How will things change when the new Access to HE Diploma is introduced?

The Access to HE Diploma is being phased in between 2007 and 2009, and will replace the Access to HE certificate. The generic qualification title is the "Access to HE Diploma", and individual award names will all use a common format which defines the subject or area of study, such as, for example, Access to HE Diploma (Business Studies); Access to HE Diploma (Art and Design); or Access to HE Diploma (Combined Studies). Students will be required to use these titling conventions in any correspondence with universities and colleges and provide standard course information on their applications, including the names and levels of all the units studied.

By 2008-09, all new students will register on courses which will lead to the award of the Access to HE Diploma and, from that point, all offers can be made with reference to the common requirements of the Diploma (60 credits, of which at least 45 must be at Level 3 - the remainder at Level 2). This is an absolute requirement which defines the volume of achievement for the qualification (as 120 credits = one year HE study), so offers such as "Access to HE Diploma with 65 credits" (for example) will not be meaningful. However, it will be possible to pinpoint, within the overall set of units, which particular units must be achieved at Level 3. When grading is introduced (expected 2010), it will be possible to make offers which relate to differentiated individual standards of achievement.

The development of the Diploma specification was undertaken at the same time as the development of new credit specifications to be used on QAA-recognised Access to HE courses, to ensure that the common qualification specification would be applied according to consistent principles and standards. Full details of the Access to HE qualification and credit specifications are available on the Access to HE website.

In 2007-08, both Diploma and certificate students will be applying to HE, but the distinctive title of the new qualification should make clear the qualification which is being offered and, therefore, the appropriate approach to making offers. Please note that the achievement of the Access to HE certificate is not invalidated by the introduction of the Diploma, and certificate students (including those who may decide to delay their application to HE by a year or more) will continue to need offers which are appropriate to their qualification if they are not to be disadvantaged in the admissions process.

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