Access to HE Diploma (Education Professions)

What it is: an Access to HE Diploma, a QAA approved Level 3 qualification for adults who want to go to university without A Levels. QAA says Access to HE Diplomas are accepted at over 140 universities every year.

Where it leads: Education studies, primary teaching with QTS and early years degrees.

UCAS points: up to 144. The diploma carries UCAS tariff points, which universities accept for entry to many degrees; 45 graded credits at Distinction give 144 points.

Credits: 60 in total, 45 graded at Level 3 and 15 ungraded.

Study: 100% online, start any time, typically 12 to 18 months at your own pace.

Assessment: coursework only, no exams. Tutor marking in 3 to 5 working days, and you can resubmit to improve your grade.

Price: £79.99 a month after a 7-day free trial, £67.99 a month if you start without the trial, or £815.99 for a year paid up front. No contract, pause or cancel any time, 14-day money back guarantee on every payment.

Awarding body: TBC.

Comparing providers? See the best online Access to HE Education Professions courses in the UK, with prices and study times from learndirect, Distance Learning Centre, Stonebridge, Access Courses Online and Learning Curve Group.

Think of the teacher who changed your life. Every classroom has that person, the one who believed in a student before the student believed in themselves. The Access to HE Diploma (Education Professions) is the qualification that puts you on track to become that person for someone else.

This Level 3 qualification is awarded by TBC Awarding Body, a QAA licensed Access Validating Agency. It is for adults aged 19 and over who want to enter teacher training, through a BA Education, PGCE, or School Direct programme, without the A level qualifications traditionally required.

You will study 60 credits covering child and adolescent development, educational psychology, curriculum theory, inclusive education, SEN principles, learning theory, sociology of education, and research methods. Every unit prepares you for the academic and reflective demands of a teacher training programme.

Studied 100% online, typically over 12 to 18 months, with no exams. Assessment is entirely through essays, reflective pieces, case studies, and a final research project. You earn up to 144 UCAS points based on your grade profile. Your tutor provides written feedback within 3 to 5 working days on every submission.

Teaching is a career you build over a lifetime, and the rewards go far beyond salary. Starting salaries in England reached £31,650 in 2025, with main pay scale progression to £43,607 and leadership roles above that.

The diploma is accepted by UK universities for entry to primary and secondary BA Education degrees. For the PGCE, you will also need a relevant undergraduate degree, the diploma opens the door to the undergraduate stage. Secondary teachers will typically need a degree in their teaching subject alongside the PGCE.

Start anytime. Study around your work and family. If you want to teach, in a primary school, a secondary classroom, or a SEN setting, this is your route in.