As a Relationship Manager at the Skills and Education Group, I look after our customers in the following areas:
- Wales
- South West
- South East – Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire
- Northern Ireland
Information for students
Students are at the heart of what we do. This page provides useful
information for any student studying a qualification or assessment with us.
Where can an Access to HE Diploma take me, and how do I get there?
Access to HE Diplomas are designed to help begin a new career path for students and provide avenues to study at a higher education institution, where they may not have had the opportunity to study at otherwise.
Typically, Access to HE students fall under the category of “mature student”, meaning they tend to have had more life experience in a professional setting, allowing them to have a clearer view of what they wish to progress into. If you wish to go to university to study a new field that you’re interested in but haven’t achieved the necessary qualifications through more traditional methods such as college or sixth form, these diplomas are for you.
The diplomas themselves have a vast, tailorable list of units designed to cover all bases. This means that higher education institutions can work closely with colleges to select the units relevant to their degree programmes, ensuring that any successful graduate of their Access to HE Diploma will be well prepared to undertake a degree afterwards.
The impact of the course on me has been asteroid-level which, admittedly, sounds like no small exaggeration! But in truth, it has made all the difference to my life opportunities.
FEATURED CASE STUDY
What diplomas and assessments are offered by Skills and Education Group Access?
We offer a range of Access to HE Diplomas in the sectors identified below, all of which are a nationally-recognised Level 3 qualifications regulated by The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA).
There is no such thing as a typical Access to HE student: students of all ages and backgrounds earn Access to HE Diplomas. Courses are usually completed in one year, but you can also study part-time, over two or more years, making your learning journey fit with your lifestyle. Courses are available in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and you can study at a college, with a training provider, or at home through distance-learning.
For more information about where our diplomas are delivered, please find the diploma you are interested in and look for the “useful downloads and links” on the right-hand side of the page.
FAQ
How do I apply?
Skills and Education Group Access works with a wide range of Providers who offer a variety of diplomas. Find out more and discover diplomas in your area.
What support will I get?
Before you start your course, your provider will chat with you to understand what kind of support you’ll need to succeed in the Access to HE Diploma. They’ll also help you pick the perfect diploma based on your background and goals.
What qualifications do I need to get started?
No formal qualifications are usually required to be accepted onto Access to HE courses, but you should be committed to developing the ability to study. Check with your chosen provider for any specific requirements they may have.
Is there funding available for Access to HE Diplomas?
As a learner, you can apply for an Advanced Learner Loan to help meet the costs of your course at a college or training provider in England.
Contact your provider for more details and find more information here.
How is an Access to HE Diploma assesed?
Access to HE Diplomas are assessed in a variety of ways. Please contact your course provider for specific details relating to your Diploma of choice.
How do I get my certificate?
The Provider where you are studying is responsible for registering you with Skills and Education Group Access. When you have completed all the qualification requirements your work will be subject to an internal and external quality assurance process to confirm your achievement. We will then produce your certificate, which your provider may send in the post (if a paper copy has been requested) or make available electronically via our online portal, DC Web.
How do I get a replacement certificate?
Contact the Provider where you studied and ask them to submit a Replacement Certificate Request form. If the Provider is unable to help you, please contact the Access to HE department via phone on 0115 8541620 or email accesstohe@skillsedugroup.co.uk
The cost of a replacement certificate is as follows:
What if I am moving part way through my learning?
Skills and Education Group Access credits are nationally recognised as part of national qualifications. This means that if you move to another part of the country, your credits may be able to move with you, and you can achieve more credits at your new location with a new Provider.
Who can I contact for career and course information?
You can contact your course provider for information, advice and guidance.
Alternatively, The National Careers Service is dedicated to helping learners get the advice they need for future skills, careers, work and life choices. Using specially designed tools, the National Careers Service will help learners grow in careers, or get a foot on the job ladder.
How can I make an appeal or complaint?
If you have a complaint or want to make an appeal against an assessment decision, you will first need to contact your learning provider and follow their formal complaints and appeals process.
If you are unhappy with the outcome, please call Skills and Education Group Access on 0115 854 1620 for further guidance.
Other useful links?
The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) is an independent charity working to benefit students and higher education, and one of the world’s experts in quality assurance. Advice for students