Course overview
Get £100 Access to HE courses with code “EARLYACCESS”! Offer ends 31st December!
Please note, we now have places available for our September intake, enrol early to avoid disappointment! This Access to HE Diploma Public Services qualification has been designed for those returning to education who dream of a career in the emergency services, legal sector, or military. During this two-year-long course, you’ll study highly relevant course content that will prepare you for your future studies and career, meaning you can hit the ground running when it comes to taking your next step. In your first year, you’ll explore topics such as psychology and the sociology of crime and deviance, as well as get to grips with how to research opportunities at a higher education level, and how to construct your academic writing and referencing. Your second year of studies will cover an introduction to law enforcement and policing, and an overview of crime including the causes of crime, criminological theories, and the effect of crime on the victim.
Recognition
Study method
- Online
- Blended
- In-class
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Duration study load
Your course will run for the duration of two years. Each unit will run for a specified amount of time and assignment deadlines for each unit will be detailed in your student guide when you enrol.
The next intake for this course begins in September 2022. You will need to enrol before August 31st to ensure you receive your course materials on time.
You can enrol online or speak to a course adviser at any time of year. We have two intakes each year, one in January and one in September. Once you have enrolled, we will provide you with access to your course materials when the cohort begins.
Entry requirements
You will need to be over 19 to enrol on this Access to Higher Education course.
You will also need to have a minimum of a grade C or 4 in GCSE English and a minimum of a grade E or 3 in GCSE Maths to be able to enrol on this Access to HE diploma. Copies of your official certificates from the awarding body must be provided as part of the enrolment process before your place is confirmed.
Students with Functional Skills qualifications instead of GCSEs will not be considered.
Pathways
- Policing degree apprenticeship
- Fire and rescue degree
- Paramedic science degree
- Social policy and law degree
- Sociology degree
- Other public service-related degrees
- Military career
Course features
- Expert personal tutor support with email access and mentoring sessions
- Dedicated student support from our student services team
- Assignment marking and feedback
- UCAS application guide
- FREE CV critique service and employability guide to help you impress future employers
- FREE XO Student Discounts membership
- *Exclusive Open Study College study pack including pen, highlighter, and notebook
*Not included with the online study option.
Assessment
There are no exams on this Access to Higher Education course. You will be graded solely through your assignments, which will include essays, presentations, and reports.
Your assessments will be handed out on set dates according to the course timetable. Each assessment will have a fixed deadline.
You will be graded across five units, allowing you to achieve 60 credits in total.
Who's it for?
As an equivalent to three A-Levels and a direct progression route to university, this Access to HE Diploma Public Services qualification is a widely recognised pathway for those looking to change their career. You’ll achieve UCAS points to get you on track for university, and we will also provide you with a guide on how to apply to university via the UCAS system. This course is your first step towards pursuing a career in the police force, fire and rescue service, or military to name a few.
Delivery
You will study this course by distance learning, which will enable you to learn when and where you want. You can study from home or any other place that suits you, it is completely up to you. You will receive our tutor support by email, so help is only a click away. You will also have access to video mentoring sessions with your tutor.
The study method you choose depends on your personal learning style. Your options are:
- Study pack: if you choose the study pack option, you will be sent a set of printed course materials.
- Study online: if you choose this option, you will be sent your login details to our online portal through which you will access your course materials digitally. You can access your course via a desktop/laptop computer, tablet, or smartphone.
Subjects
This Access to HE Public Services Diploma is made up of nine units. Five units will be graded, and four units will be ungraded. The course provides 60 credits in total. The course content will cover the units needed to progress to a variety of public service-related university degrees, covering the key academic skills and subject knowledge students will need to achieve this.
Each unit carries a set number of credits, and this information is required when you make your university choice. Here are the full details on unit credits.
- Researching opportunities for progression to HE.
- Opportunities available in HE.
- Exploring your own aspirations.
- Implications of following a HE course.
- Importance of work experience.
- Key resources and planning your learning.
- Extracting key information from credible academic sources.
- Academic writing.
- Referencing.
- Academic integrity.
- Scientific nature of psychology.
- Psychological perspectives.
- Work of prominent psychologists.
- Ethical issues in scientific investigation of human and/or animal behaviour.
- Deviance and criminal behaviour relating to sociological concepts and theories.
- Interpreting and evaluating crime statistics and quantitative evidence.
- Assessing the reaction to crime by the media and other social groups.
- Learning styles.
- Exploring your personal development.
- Reflecting on your performance.
- Principles of policing in the UK.
- The role and responsibilities of law enforcement officers.
- The use of digital tools and how they can support the role of leadership and decision-making in modern policing.
- Basic operations with whole numbers, integers, fractions, and decimals.
- Percentages.
- Using numbers in everyday situations.
- Metric and imperials systems of units.
- Basic rules for indices and numbers expressed in standard form.
- Gain an understanding of crime and the causes of crime.
- Recognise contemporary criminological theories.
- The role of the media in relation to crime.
- Discover the historical changes in crime and sentencing and the effect of crime on the victim.
- Develop skills in planning and undertaking a research project which investigates a law and/or criminology-related research topic or issue.
About Open Study College
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Established in 2007, Open Study College (OSC) is a distance learning course provider that has helped over 120,000 learners take the next step towards achieving their ambitions.
With over 700 courses, ranging from A Levels and GCSEs through to childcare and beauty therapy — there’s something for everyone. All of their qualifications are independently accredited by established awarding organisations, fully equipping you for the future.
Why choose Open Study College?
Whether you’re in full-time work or have family commitments, distance learning at OSC provides the flexibility to create a study schedule that fits around the busy demands of day-to-day life. Accomplish your goals — at your pace, on your terms.
You will also receive the best possible support from the uber-friendly learner services team, as well as guidance from expert tutors who are on hand to answer any queries you might have throughout the duration of your course.
What makes Open Study College different?
Born from a genuine passion to improve the lives of others through education, OSC is a family-run business with decades of experience in the education and distance learning industry.
Seeking a career change? Didn’t get the exam results you wanted? Looking to learn a new skill? Your learning journey has no end at Open Study College. Enrol on one of their courses today and forge the future you’ve always wanted — all from the comfort of your own home!
Additional benefits
As an Open Study College learner, your benefits will include an XO Student Discounts membership, exclusive savings on future courses and a complete range of career support — including a free CV critique service, a free employability guide, and job-hunting help from their recruitment experts.
