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Further education

You'll find discussions about A Levels and universities on our Further Education forum.

Original poster

Online A levels for 19 year old recommendations and benefits advice

34 replies

ChocolateBoxCottage · 25/01/2023 15:23

My 19 year old finished year 13 in the summer at college and got

Politics A
Psychology B
Applied science BTEC distinction

AS maths A

He wasn't allowed to do A level Biology and chemistry as he needed grade 9 in maths and combined science. Didn't really know then what he wanted to do next. Now he has his sights set on a science degree, preferably at a RG uni. So now he needs to do his science A levels. We are now looking for him to do Biology and Chemistry online to get the A levels as no decent uni will look at the
BTEC for a science degree. I think realistically he could walk good grades. He got good gcses after 60% attendance at school for 4 years and his attendance wasn't that great at college. He has socail anxiety due to possibly undiagnosed ASD.

He is looking at Open Study College doing both Alevels for exams next summer.

So does anyone know of open study college online? Is there anywhere else to do A levels as an adult? We are near Guildford.

Also is there anything we can claim? Child benefit, tax credits for me or UC for him? It's going to be full time but obvs online.

OP posts:
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RampantIvy · 30/01/2023 20:36

Ellmau · 30/01/2023 20:24

Most places will want him to get the practical endorsement as well Is that doable online?

No. My friend's DS is taking A level physics online and had to spend a week in Liverpool to attend a college for the practical element. It wasn't cheap - train fares, hotel and the cost of the course.

Ellmau · 30/01/2023 20:24

Most places will want him to get the practical endorsement as well Is that doable online?

lieselotte · 27/01/2023 17:03

lieselotte · 27/01/2023 17:02

Could he do a foundation year?

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Sorry just seen that that has been suggested. Apply now. He might not get his first choice, but there will be places around, and there is always clearing in the summer.

lieselotte · 27/01/2023 17:02

ChocolateBoxCottage · 25/01/2023 18:33

Thing is without science A levels he can't really do a science degree

Could he do a foundation year?

titchy · 25/01/2023 22:20

Oh yes anyone can still apply - right up to the start of the course, but there may not be vacancies after the Jan deadline.

LIZS · 25/01/2023 22:18

titchy · 25/01/2023 22:17

QM Foundation Year would have been worth a punt with his existing quals actually, they'd probably accept the BTEC.
But the deadline was a few hours ago...

Is UCAS extra still available?

titchy · 25/01/2023 22:17

QM Foundation Year would have been worth a punt with his existing quals actually, they'd probably accept the BTEC.
But the deadline was a few hours ago...

LIZS · 25/01/2023 22:16

Imperial require min 3 As. Although many exceed that. Is he specifically interested in London unis, would he be living at home? Can he upgrade the Applied Science to a full level 3?

Withholdingvitalinfo · 25/01/2023 22:13

ChocolateBoxCottage · 25/01/2023 18:33

Thing is without science A levels he can't really do a science degree

Try Southampton.

www.southampton.ac.uk/courses/foundation-years/science.page

titchy · 25/01/2023 22:06

Ok very bluntly Imperial and UCL are highly unlikely. QMUL is feasible. Would he consider doing a foundation year at Surrey - his BTEC and possibly Psychology would probably be enough, then uses his foundation year as entry to QM?

He could get a late application in to Surrey now?

Original poster
ChocolateBoxCottage · 25/01/2023 21:16

wagnbobble · 25/01/2023 19:29

Would he consider an Access to HE in Science , I work as a Careers Advisor in an FE College and have had considerable success with RG IF the student has proved themselves with A levels in non science subjects . Not all RG accept Access ( and not for Medicine or Dentistry ) Unis want to also know the composition of the Access ( so number of Chem / Bio or Pysics units which can differ) . Access courses are full of a wide variety of students but tend to be more supportive and kinder that 16-18 provision

He is after UCL or Queen Mary's, imperial.

OP posts:
Itisbetter · 25/01/2023 19:32

I think a foundation year would be better too.

wagnbobble · 25/01/2023 19:29

Would he consider an Access to HE in Science , I work as a Careers Advisor in an FE College and have had considerable success with RG IF the student has proved themselves with A levels in non science subjects . Not all RG accept Access ( and not for Medicine or Dentistry ) Unis want to also know the composition of the Access ( so number of Chem / Bio or Pysics units which can differ) . Access courses are full of a wide variety of students but tend to be more supportive and kinder that 16-18 provision

gogohmm · 25/01/2023 19:29

Would be far better to do a foundation year at university. Many offer it

Hoppinggreen · 25/01/2023 19:22

ChocolateBoxCottage · 25/01/2023 19:08

Thanks. God to hear its not just us. He wants to start now then sit exams next summer for a 24 start

Show quote history

The Unis we visited did mention the Foundation course, so 4 years instead of 3 but after more research she decided it wasn't the route she wanted to take.
She has a related PT job lined up for the year too

Original poster
ChocolateBoxCottage · 25/01/2023 19:08

Hoppinggreen · 25/01/2023 18:57

DD is doing A level Biology online with a company called Oxbridge to start in July and do the exam the May after. She will be doing the Practicals and actual exams at a centre around 45 minutes from here
She needs it to do Zoology at Uni in 2024

Thanks. God to hear its not just us. He wants to start now then sit exams next summer for a 24 start

OP posts:
Original poster
ChocolateBoxCottage · 25/01/2023 19:07

Choconut · 25/01/2023 18:37

Just checked the website and it says for Biology A-level 'A minimum of five GCSE subjects at grade 4 or above plus two grade 6s in Science (if separate sciences taken a grade 6 in Biology and Chemistry) plus Maths at grade 6 or above.'

Did you mean grade 6 rather than grade 9?

I'm not 100% sure but I think with low attendance he was a wildcard with his gcses to do science. In hindsight he should have pushed or gone to another college ( but it's a local feeder for us). We was just amazed he passed everything after going to school less than half his life. Too late now anyway.

He's looking at virology, microbiology or pharmacology type degrees. As he was a school refuser it's got to be the perfect degree or he won't see it through.

I know about ehcps and his three siblings have them. Only one who has very severe needs got them without an appeal. They don't count for degrees so no point now. What he needed back at school was a early diagnosis but that's all in the past now.
His BTEC is worth one A level. So two Alevels, one AS and this btec.
The cost something I will have to suck up but it includes the practical. It's Aqa so fairly normal A level board.
I did a degree in Biology with a C in maths. Times have changed I guess.

OP posts:
Hoppinggreen · 25/01/2023 18:57

DD is doing A level Biology online with a company called Oxbridge to start in July and do the exam the May after. She will be doing the Practicals and actual exams at a centre around 45 minutes from here
She needs it to do Zoology at Uni in 2024

LIZS · 25/01/2023 18:52

It might be worth going to some open days and asking what they will accept for entry. "Science" is broad though, he will need to be more specific and for some courses Maths might be more useful than Biology, for example, and easier to get.

Nimbostratus100 · 25/01/2023 18:46

It may be that the OPs son hasn't done the full diploma, but a shorter course BTEC, this is the same depth, but less breadth, so counts as 1 science A level, or 2, but not 3 - this could be the issue with UCAS points

LIZS · 25/01/2023 18:45

Agree a Foundation year leading to degree would be a good route. Or an Access course/btec l3 in Applied Science.

Choconut · 25/01/2023 18:45

I'm not sure what he was thinking degree wise but for example if he went to Plymouth University here's what he'd need for a degree in Biology (and their marine studies were considered fantastic even back in the day when they were a Poly if he's at all interested in that). I'm not sure how many points he has but if he doesn't have enough then he could do a foundation year (link also below). I'm sure there are lots of other unis that are similar too.

www.plymouth.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/bsc-biological-sciences
www.plymouth.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/bsc-biological-sciences-with-foundation-year

JustKeepBuilding · 25/01/2023 18:45

With 60% attendance for several years an EHCP would certainly have been beneficial. You don’t need a diagnosis and being academically able doesn’t matter either.

RampantIvy · 25/01/2023 18:43

Yes, a course with a foundation year would be ideal.

2DemisSVP · 25/01/2023 18:43

I just looked at Godalmings entry requirements as that seems mad. Sensibly it’s now showing as 6s required, though that doesn’t help your DS. Has he spoken to admissions at any of his preferred universities re accessing with a btec ? This is helpful on uni guide : www.theuniguide.co.uk/advice/ucas-application/can-you-get-into-university-if-youre-studying-btecs

I would think he’s better off cracking on and going to one of the many universities (inc RG, fwiw) that accepts btecs than spending time repeating btec content at a level … ?

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