learndirect qualifications

hi guys so i am basically doing access to he nursing in learndirect and i was wondering if it stays for a certain amount of time. i have heard access to he are valid for only 2 years is this the same for learndirect qualifications?

Reply 1

DataVenia

Volunteer Team, Clearing and Applications Advisor

Original post

by deepening-daisy

Well, technically speaking, Access to HE Diplomas don't expire. If you gain that qualification, then you still hold it 20 years later. However, in reality universities and other education providers will expect it to have been achieved recently in order for them to consider it a valid qualification for entry. Unfortunately, the rules vary between universities, so you'd need to check on a case-by-case basis as to when they feel that any given qualification can no longer be accepted. (I've not seen any suggestion that universities won't accept them after just two years.)

See, for example:
• "Access to HE Diplomas do not expire but, as with any qualification, may lose currency over time. In some cases, students who apply to higher education several years after completing their Diploma may be asked by a university to evidence more recent studies or relevant experience." (QAA)
• "Once you receive your Access to HE Diploma, you are given 5 years to apply for a university place. After this time the diploma will ‘expire’ in the eyes of universities. However, your diploma is valid for life in the eyes of employers. This skills and knowledge gained are as relevant as those earned through other qualifications, like A Levels." (Stonebridge College)
• "Does an Access to Higher Education Diploma expire? An access qualification can be used to go to university for up to 3-5 years. This is due to progressions within industries and curriculum changing." (Cambria University Centre)

Qualifications from Learndirect have no special status and the above applies to them too.

The same goes for other qualifications too, by the way. For example, Glasgow say here that "BTEC qualifications must have been awarded within 7 years of the date of entry to the University to be accepted as meeting entry requirements."