Access to HE Diplomas

Access to HE courses for the academic year 2026-2027 are £4,835. If eligible, you can receive an Advanced Learner Loan from the UK government to cover the cost. If you continue to Higher Education and complete your degree, Student Finance will ‘write off’ any outstanding Advanced Learner Loan balances you owe.

A Level 3 qualification, like an Access to HE course, is equivalent to A-Level study, meaning students who have completed Level 3 courses have the necessary qualifications to apply for university.

Our courses are one year long, taught over 37 weeks, and you will study 15 units, totalling 60 credits.

At dBs Institute, we're all about flexibility. Whether you're juggling work commitments, caring responsibilities, or just want to take things at your own pace, there's a study pattern that works for you. The key is finding the right balance that lets you succeed without burning out.

You can expect to dedicate around 15 hours per week to independent study on top of your taught sessions - this is university preparation, after all, so it's designed to get you used to managing your own time and workload.

Yes, and this is one of the best-kept secrets about Access to HE courses. If you're 19 or over, you can apply for an Advanced Learner Loan from the UK government to cover the full cost of your course.Here's where it gets even better: if you complete your Access to HE Diploma and then go on to complete a degree (or other recognised higher education qualification), Student Finance will write off your Advanced Learner Loan balance. That means you won't have to pay it back at all. The Access to HE Diploma is the only qualification with this loan write-off benefit.Our courses are one year long, taught over 37 weeks, and you will study 15 units, totalling 60 credits.

At dBs Institute, we're all about flexibility. Whether you're juggling work commitments, caring responsibilities, or just want to take things at your own pace, there's a study pattern that works for you. The key is finding the right balance that lets you succeed without burning out.

You can expect to dedicate around 15 hours per week to independent study on top of your taught sessions - this is university preparation, after all, so it's designed to get you used to managing your own time and workload.

Access to HE Diplomas are worth between 48 and 144 UCAS Tariff points, depending on your grade profile across the 45 graded credits. Here's how it breaks down:

‍All 45 credits at Distinction = 144 points (equivalent to AAA at A-Level)
‍30 Distinctions + 15 Merits = 128 points (equivalent to AAB at A-Level)
‍15 Distinctions + 30 Merits = 112 points (equivalent to ABB at A-Level)
‍All 45 credits at Merit = 96 points (equivalent to CCC at A-Level)
‍All 45 credits at Pass = 48 points (equivalent to EEE at A-Level)

The brilliant news is that Access to HE Diplomas are widely recognised and accepted by the vast majority of UK universities. Over the years, they've become a respected and legitimate route into higher education, with institutions actively encouraging applications from Access to HE students.That said, it's always worth checking the specific entry requirements for your chosen course.

Your Access to Higher Education Diploma doesn't expire; once you've earned it, the qualification is yours for life. However, most universities prefer applicants to have studied within the last two to three years to ensure their knowledge and study skills are current and fresh.