Access to Higher Education Diplomas
Providing high-quality qualifications, empowering adults to surpass their aspirations through lifelong learning.
Welcome to CAVA
The Cambridge Access Validating Agency (CAVA) designs and validates Access to Higher Education Diplomas. Access to HE Diplomas provide an opportunity for adults without the relevant formal qualifications to go to university. Like A levels, they are full level 3 qualifications.
Around 40,000 students take Access to HE courses each year in the England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and gain a recognised entry route to university. The Access to Higher Education Diploma prepares adults for study at university. It is designed for people who left school without the qualifications they would need to progress to HE..
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Completing an Access to HE Diploma is an excellent choice for adults looking to return to education, study at university, and retrain for new careers. Find out more about the courses, the student experience, and how to sign up.
CAVA works with colleges to design and deliver high quality Access to HE Diplomas to thousands of mature students. Find out more about the qualification and how you can work with CAVA.
Access to HE Diplomas enable thousands of mature students to progress into higher education each year. Find out more about the qualification and how universities can support this progression route.