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Best online Access to HE Social Work courses in the UK (2026)

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Last reviewed 7 min readBy Lift College

Access to HE guide

For adults who want to study an Access to HE Diploma (Social Work) online, Lift College's Access to HE Diploma (Social Work) costs £79.99 a month with a 7-day free trial, no contract and a 14-day money back guarantee on every payment, and you can start any time; a year of study costs £815.99 paid up front, below every upfront course fee listed by the other providers here. learndirect, Distance Learning Centre, Stonebridge, Academy Online Learning and Learning Curve Group also offer an online social work route, with upfront prices from £1,189.15 upwards.

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. See what UCAS points are.

Online Access to HE Social Work courses compared

Prices and study times as shown on each provider's own website, checked 12 October 2026. Every course listed is an Access to HE Diploma recognised through QAA; Lift College's awarding body is TBC.

Online Access to HE Social Work courses compared
ProviderCoursePriceTypical study timeUCAS points statedTrial or guarantee
Lift CollegeAccess to HE Diploma (Social Work)£79.99 a month, £67.99 a month if you start without the trial, or £815.99 for a year9 to 18 months, at your own paceUp to 1447-day free trial; 14-day money back guarantee on every payment
learndirectAccess to Higher Education Diploma (Social Work)£1,424.99 (sale price, was £1,899.99), or £9.99 deposit and 6 payments of £237.179 to 12 months on average; 24 months of accessNot on course page14-day cancellation right in its terms
Distance Learning CentreOnline Access to HE Diplomas for Social Work£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 fullAbout 9 months on averageUp to 144Refunds at its discretion
StonebridgeAccess to Higher Education Diploma (Social Work)£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 trial9 to 12 months on average; up to 2 yearsNot on course page7-day free trial on the £119.99 monthly plan
Academy Online LearningSocial Work (awarded as the Access to HE Diploma (Health Science Professions))£1,320 (12 payments of £110) or £1,270 paid in full, including registration fees8 to 10 months typicalUp to 14414-day cooling off period
Learning Curve GroupLevel 3 Access To Higher Education Diploma (Social Work)No price shown; 12 interest free instalments47 weeks part time, with live online classesNot on course pageNot stated on course page

Lift College's diploma is 60 credits, 100% online and assessed by coursework only, with no exams, a personal tutor from day one and marking in 3 to 5 working days.

What it costs

Most providers sell the diploma as one course fee. Lift College charges by the month instead, so what you pay depends on how long you study:

What it costs
How you pay at Lift CollegeCost
Monthly after the 7-day free trial£79.99 a month (£959.88 over 12 months)
Start now without the trial£67.99 a month for as long as you study
Pay for a year up front£815.99

Among the other providers, the upfront course fees on their own pages run from £1,189.15 to £1,424.99 (Stonebridge also sells an annual subscription at £89.99 a month, charged upfront). Check what each price includes: Distance Learning Centre's pay as you go total includes a £140 awarding body registration fee. Our Access to HE cost guide sets out every way to pay.

Where the Social Work pathway leads

The pathway prepares you for social work degrees approved by Social Work England. Social worker is a protected title in England, and you cannot practise until you are registered with Social Work England, which means completing a degree it approves. The National Careers Service notes that a bursary may be available while you study. Social work pathways combine sociology, psychology and social policy, the subjects admissions tutors expect to see in your graded credits.

Universities set their own grade profiles, so check the exact requirement for each course you apply to, and see which universities accept Access to HE for how to read an offer.

How long it takes

QAA says the Access to HE Diploma usually takes one year full time, or two or more years part time. At Lift College the typical study time for the Social Work pathway is 9 to 18 months, at your own pace. Several providers in the table quote around 9 to 12 months on average.

How to choose

  1. Check the pathway matches your degree. Admissions tutors look at the subjects in your 45 graded credits.
  2. Compare the total cost for the time you will need, including any registration or certification fees.
  3. Look at how you pay. A monthly plan with no contract lets you stop if your plans change; an upfront fee or finance agreement does not.

Ready to start? Try the Access to HE Diploma (Social Work) free for 7 days or browse all Access to HE pathways.

Your next step

Start the Access to HE Diploma (Social Work) course free for 7 days

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Frequently asked questions

Is the online Access to HE Diploma (Social Work) QAA approved?
The Access to HE Diploma is a QAA approved qualification. QAA licenses the awarding bodies that award it, and QAA says Access to HE Diplomas are accepted at over 140 universities every year. Lift College's awarding body for the Social Work pathway is shown as TBC on the course page.
How much does an online Access to HE Diploma in Social Work cost in the UK?
At Lift College it costs £79.99 a month after a 7-day free trial, £67.99 a month if you start without the trial, or £815.99 if you pay for a year up front. Other online providers listed upfront prices of £1,189.15 to £1,424.99 on 12 October 2026.
How long does an online Access to HE Diploma in Social Work take?
QAA says the diploma usually takes one year full time, or two or more years part time. Lift College's typical study time for the Social Work pathway is 9 to 18 months, studied at your own pace with no fixed term dates.
Do universities accept an online Access to HE Diploma in Social Work?
Yes. The diploma carries UCAS tariff points, which universities accept for entry to many degrees, and 45 graded credits at Distinction give 144 points. Each university sets its own grade profile, so check the course you want before you apply.
Can I study an Access to HE Diploma online while working full time?
Yes. Lift College's diploma is 100% online with no exams and no fixed term dates, so you study around work and family and can pause or cancel your subscription whenever you need to.

Sources checked