What is an Access to HE Diploma?
The Access to HE Diploma (full name: Access to Higher Education Diploma) is a regulated Level 3 qualification designed for adult learners who want to go to university without taking A-levels. It is overseen by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA), the same body that regulates UK universities, which is why universities treat it as a known and validated route into higher education.
An Access to HE Diploma is the same academic level as A-levels but it is structured very differently. Rather than studying three separate A-level subjects across two years, you study a single subject-focused diploma (for example Access to HE Nursing, or Access to HE Psychology) across roughly one year. You earn credits at Level 3 by completing assignments, and you can pass with a Pass, Merit or Distinction.
If you are new to the qualification, our short explainer What is Access to HE? walks through the format in more detail.
Who is an Access to HE course for?
An Access to HE course is built for adults. You normally need to be 19 or over by the time you start, and you must want to progress to a higher education course - typically a university degree. The qualification has been designed for three groups of learners in particular:
- Adults without A-levels who left school without going to university and now want a degree.
- Career changers moving into nursing, midwifery, social work, teaching, paramedic science or another regulated profession.
- Returners to education after a break for work, family or military service.
If you already have A-levels and are not sure which route to take, our comparison Access to HE vs A-levels sets out the trade-offs.
How does an Access to HE Diploma work?
An Access to Higher Education Diploma is made up of 60 credits in total: 45 credits at Level 3 (the academic content) and 15 credits at Level 2 or 3 (study skills). Most learners complete the qualification in around one year online, although you can take up to 18 months on flexible study options.
Assessment is by portfolio, not by end-of-course exams. You build a body of written work, case studies, essays and reflective assignments across your course. Each piece of work is marked by your tutor against published criteria, and you accumulate credits as you go. Because there are no final exams, you study at your own pace and submit work when you are ready.
For the published entry rules and prior-learning expectations, see Access to HE entry requirements.
What universities accept Access to HE?
Over 200 UK universities accept the Access to HE Diploma for undergraduate entry, including Russell Group universities for many subjects. Each university publishes its own offer in terms of how many credits at Distinction, Merit and Pass it requires. A typical offer for a nursing degree might be 45 Level 3 credits with 30 at Distinction and 15 at Merit, but the exact requirement varies by course and institution.
Because each Access to HE Diploma is subject-focused, your application is normally made through UCAS just like an A-level applicant. For the step-by-step process, see UCAS applications with Access to HE and the wider picture in university progression from Access to HE.
How to choose your Access pathway
Start from the career you want and work backwards. The university degree you want determines which Access to HE subject pathway is the right fit, and the right pathway determines the content you study. Three steps to make the choice:
- Decide the career or degree subject (for example adult nurse, social worker, psychologist, paramedic).
- Pick the matching Access pathway from the subject directory above.
- Check the entry requirements of two or three target universities so you know what credit profile to aim for.
If you are not yet sure which route is right for you, our choose your Access pathway tool walks through the question in detail. You can also see what previous learners have gone on to do in careers after Access to HE.