Humanities Access to HE

This course is for adults over 19 who want to enter Higher Education. You should already have GCSE Maths and English at Grade 4 (C) or above.

The Access course will equip you with the skills and knowledge to achieve your goal. You need to be very committed to study and focused on your career choice.

You will study English Literature, History and either Psychology or Sociology.

The Humanities pathway will enable you to study a range of topical and relevant subject areas. In History, for example, topics include women’s fight to gain the vote, the Russian Revolution and Black American civil rights before undertaking research in an area of your own choice and interest from 20^th Century history.

In English you will read and evaluate short stories by Maya Angelou and Alice Walker and a range of Caribbean performance poetry (as well as enjoy a workshop with a local poet and historian). Then you will study Bram Stoker’s fin-de-siècle Gothic horror novel ‘Dracula’ before moving on to Arthur Miller’s ‘Death of a Salesman’ and Shakespeare’s classic ‘Othello’.

In Psychology you will gain an understanding of key psychological perspectives and the research that underpins them, including Psychodynamics, Behaviourism and the Cognitive and Biological approaches. You will then study Offender Profiling, Atypical Psychology and finally focus on Social Psychology including landmark studies such as the Stanford Prison study.

In Sociology you will develop a critical understanding of sociological theory and then focus on Crime, Mass Media and Health and Illness.

English Literature Units

• A Shakespeare Play
• Interpreting Poetry
• Short Fiction
• Studying a Novel
• Studying a Play

History Units

• The Movement Towards Female Emancipation
• The Civil Rights Movement in the USA
• Lenin, Bolsheviks and the Russian Revolution

Psychology Units

• Introduction to Psychology
• Mental Health and Illness
• Offender Profiling
• Social Influence, Conformity and Obedience to Authority
• Treatment of Abnormal Behaviour

Sociology Units

• The Individual and Society
• Introduction to Sociology
• Sociology of Education
• Crime and Deviance
• Mass Media, ‘Reality’ and the Social Construction of News

• Apply online via the Apply Now button at the bottom of this page
• You will be required to include a personal statement (approximately one side of A4), within the application form. Please prepare this in advance before starting the application process. You will need to include:
  • Why you are applying for the course
  • What you would like to study at university, and why
  • Any experience you have in relation to the Access course, this may be educational, voluntary and/or work based

• GCSE Maths and English at Grade 4 (C) or above
• Writing skills will be assessed prior to enrolment
• Knowledge of course required at university
• Strong desire to study
• Commitment to study full-time for a year
• Good organisation, motivation and enthusiasm

• 14 taught hours per week in college usually spread over three to four days
• 20 self-study hours per week
• Support from a personal tutor and Study Skills are included in the course

Assessment is:

• Assignment-based
• Coursework
• Exams

From this pathway, students progress to a wide range of degrees such as: English, History, Sociology, Psychology, Politics, Law, Anthropology, International Relations, International Development, Education, Classics, Art History, Criminology, Liberal Arts, Journalism, Philosophy, Gaming Technology and Creative Writing.

There are also a number of HND/Foundation Degrees at City of Bristol College.

• It is essential that you know what you want to study at university or college
• Thoroughly research your intended university course and its entry requirements before you apply for an Access course
• We recommend you visit universities on their Open Days
• We have long-established links with universities
• We offer guaranteed consideration for a Foundation Degree at City of Bristol College

As a City of Bristol College student, you may incur additional costs to attend your course. For example, it is likely you may need to pay for travel and stationery.

Many courses offer learning opportunities that you may need to pay for. This may include things like study visits and visiting speakers. We will let you know in advance if there will be additional costs.

If you are on a limited income, you may be able to receive help from our Learner Support Funding Bursary.