Do you have dreams of going to university, but don't quite have the qualifications to get in?
With start dates that are offered all year round our online Access to Higher Education diplomas are the perfect solution to helping you get the grades AND the study skills you need.
The beauty of our online courses is that they are self-directed, meaning you can study at home whenever you have some spare time. It fits perfectly around your work and adult life commitments - we know there can be a few.
You'll be assigned a personal mentor, so you won't be left on your own to figure it all out for yourself. Your mentor will always be on hand to guide and steer you in the right direction and give you feedback on your assignments.
As you get towards the end of your course, we'll be able to give you tips and support with your university application and help make that dream a reality.
The Access to Higher Education (HE) Diploma is a qualification, equivalent to a level, which allows students to go on and study higher education courses including bachelor’s degrees, foundation degrees, higher national certificates and diplomas (HNC/HND) and higher degree apprenticeships. Access to HE courses are available in a wide range of different subjects and are widely recognised by UK universities and higher education institutions.
Due to limitations with funding, our online Access to HE Diplomas are only available to those who are aged 19 or older on the 31st of August 2024.
See the our full list of online Access to HE Diplomas
QAA Access to HE Write-off Factsheet
[Download Unit Breakdown with Credits]()
Site
Workplace/Other
Level
Level 3
Course Type
Adult
Qualification
Access to HE
Successfully pass the induction assessment and have ‘approved’ loan status by the end of the induction period. Successfully pass the first assessment by the date set on your study plan. 
 Have tuition fee payment plan in place.
This online course differs to a classroom course, as you will not be taught. Instead, you will study independently following the online learning materials and completing assignments.
Your dedicated unit assessor can be contacted through the message system on the VLE (Virtual Learning Environment).
If you need any guidance, help, or wish to book in a phone or Teams video support call you can message your assessor or contact the admin team. We allow 12 months to work through the course, so it’s flexible in that you can study when you want eg the course platform is available 24/7 however you will have deadlines to meet to complete each unit assignment. During Induction you will be provided with an Individual Learning Plan (ILP) including the expected assessment schedule for your course.
Study time includes:
A range of assessment methodologies are used, including: essays, reports, presentations (video and audio recording), visual presentation of artwork, concept boards, sketchbooks, research journal, drawing, paintings, portfolio of artwork, academic writing skills tasks
You won’t need to purchase any books unless you wish to supplement these study materials.
Access to HE Diploma (Art and Design)
After successfully completing this Access to HE Diploma, you’ll have a good understanding of essential skills and knowledge areas for higher education study in Art and Design. The diploma covers academic writing, effective reading and note-making strategies, art and design. This structured approach ensures a well-rounded educational experience, preparing students for the multifaceted nature of studying at higher education level.
With this qualification, you will be able to enrol on a degree or higher-level apprenticeship that is related to the Arts. For example:
There are a wide range of career opportunities for you if you study the Access to HE Diploma (Art and Design). After successfully completing a university degree or higher-level apprenticeships, you would be able to start your career in the Arts. You will have plenty of opportunities available to you. Potential career paths (dependant on the degree you study):
PAYING FOR YOUR COURSE
If you are 23 or under and have no prior Level 3 qualification or higher, then you may be entitled to a tuition fee waiver subject to eligibility and availability check
If you are over 19 years-old and have a full Level 3 qualification you have two options: an Advanced Learner Loan or self-funding.
ADVANCED LEARNER LOANS
This Government loan will be paid directly to the college and is linked to your attendance.
You will start to repay your loan when you start to earn over £25,000 per annum (correct at time of posting).
If you take out an Advanced Learner Loan to fund an Access to HE Diploma, then go on to complete a higher education course, you’ll be eligible to have the balance of your Advanced Learner Loan written off. However, if you don’t complete either course, you won’t be eligible to have the balance written off and will need to repay your loan in full. For more information about Advanced Learner Loans visit: [Advanced Learner Loan Guide to Terms and Conditions for courses starting on or after 1st August 2024]
TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS From the start of the course, you will need to ensure you have the following in place: