Access to Higher Education
It’s never too late to learn. If you have your sights set on university study and becoming an expert in your field, our Access to Higher Education courses provide you with the stepping stones to do just that.
The Access to Higher Education (HE) Diploma is a qualification which prepares students for study at degree level. Courses are designed, in particular, for people who have been out of education for some time, especially those who left school with too few qualifications to be able to go straight to university.
Access to HE courses provide a good foundation in the knowledge and skills required for studying at university level, so that students are confident and well prepared when they go on to higher education.
The Access to HE Diploma is a full Level 3 qualification. Access to HE Diplomas are made up of 60 credits, 45 of these are at Level 3 and graded. The remaining 15 credits are not graded. Students must successfully achieve 60 credits to be awarded a Diploma.
Our Access to HE courses are designed to give students relevant academic subject knowledge and the opportunity to learn how to approach study at university-level and develop techniques.
*We also offer some Pre-Access courses at Level 2 and Level 1.
View Access to Higher Education Courses
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Case Studies
Jade
Studying Access to HE Science
Ali
Studying Access to HE Social Sciences
Tracey
Studying Access to HE Health Science
All the tutors have been supportive and always try to encourage you to reach your full potential. In my experience, I have found that help is only ever a phone call away. Studying an Access course has really helped me to focus on getting where I want to go.
Alumni Case Studies
Simon
Studied Access to HE Humanities & Social Sciences
I loved my time on the Access course. I think Access truly prepared me for the beginning of university as it gave me excellent knowledge of the theories I would use in my social work degree.
I personally believe that the preparation it gave me for university was excellent and skills such as referencing, citing, and essay structure were much better for attending an Access course. The tutors were a brilliant help with great feedback, great tutorials, and assisting with applying to university through UCAS.
Georgia
Studied Access to HE Health Sciences
I started my Access journey on Level 2 as I had been out of education for 10 years. The supportive community fostered within the Access course was instrumental in my success. The guidance and encouragement from tutors were invaluable, providing reassurance during moments of uncertainty.
Level 3 can be intense, however, I gained essential skills that I implement every day in my university studies, such as time management and study techniques. These skills have proven instrumental in my transition into university. Many topics covered in the Access course are transferable to my current studies, biology and research in particular. The Access course can seem daunting, but it is a great stepping stone to a meaningful career.”
