Alternative routes to university

In the second of our series on access initiatives, Harriet Swain looks at how quality is assured

There are 1,382 recognised access to higher education programmes in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

UCAS records 13,640 students entered highereducation through access courses in 1997 and 17,624 through access or foundation courses.

About 40,000ex-access students are now in highereducation.

There are 34 authorised validating agencies.

Programmes are delivered by more than 600 centres.