Help with further education beyond yr 13

[MrsPatrickDempsey]

Wondering if anyone can help please?
DS is nearing completion of a higher BTEC but has decided to follow a completely different career path and this doesn't qualify him for the relevant uni course. His GCSE's are fine but he needs a level equivalent in sciences. None of the unis of his choice offer a foundation year.
What are his options for next year please? Is he entitled to an extra free year of study? The courses we have found say he has to be 19 to commence a science access to HE course.

In similar circumstances my DD studied a catering course.

However you may have funding issues - generally access courses are only funded if the person does not already have a level 3 qualification (a level equivalent).

You are still entitled to do an Access course with a level 3 qualification or above as long as they are not related. I have a humanities degree and was offered a place on a science Access course so this could be an option for him once he turns 19.

In the meantime, it might be a good idea to do a gap year and try and get some work or volunteering in something related to what he wants to study so he can be sure about it. There are also some online courses you could look at from the Open University and other providers which would boost his application.

Would he be prepared to look at different unis to do a foundation year? He's limiting himself otherwise.