Access to HE Diploma (Social Science)

This is a highly reputable course with an outstanding success rate and will provide you with the relevant accredited diploma which is accepted at university.

The fast-track Access to HE Diploma is equivalent to studying three A Levels and supports students in developing the academic knowledge and skills required to begin their journey in to Higher Education. It is important to note that an Access to HE Diploma is a challenging and intense course and students need to be highly motivated, dedicated and have a positive attitude to learning in order to succeed.

Following your successful application you will be invited to attend a return to learn day where you will get an introduction to the teaching staff, content of the course, be taught some introductory sessions from the modules you will study, initial assessments, along with advise on how to start to formulate your personal statements.

The course will be delivered over three days each week between the hours of 09:30-15:15.

A full induction to the programme will also be provided for two weeks commencing September 2026.

Applicants must be at least 18 years old by 31st August 2026.

Applicants aged 19+ are required to have one GCSE (or equivalent) in English or Maths at a minimum of Grade 4/C.  If you do not have a Level 2 qualification in Maths and English, you may be able to study one of these alongside your Access to HE course- a further interview will be arranged with the GCSE team. 

Applicants aged 18 must have already achieved a Grade 4 or higher in both GCSE Maths and English before enrolling on the Access course.

Interview Process: 

As part of the interview process, you will have a detailed one-on-one interview to discuss your qualifications and any relevant industry experience. You will also receive personalized guidance on which programme is best suited to your goals. To prepare, it is crucial that you research the entry requirements for your chosen degree course, as these can vary by programme.

Our friendly and enthusiastic team can chat to you to see what type of career you would like to progress into and are on hand to prepare, guide, and support you whilst studying on the Access to HE Diploma. There are no formal examinations within this course as all your coursework will be assessed through essays, reports, case studies, as well as practical elements. You will be given plenty of advice to help you develop your academic skills so that you will be fully prepared to take on a university degree or higher apprenticeship.

Modules studied on Access to HE Diploma (Social Science):

• Psychology - obedience and conformity, mental health, development, relationships, as well as others
• Criminology - this module will give you a broad understanding of the various aspects of crime where we look at topics such as nature v nurture, the criminal justice system, obedient and disobedient behaviour, sociology of crime, the media and statistics, and understanding how poverty impacts upon crime
• Related Studies - safeguarding, equal opportunities, research project, as well as others

Please contact Michelle Davies by emailing michelle.davies@nscg.ac.uk

Upon successful completion of our Access to HE Diploma you will be able to progress into areas such as social work, teaching, probation, law, education, psychology and counselling. Our team will be on hand to give you lots of advice and support to apply to the universities of your choice.

Do not be put off by the cost of the course, as an Advanced Learner Loan is open to anyone aged over 19 studying a Level 3 or above qualification, is not means tested or subject to credit checks and you only start to pay it back when you are earning over £25,000 per year.

If you successfully complete your Access to HE course, progress onto and complete a degree level programme, you do not have to pay back your Advanced Learner Loan.  If you are aged 19-23 and studying your first full-time Level 3 programme your course will be completely free. For more details visit nscg.ac.uk/finance

If you have any queries with regards to the funding of your course, please contact Charlotte Robertson on 01782 254141 or email charlotte.robertson@nscg.ac.uk