Has anyone here studies an Access Course

[TravellingSpoon]

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

Suggesting the Access Course devalues degrees is bonkers and doesn't even make sense!

OP, I did the AC as mature student, with very few school qualifications. After the course went on to get undergrad degree (1st class), masters (distinction) and PhD and also well paid job. From what I recall most people on my access course were accepted into uni too and many went on to get their degrees.

Yes, the course is intense and hard going, but definitely recommend, (also if you have a family/work at the same time, it will give you an idea on how you think you would cope going into a full degree programme, and if you really do want to take the plunge).

Good luck if you do decide to do the course!

And for those saying someone would never get into a RG university with BTECs, that is completely wrong. I know young people who did - as well as those who did access courses.

My dd has done her nursing degree at a RG uni (Manchester) following an access course. She already had a degree in an arts subject and wanted to change direction. Don't assume people are stupid.
Presumably if you're ever on hospital you will be checking the cv of every nurse that treats you? In case they 'cheated their way onto the course not meant for them?

Thank you to you all who have shared your experiences. I really appreciate it.

I recently completed an access course (distance learning) and was planning to start uni in September but will probably delay now. It is worth checking the admissions requirements for the uni you have in mind as some do have criteria about access courses for paths such as medicine. I found the mature students section on the student room website helpful.

I did one a long time ago and it changed my life. In the under grad and post grad qualifications I did afterwards I never worked so hard as that access course but then they taught me how to learn, how to write and how to study, something my A-Level/Highers peers didn't really know. I'd heartily recommend doing one.

I completed Access to HE: Healthcare Professions last year (age 36). Really enjoyed it, most of the others who needed the Maths/English GCSEs had studied for those the year before, one woman had to drop out as she was trying to do both simultaneously and was really struggling. We lost about 25% of our starting number of students as the course progressed.
It was a positive experience being with all these people who wanted a career change, my group were friendly and non-bitchy. Some found the content/workload tough, others sailed through it. I'm due to start a degree in diagnostic radiography this October (had to defer due to an unexpected pregnancy).
I'm in agreement that everything requiring a degree these days is a bit much, but it is what it is.

Hi, just to reply to the weirdly poorly informed comments that seem to have popped up on this thread I have done an access course this year.

I am going on to study law at the University of Glasgow next year, a compatriot of mine is going to UCL and last year a previous student was accepted to Cambridge.

Access courses are an entirely valid way to get into a good school, maybe don't be so bitter and closed minded.

It's not good for your health.

Oh and those are only the ones studying law, there are multiple others on my course going to universities like Edinburgh and KCL for other subjects.

Also, this is obviously referring to a very specific individual's comments

Cambridge thought my Access course was good enough

Damn, just realised this thread is a zombie 😂 Still, good chance to point out it's a recognised qualification that can take you a lot of places. I'm not some freak, either; I encouraged another girl on my Access course to apply to Cambridge with me and they took both of us. Along with a whole load of other Access people I met there.

OP, did you enrol?

I have! It was only 3 days a week and got me into university. It was fine in terms of ease but not the best educational experience for me personally, I felt I didn’t actually learn much.

My sister did. She had no qualifications, not even GCSEs, but got bored of working in lowly paid customer services roles and applied for an access to life sciences. She found it challenging, but it was the absolute making of her! She went on to do a degree in physiotherapy and became a physio, then a masters in public health. That was all in her mid-late twenties. At 40, she is the CEO of a health charity and doing absolutely amazing work. Go for it!

Yes, I did an Access to Nursing course, which got me into Uni the following year - I qualified in 2019 and am going back to uni in September to do a level 7!
I only had 3 GCSEs at A-C before then.
It was absolutely worth it for me.
Good luck!

I did Access Science in 2018.

It was 75% of the A Level Chem and Bio syllabus, along with 25% of the Physics A Level. Done over 1 year, not 2. Yes it assessed slightly differently but fuck me it was hard.

Out of 12 of us, 9 have attended RG Unis to do a mixture of Chemistry, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Physiotherapy and Vet Nursing. The other 3 got into Top 20 Unis that aren’t RG.

I was offered a space on a Medicine degree with a Foundation Year. Ultimately turned it down due to being a single parent, and because I hadn’t actually expected to be offered a place, I threw it in my UCAS as a Wild Card application.

All of us got Firsts in our degrees, half of us are now starting Masters courses.

Thank you all, thats really helpful