Start Date
- September 2025, Full Time, Day
What You Will Study
Our Access to Higher Education Diploma in Humanities and Social Sciences, as validated by CAVA, is a qualification which prepares students aged 19 and over without the relevant qualifications for degree-level study. You will study three of the following main subjects, with your pathway option determined at interview.
Psychology: You will develop an understanding of the main critical psychological perspectives including psychodynamic and humanist approaches, behavioural, and cognitive psychology. You will progress in subsequent units by studying issues surrounding conformity and obedience, and psychopathology.
Sociology: You will study units including: Sociological Theories of Meritocracy, The Sociology of the Family, and Studies in the Sociology of Inequality. You will explore main sociological perspectives which include functionalism and conflict theory. This subject focuses on debates and issues concerning contemporary global society.
Cultural Studies: You will study units including: The Moving Image, Representing Youth Subcultures, Satire, and Representing the Nation. These units will focus on exploring the role culture plays in what it means to live in a world defined by globalisation, cultural movement, and popular games such as The Traitors and Squid Game.
English Literature: You will study units including: Children’s Literature, The Novel, The Study of the Poetry, and Analysis of a Dramatic Text. This will prepare you for degree-level study in English and related disciplines, and will complement the study of the other topics offered in the course.
History: Units studied will include Historical Sources, The British Empire, and Period Study. The subject will provide you with the skills needed to explore history at university, but it will also complement your analysis of English Literature, Cultural Studies, and/or Politics.
Politics: You will study units including Key Political Concepts, Political Philosophy, and Theories of International Relations.
Why Choose City College Norwich?
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
You need to have achieved, or be working towards, GCSE English Language and Maths at grade 4 or above.
How You Will Be Assessed
You will be supported throughout the course by a personal tutor who will also give you guidance in applying for Higher Education courses. You will study a core of communications, research and study skills. 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 a number of set pieces of work such as essays, projects, presentations and examinations.
The course will be delivered over 2.5 days a week and will be classroom based. Lecturers will use a variety of teaching methods to prepare you for degree-level study.
The majority of this course is delivered at our Norfolk House campus in Exchange Street, Norwich.
Course Progression
The Access to Higher Education Diploma in Humanities and Social Sciences 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 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.
At City College Norwich Higher Education, we offer degrees such as BA (Hons) English, BA (Hons) English with Social Sciences, BA (Hons) Psychology with Sociology. Students have also previously progressed to: UEA, Brighton, Goldsmiths, Anglia Ruskin University, SOAS, University of Cardiff, University of Newcastle, University of Bristol, University of Manchester and University of Cambridge.
Where Your Course Can Take You
This course could lead to a range of careers including: Criminology, Psychology, Creative Writing, History, Museum Curation, Archaeology, Teaching, Law and Media.
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.
