Access to Higher Education Diploma (Humanities)

The Access to Higher Education Diploma (Humanities) provides you with the opportunity to learn a range of subjects within the Social Sciences. This is ideal for anyone interested in this area of study but is unsure of which area to specialise in.

By learning more about Politics, Psychology, Social Change (and more) you will develop a solid grasp of how society functions.

Thanks to such a rich range of subject matter, you can go on to study one of several related undergraduate degrees. You get the freedom to choose the course that best reflects your area of interest.

Access to HE Diplomas are accepted by most UK universities as a recognised alternative to A-levels. The courses have also been designed specifically to prepare you for the challenges of university life.

Getting Started

Stonebridge Associated Colleges is a leading distance learning college, so you get to complete your studies from comfort of home. Or your favourite coffee shop.

That means you study when it suits you. No timetables, no rushing to get to class. You can fit your course around your life, not the other way round. You will be provided with an Individual Learning Plan that outlines the submission deadlines for your assignments to keep you on track throughout your studies. An Access to HE Diploma can be completed within two years. However, on average, learners take 8 to 9 months to complete them.

When you have enrolled with us, you can start your course straight away! The Access to Higher Education Diploma (Humanities), is entirely online based so you can review your learning material via our world-class online portal.

How will my Access to HE Diploma be assessed?

To help you get the most out of the online qualification, there will be assignments that you need to complete at the end of each unit. These will be marked and graded by your tutors.

To achieve the 60 credits you will need to achieved this qualification, you will have 45 credits drawn from graded units which focus on the different subject areas, whilst the remaining 15 credits come from ungraded units designed to help you refine your academic writing and study skills.

What happens after the Access to HE Diploma?

Once you complete your Access to HE Diploma (Humanities) you will have gained the knowledge and skills needed to apply for a place on a Humanities or Social Science degree course at university. Upon graduation from university, you could consider a number of different career paths including:

• Law
• Politics
• Teaching
• Psychology
• Sociology
• Social Work

Module 1: Preparing To Study

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand how study is organised and planned
• Understand how to apply theories of learning in relation to personal approaches to learning
• Understand a range of constraints upon study
• Understand the importance of assessment feedback.

Module 2: Academic Writing Skills 

On completion of this unit you will:

• Be able to write with relevance in responding to an academic task. 
• Know how to interpret and discuss ideas and issues in responding to a set, academic writing task. 
• Be able to summarise for academic purposes, selecting key points, information or central ideas.  

Module 3: Preparing a Written Assignment   

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand how to use key information sources.
• Understand why sources are acknowledged and referenced.
• Understand a range of reading strategies.
• Understand note-making methods.
• Understand how to plan draft and produce a written assignment.

Module 4: Introduction to Psychology   

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the importance of research in psychology
• Understand the main approaches in psychology
• Understand ethical issues in psychological research

Module 5:  Understanding Crime & Deviance

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand explanations of crime and deviance
• Understand theories of crime and deviance
• Understand perceptions of crime and deviance

Module 6: Social change in Britain 1914-1939

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the impact of World War 1 on British society
• Understand the social consequences of unemployment, housing and health problems during the period 1918-1939
• Understand developments in family life and leisure opportunities

Module 7: Understanding Drama

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand how an author creates character
• Understand the structure of plot within a drama
• Understand the part played by language in dramatic effect
• Understand how a play transfers from page to stage

Module 8: Political parties

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the role of political parties in the British Political System
• Understand the difference between a single party, dominant party, two-party and multi-party system
• Understand the development, policies and structure of the Labour Party
• Understand the development, policies and structure of the Conservative Party
• Understand the development, policies and structure of the Liberal Democrats and the Minor Parties

Module 9:  Sociology of Mass Media

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the patterns of ownership and control of the mass media.
• Understand the role of the mass media.
• Understand the process of selection and presentation of the news.
• Understand how media stereotypes are presented.

Module 10:  Industrial change in Britain 1700-1850

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the pattern of industry and urban society c1700-1760
• Understand the causes and nature of industrial change in Britain c1760-1850
• Understand the impact of industrial change on British social, economic and political life by 1850

Module 11:  Language, Communication and Communities

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand devices used in oral and written texts
• Understand factors influencing language
• Understand the process and effects of community on language

Module 12: Introduction to Cognitive Psychology   

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand research in an area of cognitive psychology
• Understand how the findings of research into cognitive processes can be applied to real-life issues.

Module 13: Study of a Novel

On completion of this unit you will:

• Know how to respond to a novel
• Know how to demonstrate skills in the analysis of novel writing
• Understand the contextual aspects of the novel

Module 14:  Public Health During the 18th & 19th Centuries

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the nature of urban development and public health during the 18th Century
• Understand the causes and effects of public health problems in the 19th Century
• Understand the nature and impact of attempts to address public health problems in the 19th Century

Module 15: Political Representation – Prime Ministers, Ministers & Civil Servants

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand what is meant by ‘Cabinet Government’
• Understand the extent to which Britain has moved to a system of ‘Prime Ministerial Government’
• Understand the roles and responsibilities of Ministers
• Understand the role of Civil Servants and their channels of influence
• Understand how the position of the Civil Service has changed over the past 20 years

Module 16:  Language Acquisition

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the stages of development on children's language
• Understanding the contrasting views on language acquisition

Module 17: The origins of the welfare state

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand what is meant by the term social welfare
• Know the purpose of the 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act and its effects on society
• Explain and discuss early twentieth century Liberal Reforms and their effect on society
• Recognise the significance of the Beveridge Report
• Recognise the social problems which the Welfare State attempted to address

Module 18:  Short Story

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the narrative elements of the story
• Understand textual features and language
• Understand the influence of social and historical factors on the text

Module 19: Imperialism in the late 19th century

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the importance of economics in late 19th century imperialism
• Understand the Political importance of late 19th century imperialism
• Understand the effect of late 19th century imperialism on the continent of Africa