learning
learning hours
Access to Higher Education Diploma (Land Based Science)
- Study ecology, the environment and the sciences
- Learn plant and animal biology
- Gain core skills to work in agriculture, forestry management and conservation
- Complete the course within a year
- Go to university without A Levels
- Study online to fit around your existing commitments
About your Diploma
Land based sciences encapsulates agriculture, the environment and animal care focusing on the management and custodianship of our farmlands, forests and wildlife. This includes conservation and sustainability efforts to fight climate change, sustain green spaces and reverse declining animal populations including birds, badgers and other woodland creatures.
Studying land-based sciences will give you the opportunity to explore careers in farming, agriculture, fisheries, gamekeeping, forestry management, land based engineering and more.
This Access to Higher Education Diploma (Land Based Science) will cover the core elements of chemistry, biology and physics in relation to ecology, animal biology and environmental management.
Through your studies you will learn the interconnectedness of nature and how one slight change can cause a cascade effect, impacting on environments, animal populations and even crop yields.
It will provide you with the grounding you need to go on to further studies and a variety of careers in land-based science ranging from agricultural engineering to zookeeping.
Getting Started
learndirect is the leading UK distance learning provider. This Access to Higher Education Diploma (Land Based Science) is regulated by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA). It is also a nationally recognised Level 3 qualification that provides an excellent alternate to A Level study.
This Access to Higher Education Diploma (Land Based Science) prepares you for university level study, as well as providing you with a nationally recognised qualification that can improve your career prospects.
This Access to Higher Education Diploma is developed by subject experts, in conjunction with universities to ensure the course material will be of the greatest value to you when you start your degree.
This diploma is an online course so you can start your studies the same day you enrol. All you need to do is log in to the student portal and all your course material will be there waiting for you.
You can learn whenever suits you best, giving you the freedom to carry on working and earning while you gain new skills. This flexible learning approach also allows you to complete the course as quickly as you like. You will be provided with an Individual Learning Plan that outlines the submission deadlines for your assignments to keep you on track throughout your studies. On average, learners take 9 to 12 months to complete their Access to Higher Education Diploma.
We’ll also provide you with access to a dedicated team of tutors who will help you throughout your studies. They will answer questions, mark your assignments and provide detailed feedback.
This will allow you to get the best possible grade and meet your learning goals.
The units are broken down for you here so that you can see what your qualification will include. However, the assignments you complete have been designed so that you can complete multiple tasks together where possible and you will see a different number of assignments in your personal portfolio; you will still be completing the whole qualification.
Unit 1: Preparing to Study
On completion of this unit you will:
- Understand how study is organised and planned
- Understand how to apply theories of learning in relation to personal approaches to learning
- Understand a range of constraints upon study
- Understand the importance of assessment feedback
Unit 2: Academic Writing Skills
On completion of this unit you will:
- Be able to write with relevance in responding to an academic task
- Know how to interpret and discuss ideas and issues in responding to a set, academic writing task
- Be able to summarise for academic purposes, selecting key points, information or central ideas
Unit 3: Preparing a Written Assignment
On completion of this unit you will:
- Understand how to use key information sources
- Understand why sources are acknowledged and referenced
- Understand a range of reading strategies
- Understand note-making methods
- Understand how to plan, draft and produce a written assignment
Unit 4: Using Spreadsheet Software
On completion of this unit you will:
- Know how to use spreadsheet software
- Know how to perform calculations on spreadsheet data
- Know how to use spreadsheet software to create and develop charts
Unit 5: Algebraic Methods
On completion of this unit you will:
- Apply series
- Apply mathematical operations on logarithms
- Apply mathematical operations on surds
- Apply algebraic methods.
Unit 6: Cell Biology
On completion of this unit you will:
- Understand the cell
- Understand cellular metabolism
- Understand how cells grow and divide
Unit 7: Periodic Table
On completion of this unit you will:
- Understand the periodic table
- Understand periodicity in the elements of period 3
- Understand ionisation energy
- Understand oxidation and reduction
- Understand reactions of the Group 2 metals
- Understand the group 7 elements
Unit 8: Calculus
On completion of this unit you will:
- Apply differentiation
- Apply integration
- Apply differentiation and integration to solve problems.
Unit 9: Research Topic
On completion of this unit you will:
- Be able to plan and carry out a primary research project on a topic relevant to your Diploma title
- Be able to plan and write a research topic report
- Understand, develop and apply basic research skills
Unit 10: Aspects of Animal Biology
On completion of this unit you will:
- Understand aspects of cell biology
- Understand a range of skeletal and locomotory systems in animals
- Understand sensory organs in animals
Unit 11: Atomic Structure and Bonding
On completion of this unit you will:
- Understand the structure of the atom
- Understand electronic structures
- Understand the formation of ionic bonds
- Understand the formation of covalent bonds
Unit 12: Trigonometry
On completion of this unit you will:
- Apply the trigonometrical functions.
- Apply trigonometry.
- Understand the principles of trigonometric graphs.
Unit 13: Ecology, Ecosystems & Environmental Management
On completion of this unit you will:
- Understand ecology and environmental relationships
- Understand the techniques involved with management of an ecosystem
- Understand the role of government and non-governmental bodies in environmental protection
Unit 14: Hydrocarbons
On completion of this unit you will:
- Understand the importance of organic compounds
- Understand the structure and characteristic reactions of alkanes
- Understand the structure and characteristic reactions of alkenes
Unit 15: Statistical Research
On completion of this unit you will:
- Understand how to plan for an investigation within an appropriate subject area
- Understand how to carry out an investigation by collecting and processing an appropriate range of data
- Understand how to Interpret and analyse results
- Understand how to evaluate the investigation
Unit 16: Plant Biology
On completion of this unit you will:
- Understand how plants are classified
- Understand pollination and fertilisation in flowering plants
- Understand transport processes in plants
- Understand plant hormones
Unit 17: Chemical Change
On completion of this unit you will:
- Know how to measure the concentrations of solutions
- Understand energy changes during chemical reactions
- Understand factors influencing rates of chemical reactions
- Understand the concept of chemical equilibrium
Anyone wishing to continue their education with an Access to Higher Education Diploma, it is necessary they have a GCSE Grade A-C in maths and English (or Functional Skills Level 2 or new GCSE Grade 4-9) with a desire to continue a related degree at university. If you do not hold these qualifications then you must be working towards them whilst completing your Access to HE Diploma.
Our Access to Higher Education Diplomas fulfil entry criteria for a broad range of university degrees and can be used in conjunction with the standard UCAS application process. In short, Access to HE Diplomas have a track record of helping learners get to the university and degree of their choice. Learners must bear in mind each university has its own set of admission criteria and places are subject to demand. Varying admission criteria can include but are not limited to the following:
- Number of credits to be attained at merit or distinction level.
- Successfully passing a face-to-face interview at the University.
- Passing a University’s proprietary literacy and numeracy assessments.
- Completion of specified work placements or work experience.
- GCSE Grade A-C (new system 4-9) in maths and English (or equivalent Level 2 such as Functional Skills).
Learners must undertake their own research to ensure their Diploma gives them the best possible chance of gaining entry to their university of choice. It is not possible for learndirect to accept any liability if any Access to Higher Education Diploma student fails to secure an offer from a higher education institution.
A range of units make up this qualification, with an assignment at the end of each. You will submit your work to your tutor for marking and tailored feedback. You must acquire 60 credits in total in order to achieve the Access to HE Diploma (English Studies). Of these credits, 45 will be taken from graded units which focus on the academic subject areas included in the course. The remaining 15 come from ungraded units included to help you to improve your academic writing and study skills.
As part of your programme, you will also receive help as well as guidance on your university application and the research you need to do to get the most out of your diploma.
Open College Network West Midlands
On successful completion of the Open College Network West Midlands Access to Higher Education Diploma (Land Based Science) you will receive a QAA recognised Access to HE Diploma at level 3 (QAA ref: 40010429).
A range of units make up this qualification, with an assignment at the end of each. You will submit your work to your tutor for marking and tailored feedback. You must acquire 60 credits in total in order to achieve the Access to HE Diploma (English Studies). Of these credits, 45 will be taken from graded units which focus on the academic subject areas included in the course. The remaining 15 come from ungraded units included to help you to improve your academic writing and study skills.
As part of your programme, you will also receive help as well as guidance on your university application and the research you need to do to get the most out of your diploma.
Open College Network West Midlands are a national Awarding Organisation, regulated by Ofqual, the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) and Qualifications Wales, to develop and award nationally recognised qualifications.
Open College Network West Midlands work in partnership with employers, training providers, colleges, universities, schools and voluntary and community organisations to offer vocational credit-based qualifications, Access to Higher Education Diplomas and quality assured Customised Accreditation that enables learners gain employment or to progress into further learning and Higher Education. They also Quality Endorse organisations internal training and skills delivery.
An Access to Higher Eduction Diploma (Land Based Sciences) will give you foundational knowledge in a number of areas including ecology, the environment, chemistry, biology and physics.
From here you will be able to specialise in your chosen area whether that's forestry management, agriculture, engineering, sustainability, conservation or wildlife management.
Land based sciences is a broad and exciting area of study presenting you with a wealth of rewarding learning opportunities and careers.
Access to Higher Education Diploma (Land Based Science)
- Study ecology, the environment and the sciences
- Learn plant and animal biology
- Gain core skills to work in agriculture, forestry management and conservation
- Complete the course within a year
- Go to university without A Levels
- Study online to fit around your existing commitments
About your Diploma
Land based sciences encapsulates agriculture, the environment and animal care focusing on the management and custodianship of our farmlands, forests and wildlife. This includes conservation and sustainability efforts to fight climate change, sustain green spaces and reverse declining animal populations including birds, badgers and other woodland creatures.
Studying land-based sciences will give you the opportunity to explore careers in farming, agriculture, fisheries, gamekeeping, forestry management, land based engineering and more.
This Access to Higher Education Diploma (Land Based Science) will cover the core elements of chemistry, biology and physics in relation to ecology, animal biology and environmental management.
Through your studies you will learn the interconnectedness of nature and how one slight change can cause a cascade effect, impacting on environments, animal populations and even crop yields.
It will provide you with the grounding you need to go on to further studies and a variety of careers in land-based science ranging from agricultural engineering to zookeeping.
Getting Started
learndirect is the leading UK distance learning provider. This Access to Higher Education Diploma (Land Based Science) is regulated by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA). It is also a nationally recognised Level 3 qualification that provides an excellent alternate to A Level study.
This Access to Higher Education Diploma (Land Based Science) prepares you for university level study, as well as providing you with a nationally recognised qualification that can improve your career prospects.
This Access to Higher Education Diploma is developed by subject experts, in conjunction with universities to ensure the course material will be of the greatest value to you when you start your degree.
This diploma is an online course so you can start your studies the same day you enrol. All you need to do is log in to the student portal and all your course material will be there waiting for you.
You can learn whenever suits you best, giving you the freedom to carry on working and earning while you gain new skills. This flexible learning approach also allows you to complete the course as quickly as you like. You will be provided with an Individual Learning Plan that outlines the submission deadlines for your assignments to keep you on track throughout your studies. On average, learners take 9 to 12 months to complete their Access to Higher Education Diploma.
We’ll also provide you with access to a dedicated team of tutors who will help you throughout your studies. They will answer questions, mark your assignments and provide detailed feedback.
This will allow you to get the best possible grade and meet your learning goals.
Modules
The units are broken down for you here so that you can see what your qualification will include. However, the assignments you complete have been designed so that you can complete multiple tasks together where possible and you will see a different number of assignments in your personal portfolio; you will still be completing the whole qualification.
Unit 1: Preparing to Study
On completion of this unit you will:
- Understand how study is organised and planned
- Understand how to apply theories of learning in relation to personal approaches to learning
- Understand a range of constraints upon study
- Understand the importance of assessment feedback
Unit 2: Academic Writing Skills
On completion of this unit you will:
- Be able to write with relevance in responding to an academic task
- Know how to interpret and discuss ideas and issues in responding to a set, academic writing task
- Be able to summarise for academic purposes, selecting key points, information or central ideas
Unit 3: Preparing a Written Assignment
On completion of this unit you will:
- Understand how to use key information sources
- Understand why sources are acknowledged and referenced
- Understand a range of reading strategies
- Understand note-making methods
- Understand how to plan, draft and produce a written assignment
Unit 4: Using Spreadsheet Software
On completion of this unit you will:
- Know how to use spreadsheet software
- Know how to perform calculations on spreadsheet data
- Know how to use spreadsheet software to create and develop charts
Unit 5: Algebraic Methods
On completion of this unit you will:
- Apply series
- Apply mathematical operations on logarithms
- Apply mathematical operations on surds
- Apply algebraic methods.
Unit 6: Cell Biology
On completion of this unit you will:
- Understand the cell
- Understand cellular metabolism
- Understand how cells grow and divide
Unit 7: Periodic Table
On completion of this unit you will:
- Understand the periodic table
- Understand periodicity in the elements of period 3
- Understand ionisation energy
- Understand oxidation and reduction
- Understand reactions of the Group 2 metals
- Understand the group 7 elements
Unit 8: Calculus
On completion of this unit you will:
- Apply differentiation
- Apply integration
- Apply differentiation and integration to solve problems.
Unit 9: Research Topic
On completion of this unit you will:
- Be able to plan and carry out a primary research project on a topic relevant to your Diploma title
- Be able to plan and write a research topic report
- Understand, develop and apply basic research skills
Unit 10: Aspects of Animal Biology
On completion of this unit you will:
- Understand aspects of cell biology
- Understand a range of skeletal and locomotory systems in animals
- Understand sensory organs in animals
Unit 11: Atomic Structure and Bonding
On completion of this unit you will:
- Understand the structure of the atom
- Understand electronic structures
- Understand the formation of ionic bonds
- Understand the formation of covalent bonds
Unit 12: Trigonometry
On completion of this unit you will:
- Apply the trigonometrical functions.
- Apply trigonometry.
- Understand the principles of trigonometric graphs.
Unit 13: Ecology, Ecosystems & Environmental Management
On completion of this unit you will:
- Understand ecology and environmental relationships
- Understand the techniques involved with management of an ecosystem
- Understand the role of government and non-governmental bodies in environmental protection
Unit 14: Hydrocarbons
On completion of this unit you will:
- Understand the importance of organic compounds
- Understand the structure and characteristic reactions of alkanes
- Understand the structure and characteristic reactions of alkenes
Unit 15: Statistical Research
On completion of this unit you will:
- Understand how to plan for an investigation within an appropriate subject area
- Understand how to carry out an investigation by collecting and processing an appropriate range of data
- Understand how to Interpret and analyse results
- Understand how to evaluate the investigation
Unit 16: Plant Biology
On completion of this unit you will:
- Understand how plants are classified
- Understand pollination and fertilisation in flowering plants
- Understand transport processes in plants
- Understand plant hormones
Unit 17: Chemical Change
On completion of this unit you will:
- Know how to measure the concentrations of solutions
- Understand energy changes during chemical reactions
- Understand factors influencing rates of chemical reactions
- Understand the concept of chemical equilibrium
Requirements
Anyone wishing to continue their education with an Access to Higher Education Diploma, it is necessary they have a GCSE Grade A-C in maths and English (or Functional Skills Level 2 or new GCSE Grade 4-9) with a desire to continue a related degree at university. If you do not hold these qualifications then you must be working towards them whilst completing your Access to HE Diploma.
Our Access to Higher Education Diplomas fulfil entry criteria for a broad range of university degrees and can be used in conjunction with the standard UCAS application process. In short, Access to HE Diplomas have a track record of helping learners get to the university and degree of their choice. Learners must bear in mind each university has its own set of admission criteria and places are subject to demand. Varying admission criteria can include but are not limited to the following:
- Number of credits to be attained at merit or distinction level.
- Successfully passing a face-to-face interview at the University.
- Passing a University’s proprietary literacy and numeracy assessments.
- Completion of specified work placements or work experience.
- GCSE Grade A-C (new system 4-9) in maths and English (or equivalent Level 2 such as Functional Skills).
Learners must undertake their own research to ensure their Diploma gives them the best possible chance of gaining entry to their university of choice. It is not possible for learndirect to accept any liability if any Access to Higher Education Diploma student fails to secure an offer from a higher education institution.
Assessment
A range of units make up this qualification, with an assignment at the end of each. You will submit your work to your tutor for marking and tailored feedback. You must acquire 60 credits in total in order to achieve the Access to HE Diploma (English Studies). Of these credits, 45 will be taken from graded units which focus on the academic subject areas included in the course. The remaining 15 come from ungraded units included to help you to improve your academic writing and study skills.
As part of your programme, you will also receive help as well as guidance on your university application and the research you need to do to get the most out of your diploma.
Qualifications
Open College Network West Midlands
On successful completion of the Open College Network West Midlands Access to Higher Education Diploma (Land Based Science) you will receive a QAA recognised Access to HE Diploma at level 3 (QAA ref: 40010429).
A range of units make up this qualification, with an assignment at the end of each. You will submit your work to your tutor for marking and tailored feedback. You must acquire 60 credits in total in order to achieve the Access to HE Diploma (English Studies). Of these credits, 45 will be taken from graded units which focus on the academic subject areas included in the course. The remaining 15 come from ungraded units included to help you to improve your academic writing and study skills.
As part of your programme, you will also receive help as well as guidance on your university application and the research you need to do to get the most out of your diploma.
Open College Network West Midlands are a national Awarding Organisation, regulated by Ofqual, the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) and Qualifications Wales, to develop and award nationally recognised qualifications.
Open College Network West Midlands work in partnership with employers, training providers, colleges, universities, schools and voluntary and community organisations to offer vocational credit-based qualifications, Access to Higher Education Diplomas and quality assured Customised Accreditation that enables learners gain employment or to progress into further learning and Higher Education. They also Quality Endorse organisations internal training and skills delivery.
An Access to Higher Eduction Diploma (Land Based Sciences) will give you foundational knowledge in a number of areas including ecology, the environment, chemistry, biology and physics.
From here you will be able to specialise in your chosen area whether that's forestry management, agriculture, engineering, sustainability, conservation or wildlife management.
Land based sciences is a broad and exciting area of study presenting you with a wealth of rewarding learning opportunities and careers.
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