A Levels vs. Access to HE

A Levels: The traditional route

One of the biggest advantages of A Levels is choice.

You can choose the subjects that interest you and, depending on your university plans, combine them in different ways. This flexibility can be particularly useful if you’re not completely sure what career or degree you want to pursue yet.

If you’re in this position, check out our A Level bundles, which bring together popular subject combinations and show you which degrees and career paths they can help prepare you for.

A Levels are also a well-established and widely recognised route into university. Choosing them can give you reassurance that you’re following a qualification universities are familiar with and widely accept.

But there is one thing to consider: the workload

Studying several A Levels means studying multiple subjects in depth. Keeping up with three different subjects and balancing them can be challenging, particularly if you’re returning to education after some time away.

If you already have a clear idea of the degree or career you want to work towards, you may prefer a more focused route.

That’s where Access to HE could be a good option.

Access to HE: One focused course

An Access to Higher Education Diploma is designed for people who want to progress to higher education but may not have the traditional qualifications needed to get there.

Instead of choosing several separate subjects, you study one Diploma focused on a particular area.

For example, there are Access to HE routes covering areas such as health professions, law and computer science.

This makes Access to HE a particularly attractive option if you already have a good idea of what you want to do.

This can be a great option if you already have a good idea of what you want to do. Rather than studying three separate subjects, you can focus on an area that connects directly to your intended degree and career.

For adults returning to education, having that clear focus can make the route to university feel more straightforward.

But there’s one important thing to check.

Access to HE isn’t automatically accepted for every university course.

It’s a recognised route into higher education, but universities and individual degree courses set their own entry requirements.

So, if you already have a particular university or degree in mind, check its requirements before choosing your qualification.

This is especially important for competitive courses, where entry requirements may be more specific.

Exams vs. coursework

Another major difference between A Levels and Access to HE is how you’re assessed.

A Levels are mainly assessed through traditional exams, while Access to HE courses have no exams. Instead, you’re assessed through coursework and assignments throughout the course.

With A Levels, much of your assessment takes place through formal exams. This means you’ll need to revise what you’ve learned and perform under exam conditions.

If you’re comfortable with exams and find that they suit the way you work, the structure of A Level assessment may work well for you.

But if the thought of sitting formal exams makes you nervous or puts you off studying altogether, Access to HE could be a better fit. You can demonstrate what you’ve learned through your coursework and assignments instead.

Neither approach is necessarily easier. They just suit different ways of learning.

So, think about what works best for you: would you rather revise for exams, or build your results through coursework throughout the course?

Which route is harder?

Neither A Levels nor Access to HE should be considered an easy route to university.

They simply challenge you in different ways.

With A Levels, you may be studying three separate subjects in depth. That means balancing different topics, assignments and revision across multiple subjects.

Access to HE is more focused, so you can concentrate your studies on one particular area. However, you’ll still need to manage your workload, complete assignments and develop the academic skills needed for university-level study.

The better question isn't necessarily ‘Which is easier?’

It’s ‘Which style of studying suits me best?’

How long do they take?

This is one area where the two routes are a bit more similar.

Online A Levels and Access to HE both have a standard study timeframe of around two years, depending on the course and provider.

However, neither route necessarily has to take that long.

If you're motivated and are prepared to put the work in, you may be able to complete your studies more quickly.

So, don’t choose between A Levels and Access to HE based purely on how long they might take. Think about what you want to study, how you learn best and where you want your qualification to take you.

Which one suits your situation?

A Levels could be a good fit if:

• You want to study several individual subjects.
• You're not completely sure which degree or career you want to pursue.
• You want to keep a range of university options open.
• Your chosen university course has specific A Level subject requirements.
• You enjoy learning through a mixture of study and examinations.

Access to HE could be particularly suited to you if:

• You already have a clear career or university goal.
• You want one focused qualification rather than several separate subjects.
• You like the idea of studying subjects directly related to your future career.
• You'd rather be assessed through coursework.
• You don't want to sit exams.
• You're returning to education and want a course designed as a route into higher education.