What is the Access Diploma to Higher Education?

Access is a popular, nationally recognised qualification that is equivalent to A-levels and is the ideal way for students without qualifications to qualify for entry to degree courses. Applicants for the course are expected to have spent some time out of full time education and be able to cope with the demands of the course.

Many students who study on Access courses are returning to education after spending time raising families or working. The Access course is designed to provide mature students with the skills that they need for university study and is delivered during school hours and over four days. The Access course can be studied either in one year or over two years.

At OCVC the Access course is offered via a range of pathways:

• Access Diploma to Higher Education in Nursing, Midwifery and Health related Studies
• Access Diploma to Higher Education in Humanities and Social Sciences
• Access Diploma to Higher Education in Science
• Access Diploma to Higher Education in Art

Progression from Access to a University Degree

Successful Access students have taken their degree course in universities all over the country. We are of cause very keen to encourage access students to progress to Brookes University from OCVC, but students can apply to other Universities aswell as Brookes and still be accepted on to our courses. However In every situation students would still need to meet the entry requirements for there chosen course.

Completion of the Access course leads to study on a range of degrees; Midwifery, Nursing, Physiotherapy, Speech Therapy, Teaching, Environmental Science, Nutrition, Biology, Chemistry, Psychology, English, Sociology, Politics, International Relations, History and many, many more.

students say about the Access to Higher Education Course

Keron Harris

"I worked for nearly 20 years for the same organisation, but wanted to change to a career in History. I chose the Access Humanities course as it gave me a broad base of knowledge for my further study. I have been offered a place at Oxford Brookes studying History with a minor in French. The faculty and staff at OCVC have been excellent and have helped me get back to academic learning. The advice they give is brilliant and they have been inspirational. I'm very confident that I will be able to go to University fully prepared."

"The Access course is good preparation for University"

"Excellent teaching and student- teacher rapport"

"The course is designed with parents of children in mind - it fits into school hours"

"Great support from other students on the course"

(Comments taken from course survey in Spring 2008)

Interested?

If you are interested and want to find out more

For Banbury Campus contact Sian Hughes on 01865 551746 / 01865 551742 or e-mail shughes@ocvc.ac.uk

For Oxford Campus contact Melanie Hiney on 01865 551203 or e-mail AHELMS@ocvc.ac.uk