Access to HE Diploma (Psychosocial Studies)

Key Facts

Level:
Level 3
Subject Sector:
11.2 Sociology and Social Policy
Credits:
60
Qualification No:
QAAQ002614
Price:
View price list
Age Range:
19+
QAA aim code:
40008757

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 (Psychosocial Studies) 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 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 as well as a counselling unit to complement the other topics, 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, including an introduction to criminology.

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 as well as a counselling unit to complement the other topics, 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, including an introduction to criminology.

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

Rules of Combination

Learners must complete 45 credits from this group. Learners must complete 18 credits from the mandatory group, a maximum of 6 credits from the Research optional group and the remaining 21 credits must be taken from the graded optional group.

Units

Graded Academic Mandatory

Learners must complete 18 credits from this group.

Applied Psychology

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU018274
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Introduction to Sociology

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

Understanding Counselling Theories

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU018077
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Graded Research Units

Learners must complete 6 credits from this group.

Research Skills for Psychosocial Studies

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU026471
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Research: Extended Writing Project for Psychosocial Studies

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU026473
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Social Research Methods for Psychosocial Studies

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU026475
Click here to view full unit details
Optional Graded Units: Psychosocial Studies

Learners must complete 21 credits from this group.

Aspects of Social Psychology

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU005844
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Atypical Development and Abnormal Behaviour

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU025692
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Cognitive Psychology

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU017095
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Culture and Identity

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU011218
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Fundamental Concepts and Scientific Method in Biology

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU006307
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Globalisation

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU006877
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Introduction to Criminology

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU018992
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Introduction to Early Child Development

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU006054
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Mental Health and Illness

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU025831
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Poverty and Social Exclusion

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU014245
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Social Inequality

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU025627
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The Brain and Neuropsychology

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU026338
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Valuing Diversity: Types, Bases and Impact of Discrimination

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU018124
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Ungraded Units

Learners must complete 15 credits from this group.

Mandatory Units: Ungraded

Learners must complete 9 credits from this group.

Academic Writing Skills

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU025276
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Preparation for Higher Education

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU025532
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Understand Published Research for Social Scientists

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU025750
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Optional Units: Ungraded

Learners must complete 6 credits from this group.

Application of Number - Interpreting and Presenting Information

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU007486
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Being a Reflective Learner

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU017819
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Communication - Speaking and Listening

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU007560
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Promoting Wellbeing and Building Resilience

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU028487
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References and Reliability of Sources

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU026344
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Safeguarding Children, Young People and/or Vulnerable Adults

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU026158
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Study Skills

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU018318
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

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.

Assessment methods should include: Essays, projects, presentations, self-evaluation, group discussions, SWOT analysis, case studies, short answer questions, literature review, exams, reports, role plays, reflective accounts.

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

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

There are not specific learner entry requirements for this diploma.

Provider approval criteria

No specific resources.

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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