Access Pathways

Access to HE Diploma Online

Access Pathways delivers Access to Higher Education Diplomas in health-related subjects, including nursing, midwifery, paramedic science and allied health: the recognised alternative to A-levels for adults heading to a healthcare degree. The Diploma itself is a nationally recognised Level 3 qualification, regulated to ensure it meets the same standards wherever it’s studied, so universities across the UK accept it as a valid route in.

Access Pathways handles the teaching, tutoring, marking and day-to-day support that gets students through the course.

Everything runs online: students enrol when they’re ready, work through units at their own pace, and have a tutor on hand throughout.

University Access

The Access courses offer a bridge into university study: they build subject knowledge gradually, while developing the writing, referencing and research skills required in academic study. For students who don’t have a traditional college background these courses provide the confidence and certification to join a UK university.

Healthcare Diplomas

• Health and Social Care, a foundation in health, psychology and social care for degrees in the caring professions
• Nursing, biology and health knowledge geared towards nursing degree entry
• Physiotherapy and Sports Therapy, preparation for sport, rehabilitation and therapy-related degrees
• Radiography, science and imaging-focused study for radiography pathways
• Midwifery, health and biology foundations for midwifery degree entry
• Paramedic Science, emergency care and health knowledge for paramedic degree routes
• Allied Health Professions, a broader route into professions like occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech and language therapy

How the qualification is built

Every Diploma totals 60 credits:

• 45 credits of graded Level 3 subject units
• 15 credits of ungraded study-skills and personal development units

Units are graded Pass, Merit or Distinction, and it’s usually this grade profile, rather than raw pass/fail, that universities set their offers around.

Studying online

No lecture halls, no fixed term dates, but also no drifting without a plan. Access Pathways’ model includes:

• Enrolment at any time: no need to wait for a September or January start
• Two years to finish the full Diploma, worked through at whatever pace fits the student’s week
• A 30-day window per assignment: the clock only starts once a task is opened, so students aren’t racing a deadline they didn’t choose, but there’s still a clear point to work towards
• A personal tutor for the whole course, covering everything from unpicking assignment briefs to feedback on written work
• Fast turnaround on marking, so students aren’t left waiting to know how they did before starting the next unit
• First-class support, over the phone or online, whenever it’s needed

University progression

Access to HE Diplomas are accepted by over 140 universities across the UK, and roughly 24,000 students progress from Access courses into higher education each year. Graduates from these health-related Diplomas typically move into fields like nursing, midwifery, paramedic science, radiography and allied health professions, either straight into an undergraduate degree, a foundation year, or in some cases a degree apprenticeship.