APPLICATION FORM SUPPORT NOTES
Please read the following prior to completing the Access to Higher Education Diploma application Form.

Access to Higher Education Diploma courses are fast paced and demanding. As we wish to offer you every opportunity to succeed, we will be looking to see you possess the skills and aptitudes that would indicate potential to cope with the demands of the course.

Skills/ Work Experience
Skills we look for include:
• IT competency
• Good English/Maths competency
• Time management and organisational skills
• Problem solving skills/resourcefulness
• Commitment and determination

 

Examples of ways you might evidence these skills:
• Duties carried out in a job roles / Voluntary work
• Running a business or busy household
• Hobbies and recreational activities e.g. playing a sport or acting as club treasurer.
• Qualifications achieved.

 

Need some extra help evidencing skills?
If you do not have an IT qualification you could evidence IT competency from any occasion where you have used IT applications as part of a job role; for example inputting or extracting information, writing reports or producing statistical data using spreadsheets or databases etc.

 

If you do not have GCSE English you might evidence English ability from creative writing, administration work or any occasion where you have written reports as part of a job role or from written work as part of another qualification.

 

If you do not have GCSE Maths you might have done some book keeping or accounting/ VAT work, you may have budgeted for a family on a low income or worked with money in a bank or retail environment. Otherwise you could have gained Maths skills from a qualification that included mathematical competency such as electrician training.

 

Running a business would evidence time management and organisational skills, English and Maths competence and it is also likely to evidence resourcefulness and problem solving skills. Running a household might include budgeting, time management and organisational skills so could be used to support these skills.

 

Commitment and determination are also important attributes that we would look for in potential candidates so if possible we would also like you to tell us about any situation where you have overcome a challenge or a situation where you have demonstrated commitment and determination in achieving a goal.

These do not have to be educationally related as you could have shown commitment and determination by sticking to a diet and fitness plan or you might have canvassed an MP/Local Councillor on an issue to bring about a change or raised money for charity events for a good cause.

The above are just some examples of how you might evidence the necessary skills. Your evidence may be drawn from quite different sources or activities.

 

Careers Advice: http://careersadvice.direct.gov.uk excellent careers database describing jobs and the training routes under ‘Job Profiles’.
Select ‘Jobs and Careers’ on the Homepage then ‘Job Profiles’

 

The Prospects Website: www.prospects.ac.uk offers high quality graduate careers information, which can be used to plan in advance of a degree.
Select ‘Careers Advice’ then ‘Options With Your Subject’ or ‘What Graduates Do’

 

A number of employers take on graduates every year and many take graduates with a degree in any subject. This is known as The Graduate Recruitment Programme. A list of these employers with details of the number of vacancies, job roles and information about the organisation can be found on the prospects site under ‘Find Graduate Employers’

 

www.purepotential.org - online university guide helping with choices and applications
www.hero.ac.uk - easy to read advice on higher education

HOW TO CHOOSE A DEGREE COURSE AND UNIVERSITY
Within 6 weeks of starting an Access to Higher Education course you will start applying to university.

 

University Admissions website: www.ucas.as.uk . Has a course search facility to search according to subject of interest.

 

If you need to study locally see what local universities offer by obtaining undergraduate prospectuses as follows:

 

Bournemouth University, Fern Barrow, Poole, BH12 5BB Tel: 08456 501501

email: enquiries@bournemouth.ac.uk Website: www.bournemouth.ac.uk

 

Southampton University, Highfield, SO17 1BJ Tel: 023 8059 4741/3482/2379

email: prospenq@soton.ac.uk Website: www.soton.ac.uk

 

Southampton Solent University, East Park Terrace, SO14 0YN Tel: 023 8031 9000.

email: enquiries@solent.ac.uk Website: www.solent.ac.uk

 

The University of Winchester, West Hill, Winchester, Hants SO22 4NR Tel 01962 841515 email: course.enquiries@winchester.ac.uk Website: www.winchester.ac.uk

 

WHEN YOU HAVE OBTAINED PROSPECTUSES:
1. Read through and identify courses of interest.
2. Ring for course booklet which will provide more information
3. Register for Open Day or talk with Admissions Tutors to learn more about the course content and the jobs it may lead to

 

Check job adverts in local press/employment agencies/Job Centre Plus etc to see what demand there is for jobs that interest you. What level qualifications are required? Is a degree essential or an advantage? If not there may be other ways to train.

Contact the Adult Guidance Team for help as follows:

 

Poole: 01202 205612 Rebecca Adams adamsr@bpc.ac.uk
Bournemouth: 01202 205451 Wendy Harrap harrapw@bpc.ac.uk

 

Click Download to get the Full-time Application Form:
Access to Higher Education Diploma.