What expectations do Access to HE students have of universities and colleges when they enter HE?

The nature of the Access to HE course, which acts specifically as a preparation for higher education, means that most Access to HE students have a realistic idea of what is involved in a higher education programme. They tend to be well prepared in terms of their study skills, and former Access to HE students often find that they are better prepared than others in areas such as time-management and research skills.

They may have work or personal experience to offer which is relevant to a particular aspect of the course and they may have greater confidence and fluency in tutorial or seminar situations. On the other hand, they may experience some initial uncertainty: they will probably not be used to large lectures and, like other students, may feel somewhat overwhelmed in the first few weeks.

Access to HE students often have family or other commitments which make it difficult for them to benefit from social events and activities organised by the university or college. This is usually quickly overcome once they have established friendships and peer-support networks with other students in similar situations, but this may take a little longer than it does for students who are able to spend more time in each other's company.

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