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Access to HE Diploma in Social Science

Intro

The Access to HE Diploma in Social Science is a Level 3 qualification, which is equivalent to A Levels.

Successful completion of this course provides a route back into education and will prepare you to study at degree level in a range of areas including sociology, social work, psychology, politics and law.

Ruskin is a friendly and inclusive college, with an ethos that puts you very much at the centre of the learning experience. It is the ideal environment to set out on your path to a rewarding career, especially if you are an adult returning to education.

Course details

Alongside some study skills units, your course will include a range of units that will introduce you to a range of topics central to sociology, sociology and social policy, and psychology. There are some examples of study units from this course below, please note that these are subject to change.

  • Study units

    Study skills

    • Essay writing
    • Reading and comprehension of texts
    • Preparation for higher education
    • Sourcing and reading information
    • Speaking and listening skills

    History

    • Development of the welfare state
    • The National Health Service

    Sociology

    • Introduction to sociology
    • The sociology of crime and deviance
    • Sociology of education
    • Sociology of sex and gender
    • Ethical dilemmas
    • Extended project

    Politics

    • British government
    • Contrastic models of political economy: social democracy and Thatcherism
    • The Russian Revolution
    • Origins of the Industrial Revolution
    • Consequences of the Industrial Revolution

Start date

The next start date is September 2025.

See How to apply

Entry requirements

Qualifications

No specific qualifications are required to apply for this course. However, a GCSE in English and Maths at grade 4/C or equivalent Level 2 qualifications such as Functional Skills would be beneficial. Equivalent international qualifications are also accepted.

Applicants are advised to contact the universities to which they plan to apply, to check their Level 2 Maths and English criteria. If you do not hold Level 2 qualifications, please contact us to discuss your options.

You will be asked to attend an interview and to complete a Maths and English assessment as part of the application process.

Age

You must be age 19 or over by September of the year in which you start the course.

Residency

Access courses are only open to UK residents. Additionally, you must fulfil residency requirements to be eligible for government funding, which we check when you apply.

Teaching and assessment

Your course will be taught face-to-face but there will be an online element to prepare you for the modes of study at university. Your lessons will be complemented by resources on Google Classroom which may include additional reading materials, videos and recorded lectures.

Assessment will include one time-constrained assessment; otherwise your progress will be assessed by coursework. You’ll be asked to do a range of different activities. These will include essays and reports, research, group discussion, individual and group presentations.

Your work is graded at Pass, Merit or Distinction, with most learners being assessed at Pass initially but getting higher grades as the course progresses.

Length of course

This course lasts for 33 weeks and is classed as full-time learning. Currently teaching takes places on three days per week - Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 9.30am – 3.00pm.

You'll have 15 hours a week of teaching and we expect you to do a minimum of 15 hours a week of self-study.

The course dates we offer fit around school holidays, making it easier to manage your studies alongside family commitments.

Study progression

This course prepares you for degree-level study.

It will support you to take steps towards a career in a range of areas including in the criminal justice system, such as the police, prison and probation services, also administration and management of social services. Positions within civil and diplomatic services and local government are also popular choices.

Other careers include banking and finance, politics, journalism and broadcasting, law, teaching, social work, accountancy, business management, advertising and marketing.

Course cost

Please note, the course cost will be confirmed shortly.

We will help you access financial support if you are entitled to it: find out if you are eligible.

Find out more about fees and funding.

How to apply

To apply for this course, please fill in our access course application form.

Find out more

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If you'd like to find out more about this course, please get in touch.

We'd be happy to talk through the course in detail, advise about funding options and help you with your application.

Call us on 01865 759658 or email courses@ruskin.ac.uk