Access to HE Diploma (Business Management)

Applications Open - Monday 27 October 2025

Applications Close - Open all year

How to Apply - Please apply through KentChoices and use your KentChoices login which your school should provide.

PLEASE NOTE - Popular courses can fill up quickly so apply early to avoid disappointment

If you have any queries regarding the courses, please contact EKC Ashford College

Application Limits - You can make up to 5 applications to Colleges within the EKC Group, that is:

• EKC Ashford College
• EKC Broadstairs College*
• EKC Canterbury College*
• EKC Dover College
• EKC Folkestone College*
• EKC Sheppey College

*Junior Colleges exist in these locations.

Please only add one course or T Level per application, except for A Levels at EKC Canterbury College, where up to 4 A Level courses can be added per application. At your interview, you and the tutors can discuss the best level and courses in order for you to progress.

Open to those aged 19 and over, our nationally recognised Access to HE courses give you the skills, knowledge and qualifications you need to go to university, or start a change of career. This course focuses on Business Management. It’s perfect if you want to explore options like Business, Marketing or Finance in the future. If you don’t have traditional entry requirements for university, everything you learn means you’ll be fast-tracked to start a degree the following September. If you have been out of education for a while, it’s not a problem, with our small, supportive environment designed to bring yourself and other like-minded students together. Whatever your aims or future goals, there’s no better place to start.

Studying Business Management means choosing exciting topics to investigate, such as Budgeting, Digital Technology, Marketing and Human Resources, all of which give you key industry insights. To help you decide your specialism at university or in your new career, you’ll also take part in a research project, before choosing optional units to tailor your focus. These optional units include: • E-Commerce • Economics • Finance • Leadership • Principles of Effective Business • Project Management Dynamic lectures, group projects and practical sessions are designed to replicate what you would do at university, so you can explore your options early. Taking part in these alongside like-minded students will also grow your confidence, teamwork and management skills, which are perfect for any degree. UCAS application support is a key part of our courses, with our dedicated Careers and Support teams on hand to guide you through the process. Choosing EKC Ashford College means that whatever your next steps, you’ll leave confident, focused and ready for a meaningful future.

To test your knowledge and to ensure you’re ready for university study or a new career, assessments take place throughout the year. You can expect a unique blend of essays, group discussions, projects, presentations and more formal assessments, for you to showcase your new skills and abilities.

This study programme is designed to help you move quickly toward advanced jobs, higher education, or apprenticeship opportunities if you know what you want to do next and meet the entry requirements needed for success. Achieving a Level 3 qualification will improve your future earning potential and career choices. It also allows you to progress to Higher Education, Higher Apprenticeships, and Degree Apprenticeships. These can lead to roles like advanced technician or skilled supervisor at Level 3, and eventually to management or professional status as you continue your studies. To study at Level 3, including all T Level and A Level programmes, you will need an average entry score of 5.0 from your best 6 GCSE subjects, ideally including English and Maths.

Former students have gone on to universities across the country, studying a range of degrees from Sociology to Psychology, to other fields such as Business, Finance and Event Management. Access to HE qualifications have also been used to kickstart careers in numerous roles found in Business. For former student, Tul, studying with us enabled him to go onto a Politics degree at the University of Kent: "One piece of advice I'd give someone considering studying an Access to HE course is to really be sure it's what you want to do. Be focused, organised and prepared for a lot of hard work. It’s changed my life for the better.”