Certification and appeals
Upon successfully completing the Access to HE Diploma, students are awarded a certificate and transcript, officially recognising their achievement. This certificate signifies their readiness for higher education and their mastery of essential knowledge and skills. In the rare instance that a student wishes to appeal their results, there is a clear and structured appeals process to ensure fair consideration and transparency.
How to get your certificate
Access to HE Diploma results, certificates, and transcripts will be released in late July 2025.
Your certificates and transcripts will be dispatched to your provider to arrive in late July 2025, and they will be forwarded to you. Your provider will confirm whether they will be posted or if collection is required. For specific information related to your college, we encourage you to contact them directly.
How to get your e-certificate
This year, we are piloting electronic certificates and transcripts in partnership with nine providers. If you studied at any of these providers, you will receive both physical and electronic certificates and transcripts.
In July 2025, you will receive an email with a link to access your electronic documents online through our e-certification portal. The email will be sent to the personal email address that you provided to your provider during the academic year.
Please note that the emails will be sent in batches over a few hours. If a fellow student receives theirs before you, please do not be concerned. If you have not received the email by the end of the day, contact the exams team at your college to confirm the email address. If the email address is incorrect, please ask the exams team to contact CAVA.
Lost your certificate?
If you have previously received your certificate and/or transcript but have misplaced it, please contact CAVA by emailing admin@cava.ac.uk.
Replacement paper certificate and transcript cost: £39 (additional charges for international shipping)
Replacement e-certificate and transcript cost: £15.
You will need to supply the following information:
Name at the time of original certification
Name of the Provider
Name of the Access to HE course taken
Year course completed
Proof of ID
If requesting a paper certificate: the postal address to which the certificate/transcript is to be sent
If requesting an e-certificate: the email address to which the certificate/transcript is to be sent
What is the appeals process?
If you have concerns regarding your grades and believe there might be just cause for an appeal, please consult your course leader. They will help you determine the validity of your appeal, gather necessary documentation, and submit an appeal form to CAVA on your behalf.
CAVA will review your case and your provider will inform you of the decision. Appeals can only be based on the following criteria:
Proof of an administrative oversight during the assessment process
Extenuating circumstances that were not disclosed before the awards board for valid reasons
CAVA holds several appeals panels in July, August and September.
Unhappy with your grades?
If you believe your grades are incorrect, get in touch with your provider. If you have completed your qualification and it is during the summer break, a good start is to speak with your college exams office
If you did not achieve the grades you were hoping for, contact your chosen university directly. From early July-mid October universities and colleges use the clearing system. If courses have available places, they will offer them to students who did not meet the requirements.
You can calculate your UCAS Tariff Points on the UCAS website
Find out more on the UCAS clearing page.