02 Mar 2021
Key Facts
Qualification Summary
The Diploma allows learners to undertake study related to sociology and psychology. Learners will have the opportunity to develop skills which will enable progression to a range of degree level programmes including a focus on sociology/social policy and psychology and psychosocial topics. 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 an introduction to sociology and psychology, but then they will be able to research an area of interest to them in more depth. They will study a range of optional units covering sociology and social policy and have the opportunity to investigate specific aspects of psychology.
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 sociology and psychology. Learners will have the opportunity to develop skills which will enable progression to a range of degree level programmes including a focus on sociology/social policy and psychology and psychosocial topics. 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 an introduction to sociology and psychology, but then they will be able to research an area of interest to them in more depth. They will study a range of optional units covering sociology and social policy and have the opportunity to investigate specific aspects of psychology.
Ungraded units include units which will support access to higher education whilst supporting study and personal skills.
Rules of Combination
Learners must take 12 credits from the Mandatory group. A maximum of 6 credits must be taken from the Research optional group, a minimum of 12 credits must be taken from the Sociology and Social Policy optional group and 12 credits from the Psychology optional unit group with the remaining 3 credits taken from either the Sociology and Social Policy or Psychology graded optional groups.
Units
Learners must take 12 credits from the Mandatory group
Approaches to Psychology
Introduction to Sociology
A maximum of 6 credits must be taken from the Research optional group.
Research Skills for Psychology or Sociology
Social Research Methods for Sociology or Criminology
A minimum of 12 credits must be taken from the Sociology and Social Policy optional group with the remaining 3 credits taken from any of the graded optional groups.
Culture and Identity
Education Studies: Socio-Economic Factors in Educational Achievement
Globalisation
Green Criminology
Introduction to the Sociology of Crime and Deviance
Poverty and Social Inequality
Social Policy
Sociology of Health
Sociology of the Family
Sociology of the Media
Valuing Diversity: Types, Bases and Impact of Discrimination
A minimum of 12 credits must be taken from the Psychology optional unit group with the remaining 3 credits taken from any of the graded optional groups.
Aspects of Social Psychology
Atypical Development and Abnormal Behaviour
Cognitive Psychology
Introduction to Early Child Development
Mental Health and Illness
The Brain and Neuropsychology
The Psychology of Criminal Investigation
Learners must complete 15 credits from this group.
Learners must complete 9 credits from the Mandatory ungraded group.
Academic Writing Skills
Preparation for Higher Education
Understand Published Research for Social Scientists
Learners must complete 6 credits from the Optional ungraded group.
Academic Reading Skills
Application of Number - Interpreting and Presenting Information
Promoting Wellbeing and Building Resilience
References and Reliability of Sources
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 sociology and aspects of psychology 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 psychology and sociology/social policy 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. understanding social science published research.
Delivery methods
Face to face
Blended learning
Work placements would also be beneficial and visits to museums would widen opportunities.
When planning courses, it is important that the mandatory units Approaches to Psychology and Introduction to Sociology are completed before undertaking any other psychology or sociology units as they provide the underpinning knowledge that learners will require for further study.
It should be noted that where learners are conducting primary research, their suggested research project should be scrutinised prior to commencement to check that ethical considerations have taken place. In addition, agreement from the interviewees must be obtained to ensure compliance with the General Data Protection Regulations, 2018.
The ungraded unit Understand Published Research for Social Scientists should be delivered before undertaking the research project unit.
Progression routes
Psychology BSC (Hons)
BA (Hons) Social Psychology
BA (Honours) Social Sciences
BA (Honours) Social Sciences (Sociology)
BA (Honours) Social Sciences (Psychology)
BA (Hons) Psychosocial Studies
BA (Hons) Sociology with Psychosocial Studies
BSc (Hons) Sociology
Progression & entry requirements
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.Provider approval criteria
No specific resources required for the delivery of this diploma.
Funding information
Learning Aims Search
The Hub provides a Learning Aims Search which you can use to check the funding status of any qualification or unit.
View this qualification on the ESFA’s Hub website
From 1st July 2021, the Hub will be replaced by a new Find a learning aim (FALA) service. This service is currently in BETA so if you experience any issues with finding funding details, please double check on the Hub above, or contact your account manager.
View this qualification on the ESFA’s Find a learning aim website
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.
The following support materials will help you deliver this qualification.
Information for Access Centres
Assignment briefs
Centres approved to deliver our Access to HE Diplomas can download assignment briefs for a selection of units in this Diploma. Assignment briefs can be downloaded by logging to Prism and locating the relevant unit. More assignment briefs are being added not all units currently have assignment briefs available.
The assignment briefs can be easily adapted to suit your needs. We recommend checking the rules of combination for the Diploma and adapting the brief accordingly.
To provide a flavour of what’s available, you can download the below samples for free:
- Assignment Brief – Preparation for Higher Education – QU007638
- Assignment Brief – Safeguarding Children Young People and-or Vulnerable Adults – QU025409
Log in to Prism to download more assignment briefs