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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
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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 2024.
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
The course cost is £3,022.
We will help you access financial support if you are entitled to it: find out if you are eligible.
How to apply
To apply for this course, please fill in our access course application form.
Find out more
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