Access to HE Online

English Studies

AIMS OF THE COURSE

THE ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION (HE) DIPLOMA IS A QUALIFICATION, EQUIVALENT TO A LEVEL, WHICH ALLOWS LEARNERS TO GO ON AND STUDY HIGHER EDUCATION COURSES INCLUDING BACHELOR DEGREES, FOUNDATION DEGREES, HIGHER NATIONAL CERTIFICATES AND DIPLOMAS (HNC/HND) AND HIGHER DEGREE APPRENTICESHIPS. THE ACCESS TO HE DIPLOMA WHEN THEY DID NOT HAVE THE RELEVANT QUALIFICATIONS NEEDED TO DO SO. ACCESS TO HE COURSES ARE AVAILABLE IN A WIDE RANGE OF DIFFERENT SUBJECTS AND ARE WIDELY RECOGNISED BY UK UNIVERSITIES AND HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS.

Contact Us

Email: ELearning@escg.ac.uk
Tel: 030 300 38368

KEY COURSE DETAILS

  • Course code: 61305-01
  • Course Fee: £3,022
  • Course length: 10 months**
  • Recommended study per week: 15 hours*
  • Total number of units within the course: 19

* You should allow a total of around 15 study hours per week to complete the whole qualification, over 10 months. If you study more hours each week, you may finish the course more quickly.

** Attendance

This online course doesn’t have any breaks during school holidays – you would study in line with the weekly expected study time (15 hours per week). Your attendance online should be at least twice a week for a minimum study session of 30 mins. If you schedule a holiday, we would ask that you notify us of the dates so we can make a note of the dates you won’t be logging in.

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).

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Learners should ideally already have a GCSE in English and maths (grade A* - C or Level 4 – 8 or an equivalent). Applications will be considered if you are working towards these qualifications however you may be required to take an initial assessment to gauge your current level in English and maths. We also ask that learners have the ambition to study a related degree at a higher education institute or university.

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.

Learners 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.

BENEFITS FOR INDIVIDUALS

After successfully completing this Access to Higher Education Diploma, you’ll have a good understanding of English studies, be able to explore ideas on human expression, behaviours, identity, and the diversity of human experience. You will have explored a range of area of literature, language, and history. You will have developed essential study skills required for progression to university. Once you have chosen and completed your degree programme, you will be ready to begin your career.

With this qualification, you will be able to enrol on a degree that is related to English Studies. For example, you could enhance your existing knowledge by studying English Language or English Literature or go in a different direction and study a History, Creative Arts or Marketing degree.

Higher education subjects you could go on to study (but not limited to):

  • English language and literature
  • History
  • Linguistics
  • Creative writing
  • marketing
  • film and/or television
  • media studies
  • journalism
  • communication studies
  • international relations.
  • Drama, theatre, performing arts

Potential career paths (dependant on the degree you study):

  • advertising, journalism, publishing, and public relations
  • Performing Arts and Creative Industries
  • museums
  • Education
  • charities and campaigning organisations
  • creative industries.
  • Content writer
  • Marketing
  • Librarian

COURSE CONTENT

The course consists of 19 Units of Study:

UNIT 1 PREPARING FOR SUCCESS – INDUCTION UNIT

  • This introductory unit will provide you with useful information, advice and guidance to enable you to get the most from your studies and help you to decide which options within HE are best suited to you. Once you have completed all of the elements of this introductory section you will be able to progress onto the units of study for your Access to HE Diploma

UNIT 2 ACADEMIC WRITING SKILLS

  • Be able to write with relevance in responding to an academic task.
  • Know how to interpret and discuss ideas and issues in responding to a set, academic writing task
  • Be able to summarise for academic purposes, selecting key points, information or central ideas.

UNIT 3 PREPARING TO STUDY

  • Understand how study is organised and planned.
  • Understand how to apply theories of learning in relation to personal approaches to learning.
  • Understand a range of constraints upon study.
  • Understand the importance of assessment feedback.

UNIT 4 PREPARING A WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT

  • Understand how to use key information sources.
  • Understand why sources are acknowledged and referenced.
  • Understand a range of reading strategies.
  • Understand note-making methods.
  • Understand how to plan draft and produce a written assignment.

UNIT 5 LANGUAGE, COMMUNICATION & COMMUNITIES

  • Understand devices used in oral and written text.
  • Understand factors influencing language.
  • Understand the process and effects of community on language.

UNIT 6 STUDY OF A NOVEL

  • Understand how to respond to a novel
  • Understand the use of literary techniques in the novel
  • Understand the contextual aspects of the novel.

UNIT 7 INDUSTRIAL CHANGE IN BRITAIN C.1700-1850

  • Understand the pattern of industry and urban society c1700-1760
  • Understand the causes and nature of industrial change in Britain c1760-1850
  • Understand the impact of industrial change on British social, economic and political life by 1850

UNIT 8 LANGUAGE AQUISITION

  • Understand the stages of development on children’s language.
  • Understand the contrasting views on language acquisition.

UNIT 9 SHORT STORY

  • Understand the narrative elements of the story
  • Understand textual features and language
  • Understand the influence of social and historical factors on the text

UNIT 10 SOCIAL CHANGE IN BRITAIN 1914-1939

  • Understand the impact of World War 1 on British society
  • Understand the social consequences of unemployment, housing and health problems during the period 1918-1939
  • Understand developments in family life and leisure opportunities

UNIT 11 SHAKESPEARE

  • Understand the major themes of a Shakespeare play
  • Understand the plot structure of the play
  • Understand the processes involved in the presentation of the major characters
  • Understand how language is used to create dramatic impact
  • Understand the social and historical implications of the play

UNIT 12 UNDERSTANDING DRAMA

  • Understand how an author creates character within a drama.
  • Understand the structure of plot within a drama.
  • Understand the part played by language in dramatic effect for the chosen drama.
  • Understand how a play transfers from page to stage.

UNIT 13 PUBLIC HEALTH DURING THE 18TH AND 19TH CENTURIES

  • Understand the nature of urban development and public health during the 18th Century
  • Understand the causes and effects of public health problems in the 19th Century
  • Understand the nature and impact of attempts to address public health problems in the 19th Century

UNIT 14 LANGUAGE AND GENDER

  • Understanding of the features of ‘male’ and ‘female’ speech.
  • Understand theories and approaches applied to speech.

UNIT 15 EXTENDED ESSAY

  • Be able to develop and plan an extended essay on a chosen topic relevant to your Diploma title
  • Be able to produce an extended essay on a chosen topic relevant to your Diploma title.

UNIT 16 STUDY SKILLS PORTFOLIO BUILDING

  • This unit requires you to build a portfolio of evidence which covers a range of different study skills. The different elements of the portfolio will be a combination of work that you have already completed as part of your programme, as well as reflective and evaluative commentary.

UNIT 17 HOW THE POET WORKS.

  • Understand the principal figures of speech.
  • Understand different poetic genres.
  • Understand metre and rhythm.
  • Understand the tone and mood.

UNIT 18 LANGUAGE AND SOCIAL MEDIA

  • Understand how language is used in communication by social media
  • Understand the impact of social media on language

UNIT 19 FILM ADAPTATIONS OF LITERARY TEXTS

  • Understand the techniques used in translating a section of written narrative into film
  • Be able to produce an outline storyboard and script
  • Understand the opportunities presented in text for film adaptation
  • Understand the relative signification processes of written and film texts

PASS CRITERIA

  • Each unit includes specific Learning Outcomes (as listed in the units) and Assessment Criteria.
  • To achieve a Pass in any assessment you must meet all criteria.
  • The list of detailed Assessment Criteria for each Unit is made available to you on the VLE.

ASSESSMENT METHOD

The study materials and all assessment for this course is through an online platform (VLE). You won’t need to purchase any books unless you wish to supplement these study materials.

In order to complete this diploma, you must achieve a total of 60 credits. 45 credits graded which are taken from the subject specific areas of literature, language, historical studies and related studies and 15 credits are ungraded from the skills for learning and IAG assessments, literature and language areas.

The Access to HE Diploma in English Studies is made up modules that fall under specific subject areas. The subjects are:

  • Skills for Learning
  • Literature
  • Language
  • Historical Studies
  • Related studies (extended essay)

You will study the online course materials and self-direct your study.

You will be required to submit assessments by a set deadline. To pass the module you must meet all the assessment criteria. After your first submission your assessor will provide feedback. At this point you will either have met all the pass criteria and your module will be graded or will be asked to resubmit your assessment taking on board the assessor’s feedback and you’ll be permitted to make further submission of your work. Once your module has been achieved you can then proceed to the next module of the course. You will continue in this way through until you have completed all modules of the course.

Once all of the assessments are complete and have gone through internal moderation and external moderation the College will then present your grades to the Awarding Body. Our verification dates usually fall in July* and November* (*subject to change).

The awarding organisation is AIM Qualifications and Assessment Group who are a national Awarding Organisation, regulated by Ofqual, the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) and Qualifications Wales, to develop and award nationally recognised qualifications.

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.

Learners 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.

STUDY TIME

Study time includes:

  • working through the interactive content
  • completing the assignments for each unit
  • reading assessor feedback and reviewing course material or other resources as directed
  • resubmitting your assignment where requested

DELIVERY STYLE

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 10 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.

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 which enables you to assess whether both the course and the online mode of study is suitable for you. It also allows the College to assess your suitability, in particular whether you can produce work to meet the standards set by the awarding body.

You will be set a deadline within the cooling-off period to complete the first assignment.

Enrolment onto the qualification will take place once you have passed the first assignment. If you do not meet the pass criteria for the first assignment after 3 submissions, you won't be enrolled onto the course.

If you take out an Advanced Learner Loan to cover your fees, then this will be activated 14 days from the course start date.

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

  • PC, Laptop, Tablet (smart phones are not recommended as aren’t fully compatible with the VLE)
  • Reliable internet access

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 Leaner Loan Guide to Terms and Conditions for courses starting on or after 1st August 2023

Download Enrolment Form Pre-Course Questionnaire Unit Breakdown Payment Options