Year 12s: what, if anything, would discourage you from attending a uni open day? >>

Access to HE Science

Gemgem2024

Hi,

I’m an adult student and would like to enter university using Access to HE Science for Pharamcy course. However, University of Portsmouth require 18 level 3 credits in Chemisty at Distinction, and same in Biology. I would like a distance or online course if possible to i can finish it as soonest so I can join in September 2025. Do you have any idea of which distance learning course i can do which can give the same requirements? I found one but most of them only gives 15 credits so Im trying to find exact course which can satisfy the universitie’s requirement?

Reply 1

MindMax2000

Universities Forum Helper

Original post by Gemgem2024

Hi,
I’m an adult student and would like to enter university using Access to HE Science for Pharamcy course. However, University of Portsmouth require 18 level 3 credits in Chemisty at Distinction, and same in Biology. I would like a distance or online course if possible to i can finish it as soonest so I can join in September 2025. Do you have any idea of which distance learning course i can do which can give the same requirements? I found one but most of them only gives 15 credits so Im trying to find exact course which can satisfy the universitie’s requirement?

You will unfortunately need to check with each individual course provider.

A standard Access course has 45 credits of graded units. If you want something with at least 18 credits in Biology and 18 in Chemistry, you're pretty much exclusively picking courses that have minimal credits in any other subject (if any at all). It's not likely that you would find these in the typical Science Access courses, but more so those in medical sciences and biomedical sciences. Even then, you would need to check with the individual course provider to see if you have sufficient credits in each subject.

The go to search engine for finding Access Courses is: https://www.accesstohe.ac.uk/course-search

You are looking for something that does distance learning, and would likely involve "science" in the title.
For example, the following course may suit what you are looking for: https://www.sandwell.ac.uk/courses/level-3-access-to-he-diploma-science-biochemical-science-pathway/
As I don't have the breakdown of the number of credits each individual unit consists of, I can't tell you whether the above course would meet your requirements.

If you are intending to apply for uni, then you would also need to submit your UCAS application by January. You should then do your course as soon as you can. There should also be a unit in the Access course that takes you through your UCAS application.

Reply 2

Arden University

Official Rep

Original post by Gemgem2024

Hi,
I’m an adult student and would like to enter university using Access to HE Science for Pharamcy course. However, University of Portsmouth require 18 level 3 credits in Chemisty at Distinction, and same in Biology. I would like a distance or online course if possible to i can finish it as soonest so I can join in September 2025. Do you have any idea of which distance learning course i can do which can give the same requirements? I found one but most of them only gives 15 credits so Im trying to find exact course which can satisfy the universitie’s requirement?

@Gemgem2024
Hi, I've taught on Access to HE for over 10 years, and the advice by other posters is correct. It does sound like a really specialised selection of modules they are looking for. An Access science pathway would typically look like 3 modules, Human Biology (15 credits), Health Sciences (15 Credits) and Physics (15 credits) or Chemistry (15 credits). What is very misleading, is that the module names like 'human biology' are completely made up, and it is the individual unit's that fall within them that actually matter. For instance I've taught on a Film and Media course where the modules were just divided up into what teacher was available that day to teach them.

I would speak to the admissions tutor at the University to see which Access program they recommend - they might have strong contacts with a local college or adult education setting where the course is delivered.

Marc
Arden University Student Ambassador