Regional Programme in Access to Higher Education
Access to HE Programme Submission
SECTION ONE: Programme and Centre Information
1.1
Name of Centre:
(Centre must have a permanent and main base in the UK)
Address:
Tel No:
Fax No:
1.2
Aims of the Programme
Please note:
The design of Diplomas should be appropriate to the primary purpose of Access to HE courses,
which is to provide HE progression opportunities for adults who, because of social, educational or
individual circumstances may have achieved few, if any, prior qualifications
Provide a brief statement of the main aims of the Programme. The statement should be no more
than 100 words and should be easily understood by a person with no prior knowledge of the
Programme.
1.3
Rationale for the Programme:
Please describe the background to the development of the programme
1.4
Target group for the Programme:
Please indicate the students for whom the Programme is intended. The statement should include
any requirements necessary for undertaking the Programme eg prior knowledge, skills, aptitudes,
experience etc.
1.4.1
Give details of any involvement from the target group in the design or preparation of the
Programme.
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1.5
Programme Management
To include name and titles of managers responsible for:

Monitoring the Programme

Resources

Quality
If there is more than one curriculum area, please ensure information is provided for personnel in
each area.
1.6
Resources and accommodation for the Programme
Give details of the minimum level of resources required to deliver this Programme. Resources
specifically required for individual pathway must be identified.
NB: All Centres used for the Programme MUST provide the minimum level of resources required
and meet health and safety requirements.
1.7
Usual Mode of Study
Please tick as appropriate
Part-time
Full-time
Daytime
Evening
* Please give details
Any further comments on mode of study, for example start and end dates?
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*Distance
SECTION TWO:
Recruitment and guidance for students
2.1
Pre-course guidance, selection and recruitment of Access students
Outline arrangements for providing pre-course guidance to applicants and criteria for selection and
recruitment to Access to HE courses
2.1
Provide details of facilities and policies provided for this Programme, which have not been
included in section 1.6, for example:
2.2

Child Care

Arrangements for Inclusive Learning

Language Support

Arrangements for people with learning difficulties or disabilities.

Other
Provide details of how feedback from students is collected for this Programme.
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SECTION THREE:
3.1
3.2
Assessment
Tutor Specifications
Please provide a brief description of the minimum specifications for tutors on this Programme in terms
of:

Experience

Teaching qualifications

Academic/vocational qualifications.
Assessment
Assessment planning is an important part of the Approval Process. Centres are requested to provide
supporting information to enable the panel to assess the overall assessment strategy for the
Programme, including the application of the QAA grading model.
3.3
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
Outline key policies and procedures for dealing with applications from students for RPL
SECTION FOUR:
Internal Moderation
NB: All Approved Programmes MUST have a system of Internal Moderation and standardisation for
all tutors across all sites, levels and units.
4.1
Model of internal moderation and standardisation: Describe the planned model of internal
moderation and standardisation for the Programme. Please note – all arrangements must meet AVA
requirements as detailed in the Access to HE Provider Handbook.
Who will be responsible for liaising with the External Moderator? State designation of the person
responsible.
4.2
Team Meetings
Describe the frequency of the meetings and who will be responsible for organising the meetings and
acting on issues raised.
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SECTION FIVE:
Programme monitoring and evaluation
5.1
Name and title of person who will be responsible for monitoring and evaluating the
Programme.
5.2
The following methods will be used in the monitoring and evaluation of Programmes.
Please tick as appropriate and add other sources of information to be used.
Retention Rate
Achievement Rate
Success Rate
Student Surveys
Reports from team meetings
Moderation Reports
Self Assessment
Grade profiles
Reports from the internal moderation and standardisation process
Other (Please specify):
5.3
Complaints and appeals
Outline key policies and processes for dealing with any complaints or appeals from students
SECTION SIX:
6.1
Progression
What are the expected progression routes for the Programme?
Please note:
The award of an Access to HE Diploma does not provide guaranteed entry to UK HE programmes.
Where courses are designed to be delivered by distance or online learning (or may otherwise be
accessible by students not based in the UK), students are required to confirm in writing, at or before
registration, that they understand that the award of an Access to HE Diploma does not provide
guaranteed entry to UK HE programmes
6.2
How will these be monitored?
6.3
What discussions have taken place with receiving organisations to ensure the suitability of
provision to HE progression routes?
6.4
Student support with applying for Higher Education courses
Outline the resources available to provide information, advice and guidance on HE applications and
progression opportunities
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SECTION SEVEN: UK DELIVERED PROGRAMMES
Please tick to acknowledge that:
a) Access to HE Diplomas will only be delivered in the UK
b) Access to HE Diplomas are intended to provide a preparation for study in UK higher
education, but the award of a Diploma does not provide guaranteed entry to UK higher
education programmes
SECTION EIGHT:
Authorisation for the Submitted Programme
All providers of the QAA Access to HE Diploma must agree to undertake the following:






To deliver and assess recognised Access to HE Diplomas in accordance with QAA
regulations and requirements
To meet AVA requirements in relation to delivery, assessment, internal and external
moderation, standardisation and Final Award Boards
To operate effective administrative procedures in relation to Access to HE programmes to
ensure the timely registration and certification of students, within published AVA timescales
To ensure that staff participate in AVA Regional Programme events and activities
To ensure that public information about Access to HE is accurate and reliable and that any
use it makes of the Access to HE logo is consistent with QAA's guidance
To urgently address any issue which poses a threat to the quality or academic standards of
the AVA's Access to HE courses, or the integrity or reputation of the Access to HE Diploma,
or of QAA
Full details of all QAA and AVA requirements can be found in the One Awards Access to HE
Provider Handbook and Grading Guidance
The following websites also contain full information for providers:
One Awards: www.oneawards.org.uk/access-to-higher-education
The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA): www.qaa.accesstohe.ac.uk
Programme Leader’s Name:
Programme Submission
authorised by:
Signed:
Title:
Date of submission to One
Awards:
Proposed start date for the programme:
NB: ALL PROGRAMMES MUST BE APPROVED BY THE AVA ACCESS TO
HE COMMITTEE PRIOR TO DELIVERY
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QAA Access to HE Diploma – Award Regulations
Provider Name:
Programme:
Regional Programme in Access to HE
Diploma title(s):
This document defines the criteria to be met for students to achieve a QAA Access to HE Diploma
and applies to all awards made from 1st September 2014.
This document forms part of the AVA approval of this Programme and will be used at the Final
Award Board to determine the awards to be made.
CRITERIA FOR THE AWARD OF THE ACCESS TO HE DIPLOMA
1. The total achievement of 60 credits
2. Of these 60 credits, 45 credits must be achieved at level 3 from graded units which are
concerned with the academic subject content
3. The remaining 15 credits must be achieved at level 2 or 3 from units which are ungraded
4. All mandatory units must be achieved
5. Other Criteria
6. Where an Access to HE Diploma is intended to lead to further study for a professional
qualification, the entry requirements of the professional body should either be
accommodated within the Diploma, or described below. Whenever the Diploma is
delivered, students must be made aware of the additional entry requirements, and have the
opportunity to meet these requirements separately.
Overall the Diploma must provide a planned, balanced and coherent programme of
study, through which students have been able to acquire subject knowledge and develop
academic skills which prepare them for their intended progression route(s).
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