Access to HE
Access to HE qualifications
Access to Higher Education (HE) Diplomas are Level 3 qualifications for adults who want to go to university but don't have A-Levels. Recognised by every UK university, they're typically completed in 9 to 24 months and replace the need for traditional school-leaver qualifications.
- Level 3 · Access to HE
Access to HE Diploma (Business)
Behind every brand, every growth strategy, every market entry decision is a business thinker who understands how organisations work and how …
Awarded by OCN London - Level 3 · Access to HE
Access to HE Diploma (Criminology)
Every crime leaves a question. Who commits it, why, what circumstances allowed it, and what happens next, to the victim, to the offender, to…
Awarded by OCN London - Level 3 · Access to HE
Access to HE Diploma (Education Professions)
Think of the teacher who changed your life. Every classroom has that person, the one who believed in a student before the student believed i…
Awarded by OCN London - Level 3 · Access to HE
Access to HE Diploma (Engineering)
Engineers design the infrastructure of everyday life, the bridges, the power grids, the electronic systems, and the software that makes mode…
Awarded by OCN London - Level 3 · Access to HE
Access to HE Diploma (Health Science Professions)
Behind every patient who walks again, regains grip strength, or returns to a job they love is an allied health professional who made it poss…
Awarded by OCN London - Level 3 · Access to HE
Access to HE Diploma (Midwifery)
The moment a midwife places a newborn in a parent's arms is among the most profound in healthcare. Midwives hold that responsibility, clinic…
Awarded by OCN London - Level 3 · Access to HE
Access to HE Diploma (Nursing)
Picture a busy ward, the rhythm of handovers, the weight of clinical decisions, the moments of human connection that make nursing unlike any…
Awarded by OCN London - Level 3 · Access to HE
Access to HE Diploma (Paramedic Science)
Imagine arriving first at a road traffic collision, knowing exactly what to do. Paramedics make decisions in seconds that can save a life, a…
Awarded by OCN London - Level 3 · Access to HE
Access to HE Diploma (Psychology)
Why do people behave the way they do? What drives decisions under pressure? How does the mind store, distort, and reconstruct memory? Psycho…
Awarded by OCN London - Level 3 · Access to HE
Access to HE Diploma (Radiography)
Picture the moment a patient receives a diagnosis that changes everything, and the radiographer who made it possible. Diagnostic radiographe…
Awarded by OCN London - Level 3 · Access to HE
Access to HE Diploma (Science), Biomedical Pathway
Inside every blood test, every cancer biopsy, every genetic screen is a scientist who made the result possible. Biomedical science is the di…
Awarded by OCN London - Level 3 · Access to HE
Access to HE Diploma (Science), Medical and Health Sciences Pathway
The wards, the laboratories, the consulting rooms, every corner of medicine and health science is shaped by the knowledge this diploma build…
Awarded by OCN London - Level 3 · Access to HE
Access to HE Diploma (Social Work)
Behind every safeguarding decision, every care assessment, every child protection plan is a social worker who chose to show up for the most …
Awarded by OCN London
Awarding bodies in Access to HE
Access to HE qualifications — frequently asked questions
What is an Access to HE Diploma?
The Access to HE Diploma is a Level 3 qualification designed for adults who want to go to university but do not have A Levels. It is recognised by every UK university and replaces traditional academic entry routes. You study online over 12 months, with no exams.
Who is the Access to HE Diploma for?
It is for adult learners (19+) who want to go to university but do not hold the usual qualifications. Common reasons include changing careers, returning to study after a break, or not getting the A Level grades needed first time. There are no formal entry requirements beyond GCSE English and Maths at grade 4 / C.
Is the Access to HE Diploma recognised by universities?
Yes. The Access to HE Diploma is regulated by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) and recognised by all UK universities for entry to undergraduate degrees. Specific universities and courses set their own grade requirements, usually between Pass and Distinction.
How is the Access to HE Diploma funded?
Lift College runs a self-funded pay-monthly model — no Advanced Learner Loans, no credit checks, no exit fees. You pay a flat monthly subscription and can pause or cancel anytime. Funding is not means-tested and there are no eligibility checks.
How long does the Access to HE Diploma take?
The standard duration is 12 months studying part-time online — around 10 to 15 hours per week. You can study faster if you have more time, or pause your subscription if life gets in the way. There is no fixed end date.
Which Access to HE pathway should I choose?
Pick the pathway that matches the degree you want to study. Nursing, Midwifery, and Health Science Professions lead to NHS-aligned degrees. Education Professions leads to teaching degrees. Criminology, Psychology, Social Work, Business, and Engineering each map to their named degree subject. If unsure, book a callback and we will help you choose.
Explore our other faculties
Lift College offers regulated UK qualifications across a range of subject areas.
Health & Social Care
2 coursesRQF-regulated care qualifications at Level 3, 4, and 5
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5 coursesQualifications for teaching assistants, early years educators, and nursery managers — level 2 to level 5
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2 coursesCMI and ILM management qualifications for aspiring and experienced managers
Explore management & leadership →Functional Skills
3 coursesOfqual-regulated English and maths qualifications equivalent to GCSE grade 4/C — study online, exam at home
Explore functional skills →A Levels
2 coursesNationally recognised A levels for adults — study online, sit exams, progress to university.
Explore a levels →GCSEs
2 coursesStudy GCSE English, Maths, and Science online at your own pace — sit exams at an approved centre near you.
Explore gcses →