Access to HE Diploma (Forensics and Criminology)

Key Facts

Level:
Level 3
Subject Sector:
1.4 Public Services
Credits:
60
Qualification No:
QAAQ004358
Price:
View price list
Age Range:
19+
QAA aim code:
40007248

Qualification Summary

The Diploma provides learners with a wide choice of units to support progression into Forensics and Criminology degree programmes. The mandatory group of units ensures that learners have a good understanding of themes relevant to Forensics and Criminology including key topics in Crime Statistics, Forensic Investigation, Forensic Science and Criminology.
In addition to the graded units, learners must choose from a selection of mandatory and optional ungraded units to support underpinning skills for work within the sector and for further academic study.

Learners must achieve a total of 60 credits, of which 45 credits must be achieved at level 3 from graded units which are concerned with academic subject content and the remaining 15 credits must be achieved at level 3 from units which are ungraded. All learners must register for at least one 6-credit or one 9-credit unit as part of their programme of study; this can be a graded or ungraded unit. The maximum number of credits that can be made up from 6-credit or 9-credit units is 30 credits; this can be from graded and ungraded 6-credit and 9-credit units.

Why choose this qualification?

This Access to HE Diploma has been fully reviewed and revalidated for the 2024-25 academic year. Updated teaching and learning support materials are also available to Gateway Qualifications recognised centres.

The Access to Higher Education (HE) Diploma is an academic qualification that is designed to prepare learners for study at degree level. The diploma is designed to give the learner the relevant academic subject knowledge and underpinning study skills required to progress onto a relevant degree programme.

As an Access Validating Agency (AVA), all of our Access to Higher Education (HE) Diplomas are compliant with Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) regulations.

Units

Graded Academic Subject Content Units

Learners must complete 45 credits from the Mandatory Units: Graded Academic Subject Content, Optional Units: Research Graded Academic Subject Content and Optional Units: Graded Academic Subject Content groups.

Mandatory Units: Graded Academic Subject Content

Learners must complete 21 credits from the mandatory graded units.

Crime Statistics

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034760
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Forensic Investigation Procedures

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU035230
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Forensic Science

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU035234
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Introduction to Criminology

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU034792
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Optional Units: Research Graded Academic Subject Content

Learners must take 6 credits from this group.

Research Skills for Forensics or Criminology

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU035290
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Research: Practical Investigation Project for Forensics and Criminology

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU035296
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Social Research Methods for Forensics or Criminology

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU035308
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Optional Units: Graded Academic Subject Content

Learners must take 18 credits from this group.

Aspects of Social Psychology

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034904
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Cell Biology and Biochemistry

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU035192
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Chemical Basics and Atomic Structure

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034748
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Criminal Investigation and the Criminal Justice System

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034762
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Digital Forensics

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU035210
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Environmental Forensics

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU035222
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Forensic Photography

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU035232
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Fundamental Concepts in Biology

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034768
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Fundamentals of Chemistry: Conducting Experiments

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU035238
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Human Anatomy and Physiology

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU034782
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Introduction to Criminal Law

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU035248
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Introduction to Genetics

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU035246
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Introduction to the Sociology of Crime and Deviance

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034798
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Practical Chemical Analysis

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034822
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Practical Chemical Science for Health Studies

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU035030
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The Blood

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU035108
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The Human Skeleton and Muscles

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU035321
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The Psychology of Offender Profiling

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034854
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Violent Crimes

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU035343
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Ungraded Units

Learners must achieve 15 credits from the Mandatory Units: Ungraded and Optional Units: Ungraded groups.

Mandatory Units: Ungraded

Learners must achieve 3 credits from this group.

Preparation for Higher Education

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034710
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Optional Units: Ungraded

Learners must achieve 12 credits from this group.

Academic Reading Skills

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU035351
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Academic Writing Skills

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034692
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Communication - Speaking and Listening

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034696
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Mathematics - Calculations

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034706
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Optimising Examination Performance

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034708
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Practical Science Skills

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU035359
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Presenting Information Using ICT

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034714
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Promoting Wellbeing and Building Resilience

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034720
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References and Reliability of Sources

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034722
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Spreadsheets

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034726
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Study Skills for Higher Education

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034730
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Sustainability Project

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034732
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The Fundamentals of Environmental Sustainability

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU034734
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Intended learner groups

a) Adults who, because of social, educational or individual circumstances may have achieved few, if any, prior qualifications and wish to progress to HE
b) Adults who have gone straight into industry (perhaps following apprenticeship routes) who wish to progress to HE.

Delivery methods

Face to face
Blended learning
Online delivery

Progression routes

• BSc (Hons) Criminological Psychology
• BSc (Hons) Psychology and Criminology
• BSc (Hons) Police Studies with Criminal Psychology
• BSc (Hons) Forensic Science
• BSc (Hons) Forensic Science with Criminology
• BSc (Hons) Forensic Science with Psychology
• BA (Hons) Criminology and Criminal Justice
• BA (Hons) Criminology and Law
• BA (Hons) Criminology and Psychology
• BSc (Hons) Professional Policing

Provider approval criteria

Depending on the choice of unit, centres will require access to relevant science labs and technical equipment

Funding information

There are now two main sources for funding information, a straightforward ESFA Qualification Search and the more detailed Find a Learning Aim website.

The new Find a learning aim (FALA) service provides a search tool that you can use to check the funding status of any qualification, framework, unit, standard or T Level:

View this qualification on the ESFA’s Find a learning aim website

The Education and Skills Funding Agency search provides funding information on qualifications. It does not provide funding information for units, non-regulated activity and work placements, for this information please use Find a learning aim (FALA).

View this qualification on the ESFA Qualification Funding Search

How to find a learning aim

If you’re not sure how to use the new find a learning aim website, we’ve created a handy walkthrough to help you:

How to Use: Find a learning Aim

We have done our best to collate and summarise the key information, and wherever possible we alert our providers to changes in funding policy.

This funding information is provided in good faith and it is always advisable to check directly with the funding agencies before committing to delivery.

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