Humanities and Social Science - Level 3 Access to Higher Education Diploma

If you would like to study Humanities and Social Sciences subjects (African and Caribbean Studies, Anthropology, Art History, English Literature, 20th Century World History, Politics, Psychology and Sociology) at university but left school without the qualifications you need, then this Access to HE course could be for you.

The Humanities and Social Science Diploma is the most suitable programme to go on to study a degree in subjects such as History, Politics, International Relations, Sociology and Psychology or a related course, at university.

You will learn study skills such as note-taking, essay writing, reading and research, preparation for exams and oral presentation.

You will be supported throughout the course by a personal tutor who will also give you guidance in applying for Higher Education courses.

Students will need to study 3 of the topics listed below:

Anthropology

• Anthropological Perspectives,
• Introduction to Anthropology,
• Medical Anthropology,
• Fieldwork and Research Methods in Anthropology,
• Anthropology of Ritual and Rites of Passage.

African and Caribbean Studies

• Debunking Eurocentric Narratives of Africa
• Neo Colonialism and Resistance
• Introduction to Africa and African Studies
• Windrush and the Notting Hill Riots

Art History

• Introduction to European Art History  
• Modernism: Influences and Practices
• Art in Contemporary Britain

20th Century World History

• Imperialism and Decolonisation
• Israel and Palestine
• History of Immigration and Race Relations in Britain

Politics

• Civil Liberties in Britain
• Introduction to Political Concepts
• Political Parties and Pressure Groups

Psychology

• Approaches to Psychology
• Social Research Methods for Psychosocial Studies
• Aspects of Social Psychology
• Atypical Development and Abnormal Behaviour
• Cognitive Psychology
• Mental Health and Illness

Sociology

• Introduction to Sociology
• Culture and Identity
• Poverty and Social Exclusion
• Social Inequality

You will need:

• To be aged 19 or older
• GCSE English and Maths at grade 4 or above (or A*-C); however, you will be considered for the course if you have one GCSE at grade A*-C in Maths or English with the offer of GCSE classes in addition to 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

This course may be free if you meet certain conditions:

• If you are not working or have a low income. You need to show proof of your income or benefits.
• If you are aged 19-23 and you do not have a full Level 3 qualification (a full L3 is the equivalent of two A-levels at A* - E grade). You need to show us proof of any qualifications you already have.
• Residency rules apply. You need to show you have permission to live, work and study in the UK without conditions, and live in London If you live outside London, you need to pay fees.
• There are some exceptions, such as certain visa types.

Check here which documents you need to show us, and which visa types are allowed.

If you do not meet the residency rules, you can still enrol on the course but you may have to pay some fees. All applicants are fee-assessed during enrolment.

If you are not eligible for a free or reduced-cost course, you need to pay the full fee yourself, or apply for an Advanced Learner Loan.

If you have to pay for your course, and decide to apply for an Advanced Learner Loan (ALL), the residency rules are different: https://www.gov.uk/advanced-learner-loan.

Some courses have additional costs, such as for specialist materials and trips.

Many of our students are eligible for financial support. See here for details.

If you are aged 19-24 and this is your first Level 3 course, you may be eligible for free tuition.

If you are 24 years or older you will need to apply for an Advanced Learner Loan. Student Finance England will ‘write off’ any outstanding Advanced Learner Loan balances you owe for an Access to HE course once you complete a higher education course. This means you do not have to repay it if you complete your University degree course.

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.