Access to HE Diploma (Engineering)

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: Engineering degrees (BEng and MEng).

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 Engineering courses in the UK, with prices and study times from learndirect, Stonebridge and Access Courses Online.

Engineers design the infrastructure of everyday life, the bridges, the power grids, the electronic systems, and the software that makes modern society function. The Access to HE Diploma (Engineering) is the qualification that takes adults without A level maths or physics back to the academic starting line for an engineering degree.

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 study Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Electronic, or General Engineering at a UK university without the STEM A levels traditionally required.

You will study 60 credits covering mathematics for engineering, applied physics, materials science, engineering drawing and design, computing, circuits and electronics, and mechanics. Every unit is designed to build the technical literacy and analytical rigour that engineering degree entry requires.

Studied 100% online, typically over 12 to 18 months, with no exams. Assessment is through problem sets, technical reports, case studies, and a final independent project. You earn up to 144 UCAS points. Your tutor provides written feedback within 3 to 5 working days on every piece of work.

Chartered Engineers are among the highest-paid and most economically significant professionals in the UK. Starting salaries for engineering graduates typically begin at £27,000 to £35,000, with Chartered Engineer status reaching £60,000 and above.

You earn up to 144 UCAS points. Most BEng programmes ask for 112 to 136 points. The diploma is particularly well-suited to route into civil, mechanical, electrical, and general engineering degrees, and to higher apprenticeship routes where academic credit is needed.

Start anytime. Study around your existing commitments. If engineering is where you want to build your career, this diploma builds the foundation.