Starting 10/09/2024
Distance Learning
Part-Time
Duration 1 year
Starting 08/09/2025
Distance Learning
Part-Time
Duration 1 year
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Access to Higher Education
Adults Part-TimeThis fully online access programme aims to develop your skills and self-confidence necessary to progress to your chosen profession or course in higher education.
We are really pleased to confirm that we are widening our model of delivery for this Access course to include learners who are unable to travel to college due to external responsibility. If you'd like to study from home but don't quite meet the entry requirements (or feel confident enough) to go straight into a degree - this course will give you the opportunity to get there!
The course is delivered online in a virtual classroom. You'll be expected to have a reliable internet connection and a reliable device to access the sessions on.
The aim of the course is to give mature learners (19 years and over) a second chance at education by developing personal confidence and achievement, the ability to study, and guidance to help decide their future.
The course will provide a thorough grounding in the key concepts and theories you will meet during your further studies or training. You will gain an insight into a variety of subject areas and support is offered to you if you are wanting to apply for university. Teamwork and oral skills are promoted through group discussion during seminars, which helps prepare you for employment by encouraging interaction with colleagues.
We also offer this as a daytime course here.
We also offer this as a part-time course here.
You will need:
If you do not have this above, you should consider completing our part-time Pre-Access courses in Humanities first.
1 year
08/09/2025
This course is held online, every Tuesday and Wednesday, 4:15pm to 8:15pm.
Age | Cost |
---|---|
19+ | £3,600 |
All our Access to Higher Education courses have a course fee which could be waived if you are aged 19-23 at the start of your course and have not completed a level 3 (or above) course before.
Otherwise, you could also consider applying for the Advanced Learner Loan to cover the cost of the course. If you complete an Access course and then progress onto and complete a degree (with us or elsewhere), you will not be required to pay back the remaining amount of your Advanced Learner Loan!
Advanced Learner Loan Information
Depending on your age, course, educational history and personal circumstances, there may be options available for you to receive a course fully-funded by the government. Our fee calculator will help give you an idea on whether you'll be able to have your course fee waived or covered by an Advanced Learner Loan.
If you are aged 19 - 24 at the start of your course and have an active Education, Health & Care Plan (EHCP), any course up to and including level 3 will be fully-funded by the government. This means you will not have a course fee to pay and any equipment considered essential to complete your course will be provided by the college.
The Access to Higher Education course (depending upon the final qualification) is equivalent to A-Levels. It is recognised by higher education institutions, advanced apprenticeships, business, retail and appropriate professions. Our Access to Higher Education courses are validated by the Cambridge Access Validating Agency and the qualification is universally recognised as demanding and rigorously assessed.
The course will be split into modules which are individually assessed. Later modules build on the skills developed in the earlier ones. Assessment varies depending upon your subject choices. The course director will give you further information about assessment on the pathway you choose. There is a great deal of time and support given by the programme lecturers to build confidence and success rates for all students.
The number of UCAS tariff points for an Access to Higher Education diploma varies between 48 and 144 points, depending on your grade for each module.
Access to Higher Education qualifications are split into a total of 45 graded credits and each module will have a different credit weighting (for example, one module may be worth 3 units and another may be worth 6). For each graded module, you'll achieve a pass, merit or distinction and these each carry a different amount of UCAS points (with pass being the lowest and distinction being the highest).
For example, if you pass each graded module, you will achieve 48 UCAS points. If you gain a distinction in each graded module, you will achieve 144 UCAS points (equivalent to three A grades at A Level).
We've included some examples below of what grades you need to achieve common UCAS tariff point entry requirements:
UCAS Points | Grades required |
---|---|
64 | 15 credits at merit, 30 credits at pass |
74 | 24 credits at merit, 21 credits at pass |
80 | 30 credits at merit, 15 credits at pass |
96 | 45 credits at merit |
120 | 24 credits at distinction, 21 credits at merit |
144 | 45 credits at distinction |
You can find more details on the UCAS Tariff points calculator here.
Starting 10/09/2024
Distance Learning
Part-Time
Duration 1 year
Starting 08/09/2025
Distance Learning
Part-Time
Duration 1 year
General Enquiries
01553 761 144
Student Services
01553 815 271