What qualification will I achieve?
Subject areas covered are: mathematics, computer hardware and networking, software development and user application software. The Access to Higher Education course (depending upon the final qualification) is equivalent to A-Levels. It is recognised by higher education institutions, advanced apprenticeships, business, retail and appropriate professions. Our Access to Higher Education courses are validated by the Cambridge Access Validating Agency and the qualification is universally recognised as demanding and rigorously assessed.
How is my course assessed?
The course will be split into modules which are individually assessed. Later modules build on the skills developed in the earlier ones. Some modules use exams in the assessment process but only as part of the overall assessment whilst others use coursework only. Modules are graded at Pass, Merit or Distinction.
How many UCAS points will I achieve on this course?
The number of UCAS tariff points for an Access to Higher Education diploma varies between 48 and 144 points, depending on your grade for each module.
Access to Higher Education qualifications are split into a total of 45 graded credits and each module will have a different credit weighting (for example, one module may be worth 3 units and another may be worth 6). For each graded module, you'll achieve a pass, merit or distinction and these each carry a different amount of UCAS points (with pass being the lowest and distinction being the highest).
For example, if you pass each graded module, you will achieve 48 UCAS points. If you gain a distinction in each graded module, you will achieve 144 UCAS points (equivalent to three A grades at A Level).
We've included some examples below of what grades you need to achieve common UCAS tariff point entry requirements:
| UCAS Points |
Grades required |
| 64 |
15 credits at merit, 30 credits at pass |
| 74 |
24 credits at merit, 21 credits at pass |
| 80 |
30 credits at merit, 15 credits at pass |
| 96 |
45 credits at merit |
| 120 |
24 credits at distinction, 21 credits at merit |
| 144 |
45 credits at distinction |
You can find more details on the UCAS Tariff points calculator here.
