Access to HE Diploma (Social Sciences)

Program Overview

Access to HE Diploma (Social Sciences)

Course Overview

The Social Science Access course is designed for adult returners, offering a coherent, integrated, and supported year of study in psychology and sociology. Learners will gain the knowledge, awareness, skills, and confidence necessary for successful entry into a relevant undergraduate degree.

What You'll Study

You will study a range of modules from psychology, sociology, social policy, history, and law. Your final module will be an extended project on a topic of your own choice. You will also develop your study skills, including literacy, researching, and referencing, which will provide you with a foundation for your learning in subsequent years.

Modules

• Crime and Deviance – 3 credits
• Introduction to Psychology – 3 credits
• Child Development – 3 credits
• Extended Project – 6 credits
• Reading and Comprehension of Texts – 3 credits
• Essay Writing – 3 credits
• Preparation for Higher Education – 3 credits
• Speaking and Listening – 3 credits
• Writing Standard English – 3 credits
• Terrorism and Globalisation – 3 credits
• Mental Health and Illness – 3 credits
• Disability and Social Inclusion – 3 credits
• Housing Policy in Britain – 3 credits
• Safeguarding and Children’s Welfare – 3 credits
• Families in Society – 3 credits
• Introduction to Sociology – 3 credits
• Sociology of Education – 3 credits
• Health Promotion and Health Education – 3 credits
• Early Socialisation and Attachment – 3 credits

How You'll Learn

The access course offers an opportunity for students to study for a Level 3 Diploma. The CU model of delivery focuses on one module at a time, allowing you to focus on the in-depth content of the subject. Lectures are delivered by subject experts using a variety of methods to reinforce the concepts of the topic from traditional lectures, group work, worksheets, case studies, and research activities.

Teaching Contact Hours

Our Access to Higher Education courses run over 36 weeks. Attendance on campus is required 9:30am – 2.30pm (including a half-hour lunch break) on a Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. You will also have the option to attend optional sessions including time with a progress coach or to meet with staff for advice and feedback.

Guided and Independent Study

Throughout your studies, you will be expected to spend time in guided and independent study to make up the required study hours per module. You’ll be digging deeper into topics, review what you’ve learned, and complete assignments. This can be completed around your personal commitments. As you progress through your studies, you’ll spend more time in independent study.

Online Learning

As an innovative university, we use different teaching methods including online tools and emerging technologies. So, some of your teaching hours and assessments may be delivered online.

Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module. Assessment methods may include:

• Essays
• Group work
• Presentations
• Projects
• Coursework

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.

Entry Requirements

Typical offer for 2024/25 entry.

• UK
• Level 2 qualifications in Maths and English are preferable but not mandatory for commencing the Access course. Level 2 qualifications in Maths and English can be acquired alongside the Access course as they are a pre-requisite to progress onto universities.
• GCSE maths, English, and one science at grade 4 / C or Functional Skills Level 2, or other equivalent Level 2 awards.

As part of the application process, an interview and a literacy and numeracy assessment will be required so that our tutors are satisfied that you can benefit from the course and be able to cope with the future requirements of studying in higher education.

Fees and Funding

Student | Full-time | Part-time
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UK | 2026/27 fees TBC
2025/26 fees: £3,022 | Not available

Facilities

Our purpose-built campus building is arranged around an open central atrium that includes IT suites and study spaces.

The onsite library stocks essential and recommended reading and over 115,000 eBooks. The building also includes areas for career guidance and study support services, a café, a prayer room, and social areas. Next to the campus is Scarborough’s leisure village. This complex includes an Olympic Legacy swimming pool, sports hall, fitness suite, all-weather pitches, and the Scarborough Athletic football ground.

Careers and Opportunities

On successful completion of this course, you will have the underpinning knowledge and academic skills to be able to apply for a range of degree courses at a variety of universities.

Further Study

Successful completion of this course will guarantee you an interview for any degree programme at CU Scarborough. You could also progress on to a degree at other institutions, such as psychology, subject to meeting their specific entry criteria.

The access course can allow you to progress on the following types of degrees at CU Scarborough:

• Applied Psychology BSc (Hons)
• Business Management and Leadership BA (Hons)
• Early Childhood Development and Learning BA (Hons)
• Law and Practice LLB (Hons)
• Public Health and Community Studies BA (Hons)

You could potentially obtain a place on the following degree programmes with Coventry University subject to you meeting additional entry requirements. Please see individual course web pages for more information.

• Criminal Psychology BSc (Hons)
• Law LLB (Hons)
• Politics BA (Hons)
• Psychology BSc (Hons)
• Social Work BA (Hons)
• Sociology BA (Hons)