Open College Network North West Region


	Access to HE


	access to he

Access to HE unit bank If you wish to search the OCNNWR Access to HE unit bank please click here. What is an Access to Higher Education (HE) Diploma ? An Access to Higher Education Diploma is an ideal way to gain entry to University for those who left school without qualifications. This qualification will help to prepare for University by helping to develop the required knowledge, skills and confidence. Progression to University Is the Access to HE Diploma recognised by Universities ? Access courses have been available for over 25 years. They have been designed, developed and approved with the support of universities and other higher education institutions (HEIs). The framework for the approval of Access to HE courses is managed by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA), which also quality assures all UK universities. Each year over 20,000 learners in the UK, apply to university, having completed successfully an Access course. Over 2,000 of these learners will have completed their courses with providers validated by OCNNWR. All Access courses have a number of progression routes leading from them to HE courses related to the content of the Access course. To find out more information about Access Courses available at your local Access to HE provider please see our Access to HE directory. Further Information You will find more information about QAA and Access to HE at QAA’s website www.accesstohe.ac.uk. What are the Entry Requirements ? Access courses welcome people who may have been away from education for some time and may have few or no formal qualifications. The courses are specifically designed to equip learners with the skills and knowledge to progress to a degree, foundation degree or other higher education course provided by a University or other HEI. Is there any Age Restrictions ? There is no upper or lower age limit. Access to HE students and university students cover a wide age range. Life and work experience is valuable. People need to have spent some time out of school and be mature. How long will it take ? Typically Access courses are completed over one academic year (September to June). This is usually for up to 16 hours per week in a college, with some study time required outside the classroom. Most Access providers, which are typically Further Education (FE) Colleges also offer Access courses part-time day and evening which can be completed over 2 or more years. Many people are able to continue working whilst completing an Access course in the evening or even distance learning. Access courses are extremely flexible allowing learners to accumulate credit over time. How much will it cost? The cost often depends on an individual’s circumstances. Many Access to HE students don’t have to pay any fees and may even get financial help towards other costs such as childcare and travel. Contact your local Access provider for further details (see Access to HE directory). How to apply ? Most courses start in September, though some may start in January. You can enquire at any time in the year, as often there are taster and/or information sessions available. Use the OCNNWR’s Access Directory to locate an Access Diploma course you are interested in. Then contact the provider directly for more specific details such as entry requirements, timetabling, learner support and costs. National requirements for Access to HE In September 2008, the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) introduced new national requirements for Access to HE. To achieve the Access to HE Diploma all learners must achieve 60 credits, at least 45 of these must be at Level 3, with up to 15 at Level 2. This applies to all learners wherever they complete their Access course and regardless of whether it is full-time or part-time. As an Access Validating Agency (AVA) all of OCNNWR’s Access courses are approved by the QAA.. OCNNWR Regional Access to HE Diploma Access to HE providers (usually further education colleges) may offer as many courses from the regional programme as they are able to support. Every course will have its own title indicating its progression route(s) and must contain core and subject specific learning. Core learning covers all of the necessary study skills required for successful progression to HE while the subject learning gives specific preparation for the learner’s chosen progression route. Some courses prepare learners for a range of progression routes and contain a wide variety of subjects from which learners may select, with appropriate advice and guidance, while other courses have subject content particularly targeted at one key progression route. A full list of all of the courses offered by Access providers from the OCNNWR Regional Access to HE Programme is available in the Access to HE Diploma Directory 2009. Advantages of the Regional Diploma Programme The regional programme has many advantages for learners, HEIs and Access providers: • QAA’s requirements and quality standards are built in to the programme • The programme has been specifically designed through detailed consultations with HEIs about their entry requirements and a full range of provision to meet these entry requirements is included in the programme • The use of one programme across the whole region will make it easier for learners, providers and HEIs to understand how Access meets HE requirements • The programme includes provision to meet identified priorities for the development of particular vocational skills required in the North West region • HEI and provider representatives work closely with the OCN on the ongoing quality assurance of the programme and, in particular, to ensure that standards of learning are comparable across the region • Providers may construct courses easily by taking provision “off-the-peg” yet there is sufficient variety of provision in the programme to enable providers to construct courses tailored to meet the needs of their own particular groups of learners • The OCN is experienced in developing new provision to meet the entry requirements of the many new progression routes into HE which emerge each year and, in particular, has done a lot of work on developing new routes into HE for work-based learners in partnership with providers, employers and HEIs. Grading From September 2009 all units within the Access to HE Diplomas will be graded. A common grading scale will be used on all Access to HE courses and awarded for all Access to HE Diplomas. The grading scale will use three grades: 'pass', 'merit' and 'distinction'. Only those three grades can be awarded The grades have no numerical equivalents. Grades are awarded for achievement on Level 3 units only Level 2 units will not be graded For further information see the QAA Access to HE website www.accesstohe.ac.uk. On this website there are guidelines for HE admissions staff there is also a tutor's quick guide to grading.