Access to Higher Education courses at Leicester College offer route to university for adult students

Leicester College (@LeicesterColl) is offering seven Access to Higher Education courses for adults who would like to go to university but don’t meet the entry requirements. The courses provide adult students with the opportunity to start a learning journey that can lead to opportunities in a range of professional careers such as teaching, nursing, science, engineering or law.

The one-year Access to Higher Education Diplomas are Level 3 which is comparable to three A Levels, enabling adults to progress to university. They are designed with progression and career aims in mind, with content that is relevant to the higher education courses and taught by experienced subject specialists. Learners will also benefit from academic study skills that are embedded within the Access courses to help with the transition to higher level study.

Each student will be fully supported by a personal tutor who will help with UCAS applications, and will learn alongside like-minded adults with similar aims and aspirations. The College has strong links with local and regional universities who offer Access students a range of activities and support sessions to prepare them for their next steps.

Current Access Diplomas on offer at the College are:

• Science (for degrees in pharmacy, paramedic science, occupational therapy, radiography, dietetics and nutrition and many more)
• Social Science (for degrees in social work, probation, psychology, criminology, social policy and many more)
• Humanities (for degrees in education, law, journalism, politics, international relations, English literature, history and many more)
• Health Professions (for degrees in nursing, midwifery, physiotherapy and many more health-related degrees)
• Business (for degrees in business and finance, marketing, travel and tourism, events management and many more)
• Computing (for degrees in computer science, software engineering, cyber security, games development and many more)
• Engineering (for degrees in electrical and mechanical engineering, aerospace and aeronautical engineering, motorsport and civil engineering and many more)

Most Access courses require GCSEs (grade 4 and above) in English and maths as these are the entry requirements for undergraduate study, however it may be possible for students who don’t have them to study one alongside the Access course.

For progression to nursing and midwifery from the College’s Health Professions course, students will need five or six GCSEs (including English and maths) before beginning the Access course.

The College offers a full-time GCSE adult course to help students achieve this, as well as part time evening classes in GCSE psychology, English literature, English, biology, chemistry, and maths, if students need to top up their GCSE profile.

Leslie Atkin, Programme Area Manager (Access to HE and Adult GSCEs) at Leicester College, said:

“It’s never too late to pursue a dream of attending university. Our Access courses enable adults aged 19 and over to gain the qualifications they need to apply for university and work towards their dream job.”