Humanities and Social Sciences Access to Higher Education - Level 3

Start Date: 1st September 2026

Length 36 weeks
Study Full-Time
Location Carlisle College

Qualification Gained

Access to Higher Education Diploma - (Humanities and Social Sciences) - Level 3

Levels Explained

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More about the course

The Access course is a nationally recognised qualification for adult students (aged over 19).

It is designed to provide the skills, knowledge and confidence required to progress onto a degree or diploma in Higher Education (HE).

The course has excellent links with all local providers of higher education and universities nationally.

The Humanities and Social Sciences pathway is appropriate for those wanting to go into social work and other social science professions. It will provide the academic knowledge for learners to move onto studying a range of social science HE courses.

How often does this course run?

This course runs once per year starting in September.

You will be notified of the next available start date once you have submitted your application.

Entry requirements

GCSEs Grade 4 (C) and above in Maths and English or equivalent,
Please note that if you do hold a GCSE equivalent (rather than a grade 4 (C) or above at GCSE) and you are planning to progress to a specific University, it is recommended that you check that they will accept your GCSE equivalent qualifications.
You must be 18+ to be accepted on to this course.

Please note that entry requirements and course offer can be subject to change at any time.

What will I achieve?

Upon successful completion of this course, you will achieve a Level 3, Access to Higher Education Diploma - (Humanities and Social Sciences)

What will I learn?

Psychology
Sociology
Social Welfare
English Language and Literature
Communication Skills
Researching and Understanding Opportunities to Study in HE
Access Project

How is the course taught?

You will attend college 3 days a week from 9:15-4:30
Taught classes
One-to-one progress support

How am I assessed?

Essays
Exams
Academic posters

Where can I progress?

Upon successful completion of this course, you could progress onto a range of different social science degrees including social work, psychology, sociology, criminology and forensics.

Course Costs

If you are aged 19+ the cost of the course will depend on your circumstances. Our support pages can help you determine your suitability. 

Call us: 01228 822 700

Email us: info@carlisle.ac.uk

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Vicky Johnston

Head of Curriculum for Care Services

I have been at Carlisle College for 12 years. I started as in Early Years Level 3 course tutor, I then went on to be Quality Manager, Curriculum Team Manager for Health, Care and Services, and am now Head of Curriculum for Care Services. I am also a safeguarding officer for the department and the college's wellbeing ambassador. In industry, I have worked in a variety of roles including a Nanny and Community Nursery Nurse, before going on to own and manage my own nursery for 12 years. I was also an OFSTED inspector in Early Years. I love my job because I can help learners achieve their goals and every day is so different!

Vicky White

Science Tutor within Care

I am a Science lecturer within the Care department. I teach on Access to HE Health, Level 3 Health and Social Care, and GCSE Biology. I have worked at the college for 12 years, and have over 15 years of teaching experience, having been a Science teacher since 2009. I have also previously worked in a Microbiology food testing laboratory. One thing I love about my job is getting students to where they need to be.

Jo Knighton

Early Years Tutor

My career experience has been within early year settings working with children between the ages of birth – five years old. As a nursery practitioner I enjoyed developing relationships with children and their families, to help support their learning and development, I found this really rewarding. It was a natural progression for me to then move into management, enabling me to lead staff and create a safe, stimulating environment for the children. Academically, I have a BA (Hons), Early Years Professional Status (EYFS) and a Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). As much as I enjoyed working within the industry, I also wanted to be able to pass my knowledge on to our learners and inspire the next generation of practitioners.

Georgina Robinson

Early Years Tutor / Assessor

I am an Early Years Tutor/Assessor and have been working at Carlisle College for 18 months. I have experience as a Special Attachment Welfare Assistant, Teaching assistant, Nursery Manager, Yoga Teacher, and Mum! One thing I love about my job is the variety, no two days are the same!

Suzanne Sunderland

Early Years Tutor

I have been part of Carlisle College for 10 years in a variety of teaching and assessing roles. I currently teach Level 2 and Level 3 Early Years Educator courses. Before working at Carlisle College I had a successful childminding business, was a deputy manager in a private nursery, and was an Early Years adviser for the Local Authority. I am passionate about developing outstanding experiences for young children and their families, to nurture learning and development. Through all my previous experience, I can pass on my knowledge to learners and inspire new practitioners.

Rachel Marshall

Progress Coach and Safeguarding Lead

I have worked at the college for 14 years and I currently look after all the support needs for students in the Care department. This includes all safeguarding concerns both in the Care department and across the college. I also look after all of the care experienced/cared for students. One thing I love about my job is supporting the students with their wellbeing.

Mhairi Beattie

Early Years Assessor

I've worked at Carlisle College since 2013 teaching and assessing across Early Years and Teaching Assistant courses. I started my Early Years journey as a nanny at home and abroad and also fulfilled roles as a play worker and childminder. I then went on to work as an Early Years NVQ Assessor and delivered vocational pathways in Early Years before coming to Carlisle College. One thing I love about my job is being part of the learner's journey and helping them grow.

Andrew Russell

Maths Tutor

I have taught Mathematics for 35 years in a variety of schools in the North East and have been teaching Mathematics at Carlisle College for the past 5 years.

Claire Goffin

Early Years Tutor

I have almost 30 years of experience in education. Starting out as a Teaching Assistant before completing my NNEB and qualifying as a Nursery Nurse. After a couple of years, I decided to complete my degree and gain Qualified Teacher Status. In my early career, I taught Early Years and KS1 before teaching KS2. I have been an Assistant Headteacher for Inclusion where I was DSL and SENDCo for a number of years. I worked within an academy as an Associate Headteacher across three primary schools - here I delivered the NPQML/SL courses. Finally, I have supported a school as an Acting Headteacher. I love education and I'm really passionate about it, particularly in ensuring that our next generation of educators are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need, both professionally and personally.

Chloe Notman

Health and Social Care Tutor

I have been working at Carlisle College since June 2024. I currently teach Steps, Level 2 Pathways to Care, and Level 3 Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care. I have 9 years of experience in Health and Social Care, working in a variety of services such as learning disability, mental health, dementia, and day care services. I am a qualified Primary School Teacher. One thing I love about my job is watching students progress, flourish, and become more confident in their skills and abilities.

Danielle Lawrence

Access to HE: Humanities and Social Sciences Tutor

I have worked at the college for 4 and a half years in various teaching roles. Before coming to the college, I studies Criminology and Social Science at the University of Cumbria. One thing I love about my job is meeting all the students and seeing them apply and expand their knowledge.

June Abraham

Health & Social Care Tutor

My background is within the NHS and Cumbria County Council. I qualified as a Registered Nurse in 1996 and worked on a busy Surgical Unit at the West Cumberland Hospital for 15 years before then moving on to a Rehabilitation Unit where I worked as a Senior Nurse. This then led me to work for the commissioning & development team within the Cumbria Primary Care Trust and Cumbria County Council where I worked within a team developing services for individuals with long-term conditions, such as Multiple Sclerosis, Arthritis, Parkinsons, Motor Neurone Disease, etc. More recently I have worked at the Cumberland Infirmary on the Emergency Surgical Assessment Unit, which assisted me to update my clinical skills. Throughout my job as a Health and Social Care Tutor, my aim is to pass on my life and professional experience to the potential workforce of the future whilst continuously being taught new skills myself.

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