Access to Higher Education Diploma (Science) Ref. 400/0884/8

The Access to HE Diploma is a full Level 3 qualification designed to prepare learners without traditional qualifications for entry into Higher Education (HE). The Diploma provides opportunity for learners to acquire and develop knowledge and skills needed to progress to higher education study and also enables learners to develop social and emotional skills such as communication and confidence.

To achieve the Access to Higher Education Diploma (Science) Ref. 400/0884/8 learners must achieve:

• 45 credits which must be graded, academic subject content at Level 3 only.
• 15 credits which must be either at Level 2 or Level 3 ungraded (U).

The following are the Unit titles for this Diploma:

• Cell Biology
• Body Systems and Homeostasis
• Aspects of Animal Biology
• Microbiology
• Respiration & Circulation
• Environmental Issues
• Introduction to Forensic Science
• Practical Scientific Project
• Physics
• An Introduction to Ecology
• The Investigative Process, Principles & Practical Skills (U)
• Using the Internet & Email (U)
• Study Techniques (U)
• Understanding & Responding to Texts (U)

There are no formal entry requirements for students applying for the Cambridge Online Education Access to H.E. Diplomas. Tutors are nevertheless, required to ensure that learners admitted onto the Diploma possess the necessary skills and personal qualities to cope with the demands of the course.

All Access to HE Diplomas require the achievement of 60 credits. 45 of the 60 credits must be graded at Level 3 (pass, merit or distinction). Such credits will arise from the Academic Subject Content Modules. The remaining 15 credits are ungraded and can be achieved at either Level 2 or Level 3. Students may only be registered against units with a maximum combined total credit value of 60. In terms of the length of time required for a learner to complete their diploma, for all Access to HE Diplomas the notional learning hours are 600. Notional learning hours comprise all learning that may be relevant to the achievement of the learning outcomes including directed and private study, practical and project work, assignments and assessment time. The assessment methods used for each unit of your course will be detailed in the Programme Handbook. Your tutor will provide you with formative feedback and provisional grades. Your grades will be then evaluated by the Examination Board. Examination Boards are a key part of the quality assurance processes to safeguard comparable standards across Access to Higher Education schemes within the UK. The Examination Board is attended by an external examiner, who will review the work of students, the marks awarded and the assessment process as a whole before confirming grades. Final grades will be released to students after the External Moderation Visit.

On successful completion of the course, you will receive a QAA recognised Access to Higher Education Diploma (Science) at level 3 QAA ref: 400/0884/8 awarded by the Open College Network West Midlands.

Open College Network West Midlands are a national Awarding Organisation, regulated by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) and Qualifications Wales, to develop and award nationally recognised qualifications. Cambridge Online Education is a fully accredited education provider for this qualification

An Access Diploma in Science can get you onto degree programmes leading to the following careers:

• Analytical chemist
• Biomedical scientist
• Crime scene investigator
• Detective Forensic scientist
• Scientific laboratory technician
• Toxicologist
• Sports scientist
• Nutritionist
• Biologist
• Chemist
• Border force officer
• Forensic computer analyst
• Further education teacher
• Higher education lecturer
• Police officer
• Science writer
• Secondary school teacher
• Amenity horticulturist
• Commercial horticulturist
• Environmental consultant
• Environmental scientist
• Environmental education officer
• Environmental engineer
• Environmental manager
• Minerals surveyor
• Nature conservation officer
• Recycling officer
• Sustainability consultant
• Waste management officer
• Water quality scientist
• Virolologist
• Pharmacist
• Bacteriologist