Key Facts

Level:
Level 3
Subject Sector:
1.4 Public Services
Credits:
60
Qualification No:
QAAQ004358
Age Range:
19+
QAA aim code:
40007248

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 (Forensics and Criminology) Overview

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

Qualification Summary

Learners must complete 45 graded credits at level 3 from 'academic subject content units. 21 credits must be taken from the Mandatory group. A maximum of 6 credits must be taken from the Research optional group and the remaining 18 credits must be taken from the Optional unit group. Learners must complete 15 ungraded credits, 3 credits from the Mandatory ungraded group and 12 credits from the Optional ungraded group.


Why choose this qualification?

The diploma allows learners to undertake study related to forensics and criminology topics.  Learners will have the opportunity to develop skills which will enable progression to a range of degree level programme. The mandatory units include a mixture of science-based units, which will support forensic topics, and basic criminology units. These include: Crime Statistics, Forensic Investigation Procedures, Forensic Science and Introduction to Criminology.

Many learners join degrees related to forensics and criminology 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.

Ungraded units include units which will support access to higher education whilst supporting study and personal skills. There is only one mandatory unit, Preparation for Higher Education, to allow centres the flexibility to select units that are relevant to their students. In addition, it is strongly recommended that learners should take the Study Skills for Higher Education and the Mathematics – Calculations units to meet literacy and numeracy requirements.

Rules of Combination

Learners must complete 45 graded credits at level 3 from 'academic subject content units. 21 credits must be taken from the Mandatory group. A maximum of 6 credits must be taken from the Research optional group and the remaining 18 credits must be taken from the Optional unit group.


Units

Mandatory Graded

Learners must take 21 credits from this group.

Crime Statistics

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU032200
Click here to view full unit details

Forensic Science

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU032202
Click here to view full unit details

Introduction to Criminology

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU032353
Click here to view full unit details
Optional Units Research: Graded

Learners must take 6 credits from this group.

Research Skills for Forensics or Criminology

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU032253
Click here to view full unit details

Research: Practical Investigation Project for Forensics or Criminology

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU032204
Click here to view full unit details

Social Research Methods for Forensics or Criminology

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU032255
Click here to view full unit details
Optional Units: Graded

Learners must take 18 credits from this group.

Aspects of Social Psychology

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU029057
Click here to view full unit details

Biochemistry in the Human Body

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU006094
Click here to view full unit details

Cell Biology and Biochemistry

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU019000
Click here to view full unit details

Chemical Basics and Atomic Structure

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU006146
Click here to view full unit details

Digital Forensics

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU032206
Click here to view full unit details

Fundamental Concepts and Scientific Method in Biology

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU006307
Click here to view full unit details

Fundamentals of Chemistry: Conducting Experiments

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU019006
Click here to view full unit details

Human Anatomy and Physiology

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU031950
Click here to view full unit details

Introduction to Genetics

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU030718
Click here to view full unit details

Introduction to the Sociology of Crime and Deviance

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU006605
Click here to view full unit details

Practical Chemical Analysis

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU019014
Click here to view full unit details

Practical Chemical Science for Health Studies

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU006835
Click here to view full unit details

The Blood

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU014056
Click here to view full unit details

The Human Skeleton and Muscles

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU019004
Click here to view full unit details

Violent Crimes

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU032791
Click here to view full unit details
Ungraded Units

Learners must complete 15 credits from the Ungraded Group - 3 credits from the Mandatory Ungraded group and 12 credits from the Optional Ungraded group.

Mandatory Ungraded

Learners must take 3 credits from this group.

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 take 12 credits from this group.

Academic Reading Skills

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU018346
Click here to view full unit details

Academic Writing Skills

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU025276
Click here to view full unit details

Communication - Speaking and Listening

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU007560
Click here to view full unit details

Mathematics - Calculations

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU007516
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

Practical Science Skills

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

Presenting Information Using ICT

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU027084
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

Study Skills for Higher Education

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU031633
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

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.


Delivery methods

Face to face
Blended learning
Online delivery


Progression routes

• BSc (Hons) Criminological Psychology
• BSc (Hons) Psychology and Criminology
• BSc (Hons) Police Studies with Criminal Psychology
• BSc (Hons) Forensic Science
• BSc (Hons) Forensic Science with Criminology
• BSc (Hons) Forensic Science with Psychology
• BA (Hons) Criminology and Criminal Justice
• BA (Hons) Criminology and Law
• BA (Hons) Criminology and Psychology
• BSc (Hons) Professional Policing


Provider approval criteria

Depending on the choice of unit, centres will require access to relevant science labs and technical equipment


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


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.