Access to Higher Education

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September 2025

Currently reading: Course overview

Starts: Sept 2025
Duration: 1 year
Mode: Part-time | Daytime on Wednesday, Thursday & Saturday
UCAS code: N/A
Inst. code: Open College Network, London (OCN)

Ideal for: Creatively-minded adults returning to education with an interest in design or digital media with a view to continue on to an honours degree.

Access your creative future

This course will give you the opportunity to consider your creative specialism and develop the skills, techniques and confidence you will need for degree-level study.

What's more... Students who are 19+ can apply for an Advanced Learner Loan to cover the cost of their tuition fee - see 'The Specifics' section below for more information.

Blurred image of a woman with white writing reading 'Access to Higher Education' in forefront of imge

I can wholeheartedly say that the Access to HE course at Ravensbourne University has shaped my future and changed my life. Completing the course really boosted my confidence as a creative and prepared me to enter the world of digital media and design.”

—

Brikena Dunisha , 2017 graduate

Why study this Access to Higher to Education course?

Learn design principles through practical studio projects and workshops, lead by teaching and industry professionals
Experiment with ideas and technology
Graduate with a unique portfolio of work that is interview-ready
You have a broad interest in film, production, animation, sound design, graphics, illustration, animation or 3D design.

Student showcase

Students working on a drawing on the floor by the river thames

Colourful sketches of various objects — **Jouan Kraghoul, Jouan Kraghoul, Interactive illustration**

Person wearing a mask squating — **Anita Karklina** **Access to Higher Education, Final Major Project**

*Extended personal project realised through film, installation and performance*

The box thumbnail — **Sahra Casu,** **Access to Higher Education,**

*Animated and print outcomes for a group project*

Silver molecule structure on a black background — **Marius Matasan**, **Access to Higher Education, Final Major Project**

*Extended personal project*

Architecture prototype with a tree — **Shahzoda Isomova, Access to Higher Education, Final Major Project**

*Extended personal project*

Students look around a musuem on one of many learning trips

Model poses in a gold top with orbs and black trousers

Two Access to HE students sitting inside a sculpture

The Access to HE programme at Ravensbourne University was the third Access course I enrolled on after not completing the previous two at separate institutions due to a lack of engagement and interest. I remember starting the Access to HE course at Ravensbourne University and saying to myself, “if I only knew that this institution provided Access to HE programmes when I first started to look into my options as a student above 21 years of age.”

—

Nico Froehlich , Graduated in 2017, award-winning freelance photographer and currently teaching at Ravensbourne

Progression

Most of our students go on to study a degree course, with many staying on at Ravensbourne.

If you do choose to stay, there is an internal progression award: Our foundation and access diploma graduates may be eligible for a one-off cash gift of £500 if they progress directly to an undergraduate degree course at Ravensbourne.

Below is the list of undergraduate courses you can progress to after completing an Access to Higher Education course at Ravensbourne:

Find more information about our progression scheme.

Application deadlines

The deadline for application submission is 30 April 2025 for September 2025 entry. We are currently still accepting applications.

The specifics

Your first stage focuses on the core disciplines of design through:

Conceptual drawing and technical drawing
Contextual studies
Digital image production
Life drawing
Media experimentation
Observation skills
Recording and research techniques

You will explore the following subject areas:

Graphics (graphic design, illustration, and web design)
Lens-based media (animation; broadcasting; film and video; digital photography; sound design) • 3DD (architecture; interior; product; set and interactive design)

This will help you develop a sense of where your skills and interests lie so that you can confidently choose the next stage of the course.

You will deepen and develop your knowledge of design practice culminating in working exclusively within your chosen subject area. This will enable you to plan your next steps in entering higher education by developing a specialist portfolio for honours degree interview or your chosen career path.

We will encourage you to look and work beyond narrow definitions, and to collaborate with staff and students from other disciplines. During this stage you will also develop a proposal for a final specialist project of study.

No formal qualifications are required.

Please note: Access to HE courses are not available to International Students requiring a Student Route visa.

Applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis through an interview, to assess applicants’ skills and enthusiasm to return to education.

Ravensbourne fully supports T-Level's as a new pathway to university study and will accept the relevant UCAS Tariff points for T-Level's across all courses.

You can’t learn in a vacuum. At Ravensbourne University London, industry connection is ingrained into everything we do. We will equip you for success in the creative and digital industries, ensuring you are truly industry ready upon graduation. Our tutors are respected academics and practitioners with substantial experience and industry links.

You will be part of a diverse community of creatives, working collaboratively to explore new professional practices. Ravensbourne have strong industry links with a range of high-profile companies, including: Apple, Barclays, the BBC, European Space Agency, Marks & Spencer, Museum of London, the Royal Shakespeare Company, Samsung and many more.

You should consider this course if you have a broad interest in film, production, animation, sound design, graphics, illustration, animation or 3D design. Most of our students go on to study a degree course, with many staying on at Ravensbourne.

Internal progression award: Our foundation and access diploma graduates may be eligible for a one-off cash gift of £500 if they progress directly to an undergraduate degree course at Ravensbourne.