Access to Higher Education (HE) courses are nationally recognised qualifications designed to support adults aged 19+ to go to University. They are available in a range of different subjects, with transferrable skills ensuring you can enter a degree or enhance your career.
Renn is studying the Access to HE – Humanities and Social Science course and has found new passions thanks to the staff, topics and the environment of EKC Dover College.
We spoke to Renn about their experience:
Why did you choose to study an Access to HE course?
Initially I did a BTEC Extended Diploma in Art for my A Levels. It was a good course, but it didn’t set me up for University in the way I had hoped. I didn’t know how to write an essay properly or reference for example.
I did briefly go to University straight afterwards, but I was only there for three weeks as I realised I wasn’t ready for further study yet.
After I left education, I didn’t really know what to do or what I wanted to focus on, and then I saw this course which sounded really great. I felt like it would be able to help me understand what I wanted to do next, which it really has.
What’s something you’ve really enjoying learning?
I’ve enjoyed how it’s focused on preparing you for University or your next steps. If you’ve never been to University before or you haven’t got a Level 3 qualification, it’s really great.
I’ve got friends who have studied different courses and then gone straight into University. However, a lot of them don’t know how to write an essay, they don’t know how to do an academic presentation, and they’re missing a lot of key skills in these areas.
Here, we’re taught how to write an essay properly, how to reference correctly, what sources you should be referencing, and it’s really fantastic stuff that I never learnt before at School.
What’s the environment like at EKC Dover College?
Everyone’s so encouraging, and the staff are lovely and fantastic here. It’s a really positive environment, and I like how small the group is as well.
It’s not overwhelming and it’s not overcrowded. When I was in School, I had one teacher in a class of 60, so the complete opposite of what I’m experiencing now. Being surrounded by adults is lovely as well, and it does make a real difference.
The staff are so driven by your success and are excited to teach. Here, they really want you to do well.
What I also love is that everyone’s got a different background that they can bring to the course.
In my Social Science classes in particular, we’re all talking about very diverse topics, and it’s so nice that everyone has their own experiences. We get to have really interesting conversations and learning with discussions is something I love.
How are you encouraged to explore your interests?
Although we have set modules, it’s really up to us what topics we choose and how we explore these. There is a lot of freedom within it, and we’re encouraged to research and find great stuff.
For example, we’ve just finished social psychology and now we have an essay to write which is 2,000 words. This is focused on two similar or conflicting antisocial or asocial behaviours and the consequences of them. However, that can be on anything we want, and I’m looking into the army and their asocial and social behaviour, as this is relevant to other topics around humanitarian aid, an area that I’m now passionate about.
If you’ve got a niche and you want to explore it, you pretty much can with this course.
What is the support like at College?
I feel really supported here. When I’ve had issues outside of College, or if I’ve had to be away for a little bit with family stuff, it’s completely fine to do so.
The course is suited to work around us. As a group, we decided that we wanted to make the day finish slightly later because it suited us more.
It’s a really flexible course and I’m in College two and a half days a week. I also have a part-time job and balancing the two is really doable.
Everyone on the course is doing the equivalent of three A levels in a year, but with the support at College, it’s manageable. I really do like this College a lot.
What do you now hope to do after your studies?
I’m going to be taking a gap year in the summer, and then I’m going to move to Bristol with friends who are also going to University.
With this course, I’ve had the opportunity to apply to universities with UCAS. I have applied to a university in Bristol to study Humanitarian Aid.
It’s a really special course that is extremely hard to get into, but studying Access has given me the opportunities, skills and qualifications that I need to study further. It’s absolutely perfect for the sorts of future careers that I want to get into.
Thank you to Renn for sharing their experiences. If you’re interested in seeing what an Access to Higher Education (HE) course can help you achieve, then explore our courses today.
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