We talk to Harry about their experience studying Access to Humanities course

At CRC, we offer Access to Higher Education Diplomas – a one year course that helps students to develop the study skills and academic knowledge to progress onto a degree level course. People who typically join Access courses may have been out of education for a while or haven’t achieved the ‘right’ grades at A Level to study the course they wanted to. Around 40,000 people every year study on an Access course and there is no upper age limit. The courses are part-time and flexible, to fit in with work and childcare. 

Could you describe your path from secondary school to studying at CRC?

After getting my grades at secondary school, I went to Long Road Sixth Form College for a year and a month, when I dropped out due to mental health issues and some mental health difficulties. And after recovering from them, I was given some advice by a good friend of mine, and he said I should try CRC. So, I looked it up, looked at all the courses, and I’m thinking I really want to do history, so I see the Access course – I apply, I get in, I go to the open day, and now I’m here!

Why did you choose to study at Cambridge Regional College?

I wanted to study here because a) it’s close to where I live. Another reason is it just felt like the college would treat me more as an adult rather than a teenager because of the way the Access course is, there are people on it above the age of 17. And so far, it’s been perfect. And that’s the big reason why I wanted to come here. Also, because it’s close and it’s a really good college.

What course are you studying and how are you finding your time at CRC?

It’s so good. All the classes that I’ve had are fantastic. The tutors explain things really well. The classes are perfect – I would say with all my peers, I’ve managed to score the perfect class pretty much. And then the one to ones have been great with my tutor. The T-Mails have been quite informative, the teachers have been very understanding when it comes to things like extensions, due dates, things like that. Because we talk to them, we use first name basis, it creates a really nice environment because it means we can just chat to them. Yes they’re our lecturer but they’re also just someone there to help us, rather than being a step above us. It makes them feel more equal. The food is amazing here – the hash browns! It’s also really well priced. They have a lot of options. Everyone I’ve interacted with have been really helpful and really nice.

What are you hoping to do after you complete the Access course?

After I do the course, I’m hoping to go to university. Hoping to go to UEA at Norwich to do history with a year abroad. I’m going to study there for two years and then do a year abroad, I’m hoping to go to South Korea. I’m learning Korean. Then you do another year back here. Then after that I’m hoping to go on to do an apprenticeship at a host institution for archival work – so the people who work in the archives, sorting things, organising things, that’s what I want to do because it’s fascinating to me. I’m a big history buff, I love all things history, so getting the opportunity to touch things from several hundred years ago is magnificent to me.

Personally, what has the Access course meant to you?

It’s really helped my mental health. It’s given me a routine, a structure to be beholden to. I need to wake up at a certain time, I need to do this, do that. It means my life is regimented which I like and needed. It’s also given me an opportunity to make new friends and meet new people and so far, it’s been really nice, I’m hanging out with people outside the college, it’s been great. It’s helped a lot with my mental health specifically, as it’s also the getting outside, being outside and doing things and putting my brain to work. Maybe it hasn’t had such a nice impact on my wallet though – too many hash browns!

What advice would you give to anyone thinking of studying at CRC?

I would say, look at how the course I structured. So, you finish an assignment and you get a grade from that assignment, and you get the grades throughout the year, which is different to how other colleges do it. So if you’re thinking of studying here, eat the hashbrowns, but keep an eye on organisation and make sure you’re up to date with work if you’re missing lessons because that’s the big thing that’s holding me back – if I miss a lesson, catching up with it, and having that drive to keep catching up with it.

Did you have any worries or concerns before you started the Access course?

I was worried that it would be very difficult because the Access course is 1 year compared to 2, so it’s almost 2 years’ worth of content combined into one year and I thought it would be stressful. And it is stressful but the way it’s laid out is very clear which definitely helps. The tutors and the college have made it very clear, but my big worry was that it will be really difficult and stressful. It was stressful for the first month or two, getting used to it, but now I’m settled in.

The college is very good in terms of support, and they try their hardest to give you any support that you need. And very reasonable as well. The tutors and staff I’ve spoken to are very reasonable in terms of expectations. No one has wildly weird expectations. Overall, I think it’s really good.

Thank you to Harry for speaking to us about their experience of studying on the Access course. If you’d like to find out more information about Access to HE, click here.