Access to HE Diploma (Humanities and Social Sciences)

Access to Higher Education courses are one year intensive courses for adult students aged 19+ who are intending to study for a degree at university but do not have the necessary entry requirements.

In the first semester the course provides you with units to develop your study, IT, data presentation and analysis skills, alongside introductory units in Critical Thinking, Social Research Methods and Contemporary Psychology.

Your knowledge and understanding is then further developed in semesters two and three, providing you with a broad range of modules including Cultural Studies, Cognitive and Language Development, Historical Studies, Philosophy and Literature studies.

In addition a number of optional modules are offered including Education Studies, Organisation and Methods of Teaching, Special Needs in Education, Creative Arts, Film Studies, Childhood and Society and Media studies

Our Humanities Combined with Social Sciences pathway is designed for those who wish to progress onto degrees in a wide variety of areas. Typically, graduates from this pathway go on to study degrees in Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, Criminology, English, Geography, History and Media Studies (but this list is not exhaustive!).

During the pathway you will study: Core modules - designed to support you in developing skills which are vital for degree-level study, regardless of the subject. These skills include referencing, research skills, essay and report writing, and critical thinking.

Subject-specific modules - designed to ensure that your subject knowledge is at the required level for your chosen degree course.

We provide regular tutorials to offer academic and personal support and also offer help and guidance with UCAS applications and personal statement writing, along with university interview preparation.

Access is an intensive, challenging and demanding course Our Access courses are QAA approved and validated by LASER Learning Awards are Level 3 courses.

GCSE English at grade C / 4 is required (or Functional Skills Level 2 English). GCSE Maths at grade C / 4 (or equivalent) is desirable depending on the degree you wish to progress on to, but can be studied alongside the Access diploma if necessary. All candidates are expected to attend a Taster Day before receiving a firm offer for a place on the Access course.

As with all Access courses we want to develop your confidence and ability to study independently. You will be assessed through a variety of methods, including essays, oral presentation, debates and exams. In the last semester you will also complete an extended Independent Project on a subject of your own choice.

Students who have successfully completed this Diploma have progressed onto university courses at a range of institutions including Kingston, Chichester, LSE, UCL, Royal Holloway, Christchurch Canterbury, Kent, and Brighton.

Previous learners on this course have gone on to university studies in

; Teacher education

• Law
• Business studies * history
• economics
• philosophy * theology
• anthropology
• applied social sciences
• sociology
• social work
• psychology criminology Drama
• Digital film production

This course is delivered two days a week: Day 1 - 9:30am4pm Day 2 - 9:30am-2:45pm

All candidates are advised to check entry requirements of the degree course they wish to progress on to before enrolling on the access diploma. For example GCSE in English, Maths and Science is required for any student wishing to progress on to a primary education degree. All candidates are expected to attend a taster assessment day before a formal course offer can be made.