Access to Higher Education (Science Diploma)

If you are a mature student (19+) who missed the opportunity to go to university, our Access to Higher Education course is designed specifically for you.

Gloucestershire College is the first stop on your journey to university, with excellent tutoring to give you the qualifications you need to progress, and personalised support throughout your university application. Our three Diplomas can lead to rewarding careers in midwifery, nursing, social work and teaching, in addition to many other career options.

You must have GCSE Maths and English Language at grade 4 or above to start the course.  Alternatively, we can accept Functional Skills Level 2 Maths and English.  You should check with your chosen course/university whether they want GCSE Maths and English or whether they will accept Functional Skills Level 2.

The Access to HE Diploma is included in the UCAS tariff and is equivalent to the standard of other Level 3 qualifications (including A levels) used for entry to higher education.

CREDITS

The Access to HE course is a one-year (September to July) course that offers 60 credits overall (45 graded and 15 ungraded). 

STUDY HOURS

Students will have:

• 10 taught hours per week in college, usually spread over two days or one full day and two half-days.
• 20 self-study hours per week.
• Designated Study Skills and support from a personal tutor are included in the course hours.
• All classes begin at 9.30 a.m. and end at 3 p.m. (weekdays only).

ASSESSMENT METHODS

• Assignment based coursework.
• Class tests/timed assessments.
• Assessment is continuous over the year and usually occurs at the end of each unit (about six weeks of study). 

PROGRESSION OPPORTUNITIES 

In previous years, Access to Higher Education students achieved university places at University of Bristol, Exeter, Cardiff, Warwick, Liverpool John Moores, Goldsmiths College London, Birmingham City, Nottingham and SOAS. They also progressed to a variety of local universities including University of Gloucestershire, University of the West of England and University of Worcester.

Recently, students have progressed to a variety of courses, including: Adult Nursing; Mental Health Nursing; Paediatric Nursing; Midwifery; Diagnostic Radiography; ODP; Occupational Therapy; Veterinary Science; Speech and Language Therapy; Psychology and Criminology; Social Work; Pharmacology; Neuroscience; English Literature and Language; Law; Bio-Medical Science; Zoology.

Our Science Diploma offers students the ability to apply for: Veterinary Science; Medicine and Dentistry.

DIPLOMA CHOICES

Gloucestershire College offers three different Diplomas (pathways); your choice will depend upon your proposed future plans for higher education and employment. The three options are:

HEALTH AND HUMAN SCIENCES: This is the Diploma pathway that is ideal for you if you are interested in studying Nursing, Midwifery, Radiotherapy, Diagnostic Imaging, Sports Therapy, Paramedic Science, Physiotherapy or any Allied Healthcare subject at university. You will take three main subjects: Biology (mandatory subject), Psychology and Sociology.  Chemistry is also available within this Diploma.

Units you will study in each subject:

STUDY SKILLS

BIOLOGY – MANDATORY SUBJECT ON DIPLOMA

PSYCHOLOGY

SOCIOLOGY

CHEMISTRY

HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCE: This is the Diploma pathway for you if you are interested in studying a wide range of subjects. You may want to study History, English, Creative Writing, Journalism, Psychology or Sociology (as well as many other options) at university. The course offers students a range of study choices. You will choose three main subjects from Psychology, Sociology and Literary Studies (depending on your higher education pathway).  You will complete a six-credit Extended Project as part of this Diploma.

Units you will study in each subject:

STUDY SKILLS

PSYCHOLOGY

SOCIOLOGY

LITERATURE

SCIENCE: The Science pathway is ideal for you if you want to study a science based course at degree level, such as Environmental Science, Biological Science, Forensic Science, Chemistry, or Animal Science. The course offers students a range of study options. You will choose three main subjects including Higher Mathematics (mandatory subject) and Chemistry (mandatory subject) plus one other choice from Physics and Biology (depending on your Higher Education pathway).

For progression to medicine, dentistry and vet science you must organise work experience or voluntary work in a relevant field - this is essential to help you achieve a university place. Upon completion of the course in July, all students will be equipped with the necessary study skills for study in Higher Education.

Units you will study in each subject:

STUDY SKILLS

MATHS – MANDATORY SUBJECT ON DIPLOMA

BIOLOGY

CHEMISTRY

PHYSICS

UCAS APPLICATIONS

An important element of the course is tutorial support and help and guidance with the UCAS process for university applications.

WHERE WILL YOU STUDY?

All Diploma pathways are only offered at our Cheltenham campus.  There is sufficient parking on campus at reasonable daily rates.

ADVANCED LEARNER LOAN

The named diplomas on Level 3 Access to Higher Education meet course eligibility requirements for a 19+ Advanced Learning Loan. See college website or ask at Student Services for more details.

Student Finance England will ‘write off’ any outstanding Advanced Learner Loan balances you owe for an Access to HE course once you complete a higher education course. This means you do not have to repay it.

QUALITY ASSURANCE AGENCY RECOGNISED COURSE

The QAA (Quality Assurance Agency) has managed the scheme for recognition and quality of Access to Higher Education courses since 1997.  This course is QAA recognised.  The role of the QAA is to make sure that Access to HE courses provide a good preparation for higher education for adult students and that the standard for the award of Access to HE Diplomas is maintained across England and Wales.

The QAA license Access Validating Agencies (AVAs) to act as awarding bodies and award the Access to HE Diplomas to successful students.  The 11 AVAs work with further and higher education providers to develop, approve and monitor Access to HE courses in accordance with the requirements of our Access to HE Recognition Scheme.

AWARDING ORGANISATION

Our awarding organisation is OCN London.  As a licensed Access Validating Agency (AVA), OCN London have developed Access to HE Diplomas in over 40 subjects and have been continually rated as low risk through QAA’s monitoring processes.