Skip to the main content
Go to the search page

Key details

Course areas
Access to Higher Education and EmploymentHealth and Social CareHumanities and Social Sciences
Student type
Courses for 19+ students
Course type
Full-time Further Education course
Course level
Level 3
Start date

Tuesday 1st September 2026

Location
City Hub 111 Canal Street, Nottingham, NG1 7HB
Course code
Parent course code:C000503 Child course code: Q002762
Apply now

Course introduction

This course is perfect if you are aged 19+ and interested in exploring human behaviour. Whilst studying you will be exploring explanations behind mental health, offending behaviour, and assessment of social changes in relation to behaviour.

You’ll learn a broad range of skills and knowledge across the social sciences with psychology, criminology and sociology with unit including:

  • Psychopathologies
  • Treatment and Therapies
  • Forensic Psychology: Offender Profiling
  • Criminology: Past and Present
  • Victimology
  • Sociology of the Family
  • Sociology of Crime and Deviance

A focus of the course will be on developing your academic skills in preparation for university, improving written ability, critical thinking, researching and verbal communication.

As part of the course, you will work with your tutor who will support you with your university application and monitor your progression on the course. 

The Introduction to Access course will focus on developing study skills such as academic writing, researching, paraphrasing and referencing to help you to progress onto the Access course. There will be a focus on developing IT skills necessary to access and use the college systems and to complete assignments. You will be introduced to the subjects that you will study on the Access course, so that you can make an informed decision at the end of the four weeks on which Access course is the correct course for your future plans. Progression onto the Access course is subject to successful completion of the four-week introductory course.

Course information

1 year

CAVA Access to HE Diploma: Social Sciences

You must be aged 19 or over to apply for this course.

As the majority of our Access students are returning to learning as adults, we consider a range of experience when accepting students onto an Access programme. All students will be assessed to see what level they are learning at, particularly the level of English and maths skills, as these will be key to success whilst on a programme at Nottingham College. Your experience and level of study will be assessed at interview and this will determine your offer of a place at College.

5 GCSEs at grades 9–4 (A*–C) including English Language and Maths (equivalents may be considered for maths). Relevant work experience will be considered as a substitute for a relevant Level 2 vocational qualification, plus GCSE English Language and Maths.

You will be able to resit GCSE maths only on this course but you must have a GCSE English Language at Grade 4 and above. Please note: You do not need to apply for the GCSE Maths separately as this will be offered as part of the course.

Learning is assessed in a variety of methods to prepare you to study at university.

Choose to follow with a degree course in sociology, psychology, communications and society, criminology or similar.

You can apply for an Advanced Learner Loan to help with the costs of your Access to HE course. Loan eligibility does not depend on your income and there are no credit checks.

If you progress on to degree level study and complete a full degree, Student Finance England will ‘write off’ any outstanding Advanced Learner Loan balances you owe. This means you do not have to repay it.

You may be able to study this course for free if you are aged 19-23 and planning to study towards your first full Level 2 or first full Level 3.

If you are an EU/EEA or Swiss National, please visit our EU Settled Status scheme page for more information.

Careers related to this course

Select career:

Clinical Psychologists

Potential Earnings

£57,750.68

Average Earnings

£39,303.93

Source: Office for National Statistics' Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE).

Pathways

Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing

People in these occupations diagnose, assess, and treat health problems, operate medical technology, and care for patients.

Skills

Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Learning Strategies

Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.

Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Active Learning

Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
View more about this career

Economic data for careers is provided by Lightcast and also available through our Career Coach app. Job postings, employment and earnings information is represented at the regional level for the East Midlands.

Access to Higher Education: Business (19+) - Full-time

Access to Higher Education: Creative Industries (Art and Design Route) (19+) - Full-time

Access to Higher Education: Creative Industries (Computer Games Production Route) (19+) - Full-time