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 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
Level 2 English and Maths (GCSE C/4 or above or Functional Skills)
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.
You will achieve a Skills & Education Group Access, QAA recognised, Access to Higher Education Diploma (Art and Design) at Level 3 (QAA aim code: 40012931).
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]()
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Based on the level of study we ask that students have the following qualifications upon entry:
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.
Access to Higher Education Diplomas are extensively accepted as an alternative to 'A Levels' for university entrance. The Access to Higher Education Diplomas have a reputation of successfully helping students to gain admission to university.
Students should, however, be aware that each university apply their own admissions criteria, and we highly recommend that you research universities prior to applying to this course, to ensure your chosen university accepts this Diploma and the credits and graded units available for each subject area.
Whilst we have confidence that the Access to Higher Education Diplomas are compliant and sufficient to form part of a university application, East Sussex College will not be able to accept any liability for the inability of any Access to Higher Education learner to secure an offer from a Higher Education establishment due to the individual set requirement of each university or higher education institution.
INTERNATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
For students with English and maths qualifications from outside the UK we require evidence of proficiency in English and maths, which can sometimes be met by qualifications obtained abroad. However, it's important for prospective students to verify with the specific higher education institutions whether their international qualifications are accepted. Some institutions may require a GCSE-equivalent qualification or may have specific criteria for recognising international qualifications.
RIGHT TO STUDY
To study for an Access to Higher Education (HE) Diploma in the UK, you typically need to be a UK resident. Additionally, meeting residency requirements is often necessary to be eligible for government funding for these courses.
ATTENDANCE
The online course is designed to be flexible yet structured, with a 15-hour weekly study expectation and a requirement for students to log in at least twice a week. Holidays can be accommodated; students are simply asked to inform the course administrators of their absence in advance.
The awarding body requires a minimum engagement length of 6 months on this course (this means you cannot complete the course before a date 6 months after your start date).
This structure supports consistent progress while allowing for life's unpredictable moments.
HOW DO I KNOW IF THIS IS THE RIGHT COURSE FOR ME?
East Sussex College offer a 14-day cooling-off period for this course. This period allows you to evaluate the course and online study method.
You are liable for the full course fees after 14 days from the start date stated in your learning and funding letter which will be issued after your application has been processed.
This process ensures that both the student and the institution can make informed decisions about the educational journey ahead.
If you take out an Advanced Learner Loan to cover your fees, then this will be activated 14 days from the course start date stated in your learning and funding letter.
If you wish to withdraw, you may cancel your enrolment by notifying the Administration Team in writing (by e-mail) prior to day 14 and you will owe nothing. After 14 days, you will owe the full course fee plus an administration charge, in line with the ESCG Tuition Fee Policy
TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS
From the start of the course, you will need to ensure you have the following in place:
Our online courses have various start dates each month. Our upcoming dates are below: