What is Access to Higher Education?
A brief introduction
The Access to Higher Education (HE) Diploma is a qualification which prepares students for study at university. It is designed for people who would like to study in HE but who left school without the usual qualifications, such as A levels.
Many Access to HE students go on to succeed at university and beyond, with a large number pursuing new careers and seeing changes in their lives that they had never thought possible.
There are over 1,000 different courses leading to the Access to HE Diploma and courses are available in most further education colleges in England and Wales. Access to HE Diplomas are available in a range of different subjects, such as Access to HE Diploma (Nursing), Access to HE Diploma (Art and Design), Access to HE Diploma (Business Studies) and a range of others, so you should be able to find a course not too far away that caters for your interests or career ambitions.
What does an Access to HE Diploma course involve?
To achieve an Access to HE Diploma, you need to complete a programme that
includes certain units of study in relevant subject areas. You'll be taught study
skills - learning how to approach study and the different techniques that you'll need
to be a successful student. The whole package of units will have been designed to
ensure that you're thoroughly equipped for studying at university. For each unit
successfully completed, you'll earn credits that gradually build towards the 60 credits
that are required for the Access to HE Diploma.
Many people are nervous when they start an Access to HE course, particularly if they
haven't been in a classroom for some time. Tutors are aware of this and take it into
account in their teaching: you won't be 'thrown in at the deep end' or tested on things
which you forgot years ago. Though you can expect the course to be challenging,
the whole purpose of an Access to HE course is to help you to be successful.
How long will it take?
Most Access to HE Diplomas can be completed in a year or less. For one-year courses, you will typically study for up to 16 hours a week in college (though there is some variation between different colleges), as well as doing a certain amount of private study outside classes. However, many people with family or work commitments prefer to study over two or more years, and most courses allow you to do this.
There are also courses provided in the evenings or by distance learning if you need
to continue with a full-time job while you study. You still have to accumulate the
same number of credits, but if your circumstances change and you find that you
can't complete the course in the time you'd planned, you'll be awarded the credits
that you've earned.This gives you the flexibility to pick up where you left off at a
later time and complete the course, if you're able to.
Am I too old?
No! Almost everyone considering an Access to HE course worries that they may have
left it too late. Your life experience will be valuable on the course and you'll find that
other Access to HE students - and students in universities - are of a wide age range.
What qualifications do I need?
One of the key features of Access to HE courses is that most don't require you to
have any particular previous qualifications to start - and it doesn't matter how long
it is since you last studied. The Access to HE course will help you to develop the
knowledge, skills and confidence you need to prepare you for university, without
any assumptions about what you may have done in the past.
If you're not certain which university course is best for you, you will receive advice
about the different courses available, as well as advice about how to apply to
university, while you're on the Access to HE course.
Is the Access to HE Diploma recognised by universities?
Access to HE courses have been around since the 1970s and have been designed and developed with the support of universities. Access to HE is therefore widely recognised by UK universities.
Each year, around 20,000 Access to HE students apply to universities across the UK. What's more, the framework for the approval of Access to HE courses is managed by the universities' own quality assurance organisation,
the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA). A course which is recognised through this framework is permitted to use the Access to HE logo
(below), and this also appears on the actual diplomas which are awarded to students.
How do I apply?
Once you've found a course you're interested in, simply contact the course provider
and they will advise you about what you need to do next. There will be forms to fill
in and you may be invited in to the college to discuss what you'd like to study and
whether Access to HE is suitable for you.
Most courses start in September, with recruitment starting the previous January
and going through to the summer before the course starts. However, courses have
different start dates: colleges will be pleased to hear from you at any time if you
want an informal chat about your options.