Access to Higher Education diploma
A one-year course, usually at a college, for adults who left school without the qualifications universities ask for. It is funded, and universities accept it for many degrees.
Routes into university
There is more than one way into a degree. These are the routes we place home students on most often — including applicants with no A-levels at all.
Options
More than one way in
The route that fits depends on what you already have, how much time you have, and how you want to fund it.
Foundation year
An extra year at the start of a degree. You are a full student from day one, and you carry on to year one once you pass it.
HND or foundation degree
Two years of vocational higher education, often with a work placement, which can be topped up to an honours degree later.
Top-up degree
A single final year that converts an HND or foundation degree into a full honours degree.
Mature students
Universities want mature applicants. Life and work experience counts, and access courses and foundation years exist precisely for this route.
Part-time and evening study
Study 25% of a full-time course or more and you can still get a tuition fee loan and a reduced maintenance loan.
Degree apprenticeships
Earn a salary and study at the same time — the employer pays the fees, so there is no student loan for the course.
Clearing
If your results are lower or higher than expected, Clearing in August is how you find the best course still taking applications.
Part-time and mature
Studying while you work
Part-time study at 25% intensity or more can be funded in 2026/27: a tuition fee loan of up to £7,335, plus a maintenance loan that scales with your study intensity — up to £6,840 if you live with your parents, or £8,124 living away.
If you are 60 or over on the first day of your course, or studying by distance learning, the maintenance loan rules are different. We will go through your situation before you apply so nothing comes as a surprise.
No A-levels?
Where most of our adult students start
An Access to Higher Education diploma is the standard route for UK adults returning to study. It runs for about a year, it is funded through the normal student finance system, and a large number of universities and colleges accept it.
If you already hold an HND or a foundation degree in a related subject, a top-up year is usually faster and cheaper than starting again.
Questions
Questions about getting in
Do I have to pay tuition fees up front?
No. Eligible home students borrow the full fee through a Tuition Fee Loan, which Student Finance England pays directly to the university. For 2026/27 that is up to £9,790 a year for a full-time undergraduate course.
How much maintenance loan will I get?
It depends on where you live and your household income. For 2026/27 the maximums are £9,118 living with your parents, £10,830 living away outside London and £14,135 living away in London. The maximum applies up to about £25,000 of household income, then it tapers down as income rises.
When do I start repaying?
Only once your income is above the Plan 5 threshold of £25,000 a year, and then at 9% of everything above it. Interest is RPI only, and any balance left after 40 years is written off.
What if I do not have A-levels?
There are real routes in: an Access to Higher Education diploma, a foundation year at the start of a degree, or an HND followed by a top-up year. We will tell you which one fits your background.
Can I study part time while I work?
Yes. Part-time study at 25% intensity or more can be funded: the 2026/27 part-time tuition fee loan is up to £7,335, with a reduced maintenance loan depending on your study intensity.
Do I have to be a certain age?
No. Mature students are a large part of what we do — from Access courses in your twenties to part-time degrees later on.
Not sure which route fits?
Send us your qualifications and what you want to study. You will get a straight answer about your options, and it costs nothing to ask.