What is an Access to HE Diploma, and who is it for?

It is a level 3 qualification that prepares people without traditional qualifications for university study. It is made up of 60 credits, is usually finished in a year, and is taught at colleges in England and Wales. It suits adults who know roughly what they want to study, and who are ready to apply for university early in the course.

The official Access to HE site says students of all ages take it, and that courses are designed especially for people who have been out of education for some time. In 2017-18, the most recent figure it gives on that page, 46% of registered students were over 25. There are diplomas aimed at subject areas such as nursing, social studies, law, and art and design.

How the 60 credits break down

You need all 60 credits to get the diploma. 45 are at level 3 and graded. The other 15 are ungraded and may be at level 2 or level 3.

The site describes the academic demands as comparable to other level 3 qualifications such as A levels, while noting that there is no standard measure of equivalence based on volume. In practice, comparing it with three A levels gets you only so far. What counts is the offer your chosen university makes on this particular diploma, which may specify credits at given grades. Find that on the course page before you enrol, or email admissions.

What a year looks like

Most students take it over one academic year, and it can be studied part time over two or more years. The timing catches people out, because the university application happens early. UCAS gives these dates for 2027 entry: 18:00 UK time on 15 October 2026 for Oxford, Cambridge and most medicine, veterinary and dentistry courses, and 18:00 on 13 January 2027 for all other undergraduate courses. Those dates will move in later years. The Access site is frank about what that means: if you start in September, you will usually need to complete your application in your first term.

So you could be writing a personal statement a few weeks after returning to the classroom. Choose your course with the degree in mind, and ask your tutors for support early. They can tell you what admissions tutors are likely to value.

Can you do it without any qualifications?

The Access site does not list one set of formal entry requirements, so these are up to the course and college. Ask them what they want from you. Some may set an assessment or interview. Also check what the degree needs on top of the diploma, because the Access course itself might not replace specific GCSEs for certain careers and universities. If you need one, our guide to taking a GCSE as an adult sets out the routes.

How it is paid for

Colleges set their own fees, so contact the college for the current figure and any support on offer. For students aged 19 and over, the usual options are these:

• A grant first, if you can get one. GOV.UK says level 3 courses may qualify for an adult skills fund grant, which you do not repay. Ask your provider before applying for a loan.
• An Advanced Learner Loan. You must be 19 or older on the first day, and the course must be with an approved provider in England. Your income does not affect eligibility and there is no credit check. Interest runs from the day of the first payment.
• The write-off. Student Finance England will write off an outstanding loan balance for an Access to HE course once you complete a higher education course that is eligible for student finance. Extra repayments you made before starting the degree are not refunded.

The Access site's funding page gives repayment thresholds that do not quite agree with each other, so use GOV.UK for current figures. If you are on benefits, the Access site advises getting further advice on job-related claims first. The site also mentions enhanced learning credits for members of the armed forces. This is general information, and your own position may differ, so it is worth talking to a college adviser or the National Careers Service before you sign a loan agreement. When you get to the degree itself, the funding rules change again: see how student finance works for courses starting from January 2027.

Your UCAS application, roughly sketched

Full-time courses go through UCAS. Part-time and flexible courses usually mean applying directly to the university. UCAS's guidance says the personal statement is split into three questions, and gives mature applicants specific advice about explaining "why now". These notes are our own made-up sketch of how you could prepare, not a real applicant's statement.

You will also need a reference. UCAS says that if you left education some time ago, an employer or colleague can write it, along with people such as a tutor, careers adviser or volunteer leader. Family, partners, ex-partners and close friends cannot, and using one could get an application cancelled. Your Access tutor is the obvious person once you have enrolled.

Is it right for you?

It tends to fit if you want a full-time or close to full-time return to study with a class around you. It suits you less if your degree can be reached in other ways. UCAS notes that earlier education or work experience may already be enough for some courses, so ask first. If your job and family rule out set class times, compare it with routes that begin directly on a distance learning degree. And when you do start, the habits in our self-testing piece can help you after years away from exams.