Access to Higher Education: Humanities, Teaching and Law

Access to Higher Education: Humanities, Teaching and Law is designed to prepare you to succeed at university in a range of humanities subjects, like politics and history, social sciences such as sociology and psychology, teaching qualifications or the law.

Duration 1 year
Qualification Access to HE
Start Date Monday 7th September 2026
Course Code ACHUMTL26T
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TOP COURSE HIGHLIGHTS

  • UCAS support
  • No formal requirements
  • Friendly environment
  • Excellent teaching

Wide Range of Topics

Combine a range of subjects from sociology, through psychology and history to explore topics such as crime, deviance, education and political thought.

Experienced Tutors

Expert lecturers who know their subject and have experience developing adult learners’ written skills and powers of analysis.

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Preparation for university

Superb study skills support to prepare you for university, including research and presentation skills, referencing, writing to a brief and how to prepare a university application.

WHY CHOOSE THIS COURSE?

If you wish to apply to university for a higher education course but do not have the necessary qualifications, an Access course could well be the right choice for you. The majority of universities in the UK will accept Access to Higher Education courses as an alternative to A Levels and other more traditional routes. Students are usually aged 19 or over.

All applicants will be expected to attend an interview. There are no formal requirements for acceptance onto the Access programme. However, many universities are now insisting on Grade 4 (or above) passes in English and maths. Our students in this course have been successful in gaining places at colleges and universities to study degrees in law, history, sociology, social work, psychology, politics, teaching, geography, business and economics.

WHAT WILL I LEARN?

The course follows three broad subject streams, along with tutorial support, university applications and study skills:

  • Psychology – you will learn about stress and well-being, criminal psychology, psychological disorders and treatments and therapies.
  • History – you will examine change and continuity in history by examining Italy in the early 20th century as it transitioned from democracy to fascism. We look at India and the British Empire, examining sources and how historians represent the past.  Finally, you will have a free choice of research topic.
  • Sociology, Politics and Law – you will look at the debate around inequalities and achievement in education and further understand crime and deviance. You will analyse key political concepts and their importance before examining civil rights and the law.

WHERE WILL IT TAKE ME?

Students who have achieved this diploma have progressed on to study a wide range of subjects at university, including law, primary teaching, sociology and business management.

This course is excellent preparation for any career that requires the powers of written analysis and a sensitive understanding when working with others. Careers pursued by previous students include teaching, the police, civil service, social work, psychology and counselling, various legal roles and administrative/managerial positions in a range of organisations.

Access to Humanities, Teaching and Law is assessed by a portfolio of written coursework assignments, alongside presentations and study skills evidence.

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Course code: ACHUMTL26T
Duration 1 year
Qualification Access to HE