Frequently Asked Questions

WHAT ARE ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION DIPLOMAS?

The Access to Higher Education Diploma prepares people without traditional qualifications for study at university. Universities accept them as entrance to a huge range of higher educations degrees.

Access to HE Diplomas are delivered by colleges in England and Wales, and are available in a range of different subjects, such as health, nursing, social sciences, law and business.

WHAT BENEFITS ARE THERE WITH THIS TYPE OF LEARNING?

Learning with Highbury Online means you are freed from the restrictions of a traditional classroom timetable. You can start your diploma on any day of the year!

Online learning with Highbury Online allows you to learn at your own pace, but with the benefit of support that will help through your learning experience. Support means engagement with your Access to HE Head of Programme, your team of tutors and other learners also studying the same diploma as you.

Your course materials are presented online in an attractive way. Pictures, text, videos, interactive quizzes and games all combine to provide rich content that is engaging and fun to study.

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE ME?

Notional Learning Hours (NLH) are set by the Awarding Validating Agencies as a guide as to how long you should be studying in order to complete your qualification. AIM Qualifications and Assessment Group have set the NLH for each Access to Higher Education Diploma that we offer at 600 hours. If you choose to fund your course with an Adult Learning Loan, you will have a set period of time to complete your course. Most learners on average take 9 months to finish their Access to Higher Education Diploma.

WHAT ABOUT IF I AM WORKING?

All of our Access to Higher Education Diplomas can be studied online, and will therefore rarely, if ever, require you to visit us. As such you can study around your work commitments whenever is most convenient for you! Our team of tutors work over traditional College holidays so we’ll be on hand to help you progress as quickly as possible.

HOW DO I PAY?

There are 2 options. You can either pay for your course in full upfront, or you can take out a government backed Adult Learner Loan (ALL) - https://www.gov.uk/advanced-learner-loan/overview