Key Facts

Level:
Level 3
Subject Sector:
4.1 Engineering
Credits:
60
Qualification No:
QAAQ002890
Age Range:
19+
QAA aim code:
40010533

New suite of Access to HE Diplomas for August 2024

Our brand new suite of Access to HE Diplomas is available for delivery from 1st August 2024.

Access to HE Diploma (Engineering Science and Mathematics) Overview

Changes to Access to HE confirmed by QAA: Diploma Specification and Grading Scheme

Qualification Summary

The Diploma allows learners to undertake study related to Engineering Science and Maths. Learners will have the opportunity to develop skills which will enable progression to a range of degree level programmes within the sector. Many learners join these types of degrees after following A level study, so the Diploma will place the Access to HE learners on a level with those who have followed A level studies.

Learners will complete mandatory units which cover algebra, trigonometry and mathematics for science as well as a fundamental physics unit to develop underpinning skills for the optional units. They will be able to research an area of interest to them in more depth. They will study a range of optional units covering electronics, electrical circuits, engineering design, engineering dynamics, statics and structures, units related to physics and chemistry and structural mechanics. It also includes a unit on project management as that is highly relevant to the engineering industry. A range of maths units are also available to include calculus, statistics, algebra and geometry.
Ungraded units include units which will support access to higher education whilst supporting study and personal skills.


Why choose this qualification?

The diploma allows learners to undertake study related to Engineering Science and Maths. Learners will have the opportunity to develop skills which will enable progression to a range of degree level programmes within the sector. Many learners join these types of degrees after following A level study, so the diploma will place the Access to HE learners on a level with those who have followed A level studies.

Learners will complete mandatory units which cover algebra, trigonometry and mathematics for science as well as a fundamental physics unit to develop underpinning skills for the optional units. They will be able to research an area of interest to them in more depth. They will study a range of optional units covering electronics, electrical circuits, engineering design, engineering dynamics, statics and structures, units related to physics and chemistry and structural mechanics. It also includes a unit on project management as that is highly relevant to the engineering industry. A range of maths units are also available to include calculus, statistics, algebra and geometry.

Ungraded units include units which will support access to higher education whilst supporting study and personal skills

Units

Mandatory Units: Graded Academic Subject Content

Learners must complete 9 credits from this group.

Algebra and Trigonometry

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU019995
Click here to view full unit details

Fundamental Physics: Theory

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU025282
Click here to view full unit details

Mathematics for Science

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU006176
Click here to view full unit details
Graded Research Units

Learners must take a maximum of 6 credits from this group.

Research: Extended Writing Project for Engineering Science and Maths

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU028886
Click here to view full unit details

Research: Practical Investigation Project for Engineering Science

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU028379
Click here to view full unit details
Optional Graded Academic Units: Engineering Science

Learners may take up to 30 credits from this group.

Electric Circuits

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU007973
Click here to view full unit details

Electrical Principles

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU007906
Click here to view full unit details

Electronics

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU027886
Click here to view full unit details

Energetics, Kinetics, Equilibria

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU006259
Click here to view full unit details

Engineering Design - CAD

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU026955
Click here to view full unit details

Engineering Dynamics

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU026951
Click here to view full unit details

Engineering Statics and Structures

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU026953
Click here to view full unit details

Fundamental Chemistry

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU006301
Click here to view full unit details

Heat, Electricity and Magnetism

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU028385
Click here to view full unit details

Introduction to Computer Systems

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU026127
Click here to view full unit details

Project Management

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU016763
Click here to view full unit details

Structural Mechanics in Construction and Civil Engineering

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU017117
Click here to view full unit details
Optional Graded Academic Units: Mathematics

Learners may take 21 credits from this group.

Calculus: Differentiation

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU007967
Click here to view full unit details

Calculus: Integration

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU007965
Click here to view full unit details

Geometry

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU017259
Click here to view full unit details

Mathematics: Algebra, Exponentials and Logarithms

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU007424
Click here to view full unit details

Matrices

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU007941
Click here to view full unit details

Quantitative Methods - Statistics

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU007442
Click here to view full unit details

Series

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU007957
Click here to view full unit details
Ungraded Units

Learners must complete 9 credits from this group.

Application of Number - Interpreting and Presenting Information

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU007486
Click here to view full unit details

Practical Science Skills

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU010772
Click here to view full unit details

Preparation for Higher Education

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU025532
Click here to view full unit details
Optional Units: Ungraded

Learners must complete 6 credits from this group.

Computer Data Protection

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU026150
Click here to view full unit details

Introduction to Computer Programming

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU029027
Click here to view full unit details

Optimising Examination Performance

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU025280
Click here to view full unit details

Presenting Information Using ICT

Level:
Level 2
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU025450
Click here to view full unit details

Promoting Wellbeing and Building Resilience

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU028487
Click here to view full unit details

References and Reliability of Sources

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU026344
Click here to view full unit details

Spreadsheets

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU011467
Click here to view full unit details

Sustainability Project

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU033854
Click here to view full unit details

The Fundamentals of Environmental Sustainability

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU033880
Click here to view full unit details

Writing reports

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU026155
Click here to view full unit details

Intended learner groups

a) Adults who, because of social, educational or individual circumstances may have achieved few, if any, prior qualifications and wish to progress to HE
b) Adults who have gone straight into industry (perhaps following apprenticeship routes) who wish to progress to HE.


How this diploma meets learners' needs

The Diploma will provide them with underpinning skills to support academic study and provide a level 3 qualification linked to their proposed HE study. A broad range of knowledge will be acquired which support an understanding of engineering skills, science related units and mathematics and will ensure that the learner is fully prepared for progression onto the relevant degrees.


What this diploma covers

The units include a balance of units which allow the learners to keep their options open until they have fully decided on their preferred route at degree level. The ungraded units have been chosen to support both progression into higher education and also to allow the learners to develop skills relevant to the subject area e.g. science, spreadsheets and computer data protection.


Delivery methods

Face to face
Blended learning including online platforms such as Moodle or Pearl.


Successful completion criteria

Learners will probably require a pass in maths and English at GCSE level or a Functional Skills qualification in English and Maths to progress onto a degree course.

Progression routes

Learners may progress to the following:
Electronic Engineering BEng (Hons)
Electronic and Communication Engineering including a foundation year (4 years) BEng (Hons)
Engineering (Electrical and Electronic) (Top-Up) BSc (Hons)
Electrical and Electronic Engineering BEng (Hons)
BEng (Hons) General Engineering
BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering
Mathematics BSc (Hons)
Mathematics MMath (Hons)


Provider approval criteria

Resources and special requirements – access to a science laboratory for science units and computers with relevant software for CAD, graphs and charts and other engineering units.


Funding information

There are now two main sources for funding information, a straightforward ESFA Qualification Search and the more detailed Find a Learning Aim website.

The new Find a learning aim (FALA) service provides a search tool that you can use to check the funding status of any qualification, framework, unit, standard or T Level:

View this qualification on the ESFA’s Find a learning aim website

The Education and Skills Funding Agency search provides funding information on qualifications. It does not provide funding information for units, non-regulated activity and work placements, for this information please use Find a learning aim (FALA).

View this qualification on the ESFA Qualification Funding Search

How to find a learning aim

If you’re not sure how to use the new find a learning aim website, we’ve created a handy walkthrough to help you:

How to Use: Find a learning Aim


Additional funding information for Access to HE

  • Access to HE is eligible for funding as part of the legal entitlement offer.
  • Access to HE is eligible for funding via Advanced Learner Loans and appears on the Advanced Learner Loans catalogues published by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA).
  • Access to HE Diplomas are designed for adult learners aged 19+ and the ESFA only funds young people on these programmes by exception, as stated in paragraph 149, page 39 of the Funding guidance for young people 2020 to 2021.

We have done our best to collate and summarise the key information, and wherever possible we alert our providers to changes in funding policy.

This funding information is provided in good faith and it is always advisable to check directly with the funding agencies before committing to delivery.