Access to Higher Education (HE) courses are nationally-recognised pathways designed to support adults (aged 19+) who have limited qualifications or are changing career, and do not meet the relevant entry criteria to apply for university.
These courses offer you a pathway to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge within your relevant academic discipline.
Access to unique facilities such as our Health Simulation Suite and the Spring Lane Campus, means you will develop the knowledge, skills and experiences needed to progress onto university-level learning.
Whatever your specialism, there’s no better place to gain practical experiences.
With smaller class sizes and expert lecturers, our courses are designed to prepare you for the academic demands of university-level study.
During the courses, lecturers will help you build confidence and support you with your next steps.
As an Access to HE student, you’ll visit local and national universities, helping to visualise yourself within that environment.
By successfully completing one of these courses, you’ll gain confidence in your academic abilities, making the transition to university smoother.
During your studies, you’ll take part in many events that will help you prepare for your university journey.
These include university fairs, Student Finance talks, interview workshops, careers fairs and visits by our Access to HE alumni.
You may be eligible for an Advanced Learner Loan. When you complete a degree at university, this Advanced Learner Loan will then be written off by Student Finance England.
Please contact us for more information and to discuss eligibility.
UCAS application support is a key part of our courses, with our dedicated Careers and Support teams on hand to guide you through the process.
Former students have gone onto degrees including Midwifery, Law, Nursing and Zoology.
Our Access to HE courses allow you to be more flexible with your time.
With lessons taking place just a few times a week, you will still be able to balance your studies with other commitments such as work or family responsibilities.
Our Healthcare Professions students have access to state-of-the-art medical simulation suites to help you gain hands-on experience and prepare you for work in the health and care industry.
Simulation dolls can be programmed with a wide variety of ailments and illnesses and respond to the care students give them.
Veterinary Science and Zoology students learn at our Spring Lane Campus, which is home to over a range of animals, in fully equipped, purpose-built animal centres.
The Spring Lane Campus has over 200 animals.
This includes wallabies, birds, goats, sheep, reptiles and small mammals such as rabbits, guinea pigs and ferrets, giving our Veterinary Science and Zoology students unique experiences.
We have fully-equipped science laboratories with technology and equipment that will allow you to conduct research and experiments.
The Access to Higher Education Study Centre, within the Learning Resource Centre (LRC), offers a mature environment, exclusively for the use of our Access to HE students.
Here you’ll find PCs, textbooks and academic journals.
A purpose-built space filled with authentic
learning materials.
Here is where you can lead activities, plan lessons, and experiment with play-based learning, gaining confidence and skills in a supportive environment before taking them into a real placement.
Jess decided it was time to retrain and find a new direction.
Returning to education as an adult gave her the opportunity to build new skills, grow her confidence and take the first step towards a completely different future.
Watch her story in the video or learn more on our blog.
Access to HE students enjoyed their educational visit to University of Greenwich, London where they took part in practical sessions and visited the simulation wards.
If you’re still unsure about an Access to HE course and where it can take you, read our quick guide to understand this nationally-recognised qualification.
Melynda studied our Healthcare Professions course, with the hopes of continuing on to university-level study. We caught up with her to hear her experiences.
Explore our courses online and see the wide range of academic opportunities that are available to you.
You can make up to five applications across East Kent Colleges Group’s family of Colleges.
Click ‘Apply’ on your chosen course, and follow the steps on the application portal.
Early applications are strongly recommended, as they give you the best chance of securing a place on your chosen course.
Come along to EKC Canterbury College to meet our team, explore our facilities and see if the course is right for you.
If you receive an offer, this must be accepted to secure your place on your chosen course.
“After my initial interview I immediately knew this was the course for me. It’s great to be in a group filled with likeminded people, who are all eager to learn.
“Studying this course has helped me prepare for university and I feel like I’m set up well and ready to progress onto my degree.”
“School wasn’t really for me, and I didn’t leave with the qualifications I needed to go to University.
“I’ve enjoyed being back in Education, College is very different to School. I’m in a class with likeminded people who are also eager to learn and my Lecturers are all really helpful and want us to succeed.”
“Completing this course has helped me get an offer at university to study Law and Business.
“I’ve really enjoyed the topics we’ve covered in Psychology and I think having a deeper understanding of human behaviour will help a great deal when I pursue a career in Corporate Law.”
