Access to Higher Education courses
These courses are designed to provide a route
to higher education if you don’t have the right
qualifications or experience to start one.
Access courses aim to introduce you to a subject
area, develop your study skills and build your
confidence and ability with higher education study.
Access courses are recognised by universities across
the UK and allow entry on to higher education
programmes at Bedford College and beyond. Our Access courses take one year to complete.

We currently offer Access courses in:
» Student guide to Access courses
Student loans
If you’re aged 24 or older, a resident of the UK and looking to study a qualification at Level 3 or 4, you will be able to apply for a low-interest
24+ Advanced Learning Loan to cover your tuition fees. You will only start to repay this once you’ve completed your course and you’re earning over £21,000.
Progressing from Access?
If you take one of our Access courses using a
24+ Advanced Learning Loan and then progress on to a higher education course, your loan will be written off when you complete your higher education qualification.