Access to Higher Education Diploma: Business and Law

Program Overview

This one-year Access to Higher Education Diploma prepares mature students over 19 without relevant qualifications for undergraduate study. The program covers modules in Business, Law, and Study Skills, providing students with the knowledge and skills to succeed in higher education. Assessments include essays, presentations, and academic posters, and students benefit from a diverse range of teaching and learning activities. The program has a high employment or further study rate for graduates, with opportunities in various business sectors.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

This is a one-year Level 3 Access course taught over thirty-six weeks that prepares students for the rigours of level 4 study and beyond. It is designed for mature students over the age of nineteen who do not have relevant Level 3 qualifications such as A-Levels or BTECs. The course is regulated by the Quality Assurance Agency and provides students with a "second chance" to pursue higher education. The program aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in undergraduate study.

Outline:

The Access to Higher Education Diploma: Business and Law program covers modules in Business, Law, and Study Skills. Each module contains content that is transferable to an undergraduate degree and helps students develop skills for transitioning into level 4 study.

Business Modules:

• Double Business:
• Introduction to Business Organisations:
This module explores business objectives and analyzes different business organizations through case studies.
• IT for Academics: This unit develops students' skills in Information Technology, a crucial aspect of business study.
It also teaches students how to enhance their academic documentation and presentations.
• Motivational Management and Leadership:
• Marketing Tools: This module examines how businesses bring their products or services to the market, including sector analysis and maximizing product/service potential throughout its life cycle.
• Human Resource Management: This unit explores the importance of recruiting the right staff with the necessary skills for both the present and future needs of a business.
• Introduction to Financial Accounting: This module introduces accounting principles to help students understand how businesses operate financially.
• Business Planning: This unit unravels business planning models, integrating elements from the Marketing, HR, and Finance units, and explores the nuances of planning in different market sectors.

Law Modules:

• Understanding Actus Reus and Mens Rea: This module helps students understand the difference between a guilty mind (mens rea) and a guilty act (actus reus) and how they apply in the study of law.
It introduces fundamental legal principles and general legal terminology related to civil and criminal law.
• An Introduction to the Law of Tort: This unit delves into the concept of "duty of care" and its application in everyday life.
It explores the law of tort, its relevance to individuals, and how seemingly obvious outcomes may not always occur in legal cases.
• Employment Law: This module covers fundamental principles of employer and employee law, legal requirements of employment contracts, and legislation and case law on equal opportunities.
• The Judicial System: This module clarifies the structure and jurisdiction of courts and covers the roles of contributors to the civil and criminal justice systems, including professional legal personnel and other staff.
It builds on previous units' coverage of case law to study appeal grounds in greater depth.

Study Skills Modules:

• Study Skills: This module provides essential skills for completing the Access Diploma and progressing to undergraduate study.
It includes two units: Progression Skills and English for Academic Study. The module aims to develop existing skills and introduce new ones.

Assessment:

Students are assessed through a variety of methods, including essay writing, presentations, writing, and academic posters. Assessments are explained within each unit, and support is offered to scaffold student progress throughout the course. These assessments are designed to apply the knowledge, skills, and behaviors learned in sessions and through wider reading and experiences to areas of interest within education.

Teaching:

A diverse range of teaching and learning activities are used across each subject. Sessions are interactive and encourage student participation and student-led tasks. Students learn differently in each taught session, with some sessions utilizing group work and others focusing on independent research and investigation. Scheduled teaching hours are led by a tutor who designs the learning according to the group profile, exposing students to a vast range of practices. Wider enrichment activities supplement learning throughout the academic year, including guest speaker presentations and access to the University of Derby's library and on-site facilities for Further Education students.

Careers:

A degree in business can lead to many varied and exciting career opportunities for graduates. Some examples include marketing, project management, procurement management, and sales. After graduation, students will have knowledge of different business sectors, such as finance, and business functions, such as human resource management, which will prepare them for employment. Graduate schemes are popular with business graduates as they often lead to excellent career development in established organizations.

Other:

• The course is offered full-time over 36 weeks.
• 90% of Access Diploma graduates are employed or in further study 6 months after graduation (Quality Assurance Assessment 2021).
• The course is subject to change, and the content is reviewed regularly to improve student experience and graduate prospects.
• Contact time with lecturers and tutors could be anytime between 9am and 9pm.
• Students who are lacking in level 2 qualifications can enroll in a Pre Access course to prepare for the Access course by taking English and Maths qualifications alongside other modules.
• The course is offered in a university setting.