This is a one-year course for adult learners who are interested in studying one of our Access to Higher Education Diplomas, but who do not yet meet the GCSE entry requirements. This will also be suitable for you if you have qualifications from another country which universities in the UK don’t recognise, or if you need to retake your GCSEs to achieve a higher grade. Most universities require a GCSE Grade 4 or above in English, maths and science.
This "pre-access" qualification gives you the subject knowledge in English, Maths and Science to apply for an Access to Higher Education Diploma, to then progress to university the following academic year. Access Diplomas are well-established and widely accepted by universities, qualifying for UCAS tariff points equivalent to three A levels.
This course will provide you with the foundation knowledge of GCSE English, Mathematics, and Double Science, which you will be entered to sit in the summer exam season. You will be taught by our lecturers who are experienced in delivering high-quality adult education.
This course is delivered at the Centre for Applied Sciences. Lessons will combine theory lectures and practical sessions, many of which will take place in our specialist science laboratories.
You will need to:
This course is assessed through national exams which will take place in the summer.
If you will be aged 19+ on 31st August prior to the start date of your course, up to Level 2, then your study with us will be free. You must have lived for 3 years within the EU/EEA/UK prior to the start of your course, you must have lived in the UK before 1st January 2021 and you must have permission to live in the UK for at least 12 months from the first day of learning. 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.
After your Pre Access course is completed, you will have the opportunity to interview for one of our Access to Higher Education Diplomas. We currently run the following Diplomas through OCN London:
Please note, you will still need an interview to assess your suitability for these courses, and you must meet their entry requirements to be given a place.
Ankita joined City and Islington College in September 2010, as a part-time teacher trainee. She began her teaching career after working in the industry in Biodegradable Plastics and Packaging for over 10 years. Most notably she helped develop Ariel Pods with P&G and Quantum Finnish Tablets with Reckitt Benckiser, an industry where she still works part-time.
Ankita specialises in Chemistry, leaning towards Adult and Access Learners. She teaches across BTEC and Access disciplines, as well as having personal tutor responsibilities. In addition to teaching, she is a School Governor at Tower Hamlets Primary School and volunteers for several charities to help with food poverty and homelessness.
Mariam has completed a BSc, in Biomedical at the University of Galway, Ireland, and an MSc at the University of Nottingham in the UK. Mariam has continued to complete a PGCE at the University of Roehampton. Over the last 10 years, Mariam has developed a career in science, research, and education with a passion for inspiring young adults to discover their talents through Level 2 and Level 3 courses in health, medical, and applied sciences.
Mariam's experience to date has been across multiple differentiated lessons spanning across secondary education, safeguarding pupils to create a safe environment, securing good rapport and communicational skills with multi-disciplinary professionals and students, mentoring staff, and students, practising good laboratory and clinical and industrial skills from collecting specimen in stem cells to record keeping of medical data for critical analysis.
Mariam's specialisms include strategies to differentiate learning for all abilities and attempting to implement different strategies to teach SEN and EAL students in lessons and laboratory practicals.
The teachers listed may change, these shown are an example of the teachers who teach on these programmes.