English and Creative Writing - Access to Higher Education (HE) Diploma
Summary
This programme of study is the perfect starting point for you if you are passionate about English and wish to have a career in teaching, journalism, advertising, careers in media including digital/social media and website design, digital copyrighting, writing/creative writing, writing for television, theatre and stage, publishing, editing, proofreading, writing for business, public relations and communications, speech therapy, applied linguistics or research and academic writing related careers.
The Access to Higher Education (HE) Diploma is a qualification which will prepare you for study at degree level by providing you with the necessary academic skills and subject knowledge to be successful within your future studies.
If you would like to study at university but left school without the qualifications you need, then an Access to HE course could be for you.
The course runs over one academic year and is designed for learners aged 19 years and above.
Advanced Learning Loans are available to support the payment of tuition fees.
Next course dates
| Start date | Location | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
07 Sep 2026
|
University Centre
|
1 Year
|
Where can this subject lead?
Career progression
Successful completion of the BA (Hons) Degree allows for further progression to Post-Graduate Study at Lancaster University or at other institutions.
The completion of a Level 3 Access to HE programme is usually acceptable for progression to Higher Education at most Higher Education Institutions. We do advise, however, that you contact the university you would like to study at to check their entry requirements.
Key information
Entry Requirements
Direct Entry:
3 GCSEs Grade 4 (C) including English Language and preferably maths at Grade 4 (C) or above
or
- A relevant level 2 or 3 qualification plus English Language GCSE at Grade 4 (C) or above and preferably a level 2 Functional Skills in maths
- Successful completion of a written task and interview
Not achieved Maths or English GCSE at Grade 4 (C) or above:
- You will need to complete a one-year L2 programme including GCSE English Grade 4 or above, GCSE maths Grade 4 or above (Functional Skills L2 will be accepted), and one other L2 qualification, in order to meet the entrance requirements for Access to HE Humanities Programme.
Qualification obtained
Access to HE Diploma (Humanities)Fees and funding
Whilst many adult courses are fully funded for 19+ learners, funding can depend both on the course itself and/or the learner's personal circumstances, including their current income levels and previous qualifications.
To find out if you might be eligible for full or partial funding or for an Advanced Learner Loan (Level 3 qualifications only), please visit our Financial Support section. You will also find more information here about additional financial support you might be entitled to such as help to cover childcare and equipment costs.
Extra costs and equipment
As well as providing their own stationery, to include pens, notepad and an A4 folder, we recommend that students have access to a laptop and to the internet. In some instances, it may be possible for the College to assist with this.
Replacement ID badges cost £3 or £8 if incorporated with a bus pass. For photocopying, students are provided with the first 80 black and white free of charge. Any additional copies for black and white are charged at 4p per copy.
Although course textbooks are available in the College library, we will provide a list of recommended texts at the beginning of the course which you may wish to purchase.
Regulation and Accreditation
Accrediting Institution: N/A
Awarding Body: ASCENTIS
Terms and conditions
Read our full terms and conditions for more information.
What will I learn?
The course runs over two days a week and concentrates on a different element of the programme on each.
The first is the English Language and Literature element which comprises the following units. (Please note – these units are subject to change):
- Introduction to English Language and Literature
- Analysis of the Novel
- A Thematic Approach to Poetry
- English Language and Literature Project
- 19th Century Novel
- Academic Skills in English Language and Literature
The second element is Creative Writing, which comprises of the following units:
- Introduction to Creative Writing
- Poetry Techniques & Meaning
- Creative Writing Research Project
- Process & Practice in Writing Shorter Pieces
- Practical Skills in Creative Writing
Industry placement, field trips and guest speakers
Whilst this course doesn't include a compulsory work placement, we encourage our students to become part of the creative community. We are keen that you extend your experience beyond the university campus and join fellow English students of all levels of study to enjoy theatre visits to the nearby Grand Theatre, The Old Electric and the Winter Gardens, open mic, poetry and live music events.
During the course of your studies you will also have the opportunity to undertake voluntary work placements where you can apply your skills as a writer, for example, by working as an editorial assistant and/or journalist.
How will I learn?
We recognise that students have different preferred learning methods so the programme employs a variety of teaching techniques to provide a stimulating and dynamic learning environment. These might include: Interactive lectures, seminars, group-based activities, research projects, remote learning and presentations.
Classroom time is 340 hours over the year which equates to 10 hours a week. We would expect independent study time (research/background reading/preparing assignments/writing projects) to take an extra 10 hours a week.
The course itself is held over 2 days a week timetabled to run from 9am to 4pm each day.
Expert tutors
All tutors involved in the delivery of courses and apprenticeships within the College are approved to teach the subjects and modules they deliver.
Our recruitment process ensures that tutors delivering a given programme are suitably qualified and, where appropriate, possess relevant technical and industrial experience and a familiarity with professional practice. The aim of this is to enrich students’ learning experience, giving them an insight into what working in the industry is really like.
How will I be assessed?
The Access to HE Humanities is a 60 credit diploma, which covers the following subjects:
- English Language and Literature (27 credits)
- Creative Writing (24 credits)
- HE Study Skills (9 credits)
We use a range of assessment methods, including essays, reports and presentations as well as formal exams at the end. The percentage split between assignments and exams is:
- Assignments - 86%
- Exams - 14%