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Becoming an Access Student

The QAA Access to HE Diploma is designed for people who left school with few or no qualifications. Access students go on to succeed at university and beyond, pursuing new careers and seeing changes in their lives that they had never thought possible.

Nationally, there are over 1,000 different programmes leading to the Access to HE Diploma so you should be able to find one not too far away that caters for your interests or career ambitions.

Download our Access to HE Programme Matrix or see the below map to find details of Access courses available in your area.

What does an Access programme involve?

The OCNSWR Access to HE Diploma is made up of study skills, GCSE equivalences and specialist subjects, broken down into bite-sized units, each worth 3 credits. In line with national standards, a total of 60 credits are required to complete the Diploma.

Most Access to HE programmes can be completed in a year or less, typically requiring study for up to 16 hours a week in classes, as well as private study. However, some people with family or work commitments prefer to study over two or more years, and many courses allow this.

The below video shows what it is like on an Access course, from a student perspective.

Kerry Sutcliffe (Access to HE) from dcypher on Vimeo.

Kerry left school at 16 and lived with no fixed abode for six years. While working as a volunteer, she discovered a passion for Youth Work. She is now on the Access Course so she can study at University and pursue this as a career.

Study Skills

Many people are nervous when they start an Access to HE programme, 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. Although you can expect the course to be challenging, the whole purpose of an Access programme is to help you to be successful

You will be taught techniques specifically designed to equip you to study successfully. Some students, after starting an Access programme, realize that the reason they failed to achieve qualifications in the past was simply because they had not developed good study skills, not because of any lack of ability.

GCSE Equivalence

Many Access students left school with few or no GCSE qualifications. Most HE courses require students to have GCSEs in Maths, English or Science, depending upon the course they wish to progress to. The Access programme, therefore, includes units which are accepted as GCSE equivalence for Initial Teacher Training and other degree and diploma courses.

Any GCSE awards already gained within 3 years prior to starting the Access programme may count as Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL), meaning the subject need not be studied as part of the Access programme, leaving you free to focus on other areas.

Specialist Subjects

The majority of OCNSWR Access Providers offer pathways from the Common Access Framework. This is a comprehensive bank of units, divided into subject modules. OCNSWR currently has a range of 15 different pathways offered across the region. Access Tutors advise students which pathway to follow in order to progress to specific courses in HE.

What qualifications do I need?

Most Access programmes don't require any previous qualifications. It doesn't matter how long it is since you last studied. The Access programme 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 and how to apply to university.

Am I too old?

No! Almost everyone considering an Access programme 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.

The Access course is a life-changing experience, as even our own Access to HE Team can testify, three of whom studied as Access students.

Read these inspiring stories of Access students who completed their Access courses despite significant difficulties and went on to fulfill their dreams of studying in Higher Education.

The below video shows one student's experience of returning to education later in life.

Mark Saunders (Access to HE) from dcypher on Vimeo.

Mark went to his local college to find some evening courses to ‘fill the time’ after retiring through ill health. Instead, he enrolled on the Access Course and, several years on, he’s studying for a degree with plans to become a journalist.

Is the Access to HE Diploma recognised by universities?

Access programmes have been around since the 1970s and are designed and developed with the support of HE subject specialists. They are widely recognised by UK universities, with around 20,000 Access to HE students applications across the UK each Year. 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, which appears on the Diploma award.

Access to HE Diplomas are intended to provide a preparation for study in UK Higher Education. However, while partnership arrangements and progression agreements may exist between particular Access to HE courses and particular HE programmes, the award of a Diploma does not provide guaranteed entry to UK HE programmes.

The below video talks about one student's journey to higher education through an Access course.

Doris Kole (Access to HE) from dcypher on Vimeo.

Doris thought she’d missed her chance to go to University. The Access Course offered an alternative route, giving her the flexibility to study part-time while bringing up her daughter. She plans to use this and her sign language skills to get a degree in Deaf Studies.

How do I apply?

Check our Access to HE Provider Contact Details list on our Access Provision within the Region page or on the map above to find a course near you. You can also download our Access to HE Programme Matrix to see courses in your area. Once you've found a course you're interested in, simply contact the college 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, but not all, courses start in September, but colleges will be pleased to hear from you at any time if you want an informal chat about your options.