London Access to HE Diploma handbook

Open College Network London Region

Access to Higher Education Diploma

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London Access to HE Diploma handbook

Introduction

Who should use this Handbook?

OCNLondon Region is the Access Validating Agency (AVA) for London, licensed by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA). An Access to HE Diploma is specifically designed to prepare adult students from under-represented groups for study in UK Higher Education. It must be designed in consultation with HE and it must be delivered in the UK. This Handbook is to be used by centres and moderators who are delivering or moderating an OCNLR approved and QAA-recognised Access to HE Diploma.

A centre is approved by OCNLR to run Access to HE Diplomas. Diploma details for all AVA centres in London are available in the London Access to HE Courses Directory.

A centre which offers an Access to HE Diploma must meet minimum requirements in order for the learners to gain their Diplomas and credit transcripts. This Handbook describes the processes which both the centre delivering the Access to HE Diploma and the OCNLR appointed External Moderators must follow in order for the Access to HE learners to receive their Diplomas and credit transcripts.

In summary:

Learners are registered with OCNLR against an Access to HE Diploma
The Diploma is delivered according to the specified Rules of Combination (see below) and learners’ work is internally moderated, then externally moderated
Learner achievements are confirmed by the AVA Awards Board
Learners receive their Diplomas and credit transcripts

Direct links to relevant guidance, forms and pages on the website are used throughout this Handbook to assist users in quickly accessing the information they need.

Please note that this Access to HE Diploma Handbook can only be used for Access to HE courses. The N/OCN Handbook must be used for delivery and moderation of all other N/OCN courses.

Contact requirements for the centre

Most centres have an administrative contact (usually the Exams Officer), a curriculum contact at course level (e.g. Access Co-ordinator or Course Leader) and a centre quality contact (usually the Quality Manager/ Director).

Each of these contacts has a role in the Access to HE Diploma processes in this Handbook. It is recommended that contacts read through all sections so as to be aware of the entire process; this is particularly important for quality contacts.

It is essential that the person responsible for administration liaises with the Access Co-ordinator and tutors to ensure correct registration of learners and correct recording of achievement.

For each centre there is a named OCNLR Admin Officer and a named OCNLR Curriculum Development Manager at OCNLR. There is also a Curriculum Development Manager with lead responsibility for Access. Their names and contact information are available from OCNLR. Those responsible for meeting the centre requirements should have this information.

Rules of Combination

Each Access to HE Diploma has a specified combination of modules and units that must be achieved for the learner to be awarded the Diploma. This specification is called ‘Rules of Combination’ and it determines what is taught and assessed on that Diploma.

The Access to HE Diploma can only be awarded if a learner has achieved the required number of credits from the approved named units which are identified in the Rules of Combination for the course.

The Access to HE Diplomas are made up of units which are identified in the Rules of Combination as ‘mandatory’ or ‘optional’. Mandatory units are those which must be achieved in relation to the award of the qualification; optional units are those contained in the subject modules. A specified number of credits must be achieved per module listed but there may be a choice of units within those modules for centres to deliver. The Rules of Combination for each Diploma are available on the APRU Diploma Database.