It’s never too late! Our courses are specifically designed for adults aged 19 and over returning to study, either after a break or as part of a career change. They offer a proven and successful route to university study.
Key facts
- Full-time (2 days) studied over one year
- Specifically designed for adults aged 19+ without traditional qualifications
- A fast-track route to university
- Level 3 qualification
- Relevant to what you want to do
- Student loans are written off when students complete a degree
Our YouTube playlist
Hear from our students, tutors & alumni on our Access to HE playlist.
Navigate through the films by clicking on the top right icon.
Photo gallery
Five Access to Higher Education pathways
These programmes help build confidence and give you the subject specialist knowledge and study skills to provide entry into a range of colleges and universities.
We have an excellent track record of students achieving their first-choice university. Over the last three years, 85% of our students progressed to their first-choice university within a year of completing the course, and our students are fully prepared and know what to expect from university life upon leaving college. Our facilities are industry-standard, with state-of-the-art equipment to provide practical experience and teachers who are industry experts in their field delivering high-quality academic tuition.
- Our Business pathway prepares you for careers or degrees in accountancy, business management, business studies, economics, finance, law, and marketing.
- The Health & Human Sciences pathway is a stepping stone to all branches of nursing, paramedic science, occupational therapy, social work, nutrition, physiotherapy, forensic psychology and more.
- The Humanities & Social Sciences pathway can lead to various degree programmes, including Psychology, Sociology, History, Languages and Linguistics.
- The Policing & Criminology pathway is excellent preparation for people who wish to change their careers and prospects.
- The Sciences pathway can lead to engineering, marine biology, microbiology and nuclear physics careers.
Advanced Learner Loans
You can apply for an Advanced Learner Loan to cover the cost. The loan is easy to apply for, doesn’t involve a credit check, and you don’t have to pay it back until you’ve finished your course and earn over £25,000 a year. If you complete an Access programme, Student Finance England will ‘write off’ your loan once you complete a degree-level course. This means you don’t have to repay it!
Financial support is also available to help with the costs of attending college, such as transport and childcare. Learn more about the Advanced Learner Loan and Bursary Funds in our Student Money section.
Meet your tutors
Toni Searles
I graduated with a degree in Natural Sciences from Cambridge University. I joined the Access to HE and A-Level team to teach biology at Kendal College in 2023, which is a joy and a privilege. Studying biology at Kendal College will equip and inspire you to reach your full potential. It will equip you with a wide range of skills for further study and give you a brilliant scientific knowledge base for life. Biology is a beautiful subject, and that’s because the human body is both complex and fascinating.
Meet your tutors
Keenan Wright
My teaching across the college is diverse. I teach Engineering, A-Levels, and Access to HE (Science). My master’s degree in Astrophysics & Cosmology is handy as we work through all things physics and maths! In a strong community, Kendal College is a great place to develop academic and personal skills.
View our courses
This course offers progression onto degree-level courses and a change to your career and prospects. You could progress to degree course both at university or Distant learning and also higher education apprenticeships. You need to be at least 19 years of age to study on this course.
This course offers progression onto higher education degree level courses and a chance to change your career and prospects. You could progress to courses in, for example, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Engineering, Pharmacy, Radiography, Biomedical Sciences and a range of related degrees.
This course offers progression onto higher education degree level courses and a change to your career and prospects. You could progress to courses in nursing (all branches), midwifery, physiotherapy, radiography, paramedic science, social work and occupational therapy, along with many other professions within the Health and Social Care sector.
It is never too late for a change in direction. Are you interested in criminology or a career in the police force?
The Access to HE Diploma in Business Studies is a one year course to prepare learners for university. This course is aimed at those who may not have traditional level 3 qualifications that would be used as entry criteria for university. This qualification provides you with the appropriate knowledge, and skills that would be required for higher education and allows you to develop to reach the academic level that would be required.
