You can study an Access to Higher Education Diploma fully online, from home, and use it to apply to university. Lift College offers 13 Access to HE pathways 100% online for £79.99 a month when you pay today (£89.99 after a 7-day free trial), no contract and a 14-day money back guarantee on every payment. You start any time, there are no exams, and a personal tutor marks your work in 3 to 5 working days.
The Access to HE Diploma is a QAA approved qualification: the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education licenses the awarding bodies (Access Validating Agencies) that award it, and QAA says Access to HE Diplomas are accepted at over 140 universities every year. The diploma carries UCAS tariff points, which universities accept for entry to many degrees: 45 graded credits at Distinction give 144 points, the maximum.
How online Access to HE study works
- Enrol any time. Lift College has no fixed intake, so you start when you are ready.
- Study at your own pace. QAA says the diploma usually takes one year full time, or two or more years part time. At Lift College the typical study time is 12 to 18 months.
- Coursework, no exams. You submit essays, reports and projects online; 45 credits are graded Pass, Merit or Distinction and 15 are ungraded.
- Tutor support. You have a personal tutor from day one and can resubmit work to improve your grade.
- Apply through UCAS. Your graded credits turn into UCAS tariff points, up to 144.
Online Access to HE providers compared
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| Provider | Lift's 13 pathways covered | Price | Typical study time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lift College | 13 of 13 | £79.99 a month or £719.99 a year when you pay today, saving up to 17% for life, or £89.99 a month or £917.99 a year after a 7-day free trial | 12 to 18 months |
| learndirect | 13 of 13 | £1,424.99 (sale price, was £1,899.99), or £9.99 deposit and 6 payments of £237.17 | 9 to 12 months on average; 24 months of access |
| Distance Learning Centre | 12 of 13 | £1,511.66 pay as you go (£10 enrolment, 12 payments of £113.47 and a £140 awarding body fee), or £1,360.50 pay in full | About 9 months on average |
| Open Study College | 3 diplomas in total (Health Professions, Law and Criminology, Computer Science) | £1,599 (sale price, was £1,799), or from £56.57 a month | 24 months learning time, 20 hours a week |
| Stonebridge | 10 of 13 | £1,189.15 upfront (was £1,399); or subscriptions at £89.99 a month on an annual plan charged upfront, £109.99 a month, or £119.99 a month after a 7-day free trial | 9 to 12 months on average; up to 2 years |
| Academy Online Learning | 10 of 13 | £1,320 (12 payments of £110) or £1,270 paid in full, including registration fees | 8 to 10 months typical |
| Access Courses Online | 10 of 13 | £1,499, plus an external moderation and certification fee of £160 (stated in its FAQ) | From 9 months on some pathway pages; not stated on others |
| Learning Curve Group | 6 of 13 | No price shown; 12 interest free instalments | 47 weeks part time, with live online classes |
Prices and study times as shown on each provider's own website, checked 12 October 2026. All are Access to HE Diplomas recognised through QAA; Lift College's awarding body is TBC.
Choosing your pathway
Pick the pathway that matches your degree, because admissions tutors look at the subjects in your graded credits. Lift College's 13 pathways, each with a comparison of online providers:
- Best online Access to HE Business courses · Lift College's Business diploma
- Best online Access to HE Criminology courses · Lift College's Criminology diploma
- Best online Access to HE Education Professions courses · Lift College's Education Professions diploma
- Best online Access to HE Engineering courses · Lift College's Engineering diploma
- Best online Access to HE Health Science Professions courses · Lift College's Health Science Professions diploma
- Best online Access to HE Midwifery courses · Lift College's Midwifery diploma
- Best online Access to HE Nursing courses · Lift College's Nursing diploma
- Best online Access to HE Paramedic Science courses · Lift College's Paramedic Science diploma
- Best online Access to HE Psychology courses · Lift College's Psychology diploma
- Best online Access to HE Radiography courses · Lift College's Radiography diploma
- Best online Access to HE Science (Biomedical) courses · Lift College's Science (Biomedical) diploma
- Best online Access to HE Science (Medical and Health) courses · Lift College's Science (Medical and Health) diploma
- Best online Access to HE Social Work courses · Lift College's Social Work diploma
What it costs
Lift College charges £79.99 a month or £719.99 a year when you pay today, saving up to 17% for life, or £89.99 a month or £917.99 a year after a 7-day free trial. Other online providers charged upfront fees from £1,189.15 to £1,599 on 12 October 2026, and some add awarding body or certification fees. Our Access to HE cost guide explains every option.
Frequently asked questions
Can you do an Access to HE course online?
Yes. Access to HE Diplomas are offered fully online by several UK providers. Lift College offers 13 pathways online for £79.99 a month when you pay today, or £89.99 a month after a 7-day free trial, and you can start any time.
Are online Access to HE Diplomas accepted by universities?
The Access to HE Diploma is a QAA approved qualification, and QAA says Access to HE Diplomas are accepted at over 140 universities every year. Universities accept its UCAS tariff points for entry to many degrees; check the grade profile your course asks for.
How long does an online access course take?
QAA says the diploma usually takes one year full time, or two or more years part time. At Lift College the typical study time is 12 to 18 months at your own pace.
How much does an online access course cost?
At Lift College, £79.99 a month or £719.99 a year when you pay today, saving up to 17% for life, or £89.99 a month or £917.99 a year after a 7-day free trial. Other online providers charged upfront fees from £1,189.15 to £1,599 on 12 October 2026.
Sources checked
- QAA, About the Access to HE Diploma: https://www.accesstohe.ac.uk/about-access/about-the-diploma
- QAA, Access to HE: https://www.accesstohe.ac.uk/
- UCAS tariff for Access to HE: https://www.ucas.com/media/205216/download
- Provider pages for learndirect, Distance Learning Centre, Open Study College, Stonebridge, Academy Online Learning, Access Courses Online and Learning Curve Group, all checked 12 October 2026 (listed on each pathway comparison page).