Access to Higher Education Diploma (Engineering Science and Mathematics)

Key Facts

Level:
Level 3
Subject Sector:
4.1 Engineering
Credits:
60
Qualification No:
QAAQ004764
Price:
View price list
Age Range:
19+
QAA aim code:
40014848

Qualification Summary

The Diploma provides learners with a wide choice of units to support progression into Engineering Science and Mathematics degree programmes. The mandatory group ensures that learners have a good understanding of themes relevant to Engineering Science and Mathematics including, engineering mathematics and fundamental physics for engineering. Learners can select from a range of optional units linked to Engineering Science and Mathematics, with some variety of choice to include units which may be of specific interest if the learner has an interest in CAD, mechanics. electronics, computer programming and statistics. In addition to the graded units, learners must choose from a selection of mandatory and optional ungraded units to support underpinning skills both for work within the sector or for further academic study.

Why choose this qualification?

This Access to HE Diploma has been fully reviewed and revalidated for the 2024-25 academic year. Updated resources are also available to Gateway Qualifications recognised centres.

The Access to Higher Education (HE) Diploma is an academic qualification that is designed to prepare learners for study at degree level. The diploma is designed to give the learner the relevant academic subject knowledge and underpinning study skills required to progress onto a relevant degree programme.

As an Access Validating Agency (AVA), all of our Access to Higher Education (HE) Diplomas are compliant with Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) regulations.

Units

Graded Academic Subject Content Units

Learners must complete 45 credits from the Mandatory Units: Graded Academic Subject Content, Optional Units: Research Graded Academic Subject Content and Optional Units: Graded Academic Subject Content groups.

Mandatory Units: Graded Academic Subject Content

Learners must complete 15 credits from the mandatory graded units.

Engineering Mathematics

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
9
Unit No:
QU034958
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Fundamental Physics for Engineering

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU034966
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Optional Units: Research Graded Academic Subject Content

Learners must achieve 6 credits from this group.

Research Skills for Engineering Science

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU035046
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Research Skills for Engineering Science and Maths

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU035048
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Research: Practical Investigation Project for Engineering Science

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU035909
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Research: Practical Investigation Project for Engineering Science and Maths

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU035070
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Optional Units: Graded Academic Subject Content

Learners must achieve 24 credits from this group.

Advanced Calculus

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034892
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Creating Robots and Control Systems

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034870
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Digital Electronics

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034942
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Electric Circuits

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034950
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Electronics

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU034952
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Engineering Design: CAD

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034954
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Engineering Dynamics

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034956
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Engineering Materials

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034960
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Engineering Statics and Structures

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034962
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Fundamental Chemistry

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU034608
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Further Engineering Mathematics

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU034968
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Introduction to Computer Programming

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU035979
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Statistics

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU035092
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Structural Mechanics in Construction and Civil Engineering

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU035094
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Understanding Robots and Control Systems

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034858
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Ungraded Units

Learners must achieve 15 credits from the Mandatory Units: Ungraded and Optional Units: Ungraded groups.

Mandatory Units: Ungraded

Learners must achieve 3 credits from this group.

Preparation for Higher Education

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034710
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Optional Units: Ungraded

Learners must achieve 12 credits from this group.

Academic Writing Skills

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034692
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Chemistry for Engineering

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU035154
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Communication - Speaking and Listening

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034696
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Computer Data Protection

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034700
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Developing Professional Attributes

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034702
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Electricity and Magnetism

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU035158
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Fluid Mechanics

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU035160
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Optimising Examination Performance

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034708
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Physics for Engineering

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU035172
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Presenting Information Using ICT

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034714
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Problem Solving in the Workplace

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034716
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Professional Interpersonal Behaviours

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034718
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Promoting Wellbeing and Building Resilience

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034720
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References and Reliability of Sources

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034722
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Spreadsheets

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034726
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Study Skills for Higher Education

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034730
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Sustainability Project

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034732
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The Fundamentals of Environmental Sustainability

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034734
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Thermodynamics

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU035184
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Understanding Customer Needs in Engineering

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU035186
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Writing Reports

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034736
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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 Higher Education
b) Adults who have gone straight into industry (perhaps following apprenticeship routes) who wish to progress to Higher Education.

How this diploma meets learners' needs

The diploma will address the learning needs of these target groups with underpinning skills to support academic study and provide a level 3 qualification linked to their proposed Higher Education study. A broad range of knowledge will be acquired which support an understanding of Engineering Science and Mathematics including, physics, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, a range of maths skills, mechanics, engineering topics such as CAD and structures and electrical circuits), ensuring that the learner is fully prepared for progression onto the relevant degrees.

What this diploma covers

Learners will complete a planned, balanced and coherent programme of study, through which they have been able to acquire subject knowledge and develop academic skills which are relevant to the intended progression route(s). The units include a balance of units which allow the learners to study a broad range of topics 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.

Delivery methods

Delivery methods for the Access to HE Diploma (Engineering Science and Mathematics) can include:

• Face to face
• Blended learning

Learners undertaking the Creating Robots and Control Systems unit are strongly recommended to complete the Understanding Robots and Control Systems unit first.

It is strongly recommended that learners undertake the ungraded unit Study Skills for Higher Education as this will give learners the opportunity to develop skills which they will need to succeed at university or in further study.
Assessment Methods could include:
Exams, practical with report, research project, portfolio of evidence, project plan, structured questions, essay, presentation, literature review and SWOT analysis, depending on the units selected.

Progression routes

Following successful completion of the Access to HE Diploma (Engineering Science and Mathematics) learners may progress to the following:

• BEng (Hons) Automotive Engineering
• BEng (Hons) Aeronautic Engineering
• BEng (Hons) Biomedical Engineering
• BEng (Hons) Electrical and Electronic Engineering
• BEng (Hons) Electronic and Communication Engineering including a foundation year (4 years)
• BEng (Hons) Electronic Engineering
• BEng (Hons) General Engineering
• BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering
• BEng (Hons) Automotive Engineering
• BEng (Hons) Aeronautic Engineering
• BSc (Hons) Data Science
• BSc (Hons) Engineering (Electrical and Electronic) (Top-Up)
• BSc (Hons) Mathematics
• BSc (Hons) Biomedical Engineering
• BSc (Hons) Data Science Degree
• MMath (Hons) Mathematics

Learners may also progress onto an apprenticeship course such as:

• Aerospace engineer
• Manufacturing engineer (integrated degree)
• Product design and development engineer (integrated degree)
• Rail and rail systems senior engineer (integrated degree)

Provider approval criteria

Learners will need 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

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.

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