Program Overview

Access to Higher Education

Course Overview

The Access to Higher Education course is designed for creatively-minded adults returning to education with an interest in design or digital media, aiming to continue on to an honors degree.

Ideal for:

• Creatively-minded adults returning to education
• Those with a broad interest in film, production, animation, sound design, graphics, illustration, animation, or 3D design

Course Details

• Starts: September 2025
• Duration: 1 year
• Mode: Part-time | Daytime on Wednesday, Thursday & Saturday
• UCAS code: N/A
• Inst. code: Open College Network, London (OCN)

Course Structure

The course is divided into three stages:

Stage 1: Introductory

• Focuses on the core disciplines of design through:
  • Conceptual drawing and technical drawing
  • Contextual studies
  • Digital image production
  • Life drawing
  • Media experimentation
  • Observation skills
  • Recording and research techniques
• Explores the following subject areas:
  • Graphics (graphic design, illustration, and web design)
  • Lens-based media (animation; broadcasting; film and video; digital photography; sound design)
  • 3DD (architecture; interior; product; set and interactive design)

Stage 2: Developmental

• Deepens and develops knowledge of design practice, culminating in working exclusively within the chosen subject area
• Enables students to plan their next steps in entering higher education by developing a specialist portfolio for honors degree interview or their chosen career path

Stage 3: Specialist

• Undertakes and completes a major seven-week project, reflecting on the chosen specialist area and planned progression path

Entry Requirements

• No formal qualifications are required
• Applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis through an interview, to assess applicants' skills and enthusiasm to return to education

Progression

• Most students go on to study a degree course, with many staying on at Ravensbourne
• Internal progression award: Foundation and access diploma graduates may be eligible for a one-off cash gift of £500 if they progress directly to an undergraduate degree course at Ravensbourne

Fees and Funding

• Find out more about tuition fees and whether you qualify for financial support during your studies
• Advanced learner loan information
• Scholarships, bursaries, and other discounts

Facilities

• Our facilities are open to every student, including:
  • Fashion atelier
  • Materials library
  • Prototyping suite
  • Print shop
  • TV Studio
  • Production control rooms
  • TV gallery
  • Library
  • Kit Store

Industry Connections

• Industry connection is ingrained into everything we do
• We will equip you for success in the creative and digital industries, ensuring you are truly industry-ready upon graduation
• Our tutors are respected academics and practitioners with substantial experience and industry links

Alumni

• Esther Gbogboade, now a postgraduate student, having progressed all the way from foundation level
• Read her story

Next Steps

• Register your interest
• Book an open day
• Order a prospectus
• Moving from FE to UG
• Chat with our students