Careers start here.

Your Study Options

Funding Your Course

If you're aged 19 or over and you want to study A Levels, an Access to Higher Education Diploma, or a Level 3 to 6 Vocational Qualification, you could be eligible for an Advanced Learner Loan.

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Access Courses

  • Access Coffee Mornings
  • access to Higher Education
  • Access for free when you gain your degree

Access all areas

Don't have the qualifications needed for university? Here's your chance. If you're an adult learner an Access course gives you the opportunity to get the qualifications you need to get back to work, start a new career or update your study experience. All our Access courses are taught at University Centre Harlow. Many of our Access students are now pursuing new careers and making changes to their lives they never thought possible.

Nursing and Midwifery – Access to Higher Education Diploma

Get on the fast track to a professional career in Midwifery or Nursing. If you want to go to university but don't yet have the necessary qualifications this course is for you. For adults who want a career in Nursing and Midwifery.

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Medicine – Access to Higher Education Diploma

Access to Medicine is an intensive science‐based one year full time course tailored to the requirements of a medical degree, designed to provide an alternative route for non-traditional students into medical training.

It is a course for mature students who, having achieved in other areas, now wish to retrain as doctors. These include:

  • those with experience in other health-related professions
  • those whose initial career choice has proved unsatisfying and who wish to change their field of employment to the health care sector
  • those who have previously studied in higher education, but whose studies did not constitute a suitable preparation for medical training

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Health Science Professions – Access to Higher Education Diploma

The Health Science pathway is a platform that leads allied health professions which include Paramedics, Physiotherapy, Radiography as well as Chiropractic to name a few.  Access to Health Science is designed for adults seeking a career path in a science related profession. The programme begins by helping you to understand the basic concepts of Biology and you will progress to learn about health and disease through existing medical research. In Term 2 you will carry out your own research project in the laboratory. Alongside this you will learn core study skills that will prepare you for University. The Access to Health Science Professions requires commitment and dedication and will provide a challenging yet fun learning environment towards your career goals. 

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Psychology and Counselling – Access to Higher Education Diploma

This pathway is for those who wish to study for a Psychology and/or Counselling degree at university. The Psychology and Counselling Diploma programme is the most suitable route for you if you are looking to go on to study a degree in subjects such as: Psychology, Psychology with Counselling, Criminology, Counselling and Psychotherapy, Education with Psychology, Sociology, Psychology with Professional Development or other similar subjects.

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Social Work and Health Care – Access to Higher Education Diploma

This course is for those who do not have the relevant experience or qualifications to progress to university. It will equip you with the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in a career in Health and Social Care. You will learn and apply the theoretical and practical knowledge required for working the Health and Care field. Many of our former students are now pursuing new careers and seeing changes in their lives they never thought possible.

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Teaching – Access to Higher Education Diploma

If you ever wanted to be a teacher or work in the education profession then this course is for you. This Education, Teaching and Childhood Studies pathway provides a wide knowledge and understanding of the UK Education System. It will prepare you for study on any teaching/education related university course. The Access diploma will give you a solid grounding for when you commence your university degree, (BA, BSc), Foundation Degree or Higher National Diploma.

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Business Management – Access to Higher Education Diploma

This course will help you understand the business environment and the skills, knowledge and understanding needed for you to progress further in the business world. Whenever possible term dates are in line with those of the Essex schools. We understand that many of our students have family commitments.

Mature students are valued for their life experiences, and an increasing number are entering higher education each year. Many are now pursuing new careers and seeing changes in their lives that they never thought possible.

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Pre-Access to University

Want to go to university but think you have left it too late or that you haven’t got the skills or the qualifications to get there? Maybe the responsibilities of family and work got in the way and prevented you from going, and now you think you have missed your chance. If this sounds like you then you should think again because our Pre-Access course has been specifically designed to help people go to university. 

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