University of Plymouth and City College Plymouth strengthen pathways to Higher Education

Access qualifications now lead directly to more than 120 degrees
City College Plymouth senior leaders with University of Plymouth Vice Chancellor Professor Richard Davies
City College Plymouth
Plymouth’s biggest education providers have created guaranteed routes into higher education for adult learners.
Access to Higher Education (HE) courses at City College Plymouth now include direct progression onto more than 120 University of Plymouth programmes.
This new agreement offers a vital route for adults seeking to enhance qualifications and career prospects in the city and wider region.
City College Plymouth Principal and CEO, Jackie Grubb says:
“Our partnership with the University of Plymouth represents a significant opportunity for adult learners in our community. We are proud to offer flexible, supportive education pathways that enable students to move from our Access courses directly onto degree-level studies, furthering their careers and lifelong learning.”
The announcement follows a meeting between the College’s Principal and the University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Richard Davies .
A new memorandum of understanding between the institutions was signed earlier this year, giving renewed focus to a partnership that has benefitted around 20,000 students over more than 30 years.

The University of Plymouth is proud to be open to everyone who can benefit from studying with us, and Access courses are a great way into HE for people who may have missed out on the opportunity earlier in life and still have personal or professional ambitions they wish to fulfil.

Working closely with our friends at City College is vital to ensuring we deliver a diverse, inclusive and high-quality educational offer for the people of Plymouth and the surrounding area.

Richard DaviesProfessor Richard Davies
Vice-Chancellor

The articulation agreement between the University and awarding body, the Cambridge Access Validating Agency, guarantees that every student on an Access to HE programme at City College has a recognised progression route to study at the University.
Subject to learners successfully completing the course and meeting specific conditions, the agreement also removes the need for a UCAS application, streamlining the process further for these students.
City College’s Access to HE courses provide an essential route for adults who may have missed out on formal education or are looking for a career change. Partnering with the University of Plymouth enables these students to transition seamlessly into higher education, offering them a second chance to achieve their academic and professional goals.
Both institutions are committed to supporting students at every stage of their educational journey, sharing a vision of promoting lifelong learning. From the tailored support provided during Access courses to the comprehensive resources available at the University, students are set up for success from start to finish.