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Access to HE Level 3 Diploma – Social Science

Access to HE Diplomas provide a route back into education and will prepare you for study at degree level. Our access course can lead to a degree or apprenticeship in a range of areas including sociology, social work, psychology, politics and law.

Fast facts

Level: Access
Size: Diploma
Purpose: Access to Higher Education
Guided Learning Hours: 450
Duration: 31 weeks full-time, Monday to Wednesday, 9.30am – 3.00pm
Next course start dates: September 2022
Application: Apply online

What is an Access to Higher Education Diploma?

Access courses are designed for adults who are returning to study and who need a qualification that will allow them to study at university or take up a degree-level apprenticeship. An Access to Higher Education Diploma meets the minimum entry requirements for a degree programme in the majority of universities in the UK, although there may be additional entry requirements such as Level 2 English and Maths, relevant experience and an interview.

Why study this course?

If you are interested in the society around you and want to know answers to questions such as ‘How are an individual’s life chances affected by their social class, gender, ethnicity or educational opportunities?’ then this is the course for you. It provides you with a broad-ranging introduction to the social sciences and could prepare you for entry onto a degree course in the areas of sociology, social work, psychology, politics or law.

These are some of the universities and courses our former students went on to:

Buckinghamshire New University (Police Studies with Criminal Law)
Bournemouth University (Environmental Science and Sustainability)
Edinburgh University (Linguistics and Social Anthropology)
Birmingham City University (Psychology)
Canterbury Christ Church University (Counterterrorism and Transnational Crime)
Essex University (Psychology)
Reading University (Psychology)
Oxford Brookes University (Psychology, Anthropology and Philosophy Communications, Media and Culture)
St Mary’s University (Philosophy and Politics).

What do I need to apply?

You must be age 19 or over by September in the academic year you start the course. You also need to fulfil residency requirements (we’ll check this when you apply). The Access to HE Diploma meets the academic requirements of a degree at Level 3 and offers you the opportunity to earn the UCAS Tariff points you’ll need for a range of universities (depending on your performance). Most universities will also require you to have Maths and English at Level 2 (GCSE, Functional Skills or an equivalent from your home country). If you do not have your Level 2 qualifications, you may be able to complete these alongside your Access course. You might also have to take a competitive interview.

Why choose Ruskin College?

Ruskin is a friendly and inclusive college that is committed to ensuring that all its learners achieve. We provide a supportive and stimulating environment, with learning support if needed, that’s tailored to your individual learning needs.

Course dates and times fit around school terms and holidays so you can fit the course around any family responsibilities. If you are eligible, there is some bursary support to help you with the costs of study (you will need to be assessed separately for this).

What will I study on this course?

Alongside some Study Skills units, your course will include a range of units that will introduce you to a range of topics central to Sociology, Sociology and Social Policy, and Psychology.

An indicative range may include units such as:

Socialisation, culture and identity
Sociology of sex and gender, Introduction to sociology
Introduction to psychology
Social influence, conformity and obedience to authority
Mental health and illness
Prejudice and discrimination
Society, rules and morals
Crime and deviance
Ethical dilemmas
The history and development of the Welfare State
Feminist ideology
Introduction to political concepts
Research methods in sociology
Extended project.

How will I learn and be assessed?

Your course will be taught face-to-face but there will be an online element to prepare you for the modes of study at university. Your lessons will be complemented by resources on Google Classroom which may include additional reading materials, videos and recorded lectures. Assessment will include one time-constrained assessment; otherwise your progress will be assessed by coursework. You’ll be asked to do a range of different activities. These will include essays and reports, research, group discussion, individual and group presentations. Your work is graded at Pass, Merit or Distinction, with most learners being assessed at Pass initially but getting higher grades as the course progresses.

How long does it take?

An Access course lasts 31 weeks and is delivered over three days a week, Monday – Wednesday, from 9.30am to 3 pm. You’ll have 15 hours a week teaching and we expect you to do a minimum of 15 hours a week self-study.

What jobs could this course lead to?

According to the Open University, within the public sector openings can be found in all areas of the criminal justice system, such as the police, prison and probation services, also administration and management of social services. Positions within civil and diplomatic services and local government are also popular choices. Other careers include banking and finance, politics, journalism and broadcasting, law, teaching, social work, accountancy, business management, advertising and marketing.

How do I apply?

Apply online and we will be in touch to discuss your application. If you have any questions about your application we would be happy to help, please email courses@ruskin.ac.uk.