Level 3 Access to HE Diploma (Science) - Evening Sept 2025-26

Aged 19+ and always thought you'd love to go to uni and start a career in science? It's not too late thanks to this Access to HE diploma!

If you're unfamiliar with what Access to HE is all about, here's the breakdown. These courses are designed to give you the skills, knowledge and UCAS points you'll need to go on to uni, after a year of study with us here at EDC.

The courses are delivered part-time, two evenings per week, fitting easily around most people's existing commitments.

If you're concerned about the fees for the course, don't be! Most people can fund the course via the Advanced Learner Loan, which you'll only repay when you earn over a certain threshold. Even better, if you go to university and finish your degree, the Advanced Learner Loan gets completely written off too!

The course is the perfect preparation for mature students who want to study a science related degree course. The first unit of the course focuses on Study Skills and application to university. The course is divided into two semesters which have a range of units in them. Units are graded at either a pass, merit or distinction – the credits available for each unit range between 3 and 9.

• Study Skills – this is assessed via portfolio, focussing on researching and understanding how to progress on to higher education and preparing to progress.

• Biology - this topic starts with an introduction to cell biology, focussing on cell division and how this leads to diversity in a population. This is followed by a deep dive into the anatomy and physiology of the human musculoskeletal system, getting to grips with how two body systems work in tandem. You will have a large topic looking at biological molecules, Mendelian genetics and respiration on a cellular level. This subject is completed with an investigation into an aspect of biology - we tend to look at enzymatic reactions and how they can be effected.

• Chemistry - we start with an ungraded introduction to chemistry, looking at how we can apply mathematics and previous knowledge to this topic. We will explore further physical chemistry, focussing on amount of substance, equilibria and kinetics before exploring a number of aspects of organic chemistry. This topic is also finished with an externally-set end-of-year exam focussed on core principles of chemistry.

This course can be used to support entry into higher education or employment. Previous students have gone on to study at a variety of HEI's in the region and across the country. Likely HE courses include: para-medical careers, biomedical science, biology, pharmacy/pharmacology, chemistry, mathematics, psychology, medicine and dentistry. Please note that completion of the course is not a guarantee of entry onto a degree course, you must apply to higher education through the UCAS system and some higher education institutions may have additional entry requirements.

The course can be used to support entry into higher education such as HNC/D, Foundation Degree, Degree at university or college or can also be used to support entry into employment. Before choosing which Access to HE Diploma you would like to study you are advised to research ahead by looking at the UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions System) website, www.ucas.com

You must be aged 19 or above on the 31st August to study this course.

You must have GCSE/Functional Skills maths at grade 4/C or above to study on this programme. We do recommend that you have the same equivalent in English for progression to university.

Alternatively, equivalent level 2 qualifications may be acceptable.

Our entry requirements are in place to support our students in achieving the qualifications they have chosen to study. In addition to the entry requirements, all students will be regularly assessed by East Durham College at an early stage in their study programme. This is to ensure that students are enrolled onto courses which suit their abilities – following assessment, there may be occasions when students are transferred to a relevant course at a higher or lower level in order to ensure they are enrolled on to the right course for them to achieve and progress.

Entry onto any course at EDC may have entry requirements in addition to exam results; this includes but is not limited to DBS checks, references, fitness to practice and at times physical requirements to be capable of achieving the practical elements of the course without assistance. Entry onto any course at East Durham College is subject to final approval from the Assistant Principal.

You will be assessed by a variety of methods which may include: essays, written assignments, seen exams, unseen exams, academic posters, debates, research projects, presentations, analysis of published articles, etc.

September 2025

One Year, Part Time - Part time evening study consists of two evenings per week (Tues & Thurs) from 6-9pm.