The Ultimate Guide to Access Courses

 

What are Access Courses?
Why are They Important?
How Much do They Cost?
Entry Requirements for Access Courses
Types of Courses
What is an Access Course Equivalent To?
Pathways to University
Construction Courses and Programmes
Business Access Courses
How to Achieve Your MBA
Achieving Career Goals
College of Contract Management Courses
Why Choose to Study with Us?

 

What are Access Courses?

Generally, access courses are those courses which allow the participants to conclude their study with a final year at university in their discipline. Access courses are also known as ‘Access to Higher Education courses’. University may not have been possible due to lack of relevant qualifications like A-Levels for the individual. However, an access course helps many to achieve their goals and follow their career pathway. Entry requirements to access courses differ. However, many access courses are more lenient with previous qualifications.

Generally, if somebody didn’t achieve the grades they needed during their education, an access course is a great backup plan to help you progress to university.  It’s also great for mature students if they choose to go back to school and wish to gain a university degree.

 

Why are They Important?

Access courses are important. This is because they give learners a second chance at a shot at university. They also help people progress to other qualifications, such as the prestigious MBA. The great thing about access courses is they also help those who have decided to take a new route in life and switch up their career path. If they can’t find on-the-job training, they’ll usually need to take a university course to become professionally recognised.

If you don’t have any previous experience or qualifications, it can be disheartening being rejected from universities. This is where access courses are a great help. They also encourage learners to follow through with their initial determination.

These courses also allow people to develop their confidence in a subject which they may have been lacking before. With lots of ongoing support and coursemates in a similar situation, it can be a greatly rewarding experience when looking to switch up your career pathway.

 

How Much do They Cost?

Access courses costs vary significantly depending on the discipline, delivery and length of the course. Some courses are free to over 19s who do not currently hold any qualifications above a level 3. However, this isn’t always the case, so it is worth contacting your chosen course provider first. While still called access courses, some courses help you on a specific pathway in your career. For example, our CMI Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership will give you access to go on to complete an MBA.

Course prices differ no matter where you choose to study. It’s worth taking some time and figuring out what you’re looking to get out of your access course. You should also consider how long you want your course to be and how to study.

 

Entry Requirements for Access Courses

Depending on the type of course you’re planning to take, the requirements of entry will differ. Usually, access courses for A-Level equivalent qualifications, will have fairly simple entry requirements. Many courses state that all you need to apply is a good verbal and written standard of English in order to progress. This gives more people the chance to study an access course so they can progress in their chosen career.

If you’re applying for a more tailored access course, such as our Advanced Diploma In Quantity Surveying, you’ll need a Level 3 qualification in a relevant discipline or at least a Grade C in Maths and English GCSE. This means you’ll be able to train as a quantity surveyor with little to no experience in order to enter a surveying role at the end of the course.

 

Types of Courses

In terms of access courses, there are Access Courses to HE which are often provided with face-to-face teaching, sometimes online. Depending on whether you’d like to study part-time or full-time, these courses are usually around 1-2 years long. You’ll have assessments, just as you would in traditional A-Levels. Afterwards you’ll be able to apply for university, so long as you achieved the grades you need. Other courses include courses which give you access to certain other qualifications or careers.

For example, our CIOB Level 4 Diploma in Construction Site Management will give you access to apply for membership to the CIOB (Chartered Institute of Building) as a chartered member once completing the membership programme. Like other access courses, you can use this course to finish up with a final year at university to achieve a full degree.

 

What is an Access Course Equivalent To?

An access course usually acts as an equivalent to A-Levels. This is so those that didn’t get the grades they needed, or those that simply didn’t take A-Levels, can still get a shot at university. Since A-Level grades give you UCAS points depending on your achieved grade, you can then use these UCAS points to apply to your university of choice. If you take an access course in a relevant discipline to the university course of your choice, you’ll be showing their admissions team that you’re determined and focused on the subject.

Other courses, such as Higher National Diplomas (HND) can get you part-way through a university degree without even having to go to university. You can then choose to “top-up” these HND courses with a final year at university. This is in order to gain a full degree for only one year studying at university. This is great for those who don’t have time to study at university full time and can simply study an online HND and decide where to go from there.

 

Pathways to University

University is an important experience in many people’s lives and is sometimes seen as a rite of passage for young people. However, it can be tricky if you don’t have the right A-Levels or college qualifications. An access course is a great way to provide this opportunity to those lacking behind, or those wishing to go back to university for a change of career.  It’s a great scheme which has helped many return to education to pursue their dream careers.

With so many courses available worldwide through physical and online institutions, it’s never been a better time to explore the options out there. Whether you head back to university or not, taking an access course will still help you gain valuable qualifications.

 

Construction Courses and Programmes

Many roles in construction are often experienced based, with experience and expertise deemed more important than grades sometimes. This being said, we as a College understand some new learners won’t have the experience to head into a degree programme in a specialist subject.

Our courses such as the Advanced Diploma in Structural Engineering will allow you to learn all the knowledge to become a structural engineer. This is without the need for extensive qualifications or experience to apply. If you have either GCSE in maths and English at grade C or above, a Level 3 qualification in maths or engineering, or relevant experience, you’ll be eligible to apply. Many of our construction courses are degree equivalent level qualifications.

Often, they can be topped up with a relevant degree course if applicable. All of these options are so important for developing your career. Moreover, studying online will prepare you for the workplace later on.

 

Business Access Courses

Many of our business courses give you the opportunity to eventually apply for MBA. Our course, which is accredited by the Chartered Management Institute is an example of an online course which will set you well on your way to achieving an MBA. The CMI Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership will set you on your way to preparing for an MBA. Since it is accredited by the CMI, it follows high-quality industry standards and prepares you for life in the management sector. Similarly, our HND in Business Management courses allow for students to study a final year at university once finishing the HND course in order to gain a full degree qualification.

 

How to Achieve Your MBA

A Masters of Business Administration is one of the most lucrative qualifications you can receive in the business industry. An MBA is an equivalent to a standard Master’s degree, however the recognition that comes with it is much larger. Those with ‘MBA’ emblazoned on their CVs are well regarded as experienced professionals within the business industry.

To take your MBA, you’ll first need some experience under your belt. With our online Management courses, such as the CMI Level 7 Extended Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership, you can work while studying, meaning you can gain day-to-day experience while preparing for your MBA later on.

 

Achieving Career Goals

No matter what your career goals, we are passionate about personal and professional development here at the College of Contract Management. If you’re looking to develop a career in any construction sectors, business, or IT, we may be able to help you out. Our courses, depending on the difficulty and course content, have different entry requirements. It’s worth looking through our website to check what you need to apply. If you’re not sure, you can always contact one of our friendly team at enquiries@theccm.co.uk and they will be more than happy to discuss your eligibility. Whether you take and Access to HE course or a more specific course, it’s important to do your research.

 

College of Contract Management Courses

Our courses are taught by industry professionals. Meaning, you’ll get an expert first-hand experience of the courses you are studying. The lecturers we hire come from top UK universities and have years of experience in their fields. Throughout your course with us, you’ll learn through live online lectures. Furthermore, you can ask questions during lectures and interact with others who are also taking the same course. This is a great way to discuss topics just as you would in a classroom.

We pride ourselves on our online courses and have found many students prefer the online study experience. This is due to the comfort of being able to study wherever you like. Studying online also removes the stress of commuting or expensive student accommodation. All you need is a computer and an internet connection. Generally, our students save money too, since online courses will prove cheaper than their traditional study counterparts.

 

Why Choose to Study With Us?

Choosing where to study can be a tricky one. You’ve got to decide how you want to study, how long for, online or in an educational campus. These are all things to consider. If you don’t have time to study traditionally by heading back to college, you will benefit greatly from our online study options. The ability to study online means that you won’t have to quit your job in order to study. Furthermore, you won’t have to commit to frequent travel or high course fees.

Study in your own time if you can’t make the live lectures. All materials are provided online through our learning environment Moodle. Here you can catch up on all lecture slides, view tutor feedback and access your assignments.

Generally speaking, it saves a lot of time when receiving assessment marks and one-on-one help. Furthermore, your class groups are much smaller. This means you’ll have more contact time with your lecturer than typical college courses. This provides a much more efficient learning experience, we find our learners will engage with a more personal experience learning experience. Feel free to email enquiries@theccm.co.uk if you have any further questions.