Access to Higher Education Diploma

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PPRO Team June 12, 2026

If you are an adult without A Levels who wants to go to university, an Access to Higher Education Diploma could be exactly what you need.

Pass Learn offers online qualifications specifically designed to help adult learners reach higher education and take control of their professional futures. Access to Higher Education Diplomas are there for people who want to study flexibly online, at home, without returning to a college or school.

Whatever your goal — whether that is nursing, midwifery, teaching, psychology, health, veterinary science or youth work — an Access to HE Diploma helps you develop the knowledge and credentials you need to apply for a degree.

What Is an Access to Higher Education Diploma?

The Access to Higher Education Diploma is a Level 3 qualification that is nationally recognised and specifically designed to get adult learners ready for university. It is widely taken up by people who never took A Levels, or who were last in education a long time ago and are now looking to come back.

UK universities widely accept the Access to HE Diploma as a route onto degree courses. The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education provides further detail on how these qualifications are assessed and approved.

Unlike going back to college on a fixed schedule, studying for an Access to HE Diploma online means you can fit your learning around your work, family and day-to-day life.

Study Access to Higher Education Online

Every Access to HE Diploma through Pass Learn is studied 100% online. There are no set timetables or class attendance requirements — you learn at a speed and schedule that suits you.

Assessment is done through assignments rather than exams. You submit your work online as you go, and your tutor reviews it and feeds back to you. It is a format that works well for adults who prefer to show what they know through written work rather than a final exam.

When you study with Pass Learn you can:

  • Study your entire diploma at home, online
  • Work around your existing job and family life
  • Submit all assessments digitally
  • Get feedback and guidance from your tutor throughout
  • Build the academic skills you will need at university
  • Earn a qualification recognised for university entry

Access to HE Diplomas Available with Pass Learn

Pass Learn has a range of Access to HE Diploma pathways to choose from, with each one pointing towards a particular type of degree or career.

The diplomas currently available include:

Each diploma has been created to give you the grounding needed for a specific area of university study, from healthcare and teaching through to science and psychology.

A Flexible Alternative to A Levels

If you want to go to university but do not have A Levels, an Access to HE Diploma gives you a widely accepted alternative route to get there.

The diploma is generally treated as the equivalent of three A Levels and can carry up to 144 UCAS points depending on how you perform. You can check exactly how your results translate to UCAS points using the UCAS Tariff calculator.

Entry requirements are set by individual universities and courses, so it is always a good idea to check what your chosen degree requires before applying. The Discover Uni website is a useful starting point for this kind of research.

Who Are Access to HE Diplomas For?

Access to HE Diplomas are for adults who are serious about getting into university but do not currently have what universities typically ask for.

You might be a good fit if you are:

  • An adult returning to education
  • Someone who did not take A Levels at school
  • Looking to switch careers and need formal qualifications to do so
  • Getting ready to apply to university
  • Planning a career in nursing, midwifery, education, psychology or healthcare
  • Someone who needs to study fully online and at your own pace
  • Balancing study with work or caring responsibilities

For example, if you want to become a nurse you might take an Access to HE Diploma in Nursing before applying to a nursing degree programme. For general information on NHS and healthcare career paths, NHS Health Careers is a useful resource.

How Access to HE Courses Work

Getting started with an Access to HE Diploma through Pass Learn is simple.

You choose the diploma that lines up with the degree or career you are working towards, then enrol. Your course materials are made available online straight away so you can start learning immediately.

As you work through the course, you write and submit assignments online. Your tutor reads through your work, sends you feedback and helps you improve as you go. Once you have completed all the required units to the right standard, your diploma is awarded.

The whole process is designed to take adult learners from first steps through to being ready for university.

Support Choosing the Right Access Course

Working out which Access to HE Diploma is right for you can be tricky, especially if you are not certain which one a particular university or career path requires.

Pass Learn is here to help with that decision. The support team can talk you through the available pathways over the phone and help you figure out which one fits best with your goals, experience and plans.

Whatever you are aiming for — nursing, teaching, psychology, health sciences or something else entirely — Pass Learn can help you get clear on the right direction.

Start Your Access to Higher Education Diploma with Pass Learn

An Access to Higher Education Diploma can be your starting point for university, a new career and a genuinely different future.

With fully online study, no exams and tutor support throughout, Pass Learn makes the Access to HE route a real and practical option for adult learners who are ready to move forward.

See the full selection of Access to Higher Education Diplomas and take your next step towards university with Pass Learn.

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QTS Maths Tutor Team

We help thousands of students each year with revision, courses and online exams.

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