What is Access to Higher Education?

Access courses are for adults over 19 who do not have traditional post-16 qualifications and who have life experience outside formal education, allowing them to prepare for, and gain entry to, degree and other higher education programmes.
These courses are at Level 3 in the National Qualifications Framework. Some colleges also offer units at Level 2, which prepare students for study at Level 3.
These courses are designed for mature students and include study skills. Recruitment is targeted at those parts of the community that are traditionally under-represented in higher education, such as minority ethnic groups and unemployed adults.
AQA is an Authorised Validating Agency for Access to Higher Education and has been licensed by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) to issue Access to Higher Education certificates.
Adults who enrol on an Access course have made a conscious decision to return to education and bring a commitment and wider life experience to their studies. Access courses are designed to reflect this background.
Colleges devise Access courses to meet the needs of their students. All courses include Study Skills and Information Technology, as well as either subject-specific (eg Law or Biology) or vocational pathways at Level 3.
AQA-validated Access courses are unit-based. Each unit is assessed at Level 3 and normally attracts 1–3 credits. An Access certificate is awarded on the successful completion of 18 credits.