Access to Higher Education – Social Sciences
Qualification Gained: ASCENTIS Access to HE Diploma (Social Science)
Study LevelLevel 3 Course TypeAccess to Higher Education Duration1 Academic Year Start DateSeptember 2025 Study ModeFull-time LocationDavid Hockney BuildingOverview
Are you interested in understanding human behavior, social systems, and the complexities of society? The Access to HE: Social Sciences course offers a comprehensive introduction to the fields of psychology and sociology, equipping you with the knowledge and skills needed to pursue a career or further study in social sciences.
This course is designed for people aged 19 or over and is perfect for anyone looking to start or change to a career in the mental health, therapy, educational, neuroscience, sociology or psychology fields or considering changing careers to work in these fields. It is also suitable for applicants who are interested in pursuing academic careers such as in humanity-based subjects.
The course explores the major theories, perspectives, and methodologies used to understand both individuals and society. Whether you’re fascinated by the workings of the human mind or the dynamics of social structures, this course will provide you with a strong foundation in both disciplines, preparing you for higher education or careers in areas such as social work, counseling, criminology, or education. You will study topics such as Crime, Memory, Psychology and Sociology, and Treating Disorders.
Key Info
- Develop an understanding of key psychological concepts such as behavior, cognition, emotion, psychological disorders, and memory processes, and how they shape individual and group behavior
- Analyze the major psychological perspectives (cognitive, behavioral, psychodynamic, etc.) and their application to human behavior in various contexts.
- Explore culture, identity, family dynamics, poverty, social relations, and crime, and understand how these shape individuals and societies.
- Critically evaluate sociological theories and apply them to contemporary social issues such as inequality, education, and crime.
- Research and Investigation Skills:
- Apply psychological theories to understand human behavior in real-life situations, including the treatment of mental health disorders and offender profiling.
- Analyze social problems from multiple perspectives, using sociological theories and research findings to understand and address contemporary societal challenges.
- Develop effective interpersonal communication skills, both written and verbal, for presenting ideas, arguments, and research findings clearly and confidently.
- Use ICT tools, including presentation software, to effectively communicate research results and academic work in a professional format
All students attend classes in Sociology, Psychology and Study Skills.
- Introduction to Psychology
- Treating Disorders
- Interpersonal Communication
- Offender Profiling
- Memory
- Psychological Investigation
- Psychological Perspectives and Behaviour
- Preparing to Progress
- Developing Skills for Studying
- ICT – Presentation Software
- Introduction to Sociology: Culture and Identity, Poverty, Families, Households and Personal Relations and Crime
- Planning and Carrying Out Research in Sociology
- Sociological Theories and Their Application to Contemporary Society
Entry to this course requires GCSE English Language and Maths at a grade 4 or C. Dependent upon your progression route, level 2 qualifications may be accepted.
You are at least 19 years old on 1st September.
It is your responsibility to check that your Mathematics and English Language qualifications are accepted for the Higher Education Institution course you wish to eventually apply for.
Induction for this course will begin at the start of September.
Assessment on Access programs involves a range of methods such as essays, presentations, reports and research investigations. You will have a combination of 15 ungraded and 45 graded units. The graded units will be graded at Pass, Merit or Distinction.
This pathway may allow progression to a degree in Social Work, Youth and Community Development, Health and Social Welfare, Counselling and Psychology in Community Settings, Childhood and Youth Studies, Psychology and Sociology, Criminology and Archeology. We will introduce you to the UCAS system and provide tutorial sessions for university applications.
If you have any questions or require any additional information, please contact [email protected]
Disclaimer: Our prospectus, college documents and website are simply here to offer a guide. We accept no liability for any inaccurate statements and are not responsible for any negative outcomes if you rely on an inaccurate statement. We reserve the right to withdraw any programmes or service at any time.
