It’s never too late to learn. If you have your sights set on university study and becoming an expert in your field, our Access to Higher Education courses provide you with the stepping stones to do just that.
The Access to Higher Education (HE) Diploma is a qualification which prepares students for study at degree level. Courses are designed, in particular, for people who have been out of education for some time, especially those who left school with too few qualifications to be able to go straight to university.
Access to HE courses provide a good foundation in the knowledge and skills required for studying at university level, so that students are confident and well prepared when they go on to higher education.
The Access to HE Diploma is a full Level 3 qualification. Access to HE Diplomas are made up of 60 credits, 45 of these are at Level 3 and graded. The remaining 15 credits are not graded. Students must successfully achieve 60 credits to be awarded a Diploma.
Our Access to HE courses are designed to give students relevant academic subject knowledge and the opportunity to learn how to approach study at university-level and develop techniques.
*We also offer some Pre-Access courses at Level 2 and Level 1.
There is a wide range of qualifications and levels available, but not all of them may be right for you. If you’re not sure what qualification type or level you should be searching for, take a look at our qualifications explained.
I have really enjoyed my time on the Access course, which has offered me progression routes as an adult learner. I have also recieved a lot of support from the college, including one-to-one tutoring, counselling and financial support.
I originally joined the course as it would allow me to go onto the degree I want to study and I am pleased to have been offered a place to study Paramedic Science at the University of Huddersfield. The tutors at Kirklees College have been great, always offering valuable feedback.
I loved my time on the Access course. I think Access truly prepared me for the beginning of university as it gave me excellent knowledge of the theories I would use in my social work degree.
I personally believe that the preparation it gave me for university was excellent and skills such as referencing, citing, and essay structure were much better for attending an Access course. The tutors were a brilliant help with great feedback, great tutorials, and assisting with applying to university through UCAS.
I started my Access journey on Level 2 as I had been out of education for 10 years. The supportive community fostered within the Access course was instrumental in my success. The guidance and encouragement from tutors were invaluable, providing reassurance during moments of uncertainty.
Level 3 can be intense, however, I gained essential skills that I implement every day in my university studies, such as time management and study techniques. These skills have proven instrumental in my transition into university. Many topics covered in the Access course are transferable to my current studies, biology and research in particular. The Access course can seem daunting, but it is a great stepping stone to a meaningful career.”
