Ways to gain qualifications

[Standingupstandingout]

I'd like to do some additional qualifications, probably GCSEs or A levels as I can't afford a masters. I have GCSEs, A levels and a degree but I'd love to do some additional ones. I live quite rurally so there's no college nearby. What other options are there e.g. teaching myself and going through the college to do the exams?

What subjects are you interested in?

You can study online (just google it, there are loads of places doing them), but you generally have to book exams at a local college.

Why do you want to do them?

I'm not sure yet.

Thanks.
I want to do them because I want to better myself, want to add to my CV, want to keep my brain active, need a hobby etc

@Standingupstandingout open university courses are meant to be really good and it's all online in your own time so worth a look maybe

I think you need to start by deciding exactly what you want to learn about or the end goal. There are too many options otherwise.

FWIW, I'm currently working my way through the teaching and coaching qualifications for my DCs' sport. It's totally unrelated to my job and has been great to learn new things again. The sports club cover the cost of the qualifications on the understanding I'll continue to volunteer for at least a year afterwards, but it will eventually leave me qualified to do the job in a professional paid capacity if I so choose (I am unlikely to do this FT as it would be quite a pay cut, but I may be able to get a paid PT role with similar hours to the ones I'm currently doing as a volunteer). The learning is through the national governing body for the sport and is mostly online learning, zoom calls and coursework, with a few full days or evenings at a location to be practically assessed at each level of qualification. You can pick the course with the practical assessment location that's best for you.

Have you looked at

Government Postgraduate Loans?

If you’re under 60 they can make postgraduate study possible.

You can download past papers and their marking schemes. I found using old papers, then working out why I'd got questions right or wrong very useful. I did do an evening class but that's how I did my learning. I took the exams at a local school

Sorry i meant to add

If you already have a degree, then a GCSE or A level isn't going to improve your CV!

Have you looked into specific sector qualifications eg a Diploma in Marketing.

More generally, you might find it helpful to browse (and perhaps move your thread to) the

Mature Study and Retraining board

which might suggest some routes you could follow.

Yes, as @ReluctantSwimMum said, A Levels/ GCSE's aren't going to do anything at all for your CV if you already have a degree.

Unless you have a specific career path you want to get into that needs a specific A Level, if you're looking to improve your CV and job prospects, you'd be better off looking at a more vocational path.

Employers care a lot less about qualifications than they used to.

But if it's just as a hobby then good on you and enjoy!

Masters qualifications are government funded through a loan and the same as undergraduate degrees- it would be better to do this if you’re wanting to improve your CV. What did you study for your degree? Can you build on this?

A qualification for a 16 year old won't add to your CV, you've surpassed that level. I haven't written the subjects of my GCSEs on my CV since getting a degree.

I'd look at a postgraduate qualifications.

It depends what you want from it. When he was made redundant Mr Monkey set himself the task of learning Spanish and took a GCSE to give a himself goal and focus. It didn't add to his CV really, but he really enjoyed it.

Getting additional A levels when you already have a degree will do very little to add value to your CV. There are far better options. Many/most UK universities offer online self-paced courses. You can either do them individually or study towards an undergraduate or postgraduate certificate, diploma or degree. You can even study with foreign universities using platforms like coursera.org. Then there are qualifications offered by professional certification bodies in just about any subject that takes you fancy e.g IT, privacy regulations, project management, business analysis, management & leadership to name just a few that spring immediately to mind.

But if it's a loan it's not funded. I don't want years of debt to get a masters. I do get everybody's point that A levels are probably not going to add worth to my CV. Not sure what do now. There's not really any sector specific training that I'm aware of for my sector.

Would you be willing to say what your sector is?

I do the Open University Openlearn courses (free) as a hobby. I've also done Futurelearn courses.

My son did an extra GCSE using open Study College - he did a course that his school didn't offer, so studied in the evenings. The school hosted him for his exams so we didn't have to travel.

Oh, and I've also signed up for BBC Maestro. They don't improve my CV, but my cooking has got better.

You need to decide what you are aiming at really. If you already have a degree then perhaps consider professional qualifications(?) Many accounting and other financial qualifications are distance learning, and exams taken online.