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Access to Business

Course Code: BMAONL, BMAXE
  • Level: 3
  • Qualification: Access, Diploma
  • Awarding body: Cambridge Access Validating Agency (CAVA)
  • Duration: One year
  • Course type: Distance learning, Express, Express (evening)
  • Time of day: Daytime, Evening
  • When you'll study: Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 5.30pm - 9.45pm, or via distance learning (online)
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What's it all about?

Access to Higher Education courses are designed for students aged 19 or over. If you are aged 18 or under, this course may not be suitable for you. Please contact us on info@cityplym.ac.uk or 01752 305300 if you would like any help discussing alternative options.

This course is offered via the express (evening) and distance learning (online) modes of delivery – please click here to read more about the different delivery modes offered for Access to HE courses. 

Are you looking for a career change? All of our CAVA Access to HE programmes are suited to students who left school to follow one career path, only to find later in life that you want to retrain, or study a university course.

Upon successful completion of the course you will be awarded an Access to Higher Education Diploma (Business).

Course information

Academic Subject Content Units

  • 45 graded units at level 3 – these will include subjects that will support a broad range of higher education applications, such as a business, employability, law and accounting related subjects.
  • 15 ungraded at level 3 – these will include introductory and study skills units.

Diploma Total: 60 credits.

Placements, Voluntary Work and Paid Employment
It is essential that you are aware if your university course requires you to have prior experience before applications are made. Lack of work experience would not exclude you from completing the Access course, however it may impact on your application to university.

GCSEs
GCSE equivalences in maths, English and science are not part of the Access Diploma. It is up to you if you wish to enrol on GCSEs alongside your diploma, if you do not currently hold a recent 9-4 (A*-C) qualification. Your chosen university may not require its applicants to have GCSEs, or may be happy with previously achieved qualifications, such as O Level, level 2, etc.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you have clarified if enrolling on a GCSE is appropriate for you. If your university course does require you to study at GCSE level you could study alongside your Access Diploma, however you must understand the implications of not achieving your GCSEs. Although it does not affect your achievement of an Access Diploma it may compromise your place at university if you achieve the Access Diploma but do not achieve your GCSEs. Some universities encourage applicants to apply for university without GCSEs and complete equivalences between application and enrolment with the university (again, this is something you have to clarify).

Alternatively, you may wish to study your GCSEs the year before or after Access study. GCSE classes are held during the day and in the evening. You will have to apply as a separate course, as well as your Access course, if this is your preference. The national changes in GCSE requirements for mature students are unique to each university.

BMAXE (In Person)

  • Minimum of level 2 (grade 4) in English.
  • Minimum of level 1 (grade 3) in maths.

BMAONL (Online)

  • GCSE grade 4 (or above) in both maths and English.
  • Please note: Functional Skills qualifications are not accepted for online Access courses.

General Entry Requirements

To succeed on this course, you need to be committed to your studies and focused on your career choice. This route is designed for adult students (19+). Funding is not available for those aged 18 and under. For younger students, alternative vocational qualifications or A Levels should be considered, as these support progression onto further or higher education and employment.

If you do not currently hold the qualifications listed above for your chosen course, you may be invited to undertake a skills test as part of the interview process. Achieving the required level on this test is sufficient to meet our entry requirements for Access to HE. However, we strongly advise checking with your chosen university whether they require GCSEs as part of their application process.

Your offer for entry onto an Access course may also be conditional on the following:

  • satisfactory performance at interview (where applicable)
  • evidence of recent study
  • evidence of relevant work experience
  • meeting specific criteria for international students.

Entry Requirements for International Students

The College welcomes applications from international students. However, you are strongly advised to confirm with your chosen university your responsibilities and entry requirements as an international student.

  • You may be required to complete an IELTS or CEFR-recognised equivalent test prior to interview.
  • A minimum IELTS score of 5.5 (or equivalent) may be required.
  • There may be funding implications depending on your international student status.

Please ensure you are clear on the university entry requirements for international students before applying.

The Access to HE Diploma is only available to students who are resident in the UK (including BFPO), Channel Islands or Isle of Man. It is not available to international students studying overseas. 

You will learn a range of subjects, which are broken down into units; each unit is assigned a credit value. Successful completion of a unit will be awarded with a number of credits, graded at pass, merit or distinction, depending on the standard of your work. You will continue to ‘collect’ credits throughout the course. The units are assessed by coursework, assignments, projects and exams.

After completing this one year course you could progress to university. If you previously went straight into a job after leaving school, or you have taken stock and want a new career direction, this Access course offers the chance to study alongside other mature students, tutored by experienced, motivational and supportive lecturers. You may be required to study GCSEs in English, maths or science depending on your career and university aspirations (you can check this with the university).

Please note the College course title is a suggested progression route, you must check with your preferred higher education institution (university) to ensure that this Access course meets their entry requirements. Every effort is made to ensure that the units and credits offered are sufficient for progression routes onto higher education courses, however, specific courses at specific universities may have their own unique admission requirements. Once you have enrolled onto a specific Access course, it is not possible to amend units, so please ensure the course you have selected is appropriate to your chosen progression route.

City College Plymouth Foundation Degree courses have unique entry requirements for Access students. Please check with our Higher Education team by calling 01752 305300.

Please note fees are quoted for one year only.

Download course PDF

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