Access to HE Courses

If you feel you’re not quite ready for a university level course but still want to find the right path to a better and more rewarding future, an Access to HE course may be just what you’re looking for.

• We offer a full-time Access to HE course for adults who want to study to degree level but may not have the confidence or formal qualifications sometimes needed.
• An Access to HE course can be an ideal way of getting back into education, choosing from a range of units to help you build confidence and decide which degree qualification you’d like to progress on to.

Download Access to HE Course Information

Pre-Access Study Skills Courses

Everyone who wants to study an Access to HE course is now required to undertake a FREE* mandatory 5-week Pre-Access study skills course. The Pre-Access courses run throughout the year.

Following the Pre-Access course you will also be required to undertake a free* 4-week (10 hour) Literacy and free* 4-week (10 hour) Numeracy course to brush up your skills before moving on to the main Access to HE course.

(*You will be required to pay a £5 college admin fee payable once per academic year.)

For dates and times of our forthcoming Pre-Access courses and to enrol online, please use our Course Finder (top right) and select 'Access courses' under Subject type or search for 'Pre-Access'.

How to Apply for an Access Course

To apply for an Access course at Newcastle-under-Lyme College you should follow the steps outlined below:

1. Use our Course Finder (top right) to search for 'Pre-Access'
2. Click on the 'Enrol Now' button and complete an online enrolment form. You will be asked to pay a one-off £5 College admin fee.* Click here for further details of how to enrol online. If you require help or further information prior to enrolling contact our College Information Centre on 01782 254254 or email info@nulc.ac.uk to request more details. They will be happy to send you an enrolment form and further details in the post.
3. Once we have received your completed enrolment form we will contact you to confirm your place on the Pre-Access course. 
4. At the end of the Pre-Access course, you will be required to undertake a free 4-week (10 hour) Literacy and a free 4-week (10 hour) Numeracy course. Details of these courses will be provided to you by your tutor during the Pre-Access course.
5. At the end of the above courses, you will be able to enrol onto the full-time Access to HE programme, starting in September 2011.

Financial Support

If you do not currently have 5 GCSEs at grades A-C or equivalent qualifications, you may be able to study the Access to HE course for free. Depending on your financial circumstances, you may also be eligible to claim funding towards the cost of childcare, or a weekly maintenance grant known as the Adult Learning Grant (ALG). Find out more about financial support for adult students.