Access to HE Online
Social Sciences
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 AT UNIVERSITY 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.
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KEY COURSE DETAILS
- Course code: 61505-01
- Course Fee: £3022
- Course length: 12 months
- Recommended study per week: 15 hours*
- Total number of units within the course: 17 (including IAG unit: Preparing to Study and Study Skills Portfolio Building unit)
* 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.
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.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Based on the level of study we ask that students have the following qualifications upon entry:
- English – Level 2 Functional Skills, Grade C/4 GCSE
- Mathematics – Level 2 Functional Skills, Grade C/4 GCSE
- Students should have the ambition to study a related degree at a higher education institute or university or Higher Apprenticeship.
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.
BENEFITS FOR INDIVIDUALS
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 social sciences. The diploma covers academic writing, effective reading and note-making strategies, psychology, sociology, biopsychology, criminology and social policy. This structured approach ensures a well-rounded educational experience, preparing students for the multifaceted nature of social sciences.
With this qualification, you will be able to enrol on a degree or higher-level apprenticeship that is related to social sciences.
There are a wide range of career opportunities for you if you study the Access to HE Diploma (Humanities and Social Sciences) (Social Sciences Pathway). After successfully completing a university degree or higher-level apprenticeships, you would be able to start your career in social sciences. You will have plenty of opportunities available to you. Potential career paths (dependant on the degree you study):
- Health assessment officers
- Lifestyle coaches
- Social policy
COURSE CONTENT
The course consists of 17 Units of Study.
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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
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UNIT 2 ACADEMIC WRITING SKILLS
- Be able to interpret specific questions
- Be able to structure a written response
- Be able to present the response appropriately for audience and purpose
- Understand how to organise and apply information in their academic writing
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UNIT 3 Reading & Note Making
- Understand a range of reading strategies
- Understand the use of language in terms of the purpose and context of a range of texts
- Be able to use methods for developing notes from a range of sources.
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UNIT 4 perspectives in psychology
- Understand different psychological perspectives
- Understand the differences between alternative psychological perspectives
- Understand the application of psychological perspectives to contemporary issues in psychology
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UNIT 5 crime and society
- Understand crime and deviance
- Understand crime statistics
- Understand theoretical explanations of crime
- Understand social and cultural patterns of crime and criminality
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UNIT 6 Developmental Psychology
- Understand the nature/nurture debate in developmental psychology
- Understand early socialisation and the formation of attachment
- Understand cognitive development and the ways in which children process and use information
- Understand the application of developmental psychology theories in the real world
- Understand psychological changes that accompany ageing
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UNIT 7 Family
- Understand the relationship between the family and the wider society
- Understand role relationships within the family
- Understand the influence of feminism on the study of the family
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UNIT 8 cognitive psychology
- Understand theories relating to cognitive psychology
- Understand the contribution of cognitive psychology research to our understand of three of the following:
- Development
- Memory
- Attention
- Perception
- Language and thought
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UNIT 9 social inequality
- Understand the relationship between social differentiation and social inequality
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UNIT 10 psychological disorders and therapeutic strategies
- Understand theoretical explanations for a psychological disorder
- Understand the theoretical basis for different therapeutic strategies used in the treatment of psychological disorders
- Understand the effectiveness of different treatments for psychological disorders
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unit 11 poverty in contemporary BRITAIN
- Understand definitions of poverty
- Understand the historical context of poverty in Britain
- Understand the different methods used to measure poverty
- Understand theoretical explanations of poverty
- Understand explanations about why certain social groups are more likely to experience poverty
- Understand recent policies for tackling poverty in Britain
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UNIT 12 behaviour and the brain
- Understand the concept of localisation of function
- Understand the strengths and weaknesses of methods of investigating the relationship between the brain and behaviour
- Understand the interaction between the brain and behaviour
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UNIT 13 health and illness
- Understand the definitions and approaches to health and illness
- Understand explanations of health inequalities
- Understand the social construction of health and illness
- Understand the relationship between medicine and social control
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UNIT 14 social interaction
- Understand theories of social influence
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UNIT 15 Study Skills portfolio
- 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
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UNIT 16 Biopsychology: behaviour and drugs
- Understand how neurotransmitters in the brain control behaviour
- Understand the action of drugs on synaptic transmission
- Understand how psychoactive drugs change behaviour
- Understand the role of serotonin antagonists and reuptake inhibitors in the treatment of disorders
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UNIT 17 current issues in criminology
- Understand and apply key concepts in criminology to two topic areas
- Compare and contrast different approaches to crime issues
- Evaluate the usefulness of different theories of crime for understanding to two topic areas
DELIVERY STYLE AND ASSESSOR SUPPORT
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:
- 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
You won’t need to purchase any books unless you wish to supplement these study materials.
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.
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 biopsychology, criminology, sociology, social policy and psychology 15 credits are ungraded from the skills for learning, IAG assessments and psychology and sociology areas.
The Access to HE Diploma (Humanities and Social Sciences) (Social Sciences Pathway) is made up modules that fall under specific subject areas. The subjects are:
- Skills for Learning
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Social Policy
- Criminology
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.
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, while also giving the college a chance to assess your suitability. in particular whether you can produce work to meet the academic standards.
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 https://www.escg.ac.uk/docs/policies/tuition-fee-policy/
TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS
From the start of the course, you will need to ensure you have the following in place:
- 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
SELF-FUNDING OPTION
The college can offer to options to pay the full amount upfront or to opt for a payment plan. The latter often involves splitting the total cost into several instalments, which in this case, is four payments spread over four months. The initial payment is usually taken at the time of enrolment and serves as a non-refundable deposit.