Access to University FAQs

Course cost and finance

• Will I have to pay for the course?

  Access to HE course costs range from £3,022 to £3,384 (based on which course you choose to study).

  The course is free for 18-to-23-year-olds who don't have a full level 3 qualification (e.g. 2 A Levels, level 3 BTEC etc.).

  If you’re over 19 on the first day of your course, you can apply for an Advanced Learner Loan which will cover your tuition fees.

• Will I get help with the cost of the course?

  Yes, you can get help with the cost of your course.

  If you have to pay for your course, you can apply for an Advanced Learner Loan which will cover your tuition fees. Those who are starting the course at 18 years old will not qualify for the advanced learner loan.

  Student Finance England will ‘write off’ any outstanding Advanced Learner Loan balances you owe for an Access to HE course once you complete a higher education course. This means you do not have to repay it. The higher education course must be eligible for student finance. If you made extra repayments towards your Advanced Learner Loan before starting a Higher Education course, these repayments are non-refundable.

  You can find out more here.

• How do I apply for an Advanced Learner Loan?

  You can apply for an Advanced Learner Loan here .

• How do I apply for a bursary?

  There are two different bursaries available to adult learners aged 19+ to help with education costs. Bursary payments do not have to be repaid, and you can apply here.

• Is there any financial support with childcare and living costs?

  Depending on your personal circumstances, you may be entitled to help with childcare and living costs.

  If you’re aged 19 and over with a household income below £40,000, you may be entitled to a 19+ Student Support Fund or an Advanced Learner Loan Bursary Fund.

  The payments from these bursaries can be used towards childcare and living costs, and don't have to be repaid. To apply for an Advanced Learner Loan Bursary Fund, you need to have applied for an Advanced Learner Loan.

  You can find out more and apply here.

  You can also save money if you plan to travel via bus with a West Notts College Travel Pass. If you’re an adult learner 19+, you will pay £38* per month for 10 months (September to June). If you’re studying a course for 2 or more days per week and in receipt of a bursary. You can find out more here.

  *Price correct at time of writing.

Entry requirements

• What are the entry requirements?

  Please refer to the college website for the entry requirements for each Access to HE course.

  It’s also important you check the entry requirements for all the universities you wish to apply to before joining the course. Depending on the course and university you decide, you might need higher GCSE grades and/or additional GCSEs. For example, GCSE Science for teacher training or a grade B/6 in GCSE Maths and Science for some midwifery degrees.

  If you’re planning on going into teaching, we advise that you achieve your GCSE Science at grade 4 or above if you haven’t already as this is required by most universities. The college offers GCSE Biology.

  Access to HE courses are free for 18-23-year-olds who don't have a full level 3 qualification (e.g. 2 A Levels, level 3 BTEC etc.).

  If you’re over 19 on the first day of your course, you can apply for an Advanced Learner Loan which will cover your tuition fees.

• I do not have GCSEs in maths and English, can I still join the course?

  Yes you can, by studying part-time for two years - you can find our more here.

  You will be required to complete a short diagnostic assessment for each GCSE that you require. You can study for your GCSE(s) alongside your part-time Access course, and you will attend college for one half-day per week for each GCSE required. We advise you take one a year with the one you are worried about the most in the first year. That way you can resit it if needed the following year.

  Please bear in mind, if you don’t manage to achieve grade 4 or above in your GCSE(s) by the end of your part-time course, this could hinder your progression to university.

  If you have functional skills maths and/or English instead of GCSE(s), you will have to take your GCSE(s) alongside a part-time Access course.

  If you have GCSE English literature, we recommend checking the entry requirements of the universities you’re interested in as not all universities will accept it. If they don’t, you will have to take GCSE English language with a part-time Access course.

• I have lost my GCSE certificate(s). What should I do?

  Start tracking them down now as we can’t guarantee your place on your course without official evidence of your grades.

  If you can’t find them, you will need to contact your GCSE exam board(s) and request a replacement certificate or confirmation slip.

  Please be aware, some universities may not accept GCSEs that are older than five years. It’s rare, but please check with all your preferred universities before starting the Access course.

• What age do you have to be to do an Access to HE course?

  Access to HE courses are designed for learners aged 19 and over.

  If you are a learner aged 18 and feel this really is the right course for you, please check with your chosen universities to ensure you give yourself the best chance of being accepted.

  Also, you will not be able to apply for an Advanced Learner Loan, Advanced Learner Loan Bursary Fund or 19+ Student Support Fund if you are under 19.

• I’m an international student, will my qualifications be accepted?

  UK ENIC is the UK National Information Centre and provides information about international qualifications and identifies which UK qualifications they compare to. There are staff who can help with your UK ENIC.

  When considering GCSE English language, international qualifications are often not comparable. Therefore, you could study GCSE English language in the UK with a part-time access course to secure your missing qualification.

  An alternative option is taking the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) exam. Universities will often offer international students a place based on a given IELTS grade. Therefore, if you show evidence of the IELTS grade required at your chosen university AND meeting that grade, we will accept that in lieu of GCSE English language grade C/4 or higher. Find out more about IELTS .

• I have a criminal record and want to go into social work / nursing / teaching. Will it stop me getting into this college and/or university?

  College: if you have declared it on your application form, a member of staff will contact you to discuss this with you. For most applicants, this will not prove to be a barrier for the Access to HE course.

  University: if you aim to apply for a vocational degree that leads to a career working with potentially vulnerable people (e.g. nursing, teaching, social work etc.) or a degree that leads to a career governed by a professional body (e.g. legal profession, accounting, surveying etc.) you will need to contact your chosen universities and discuss this with them.

Courses

• Is there anything I can do to prepare for starting my course?

  You can prepare by reading around your subject via our booklist and purchase recommended items from our kit list, you can find these here. Please be aware that as an Access learner you might be eligible to receive a college laptop for you to use for the duration of your course if you’re studying a full-time or part-time Access to HE course.

• How will I be assessed?

  We use a variety of assessment methods on the different pathways, allowing you to practice for university. This includes exams, presentations, controlled assessments, research projects, posters, work booklets and essays. If you do feel really stressed about doing a presentation, we do have a Student Support Team you can access to help you deal with this anxiety.

• What is UCAS?

  UCAS stands for ‘Universities and Colleges Admissions Service’ and is used by all students applying to university. You access it online and for a fee, UCAS will process your form and send it to your university choices.

• Will I get support with my university application?

  Yes, your personal tutor or the Careers Team can help you complete your application.

• Which courses do we need to have a work placement for?
  • Access to HE (Healthcare Professions), Online Access to HE (Nursing) and (Midwifery) – we strongly advise you to complete a work placement or volunteer in healthcare before joining the course
  
  
  • Access to HE (Social Work) – work placement in a social work setting
  
  
  • Access to HE (Teacher Training) – Primary Education – you must arrange a work placement in a school for at least 21 days.
• Will I be able to work full-time alongside the course?

  The full-time Access course is very intense, and learners will need to carry out individual study in their own time alongside two days in campus and a half-day online. Only you know whether you can handle the time commitment whilst securing the grades needed for university.

  All of our Access to HE courses apart from our online Midwifery and Nursing courses are available as a two-year part-time course which is one day on campus plus half a day per GCSE (if needed). This may be a better fit for you if you need to work full-time.

• What will our timetable look like?

  Full-time students: two days a week on campus and half a day online.

  Part-time students: one day a week plus half a day per GCSE (if needed) on campus.

  Most lessons will be 9.30am to 4.30pm, but some tutorials will run until 5.00pm. The days and times of your study are non-negotiable so it’s important to factor this in when organising your childcare/work commitments. If there’s any changes when you start, your tutor will let you know.

  Your timetable will be finalised and released on our Access Welcome Team on Microsoft Teams for you to access.

Support services

• What support is available in college?

  The college offers a variety of support to all students, you can find out more here.

Facilities

• What parking facilities are there?

  Parking is available onsite and free.

• What catering facilities are there?

  There are various catering facilities onsite, you can find out more here.

• Are there accessibility arrangements in place?

  Derby Road campus has been adapted to make it accessible including lifts between floors, ramps and disabled toilets.

• What study facilities are available?

  We have our own extensive Learning Resource Centre (LRC) where you will find dedicated computers with internet access, alongside a library of print materials and resources including books, DVDs, journals, magazines and newspapers.

  Specialist software is also available for those with learning needs and the friendly team at the LRC can provide support with research or accessing information.

  A wide range of online resources are available including e-books, e-journals and specialist websites, as well as our online library catalogue.

If your question hasn't been answered here, please don't hesitate to contact enquiries@wnc.ac.uk