Has anyone here studies an Access Course

[TravellingSpoon]

And if so, how did you find it, and did it get you into University?

Yes, I did Access to science some years ago and loved it! Everything about it, made some wonderful friends too. Got into my preferred Uni on my preferred course without a problem.

It devalues everyone's degree.

Oh fuck off!

I worked my arse off for my diploma, I’ve earned 36 distinctions and 9 merits, whilst working full time.

My ds2 did and now has an honours degree from St Andrews. DD did one last year and is now at uni studying biomedical engineering.

I did an access to health proffessions course everyone who applied got onto nursing, midwifery or OT course and qualify this year!
Those who didnt have maths and ENGLISH GCSE did it during the access course.

I did an Access Course in 2004, at the age of 41. I then went on to uni and gained a First in Literature and Psychology. It's certainly not an easy option and the attrition rate is generally high. Only about a third of the original intake completed in my year. I loved it. It was a life changer.

ErnDincum

Can I ask what you did after your degree?
I’m studying Literature but not sure where to go afterwards.

I finished an access course last year and went to uni last september. I honestly didn't think I would make it, especially not my preferred uni of choice. It was pretty tough tbh, I referred to it as academic hunger games as at the start of the course there were 40+ students and less than 20 by the end. There are a lot of subject and work to cover in an access course and very fast paced, it is easy to fall behind.

I had no previous qualifications before that so it is quite a leap to get into uni. The benefit of doing an access course is you don't really need to pursue university in the end if you feel it is not for you, but you can do a hnd off the back of the access course.

Miljea not everyone is fortunate to have been in a position to achieve A levels or gcse's, Access courses are aimed mostly at people who were or are at a social/economic disadvantage with little to no hope of higher education. If people are able to commit to a fulltime access course in the midst of adult life/responsibilities and make it through then they very much deserve it just as much as those who went to uni by normal means. It doesn't detract from those who achieved their A levels etc but it shows that if you don't then you can still get a chance.

Op my experience of university itself is that it is as tough as you would expect but much less so than the pressures of an access course. More flexible learning, less assessments and naturally better quality teaching and resources.

Thank you everyone. Your experiences are very helpful.

Having looked into it, I dont think will be able to do a levels, and an access course seems the best. I have read that they are hard work, but I am definitely better at assignments and projects than exams.

Good luck @TravellingSpoon

The sense of achievement at the end is definitely worth all the hard work.

@Miljea

Ach, I'm a bit of a bitter old hag, I know.

But it does gall me a bit how some people get into uni with three hard fought for high grade A levels, whereas others do a few GCSEs and an 'access course', where you get to do your failed or non existent GCSE English and Maths alongside, in a year.... which causes me to challenge the intellectual rigour of the access course.

It devalues everyone's degree.

My course was part time over two years whilst I worked full time and raised my family. Due to an abusive childhood I did not cope well at school and failed almost all of my exams so was unable to go on to take A Levels.

I got a First, so not sure how that devalues a degree? I have since completed a Masters course recently too.

The largest part of my cohort (well over 80%) who passed, were ex Access students.

Many moons ago yes and got into a very good uni off the back of it

Miljea you'd absolutely hate me then. I left school with 3 GCSEs. A combination of a learning disability (undiagnosed) and discovering boys and alcohol meant I didn't do well.
I've just finished my second year on a first. I don't drink anymore and I am steering well clear of unsuitable men .

It will be interesting to see which 'universities' survive this current crisis.

Many utterly relied on OS students when no one 'back home' recognises the difference between London Met and Southampton, for example; and people are getting in on two E's to study made up subjects, safe in the knowledge they'll never earn enough to pay back their debt.

Which might come home to bite as they can and do change the rules retrospectively.

Sorry, but I fail to see how a one year two day a week access course, especially when studied alongside a maths and English GCSE can possibly be considered the equivalent of 3 A levels at, say AAB.

Best of luck to the OP. Things are the way they are, take full advantage; but I'd advise anyone to take note of the solvency of their proposed uni before committing.

Pff. I have 3 a levels and an access course and the access course is a lot harder. You clearly have no knowledge of what it’s like. It’s just as much work as an A level, squished into 10 months.

an A level??

A levels.

Most access courses are not just one subject. So each subject is the equivalent of an a level.

I have done a health based access course this year and it's been great and I have gained a place at university with it. It's roughly the equivalent of three A levels in terms of Ucas points and level of study. As a mature student looking to retrain, I would definitely recommend it!

@Miljea, you are being spectacularly ignorant.

I have 4 A Levels, I also did an Access course in 2013 and gained a distinction.

I have since gone on to graduate with a first in my BSc and a pass with distinction in my Masters, both gained at a Russell Group university. I only mention Russell Group as your posts drip with snobbery around higher education institutes, as well as level 3 qualifications.

My supervisor for my Masters was originally a beauty therapist. After having children, she went back to night college to gain her level 3 qualifications. A couple of decades later and she is now a PI, supervising a number of post docs, post grads and undergrads in her own laboratory. Not bad for someone who was only studying a few nights a week...

@TravellingSpoon, I would absolutely recommend studying an Access course as a means to getting to university.

What I would urge you to do look to the future and work your way backwards. Firstly, work out what you want to do when you graduate and what degree you require. Once you know that, find out what the entry requirements are for that particular course and institute(s). Then, you can look at local colleges and see which offer the courses you will require; many Access courses are now 'pathways' to particular degrees, so you need to make sure that the course you choose is accepted by the university for the degree you want to study.

It's not easy, especially if you have a young family, but the end result is definitely worth the hard work. Good luck!

miljea true a lot of universities will be struggling in the near future.However, I managed to get into one of the top 20 universities in the world (rated this year) based on my measly access course that wasn't two days a week but 5 plus extra studying required. It required much more dedication than university, so that is saying something.

Access courses are only 1 or 2 yrs but they are by no means easy. It might seem like a fast track way to university but it requires a lot of effort to prove yourself worthy of a university education. Access courses also apply to all those who did get A levels or equivalent but a certain amount of time passed to make them invalid so an access course is a good way to return.

bunnyjo with respect, you're being, and I quote, 'spectacularly ignorant' if you can't see the difference between your 4 A levels- (I assume not E's in General Studies, and Dance 😉) and a 1year access course taken alongside GCSE English and Maths.

You egalitarianism is commendable... but I wish I shared your conviction that a one year, 2 days per week qualification, taken alongside English and Maths GCSE was the equal of 3 high grade A levels.

Which is why you now need 'a degree' to get into so many jobs. Because a) that would have been considered A level 15 years ago, and b) employers are delighted that you're paying £40k for your 'training'.

Enchantzments were they 2 years, 5 days a week, plus extra study- a bit like, oh, let me think.... A levels- I would not be nearly as dismissive.

This is why all the 'value jobs' go to RG kids or you need a Masters. Because so many undergraduate degrees are being devalued by such a low entry bar.

Milijea You need a degree to get into so many jobs because previous government's have aimed for 50% of young people to get into university, and it has worked too well. recruiters and employers ask for degrees in order to narrow down the applicants. It's fuck all to do with an access course.

It must be exhausting being so bitter.

I left school at 15 with no qualifications (really unstable upbringing). I've worked since the age of 15 and managed to work my way up into a career in brand licensing. I took and passed my English GCSE when I was 17 and working full time.

I was always very academic and one of my goals was to go to university. I left my career, started and completed an Access Course in Humanities and Social Sciences (English Lit, Psychology, Sociology and History). It ran for 3 days a week, full time. I also took my Maths GCSE exam and self studied for that alongside my Access course. I passed with 45 Distinctions (UCAS points equivalent of AAA in a-levels). I was accepted by all 5 of my uni choices to study English Literature. I completed my first year of uni with a 1st, found out I was pregnant and took a year out to have a baby. I return in September to start my second year and I couldn't be more excited.

I turn 34 this year.

There are lots of different access courses available and they are really intense. There are hundreds of self study hours that you need to put in to get the grades and you're working across multiple subjects all at once. You are tested in a variety of ways, presentations, exams, assignments and group work (very similar to university).

Go for it. No one has ever regretted completing one. Although as previously mentioned, the retention rate is low on the Access courses and a lot of students drop out by Christmas once the deadlines for assessments get closer and they realise how much work is required. There were 25 on my intake when I started, there were 10 left by the time we finished.