Access to HE Online
Email: ELearning@escg.ac.uk
Tel: 030 300 38368
* You should allow a total of around 15 study hours per week to complete the whole qualification, over 12 months. If you study more hours each week, you may finish the course more quickly.
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).
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.
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.
Based on the level of study we ask that students have the following qualifications upon entry:
Students should have the ambition to study a related degree at a higher education institute or university or Higher Apprenticeship.
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.
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.
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.
There are a wide range of career opportunities for you if you study the Access to HE Diploma (Midwifery). When you have finished studying your course, you will be able to apply to university. After successfully completing a university degree, you would be able to start working as a fully qualified midwife. As a practicing midwife you will have plenty of opportunities available to you. These include:
After successfully completing this Access to Higher Education Diploma, you’ll have a good understanding of essential skills and knowledge areas for higher education study in midwifery. The diploma covers academic writing, effective reading and note-making strategies, communication within healthcare settings, cellular biology, and the principles of equality, diversity, and inclusion in healthcare. Additionally, it delves into human reproduction, growth, and development, as well as the dynamics of professionalism and multidisciplinary team collaboration. This structured approach ensures a well-rounded educational experience, preparing students for the multifaceted nature of healthcare professions.
With this qualification, you will be able to enrol on a degree that is related to Midwifery Studies.
Potential career paths (dependant on the degree you study):
The course consists of 19 Units of Study.
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:
You won’t need to purchase any books unless you wish to supplement these study materials.
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 for sessions of no less than 30 minutes each. 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.
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 Biology, Health, Health Science, Psychology and Social Policy and 15 credits are ungraded from the skills for learning and IAG assessments, Biology and Health Communication areas.
The Access to HE Diploma (Midwifery) is made up modules that fall under specific subject areas. The subjects are:
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 Skills and Education Group Access (SEGA) 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.
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.
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, while also giving the college a chance to assess your suitability. in particular whether you can produce work to meet the academic standards.
You will be set a deadline within the cooling-off period to complete the first assignment.
Enrolment onto the qualification will only proceed once you have passed the first assignment. If the assignment is not passed after three attempts, enrolment will not take place.
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.
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.
From the start of the course, you will need to ensure you have the following in place:
• 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.
For more information about Advanced Learner Loans visit:
Advanced Leaner Loan Guide to Terms and Conditions for courses starting on or after 1st August 2024