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Access to HE Diploma (Psychology and Sociology)

Key Facts

Level:
Level 3
Subject Sector:
1.3 Health and Social Care
Credits:
60
Qualification No:
QAAQ002859
Price:
Contact us
Age Range:
19+
QAA aim code:
40010326

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

Graded Academic Mandatory Units

Learners must take 12 credits from the Mandatory group

Approaches to Psychology

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU026334
Click here to view full unit details

Introduction to Sociology

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU007804
Click here to view full unit details
Graded Research Units

A maximum of 6 credits must be taken from the Research optional group.

Research Skills for Psychology or Sociology

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU028701
Click here to view full unit details

Social Research Methods for Sociology or Criminology

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU026192
Click here to view full unit details
Optional Graded Academic Units: Sociology and Social Policy

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

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU011218
Click here to view full unit details

Education Studies: Socio-Economic Factors in Educational Achievement

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU014787
Click here to view full unit details

Globalisation

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU006877
Click here to view full unit details

Green Criminology

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU028705
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

Poverty and Social Inequality

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU026375
Click here to view full unit details

Social Policy

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU026373
Click here to view full unit details

Sociology of Health

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU007094
Click here to view full unit details

Sociology of the Family

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU025357
Click here to view full unit details

Sociology of the Media

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU014492
Click here to view full unit details

Valuing Diversity: Types, Bases and Impact of Discrimination

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU018124
Click here to view full unit details
Optional Graded Academic Units: Psychology

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

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU005844
Click here to view full unit details

Atypical Development and Abnormal Behaviour

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU025692
Click here to view full unit details

Cognitive Psychology

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU017095
Click here to view full unit details

Introduction to Early Child Development

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU006054
Click here to view full unit details

Mental Health and Illness

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU025831
Click here to view full unit details

The Brain and Neuropsychology

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU026338
Click here to view full unit details

The Psychology of Criminal Investigation

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU019963
Click here to view full unit details
Ungraded Units

Learners must complete 15 credits from this group.

Mandatory Units: Ungraded

Learners must complete 9 credits from the Mandatory ungraded group.

Academic Writing Skills

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU025276
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

Understand Published Research for Social Scientists

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU025750
Click here to view full unit details
Optional Units: Ungraded

Learners must complete 6 credits from the Optional ungraded group.

Academic Reading Skills

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

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

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

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

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.

The following support materials will help you deliver this qualification.

Access to HE Quick Guides

Information for Access Centres

Access to HE Administration

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:

Log in to Prism to download more assignment briefs

 

 

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