The Access to Higher Education Diploma is specifically designed to help anyone aged 19 and over get into university.
The Access to Higher Education Diploma is a nationally recognised Level 3 qualification designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to study at degree level.
Studying a Diploma could help you achieve a lifelong ambition to gain a degree. Or help you on to the career path you’ve always wanted to pursue but required a degree.
The courses are structured to provide you with essential study skills – including essay writing. As well as a strong foundational knowledge in your chosen subject.
These two things combined prepare you for the step up to degree level study. If you’ve been out of education for some time – and your study skills are a little rusty – this is ideal.
It allows you to enrol on to your degree course confident that you can do the work.
Access to HE Diplomas are available in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, either with a college or an online educator.
About the Access to Higher Education Diploma
The Access to Higher Education Diploma prepares you for study at degree level. The various courses are designed in partnership with universities from across the country to give you the best possible start.
Each diploma will provide you with relevant academic subject knowledge and the opportunity to learn how to approach study at university-level and develop techniques to help you succeed.
Effective study and essay writing skills are essential at university. So if you’ve been out of education for a while, or these are areas you may be weak in, an Access to HE Diploma is ideal.
The inclusion of these skills is in recognition that no two Access to HE Diploma students are the same. Students on these courses come from all walks of life but have the shared ambition to learn and go to university.
With over 1,200 recognised Access to HE Diplomas available, it’s an approach to education that works for pretty much everyone.
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 and may be at level 2 or level 3. You must successfully achieve 60 credits to be awarded a Diploma.
Depending on how well you did across the Diploma, you will be awarded UCAS points. The better your overall grade, the more UCAS points you will be awarded. The maximum available is equivalent to 3 As at A Level.
What Access to HE Diplomas can I study?
That’s entirely up to you and depends on your area of interest. With over 1,200 certified Access to HE Diplomas available you can find a course that matches your interests and learning outcomes.
The important thing to remember that an Access to HE Diploma is a recognised alternative to A Levels. That means there’s a Diploma for all the mainstream subjects, be that English or Physics.
However, where the Access to HE Diploma gets one up on A Levels is specialist courses that can help you work towards a specific career.
These include medicine, nursing, midwifery, and teaching.
As degrees that all require at least two A Levels with good pass marks, it can feel like a big challenge to get on to the course. However, an Access to HE Diploma allows you to study one course, gain your qualification within a year and apply.
Moreover, because the courses are focused solely on helping you to get on to a specific degree, the learning is way more focused.
Simply because when studying Biology, Chemistry and Physics the courses have to cover all things related to those subjects. An Access to HE Diploma in Medicine focuses on the key things you need to know to go on to study medicine at university.
This is the case with nursing and midwifery too.
If you study an Access to HE Diploma in Psychology, it’s because you want to study it at university. As opposed to sociology.
However, there is some flexibility. For example, some universities would accept qualifications in both psychology and sociology to study criminology.
The best thing to do is contact the university you want to apply to and confirm the entry requirements. It’s also worth checking that they accept Access to HE Diplomas as a handful don’t.
How to Study
Access to Higher Education Diplomas can be studied either in a traditional setting – such as a college – or via an online learning provider.
Courses provided by colleges usually start in September and requires you to attend classes either during the day or in the evenings. It will take you approximately a year to get your qualification.
Online learning is based around independent learning. That means, while you’ll have a tutor to provide guidance and mark your assignments, you’ll be in charge of your learning.
No timetables, no teacher and no physical lessons. All your studying will happen via an online portal.
This can be advantageous if attending physical classes would be difficult due to work or family commitments.
Essentially you can study when you have time rather than trying to reorganise your life. So, whether you work shifts, have to wait until the kids have gone to bed, or want to study in your lunch break, you can. That flexibility exists.
You also have the added benefit that you can enrol and start studying when you like. You can also work through the material as quickly as you like as well.
Many students complete their Access to Higher Education Diploma within 9 months. That means, depending on when you enrol, you can be qualified and ready to apply to university within a year.
Start your learning today
Whatever Access to Higher Education Diploma you choose to study, we’re here to help.
Stonebridge Associated Colleges is one of the UK’s leading distance learning providers. Click the link below to view our range of Access to Higher Education Diplomas and enrol. Alternatively, get in touch with a member of the sales team.
For helpful study tips and to learn more about distance learning, check out our blog.
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