Access to Humanities and Social Sciences – English Studies Pathway

Access to Humanities and Social Sciences – English Studies Pathway

Your Diploma at a Glance

• Get to university without A-Levels
• Achieve a nationally recognised qualification
• Study an English-related degree
• Explore poetry, short stories, and film adaptations
• 100% online
• No exams

About Your Diploma

Having a solid understanding of English and all the elements involved with the verbal and written word can lead you into an exciting career in various sectors.

Whether you want to write creatively in a professional setting or teach English in a secondary school, having a base of foundational knowledge will put you in good stead when studying at degree level.

The Access to Humanities and Social Sciences – English Studies Pathway is the perfect course to study if you are keen to study a degree in English, Marketing, History, Creative Writing, or another English-related subject.

You will explore a wide range of topics, delving into the influence of community, history and culture on text, how to analyse short stories, and the difference between male and female speech. As part of your English Studies course, you will also become familiar with poetic techniques and how some literary texts are adapted into film.

Arguably the most famous playwright and poet was William Shakespeare, and you will get to explore his techniques and approaches whilst studying the Access to Higher Education Diploma course. In addition to subject-related topics, you will also learn study skills that will get you prepared for degree-level study.

Access to Higher Education Diplomas are designed for students who want to go to university but don’t possess the A Levels they need to meet entry requirements. This is because Access to Higher Education Diplomas are the equivalent of 3 A-Levels.

Most universities accept these qualifications as alternatives to A-Levels, but please check with your chosen establishment before applying. This English Studies course will help you on to a range of different degrees.

Getting Started

As soon as you enrol on the Access to Humanities and Social Sciences – English Studies Pathway course, you will be issued with an Individual Learning Plan (ILP), which will outline the submission deadlines for your assignments. The purpose of the plan is to help keep you on track during your studies.

You will be given 24/7 access to all of the course materials you need via our industry-leading platform, and with the course being delivered entirely online, you can complete it from the comfort of your own home.

While you study, you will get support from our team of qualified and experienced tutors and will be able to contact our Access Support Team, who will help you throughout the duration of your course. You have two years to complete the Access to Higher Education Diploma - English Studies Pathway course, but on average, our learners take 9 months to achieve their qualification.

Modules

Module 1: Academic Writing Skills

Upon successful completion of this module, you will:

• Be able to structure a written response
• Be able to develop a structured response to a plan
• Be able to present the response appropriately for audience and purpose
• Understand how to apply academic writing principles to own work

Module 2: Reading and Note Making

Upon successful completion of this module, you will:

• Understand a range of reading strategies
• Understand the use of language in terms of the purpose and context of a range of texts
• Be able to use methods for developing notes from a range of sources

Module 3: Texts and Genres

Upon successful completion of this module, you will:

• Identify and understand the genre conventions of a variety of texts, such as poetry, prose, essays and letters
• Understand a range of literary features
• Demonstrate awareness of the relationship between literary texts and social issues

Module 4: The Influence of Community, History and Culture on Text

Upon successful completion of this module, you will:

• Understand linguistic devices employed in oral and written texts
• Understand the historical and cultural factors influencing texts
• Understand the effects of community on language

Module 5: Industrialisation in Britain

Upon successful completion of this module, you will:

• Understand the conditions which encouraged industrialisation in Britain
• Understand perspectives on the causes of industrialisation

Module 6: Literature: The Novel

Upon successful completion of this module, you will:

• Understand structure and plot within the novel
• Understand themes in the novel
• Understand the use of language in the novel
• Understand the significance of characterisation within the novel
• Understand the significance of setting within the novel
• Understand the significance of the various contexts within which novels are written
• Be able to apply a critical perspective to a novel

Module 7: Literature: Shakespeare

Upon successful completion of this module, you will:

• Understand the interpretative nature of text and performance
• Be able to discuss text using relevant literary terminology
• Understand theatrical conventions
• Understand the significance of cultural, social and Historical influences on both producers and audiences

Module 8: Analysing Short Stories

Upon successful completion of this module, you will:

• Understand the skills needed to analyse short stories
• Understand the significance of context in short stories
• Understand how literary criticism can be used to develop a response to short stories

Module 9: Social and Economic Change in 19th Century Britain

Upon successful completion of this module, you will:

• Understand agricultural change and the development of industrialisation in 19th century Britain
• Understand the causes and effects of rapid urban growth in 19th century Britain
• Understand the development of social and political protest in 19th century Britain

Module 10: Male and Female Speech

Upon successful completion of this module, you will:

• Understanding the features of male and female speech
• Understand theories and approaches to male and female speech

Module 11: Film Adaptations

Upon successful completion of this module, you will:

• Understand how to translate written narrative into film
• Be able to produce a storyboard or script employing the editorial conventions of mainstream narrative film
• Be able to evaluate a visual representation which has been translated from written text
• Understand the relative signification processes of written and film texts

Module 12: Literature: Poetry Analysis

Upon successful completion of this module, you will:

• Understand meaning in poetry
• Be able to apply literary terminology to discuss poetry
• Understand the influence of context on the production and reception of poetry
• Be able to critically review a range of poetry

Module 13: Writing an English Studies Essay

Upon successful completion of this module, you will:

• Be able to plan an essay about a topic from the field of English Literature or English Language
• Be able to write an essay about a topic from the field of English Literature or English Language

Module 14: Social Media and the Use and Change in Language

Upon successful completion of this module, you will:

• Be able to write an essay about a topic from the field of English Literature or English Language
• Understand the impact of social media usage on language
• Understand the role of social media in shaping public discourse and opinion

Module 15: Literature: Dramatic Text

Upon successful completion of this module, you will:

• Understand the subject and theme of plays
• Understand the writers’ use of language
• Understand dramatic structure and technique in dramatic text
• Understand and use concepts and critical terms which are key in the study of drama
• Understand dramatic texts in relation to political, social, cultural and historical contexts

Entry Requirements

To study an Access to HE Diploma you must be resident in the UK and have a UK postcode.

You must hold Level 2 qualifications in both English and Maths, or be working towards them alongside studying your Access to Higher Education Diploma.

University Entry Criteria

It must be reiterated that each university will set its own admission criteria. So, you must check with your desired institution if your Access to HE Diploma and other qualifications will be accepted. In many cases, to get started at university you will need: - A certain number of credits passed with a merit or a distinction grade - A face-to-face interview at the university - Literacy and numeracy assessments provided by the university - Course-related work placements or work experience - GCSE Grade C/4 or above in Maths and English (or equivalent Level 2 such as Functional Skills/Key Skills, etc.) It is your responsibility to check that your Access to HE Diploma will be accepted as part of these entry requirements for your chosen degree. learndirect will not be held accountable if completing this Access to Higher Education Diploma doesn’t secure you a position with a higher education institution.

Minimum age restriction

Access to HE Diplomas are designed to support students to progress to university who have substantial experience of life outside of formal education which they have gained since completing compulsory schooling.

Average completion timeframe

The average time it takes our learners to complete the course is 9-12 months.

Assessment requirements

A range of assessment methodologies are used, including: academic report, essay, journal article, portfolio, presentation (video and audio recording), research report, academic writing skills tasks

Exams required

There are no exams included in the assessment of the course.

Is Membership Required?

No membership is required to enrol on this course.

Additional requirements

Learners must be actively studying for a minimum of six months before results can be ratified and certificates ordered. The six month period does not start until you have passed unit 2 of your course and you must be submitting assignments regularly (in line with the deadlines in your Individual Learning Plan) to meet this six month requirement. Certificates can only be issued once your course is paid for in full.

Certification Timeframe

You can expect to receive your certificate 12-16 weeks from your final assignment being marked and graded, depending on the time of year. You will be provided with regular updates throughout the certification process so that you are fully informed of your individual timeframes.

Course Fees

All course fees, inclusive of all payment plans including our Premium Credit Limited option, must be settled before certification can be ordered.

*You will have access to the course for 24 months.

A range of units make up this qualification, with an assignment at the end of each. You will submit your work to your tutor for marking and tailored feedback. You must acquire 60 credits in total to achieve the Access to Humanities and Social Sciences – English Studies Pathway.

Of these credits, 45 will be taken from graded units which focus on the academic subject areas included in the course. The remaining 15 come from ungraded units included helping you to improve your academic writing and study skills.

As part of your programme, you will also receive help as well as guidance on your university application and the research you need to do to get the most out of your diploma.

Skills & Education Group Access

On successful completion of the Access to Humanities and Social Sciences – English Studies Pathway, (QAA aim code: 40012888), you will receive a Skills & Education Group Access, QAA recognised, Access to Higher Education Diploma at Level 3. As part of your programme, you will also receive help as well as guidance on your university application and the research you need to do to get the most out of your diploma.

An access validating agency with a strong social purpose to recognise achievement, particularly for those who have benefited least from their previous educational experiences, Skills and Education Group Access supports the needs of learners, providers, businesses and communities by enabling progression into higher education.

Career

With this qualification, you will be able to enrol on a degree that is related to English Studies, giving you a plethora of options. For example, you could enhance your existing knowledge by studying English Language or English Literature or go in a different direction and study a History or Marketing degree.

When choosing your degree, you should consider the career that you want to achieve. With English Studies knowledge, you could go on to work in many roles, such as the following:

• Content Writer
• Proofreader
• Editor

Further Qualifications and Prospects

If you want to delve into creative writing professionally, perhaps write your own novel or short story, you can develop your skillset by studying additional courses. With learndirect, you can study Crime Writing, Caption Writing, Scriptwriting and more.

For those of you who want to work as an English Teacher in a secondary school, you will need to enrol on an Initial Teacher Training (ITT) programme. Whatever career you decide to pursue, an Access to Higher Education Diploma - English Studies Pathway will help you kickstart your career journey.

Frequently Asked Questions