Engineering - Level 3 Access to Higher Education Diploma

If you would like to study Engineering at university but left school without the qualifications you need, then this Access to HE course could be for you. Each year, over 20,000 Access to HE students apply for a degree course at a UK university; if you go on to complete a relevant degree at university, your Advanced Learner Loan will be written off by Student Finance England.

This course will help you get the qualifications you need to study engineering, or a related course, at university. Engineering is a very broad term and opportunities are available in a variety of sectors including aerospace engineering, biomedical engineering, civil engineering, electrical and electronic engineering, mechanical engineering, mechatronics, motorsport engineering and software engineering.

Transferable skills include evidence-based decision-making and problem-solving skills, which can be applied to jobs outside of the sector, including in finance and banking.

You will also have a personal tutor who will support you during the year and who will advise you on your applications to higher education institutions.

Topics covered can include:

• Alt voltage and currents
• Basic Electronic Skills and Measurements
• Electrical Circuit Theory
• Engineering Materials
• Manual and Machine Tools
• Calculus
• Trigonometry
• Programming fundamentals
• Motion energy forces
• Spreadsheets
• Intro to CAD 
• Practical scientific project 
• Algebra

You will need:

• To be aged 19 or older
• Four GCSEs at grade 4 or above (A* - C), including GCSE English, GCSE Science (Double Award) at grade 4 and GCSE Maths at grade 5 or above

Any applicants who do not meet the maths criteria may be asked to complete an assessment to determine their suitability for the course.

All applicants must have an interview to confirm that the course is suitable for them.

This course is assessed through coursework assignments, tests and examinations throughout the course, which are set and marked by your teachers and externally moderated by OCN London.

Assessment is continuous over the whole year and is based on several set pieces of work such as essays, projects, presentations and tests.

Adults - Access to Higher Education

If you will be aged 19 to 23 prior to the start date of your course, and do not already have a full Level 3 qualification, you may be eligible for a Level 3 entitlement, in which case your study with us will be free. Otherwise, you will have to pay the fees yourself or apply for an Advanced Learner Loan.

Please see here for the documents you will need to show us.

Some courses will have other associated costs, such as for specialist materials and trips. Many of our students are eligible for financial support, see here for details.

Once you have completed your Access to HE course, you can progress to a Higher Education degree at a university or college.

You should check requirements for specific degree courses - different Higher Education institutions may have different entry requirements for similar courses.