What is Access to HE?

Access courses are designed for people with few or no qualifications but with life/work experience, and offer a second chance for many. Our courses are especially designed for well-motivated adults who wish to develop the essential study skills, subject skills and knowledge needed to progress to university level study.

To find out more about Access to HE you can watch our video presentations giving information on how you can get onto a degree with Access to HE.

What Access to HE courses do we offer?

Our range of Access pathways can prepare you for almost any academic or vocational field of higher education study at college or university, and provide an ideal route on to a City of Bristol College Foundation Degree course.

Our Access pathways include:

• Art, Design and Digital Media
• Computing
• Engineering
• Journalism and Media
• Healthcare (including nursing, midwifery, occupational therapy, operating department practitioners, podiatry and paramedics)
• Psychology
• Social Work
• Science, Physiotherapy and Radiography
• Teaching

Assessment

Each Access course is modular. You will gain credits for assessed work through a nationally recognised awarding body - the Open College Network South West Region (OCNSWR).

Find out more

We run regular Access to Higher Education information sessions throughout the year. Please arrive at the start of the session to hear a presentation about Access courses. The rest of the session will be used for Maths and English screening tests.

How to apply

You can print an Access to Higher Education application form (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader).

For more information contact the Access and Progression Administration Office at enquiries@cityofbristol.ac.uk or call 0117 312 5164.

Foundation Year for International Students

This one year course also runs as a fast-track programme for international students who want to go on to university level study. It is designed for you if your school-leaving qualifications don’t allow you to progress directly to a British university. Courses include:

• Art and Design
• Business Studies
• Computing
• English Literature
• Environmental Issues
• Geography
• History
• Psychology
• Science
• Sociology

In order to apply you will need to have good school-leaving qualifications from your home country, and English language level of IELTS 5.5 or equivalent.

Call 0117 312 5326 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information. A range of support is available to international students. Visit our international pages for more information.