Did you know that over 95% of our Access to Higher Education students gain their first choice of University places? Access your future with The Cheadle College. Our specially-designed courses will prepare you for entry into Higher Education or University.
The Access to Higher Education Diplomas are a well established and a very successful route into university level study for you if you’re an adult learner who either lacks formal entry qualifications, wishes to pursue a change of career and/or needs to develop confidence and practise in your study skills.
The Access to Higher Education Diploma is widely recognised by UK universities, and many actively encourage applications from Access to Higher Education students.
A national framework for Access to Higher Education courses has been in place since 1989 and, each year, over 20,000 students achieve the Access to Higher Education Diploma and progress to university courses across the UK.
Universities are involved in the development of new Access courses to make sure that course content is appropriate, and the framework for the approval of the courses are managed by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA). QAA’s Access to Higher Education logo appears on all Access Diplomas, so that universities can be confident that a student has completed the requirements of an approved Access course.
With no exams to negotiate, you can progress step-by-step via structured assignments and coursework. We offer personal support in the University application process, so you can make your dream career choice come alive.
We are looking for applicants with:
Access to Higher Education Diplomas offer an alternative route. If you want to take an Access course and you are over the age of 19, you may be eligible for an Advanced Learner Loan to pay for the course fee. If you complete this and then go on to complete a course in Higher Education, the remaining balance of your Advanced Learner Loan, including any interest on it, will be written off.
You don’t have to start a Higher Education course immediately following your Access course. If you get a job in between and are earning more than the repayment threshold, you would start to repay the Advanced Learner Loan. Alternatively, if you study a Higher Education course part-time while working and earn more than the repayment threshold, you would start to repay the Advanced Learner Loan.
When you have finished your Higher Education course, the Student Loans Company will write off the balance on the Advanced Learner Loan that you took out to fund your Access course. You will be contacted with confirmation of this.
By now you may be asking yourself “Why does my Advanced Learner Loan get written off if I go on to complete a course in
Higher Education?”
The simple answer is that Access to Higher Education Diplomas are designed to enable people who have few, if any, qualifications to study in Higher Education. As such, their main aim is to support progression to Higher Education, which is not the case for other courses funded by the Advanced Learner Loan.
In addition to gaining subject knowledge, our Access courses aim to develop and enhance your essential study skills in preparation for university studies, including referencing, academic writing and ICT skills. Highly-qualified and experienced Access to Higher Education tutors will provide one-to-one guidance and support to help with your university application.