The role of the provider

Each provider approved to deliver Access to HE Diplomas by CAVA plays a critical role in ensuring that students receive a high-quality and supportive learning experience. Providers are responsible for managing the full academic journey, from course registration to assessment, and offer guidance and support to help students meet their educational goals. See more detail below.

Academic reference

Providers serve as students' primary point of academic reference. This involves helping students understand the course requirements, assessments, and expectations, as well as fostering a supportive academic environment.

Student registration

Providers must ensure that all students are registered on their chosen Diploma pathway and enrolled in the appropriate units by mid-December. This ensures that students are accurately recorded and able to achieve the necessary credits for their Diploma​.

Appeals and complaints

While CAVA oversees the quality assurance of all Access to HE Diplomas, individual providers handle appeals and complaints related to assessment outcomes, marking, and other aspects of course delivery. Providers have established procedures to address any concerns fairly and transparently​.

Programme of study

Providers are responsible for creating a structured and coherent programme of study that supports students in meeting the required learning outcomes. This includes planning an engaging curriculum, ensuring alignment with the Diploma’s requirements, and providing varied learning activities to support student development​​.

Marking and assessment

Providers carry out the marking of all assessments, following the grading standards set by CAVA. Each piece of student work is assessed against specific learning outcomes and criteria, ensuring fair and consistent evaluations.

Student support

Providers play a vital role in supporting students academically and personally throughout their studies. This includes direct support from tutors, as well as signposting to additional support services within the college, such as counselling, financial support, or learning support for students with disabilities​.

Internal moderation

To maintain consistent academic standards, providers conduct internal moderation of student work before it is externally moderated. This involves a secondary review of assessments to confirm that grading criteria are applied accurately and consistently across all student submissions​​.

Content delivery

Providers are responsible for delivering the course content effectively, ensuring that teaching methods and materials align with the learning outcomes and assessment requirements. Providers may use a variety of teaching strategies to accommodate diverse learning styles and to engage students in their studies.