Start Date
- September 2025, Full Time
Summary
Looking to break into the world of business? Are you keen to embark on a degree in this area but don't currently meet the entry requirements for Higher Education? Our Access to HE Diploma in Business will give you a grounding in this subject that will enable you to advance to the next level of study. Throughout the course, you will receive superb support from our dedicated team of expert tutors and support staff to aid your development.
The Access to Higher Education Diploma in Business, as validated by CAVA, is a qualification which prepares students aged 19 years and over, without relevant qualifications, for study at degree. You will be given the opportunity to develop not only academic knowledge in your chosen subject but also broader study skills to help prepare you for University.
Students are required to participate in an intensive period of study which covers 9 units delivered across 2.5 days a week. It is expected that you supplement this teaching time with independent study at home.
This course is widely recognised by UK universities and colleges including City College Norwich. However, we advise that you contact them about their entry requirements to ensure the Diploma you have chosen in appropriate for your area of future study. International students whose qualification are not recognised by UK universities or colleges, and who are 19 and over, may also wish to choose this pathway as a route to enter degree level study.
The majority of this course is delivered at our School of Higher Education Centre, Norfolk House, Exchange Street, Norwich, NR2 1DR.
Why Our College?
Developed with employers and progression in mind
All courses have been developed with employers and progression in mind, and many are part of the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership's 10 priority sectors
Widely recognised by universities
Access to Higher Education courses are widely recognised by UK universities and colleges, 24,000 Access to HE students are accepted at over 140 universities every year.
Financial support
City College Norwich offers flexible payment plans to help you spread the cost of fees. You can apply for an Advanced Learner Loan and bursaries are available to support childcare and travel costs
Entry Requirements
Acceptance onto the Access programme is conditional on the following:
- Providing evidence of achievement in English Language and Mathematics at GCSE grade 4 and above. (For certain applicants, we may be able to offer you a place if you have achieved a Pass at Level 2 Functional Skills English and/or Maths if you don't have the required GCSE grade. However, this will depend upon your application and future progression plans).
- Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading), the required minimum is; IELTS (SELT); 6.0 overall (minimum 5.5 in all components) International candidates are also actively encouraged to access the International Students webpage.
If you do not currently hold suitable entry requirements, please speak to us about enrolling on our Maths/English GCSE courses. If you are working towards GCSEs this year in readiness for September, please let us know when you apply.
Selection to discuss your suitability for the course and whether the course is right for you is by interview and evidence of your qualifications. As part of this process you may be required to complete online assessments and submit a short piece of writing.
All candidates will be given a Digital Skills assessment and will be offered a short course to improve this area of their knowledge if this is deemed suitable.
Please note that, should you require further study in English, Maths or Digital Skills, these sessions will be offered at both Paston College in North Walsham and in City College Norwich.
Learning Outcomes
Units studied in this course include:
Financial Awareness (for individuals and businesses), Entrepreneurial Marketing, Accounting for Business Managers, Managing People, Emerging Technologies, Ethics for Business, Understanding Business Organisations, Business Environment, People in Organisations, Business Plans: Start Up, Growth and HE Study Skills.
You will develop skills in written and spoken English, presentation skills, information technology, maths, leadership, employment and university applications as well as a range of study skills to help prepare you for higher education.
Objective
On this course, the college aims to develop the interest you already have in this field and build on it with the knowledge, expertise and experience of our tutors and to provide you with a positive learning experience. We also aim to support you throughout your course in other ways and the college has a wide range of support services for our adult students to help you achieve your full potential.
This is what a recent graduate of this course had to say:
"I found the course to have a great diversity in business modules that were all of great interest and taught in a comprehensible and, often times, fun approach. The staff were inclusive, supportive and were all clearly passionate about their roles in the college and the subjects they teach. I am incredibly grateful for their support and dedication in ensuring my learning was of a high quality and couldn't recommend the college enough." RF July 2020
Assessment
You will be supported throughout the course by a team of tutors who will give you guidance in applying for Higher Education courses. All students study a core of communications, research and study skills as well as modules detailed in the Learning Outcomes. You will be awarded credits on completion of each units with a Pass, Merit or Distinction grade.
All credits are awarded are awarded at level 3 which broadly equates to A-level study. Assessment is continuous over the whole year and is based on several set pieces of work such as essays, reports, projects, presentations and an open-book examination. Assessment deadlines are provided and you will need to learn to manage your time effectively to ensure that those deadlines are met.
Progression
The Access to Higher Education Diploma in Business Management is widely recognised by UK universities. If you are planning to study a degree course at a specific university, it would be useful to contact them to check that the Access Course you have chosen is in an appropriate subject area and is recognised by the university or college. Please be aware that university entry criteria can change at any time.
Previous students have progressed to the following universities: UEA, Leeds Beckett, Sheffield Hallam, De Montfort, University Campus Football and Business, Leeds, Manchester Metropolitan and Nottingham Trent.
Career Progression
After completion many students progress into the following careers:
Entrepreneur, HR Manager, Accountant, Auditor, Marketing Executive, Retail Management, Business Management, Finance, Football Marketing and Computer Security.
Fees
Please contact the Advice Shop for information on fees and financial support which may be available. We recommend you also check our Finance pages for further information including student travel offers.
