareness of mental health conditions and how to support others compassionately.
National 5 Skills for Work in Health – build employability skills and understand the demands of health-related professions.
Core Skills – strengthen your Communication, IT, and Numeracy skills for study and work.

Learning is active and engaging, with class discussions, group projects, and reflective activities that help you apply what you learn to real-life care situations.

Entry requirements

✅ National 4 Care or equivalent such as 3 national 4 qualifications.

✅ English / Communication at National 4

✅ OR relevant life or volunteering experience in a care or community setting

Additional information:

You must show personal qualities suited to care work, such as empathy, patience, and responsibility.
Applicants with no formal qualifications but strong interest or experience are welcome to apply.
Selection is based on your personal statement and may include an interview.

Your personal statement should include:

Why you wish to study Health and Social Care.
The type of care work that interests you.
The skills and qualities you believe make an effective care worker — and why.

ℹ️ You must be 16 years or older at the start of the course.

ℹ️ For this course, if English is not your first language

you need to have SQA ESOL National 5 - grade B or above (or equivalent, click here to see equivalent qualifications)
If you do not have a formal ESOL qualification but your language skills meet this level, you should apply for your course and then contact our Admissions team to organise an internal language assessment here at the College.