Access courses offer a route into higher education (HE) for those who wish to return to education some time after having left school, or who have few or no formal qualifications and would like to go to university. The courses are designed for mature students (21 years or older) with applicants ranging from those just out of the education system to people of retirement age and beyond.
Access courses aim to provide students with the knowledge and skills needed in order to continue their studies at university. Most courses teach students to give presentations, write essays/reports, undertake research and work collaboratively in groups. They also provide students with individual guidance and support. Access courses usually start in September and can be completed in one year (full-time) or two or more years (part-time). Most courses can be studied during the day or evening.
When choosing access courses, students should make sure that the course is QAA nationally recognised and that universities consider it as a legitimate qualification of equal standard to Level 3 qualifications such as A-levels. To find out whether an access course is QAA nationally recognised, visit the Access website.
Currently in Britain, there are no nationally recognised access courses specifically in anthropology. Students who are interested in studying anthropology at university can undertake access to HE courses in related subjects such as sociology, psychology or social sciences. See the Access website for more information. Before enrolling in a particular access course, students should check with university admissions offices in order to make sure that the course meets the criteria required for studying anthropology at university.
If you would like to study anthropology but do not want to enrol in a year-long access course or an undergraduate degree, then possible solutions are: part-time continuing education courses, or short courses offered by university anthropology departments.
