Access to Higher Education Diploma

Going to university does not have to mean going back to school. For adult learners without A Levels, the Access to Higher Education Diploma offers a direct and flexible path to degree-level study that works around real life.

Pass Learn provides the qualifications that help adults gain entry to higher education, progress in their careers and take meaningful steps towards a better future. Access to Higher Education Diplomas are built for learners who want a fully online route to university preparation.

No matter the direction – nursing, midwifery, teaching, psychology, health professions, veterinary science or youth work – an Access to HE Diploma offers the knowledge, skills and credentials to make it happen.

What Is an Access to Higher Education Diploma?

The Access to Higher Education Diploma is a Level 3 qualification that is nationally recognised and specifically designed to help adult learners get ready for university. It is a particularly common choice for people who did not take A Levels, or who studied a long time ago and are now considering returning to education.

Accepted widely by UK universities as a route onto degree courses, the Access to HE Diploma is quality-assured through the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education.

Because it is studied online and at the learner’s own pace, the diploma removes many of the barriers that prevent adults from returning to education. Learners can fit their studies around work and family without the need for fixed attendance.

Study Access to Higher Education Online

Pass Learn delivers all its Access to HE Diplomas online, giving learners total flexibility over where and when they study.

Assessment is assignment-based throughout – there are no examinations. Learners complete and submit work online and receive personalised feedback from their tutor to guide them through each stage.

Choosing to study with Pass Learn means learners can:

• Work through the diploma fully online from home
• Study at times that suit them, without fixed class hours
• Submit all assessed work through an online platform
• Access tutor support and feedback throughout the course
• Build the academic writing, reasoning and research skills university requires
• Earn a qualification that universities recognise for entry purposes

Access to HE Diplomas Available with Pass Learn

Pass Learn offers a range of Access to HE Diploma pathways, each constructed to prepare learners for a specific university course or professional career.

The available pathways are:

• Access to HE Diploma in Nursing
• Access to HE Diploma in Health Professions
• Access to HE Diploma in Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Professions – Midwifery Pathway
• Access to HE Diploma in Education
• Access to HE Diploma in Veterinary Science and Zoology
• Access to HE Diploma in Careers in Education, Youth Work and Child Development
• Access to HE Diploma in Psychology and Mental Health

Each diploma is tailored to the academic demands of a particular field, equipping learners with the right knowledge and skills before they begin their degree.

A Flexible Alternative to A Levels

For adults who want to go to university without A Level qualifications, the Access to HE Diploma provides a credible and widely accepted alternative.

It is treated by universities as broadly equivalent to three A Levels and can be awarded up to 144 UCAS points depending on grades. The UCAS Tariff calculator is the easiest way to check the points value of a particular result.

Entry requirements vary between institutions and courses, so it is always important to check what a specific degree requires before applying. Discover Uni is an excellent resource for comparing degree entry criteria.

Who Are Access to HE Diplomas For?

Access to HE Diplomas are aimed at adult learners who have set their sights on university but do not currently hold the standard qualifications most degree programmes require for admission.

They are well suited to:

• Adults returning to education after a period away
• Those who never took A Levels
• People seeking a career change who need formal qualifications
• Adults who are preparing or planning to apply to university
• Learners aiming for nursing, midwifery, teaching, psychology or healthcare roles
• Anyone who needs to study entirely online and at their own pace
• Those managing work, caring responsibilities or family life alongside study

As an example, someone aiming for a career in psychology might complete the Access to HE Diploma in Psychology and Mental Health before applying to a psychology degree. For those exploring healthcare more broadly, NHS Health Careers is a useful starting point.

How Access to HE Courses Work

Completing an Access to HE Diploma through Pass Learn follows a clear and well-structured sequence.

Learners identify the most relevant diploma pathway and enrol. Immediately after sign-up, they can log in to the course and begin working through the material.

Assignments are submitted online throughout the course. Tutors review each submission and return detailed feedback. The diploma is awarded once all units are successfully completed.

Every element of the process has been designed with adult learners in mind, supporting them from their first day through to university readiness.

Support Choosing the Right Access Course

Picking the right Access to HE pathway can be tricky, especially when learners are still figuring out which university or degree course is right for them.

Pass Learn offers one-to-one support by phone. Learners can speak with a member of the team who understands the full range of diploma options and can provide personalised advice based on goals, experience and intended next steps.

Whatever the aim – nursing, midwifery, education, psychology, health sciences or beyond – Pass Learn is ready to help learners make the right choice.

Start Your Access to Higher Education Diploma with Pass Learn

An Access to Higher Education Diploma can be the first real step towards a university place, a career change and the future an adult learner has been working towards.

Fully online, exam-free and with consistent tutor support, Pass Learn makes the Access to HE Diploma a genuinely viable path for adults who are ready to commit to further study.

See the full list of Access to Higher Education Diplomas and take the next step with Pass Learn.

Written by

Online Exams Team

We help thousands of students each year with revision, courses and online exams.