Do you live abroad or in a remote area, or travel extensively as a family? Do you not have any local schools that seem to make the grade or do you want to extend your skill set? Maybe your child is ahead of their class and bored with the school curriculum. You needn’t think traditional schools or a benevolent fairy godmother are the only way to help attain dreams of degree-level study.
An Access to Higher Education course is a wonderful online alternative. But it does raise questions as to whether there are universities that accept Access to Higher Education Diploma graduates.
This article discusses some of the benefits of having an Access to Higher Education Diploma, the higher education opportunities that open up if you pursue an Access to a Higher Education Diploma, and the questions frequently asked around unlocking higher education opportunities.
Benefits of Access to Higher Education Diploma
The benefits of taking an Access to Higher Education Diploma course are myriad. Most of what is needed to work through the course is provided online. All you need is a computer or laptop with a stable internet connection and a desire to learn.
The idea of studying in a traditional, often-crowded classroom scenario, where teachers must deal with different streams and behavioral issues can be problematic. But the Access to Higher Education Diploma offers smaller classes of around six students and interaction with peers in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, not to mention allowing your family flexibility to tailor your schedule around other commitments.
University entry without A Levels
Not only does an Access to Higher Education Diploma course allow the convenience of online study, but students are also able to meet the requirements to gain university entrance to a number of prestigious local and Ivy League US universities. (A single Access to Higher Education Diploma is equivalent to three A Levels!)
Freedom to Study from wherever you’re able to Connect
Studying for an Access to Higher Education Diploma online is handy in that it affords you the opportunity to learn at home, or anywhere with an internet connection.
Which Universities Accept Access to Higher Education Diploma Graduates?
The acceptance rate to university for the majority of Access to Higher Education Diploma students is excellent.
University and industry requirements are considered when devising Access to Higher Education Diplomas, furnishing graduates with a good mix of subject-specific skills and know-how to help them get ahead in both their tertiary studies and prospective careers. Over 100,000 Level 3 or above Diploma students are accepted to UK universities.
The subjects studied are crucial, and should correlate with the degree to which you intend to apply. Students who have gleaned foundational knowledge of their chosen degree and acquired the time management skills associated with Diploma courses and the completion of portfolio-based evaluations are often more equipped than those who have taken non-specific A-Levels.
It is advisable to contact the admissions office of the university where you aim to study and be in touch with them to ascertain exactly what is required and be aware of changing entry requirements and the fact that entry requirements vary for each degree.
Although entrance may be granted on completion of a Level 3 Diploma, an A-Level qualification may be required to attain the necessary UCAS points. But the acquisition of a Level 4 and 5 Diploma will generally see students promoted to the second or third year of the degree programme.
Results are an obvious determining factor when universities are sizing up candidates. Your grades should be top-notch to secure a spot, particularly when going up against candidates who have studied longer for their A Levels. Some universities also scrutinize candidates’ life experience, additional educational achievements, and work-related skills when selecting students for their degree programmes.
These are some of the universities that accept Access to Higher Education diploma graduates:
- University of Bristol
- University of Cambridge
- Cardiff University
- University of Edinburgh
- University of Kent
- King’s College London
- University of Leeds
- University College London (UCL)
- London School of Economics and Political Science
- University of Manchester
- Middlesex University
- Northumbria University
- University of Oxford
- University of Teesside
- University of Warwick
- University of Westminster
Examples of Access to Higher Education Diploma Courses
Click here to find out what courses you can study by gaining an Access to Higher Education Diploma.
Tips for Choosing an Access to Higher Education Diploma Course
Choosing the Access to Higher Education course which best suits you isn’t always an easy process. Many of us know more-or-less what career appeals to us, but don’t have a firm idea, so it is wise to have considered the general subject area or industry that grabs your attention.
Speak to local colleges to find out about various subject areas, or try and get work experience in different fields. If uncertain whether a subject is suited to the degree you would like to do, ask the Access to Higher Education course provider for further information.
Ask yourself why?
You need to understand your own motivation for wanting to study. This will help you decide to study something that expands your existing skill set and experience. It also helps you consider likely employment opportunities and can prompt discussions with peers, parents, teachers, and prospective employers about which courses are most likely to improve your prospects.
What are your interests?
Ask yourself what interests you and why you are interested in that subject. This will give you insight into the area of study that suits you. Do you want to see your name in lights, earn plenty of money, or follow a path your parents have mapped out for you? These factors will influence your choice.
Where would you like to study?
Which country specializes in the industry that interests you? Does it provide internship and graduate work opportunities and do you think you could live in that place for several years? For instance, Australia has opportunities for engineers in the mining field, but they are often based in hot, arid areas. Does that prospect appeal to you?
Be practical
Free access to higher education courses, is available at certain universities where short courses such as “Better Business Writing”, “Introduction to Electronics” and “How to Write a Screenplay” are on offer, but access to formal higher education languages, or higher education medicine usually comes with a considerable price tag, which not everyone can afford.
Travel, tuition, accommodation, and funding may not be within your budget and some degree programmes are too intensive to allow for a sideline job. Also, consider whether you need to improve your qualifications before applying. A pathway program may assist you in improving your qualifications, and if you are passionate about your proposed career, you could enquire about financial assistance.
Do your research
When considering your top choices, student blogs can give you a better idea of the realities of what is required of you and may help you look beyond the PR blurb of the university prospectus to find out what your proposed course really entails.
What’s important to you?
What are the things that matter most to you? Prestige, practical experience, internships, tuition costs, research facilities, social life, opportunities to travel… Consider whether you will be able to meet these criteria by going in the direction you are considering.
What does not Interest you?
You may suddenly change your mind in the future about your career choice, but you can always talk to a student counselor about changing your path. To avoid being in that predicament or feeling miserable in an area of study that does not interest you, think about what you don’t enjoy. If those things feature in your career choices, it is probably best not to go that route. For instance, if you are a quiet person who does not enjoy socializing, you will probably be miserable in an environment where being a “people person” is of paramount importance.
Consider Career Prospects
If a field of study is over-subscribed, you may find job opportunities are limited, or that you may need to move to find work, so consider this when deciding on your field of interest.
Why Access Courses Online?
- Online students don’t have to commute to school or college and find their way to different noisy classrooms throughout the day, they simply open up their devices to engage with like-minded students.
- Physical classrooms make it difficult for the teacher to give attention to those who are above average or who are struggling. Meanwhile, online courses negate the problems inherent in a traditional classroom.
- There is less likelihood of distraction because students interact through their computer/laptop/tablet screen, and classes are quiet and controlled.
- Online learning software systems and audio-visual elements make classes more interesting and lessons may be recorded so note-taking isn’t necessary.
- Access to Higher Education Diploma offers a full, balanced curriculum of live lessons or flexi-school with world-class MA/Ph.D. subject-specialist teachers. Staff are police-checked to afford security and peace of mind.
- The small classes of no more than six students meet for four hours per week for each subject, with the latest technology being used to convey concepts so that students are able to excel.
Choose Access Higher Education Diplomas
Access Courses Online offers a range of courses and resources to help students succeed, and the online platform provides a flexible and convenient way to study. If you are looking to study abroad in the UK, take the first step and. Contact us today!