Overview
The Access to HE Diploma is a UK level 3 qualification for adults who want to enter higher education without traditional school-leaving qualifications such as A levels. It is regulated by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA), which licenses independent organisations called Access Validating Agencies (AVAs) to design courses and award the diploma. Colleges deliver the courses; the AVA validates them against QAA's national framework.
Who can take it
The diploma is aimed at adults, typically those who left school without the qualifications needed for a degree course and want a structured route back into study. Individual colleges set their own entry requirements and subject pathways (for example nursing, social sciences, business, education or the arts).
Structure
Every Access to HE Diploma is built from 60 credits in total, split between graded academic content and ungraded supporting units.
| Component | Credits | Level | Graded? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Academic subject units | 45 | Level 3 | Graded |
| Supporting units | 15 | Level 2 or 3 | Ungraded |
QAA sets this credit structure nationally, but each AVA and college decides the specific subjects and units offered, so the content varies by pathway (for example a Nursing pathway differs from a Law pathway).
What it covers
Units are written around learning outcomes and assessment criteria set by the AVA, covering the subject knowledge and study skills needed for the intended degree pathway. Because pathways are subject-specific, what is covered depends on the diploma chosen.
Scoring and results
Graded units are marked and contribute to an overall grade profile for the diploma; ungraded units are assessed as pass/fail. AVAs are responsible for standardising and quality-assuring marking across the colleges they license.
Recognition
QAA states that Access to HE Diplomas are recognised by universities across the UK for admission to degree courses. Recent QAA figures show around 37,045 students registered for the qualification, with about 23,950 going on to higher education, with nursing, social sciences, business, education and arts among the most common progression pathways.
Changes from 2026
QAA has revised how it regulates the qualification following a consultation on the Recognition Scheme. During the 2025–26 academic year, AVAs are transitioning to the new arrangements, and from 1 August 2026 all AVAs will be licensed under the revised Recognition Scheme.
How to register
Registration is through an approved college running an AVA-validated Access to HE course, not through QAA directly. Applicants should contact colleges in their area that offer the diploma in their chosen subject pathway.
Preparation tips
Because the diploma is designed as a full pathway into a specific degree subject, the most useful preparation is choosing a pathway that matches the intended degree and confirming with the college how its grading profile is viewed by the universities the student plans to apply to.
Who awards the Access to HE Diploma?
Access Validating Agencies (AVAs), which are licensed and regulated by QAA, validate the courses and award the diploma; colleges deliver the teaching.
How many credits does the diploma require?
60 credits in total: 45 graded level 3 credits in academic subject content, plus 15 ungraded level 2 or 3 credits.
Is the diploma the same at every college?
No. AVAs and colleges set their own subject pathways and units within QAA's national credit framework, so content differs between diplomas and providers.
Do all UK universities accept the Access to HE Diploma?
QAA states the diploma is recognised by universities throughout the UK, though individual universities and courses set their own entry requirements against it.