Online Access to HE Courses: How They Work and Who Accepts Them

Yes, you can study an Access to HE Diploma online, and many universities accept it. A genuine, QAA-recognised Access to HE Diploma has the same name, credit structure and UCAS Tariff points whether you study at a college or from home. Some courses, particularly medicine, don't accept diplomas studied by distance learning, so check with your target universities before you enrol.

If you're working, caring for family or live a long way from a college, online study can be the thing that makes university possible. This guide shows you how to check a course is real, what's different about studying online, and how to avoid picking a course your chosen university won't accept.

What is an online Access to HE course?

The Access to HE Diploma is a Level 3 qualification designed for adults who want to go to university but don't have the qualifications they need. QAA, the body that regulates it, says it makes academic demands at an equivalent level to A-levels. It's mainly for adult learners, especially people who've been out of education for a while.

Every Access to HE Diploma has the same structure, however you study it:

So an online Access course is the same Diploma, studied through distance learning rather than in a classroom. The Diploma is awarded by Access Validating Agencies (AVAs), which QAA licenses to develop, approve and monitor courses.

For a full introduction, read our Access to HE Diploma explainer.

How do I check an online Access course is genuine?

This is the most important step, because the exact name and the official listing are what count. Here's how to be sure:

1. Check the name. QAA says the national qualification it regulates is called the Access to HE Diploma, and "if a qualification has this name, it is QAA recognised". A course with a different name isn't the same thing.
2. Search the official database. QAA lists every approved provider and course on its Access to HE course search at accesstohe.ac.uk. There's a distance-learning filter: tick it and the search shows only distance-learning courses.
3. Look at the certificate wording. QAA says genuine Diploma certificates carry its Access to HE logo and the words "recognised by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education".
4. Ask your target universities. The official Access to HE website advises contacting the university you're aiming for, to check your chosen Diploma is in a suitable subject and is recognised by them.

Do universities accept online Access to HE Diplomas?

Most universities talk about the Access to HE Diploma without mentioning how it was studied. The official Access to HE website says the Diploma is "widely recognised by UK universities". Brighton, for example, says it welcomes applicants studying QAA-approved Access to HE Diplomas, with no mention of delivery.

Some courses are stricter. Four medical schools say clearly that they won't accept distance learning for medicine:

Medicine has some of the tightest Access rules of any subject, including specific subject content and very high numbers of Distinctions. If medicine is your goal, read our guide to Access to HE medicine before you choose a course.

For most other subjects, the usual advice applies: find the course page, look for the Access to HE entry requirement, and if it doesn't say anything about online study, email and ask.

Online vs college: which is right for you?

Neither is better for everyone. It depends on how you like to learn and what your life looks like. Here's what the official sources say about each:

Online study suits people who are self-motivated and good at managing their own time. If you know you work better with a timetable and classmates around you, a college course may be the safer choice, even if it's less convenient.

How many UCAS points is an online Access to HE Diploma?

Exactly the same as a college one. The Diploma has been in the UCAS Tariff since September 2017, and the official Access to HE website says only Diplomas awarded after July 2017 are included. Your points depend on how many of your 45 graded credits you get at Distinction, Merit and Pass:

Many universities make Access offers in credits and grades, such as "30 credits at Distinction", rather than in UCAS points. Our Access to HE UCAS points guide explains how the Tariff works for the Diploma, and the Access to HE UCAS points calculator works out your own total from your credits.

Is an Open University access module the same thing?

No, and it's easy to mix them up. The Open University runs its own Access modules, which it describes as the ideal place to start if you're preparing for an OU qualification or haven't studied for a while. They aren't called Access to HE Diplomas, and QAA's rule is that only a qualification with that name is QAA recognised.

Here's what the OU's 2026/27 Access modules prospectus says:

If your plan is an OU degree, an Access module could be a good first step. If you want to apply to other universities through UCAS, look for an Access to HE Diploma instead. You might also find our guide to online courses with UCAS points useful.

How do I pay for an online Access course?

If you live in England and you're 19 or older on the first day of your course, you may be able to get an Advanced Learner Loan to cover the fees. The course has to be at a college or training provider in England. The best part: GOV.UK says Student Finance England will write off any outstanding loan balance for an Access to HE course once you complete a higher education course.

The official Access to HE website adds that if you're 19 or over you may be expected to pay full fees, which is why the loan matters. Check with your provider that its course is eligible before you apply. Our student finance basics guide covers the loans you'll use once you get to university.

What should I do next?

1. Decide on your degree subject and shortlist three or four universities.
2. Check their Access to HE requirements, including credits at Distinction and any rules on distance learning.
3. Search the official Access to HE course database, with the distance-learning filter ticked.
4. Email admissions to confirm your chosen course will be accepted.
5. Sort your funding before you enrol.

Work out your Access to HE UCAS points