so level 3 apprenticeships DONT give you UCAS points!! 😱

[RottenVegetables]

my DD is 6 months into an apprenticeship and considering applying for a degree with foundation year afterwards. We were under the impression that a L3 apprenticeship is equivalent to 2 A Levels. I was having trouble establishing exactly how many UCAS points were obtained so emailed the training provider. the answer is, zero UCAS points!!

have we been really stupid?

That doesn't show any qualifications, does she have a list of qualifications she is working towards? Has she sat any exams or submitted any work for assessment?

thanks...I have just emailed the uni to ask if they would consider her application

What qualifications does she gain at the end of it? Diploma? BTEC? NVQ?
Otherwsie she’s doing an ‘apprenticeship’ that doesn’t actually achieve anything at the end of it

I think this is it?
https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/business-administrator-v1-0

There's an assessment plan but I don't see any mention of credits or qualifications, only an assessment.

it's Business Administration, I don't want to say where she works but it's a large Government department. the training provider for the apprenticeship is Lighthouse I think

I've had a look at the Business Admin apprenticeship from Lighthouse and it doesn't look like you actually work towards any external qualifications unfortunately.

I deliver an apprenticeship programme where a BTEC qual was a gateway requirement - so an integral part of the apprenticeship and enough for Uni entry. The need to do the qual was removed a couple of years ago so the apprenticeship can now be completed as a stand-alone with no qualification, but the actual apprenticeship itself doesn't yet attract UCAS points. & when they do get around to giving them over the next year or two it doesn't look like ours will be enough for our natural Uni progression route.

thanks for looking at that @Hellocatshome . I'm gutted. I'm not a stupid person, I feel that information about apprenticeships has been really misleading. I didn't read anything anywhere that said that SOME apprenticeships ARENT equivalent to A-levels. my daughter has a programme of work, assignments, a portfolio, end point assessment including exam. So we had no reason to think that this wasn't going to give her a qualification. I'm pissed off actually

I'm so pissed off and gutted for her

she has a programme of work, reading list, monthly modules/assignments, a portfolio and an end point assessment. what a waste of time 🤷🏼‍♀️

Is it worth contacting the university and asking whether they would admit your DD to a foundation year course on the basis of the recognition of prior learning?

Using the assessment plan ss evidence, perhaps?

I'd be pissed off too with not actually getting a qual at the end of it. However unis will be more than happy to assess what she's done, and she may well find her portfolio of work will be positively considered by universities. Particularly those who themselves offer apprenticeships.

She could still contact universities and see what the options are. There is always a way round it but yes it is very disappointing for her. At least she will have had a good amount of work/life experience that others her age might not have and hopefully she has managed to save some money from her wages along the way as well.

thanks @titchy and @Chersfrozenface ...I have emailed the uni today. it's a very niche course only offered by 2 unis, one which she really wants to go to 🤞🤞🤞. I'm not even going to tell her until I get a response from them ☹️

It is worth what the person receiving the application decides it is worth

A loaf of bread is only worth what someone would pay for it.

A qualification is only worth what someone allows you to use it for

but don't applications go through UCAS, rather than the uni? isn't it all robotic these days?

Depends on the qualification you are studying alongside your apprenticeship . So for example Accountancy apprenticeships with AAT level 3 will have some UCAS points and some unis will look at this and the work experience to gain entry ( not RG unis ) For that Business qualification it’s important to talk to admissions tutors at open days - she may get entry onto a Foundation Year at some unis ( they have tuition fees) or if your daughter is able to study a free year of a Btec it would give her more ucas points or if over 19 she could do an Access to HE qualification . OR just stay in work and see if her employer will let her do a HTQ ( level 4-5 qualifications ) when she finishes the level 3 qualification

There is definitely ways around it though although I don't know what it is. I know a few mature students recently got onto nursing degrees and they certainly haven't sat any A levels or A level equivalents but have relevant work experience and I think did an access course.

If it's a niche course what are their usual entry requirements?

Yes UCAS and uni-offer-making can often be an automatic thing. But unusual applications will always go to a person to assess.

typically 92-112 UCAS points, 72 minimum
or with foundation year it is 32-48 UCAS points

Sorry, Rotten, but I'm going to be THAT person - why are you doing all the running around on this? Why aren't you giving the information to your DD and helping her to make these decisions? I'm assuming she is quite bright if she is thinking about uni, so it might be worth giving her the info and asking what she wants to do - chase uni, etc. Would she think about a degree apprenticeship instead (don't know if that's an option for her).

Have to say, I am unimpressed ( but not entirely surprised) at a Govt department choosing to go with a provider that sounds like a bit of a comedy act.

If its HMRC I am not suprised at all.

I mean I could, but I thought I would find out before I break it to her. she's had a rocky couple of years and I don't mind supporting her like this. she perfectly capable and independent

I got into university in my mid-twenties with no A' levels and didn't go via UCAS.
I just wrote to the relevant course leader at the university (having done my research), went for an interview, and was admitted directly onto the course (not a Foundation year, straight onto the three year course).

It may have helped that I was technically a 'mature' student, although only about 24-25. However this might have been irrelevant to the admission and was just relevant to my funding arrangements.

It may be that all unis have the discretion to admit who they want, but they don't advertise it, you have to ask.

Is it an apprenticeship that's actually a "job training scheme" that is done with the hope that she would be employed in that company when she finishes - not leave and go off to university (so the company has to start again with doing an apprenticeship with another person when they actually want to employ someone).
I thought the whole point of apprenticeships was you do on the job training - to then do that job.

yes, I definitely think they want there apprentices to stay. and she might decide to do that anyway