Access to Higher Education Diploma: Engineering Science


  • Start Date: 01/09/2025
  • Course is for: Adult
  • Course Length: 1 Year
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If you’re aged 19 years or older and dream of pursuing a career in Engineering or Physics but don’t yet have the qualifications you need, then this course could be for you.

The course is validated through Ascentis and is a recognised QAA qualification.

This one-year, intensive programme is designed to support you in getting the qualifications you need to get into university to study degree programmes such as:

  • Aeronautical engineering
  • Mechanical engineering
  • Civil engineering
  • Electrical engineering
  • Computer engineering
  • Biomedical engineering
  • Environmental engineering
  • Structural engineering
  • Physics
  • Robotics.

Run by a team of friendly, supportive and approachable teaching professionals, the course has been designed to support you in your career journey.

On the course you will study:

Engineering and Physics

  • Introduction to Engineering Science
  • Introduction to Physics
  • Practical Investigation (Engineering Science)
  • Mechanical Engineering Technologies
  • Principles of Physics
  • Dynamics
  • Energy and the Environment


Mathematics

  • Introduction to Mathematics
  • The Power of Algebra
  • Algebra, Geometry and Sequences
  • Further Algebra
  • Engineering Mathematics
  • Calculus
  • Numerical Methods


Study Skills

  • Developing Your Research Skills
  • Further Study Skills

Assessment

You will complete ongoing assessments during your time with us.

This will include Essays, Reports, Portfolios, Case studies, exams and other assessment types to help you show your understanding of the topics covered in the course.

You will also carry out your own research project in practical engineering science.

If you are aged 19-23 and do not yet have a full level three qualification, you will get the course for free.

If you are aged 24 or higher, or already have a full level three qualification, the full cost of the course is £3,384.

However, the full amount can be covered by the Adult Advanced Learning Loan.

Student Finance England will “write off” the loan once you complete a university degree following on from the Access to HE Diploma, meaning you would not pay anything back.

Students on the access course make use of facilities at the Baltic campus including our libraries, laboratories, clinical practice rooms, programming facilities and classroom environments.

You will have access to our Careers and Guidance team to help you with your university application and to help you prepare for interviews and assessments.

£3,928

Many of our students progress to local and national universities to study degree programmes.

Some of the courses our students have progressed to are:

  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Structural Engineering
  • Physics.

To search university programmes and their entry requirements, you can use the UCAS website www.ucas.com.

The standard entry requirements are GCSE grade 4 or above in maths, English and a science.

If you have relevant industry experience in the science and engineering sector or personal experience in a relevant role, for example shadowing a friend or family member, we would encourage you to apply.

Our teachers are ambitious, talented and passionate about making your experience at college the very best it can be.

They have up-to-date industry experience to share with you and the energy and enthusiasm to help you get where you need to be.

They also understand that returning to study as an adult can be tough and that you’ll have lots of other priorities to juggle.

They pride themselves on offering lots of one-to-one support to help you do your very best.

Although work experience is not a mandatory element of this course we strongly recommend you complete voluntary work in a scientific environment to support your progression to university.

There may be opportunities to gain work experience with our employer partners.

We can support you through this and we have our very own industry placement and business development team ready to offer help and advice.

Across the year, we engage with local universities to support students who are making decisions about their progression.

We have working relationships with:

  • Northumbria University
  • Teesside University
  • Newcastle University
  • Durham University
  • The University of Sunderland
  • New College Durham
  • Cumbria University

We also work closely with several universities to support our students in gaining volunteer work in laboratories to support their university applications.

We currently work closely with Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust to develop our units and they also provide us with exciting industry placement opportunities both on the wards and in hospital laboratories.

School Leaver Course Guide 2025/2026

View or download our course guide for 16-18 year olds.

Gateshead College School Leavers guide for 2025 - 2026