im probably being really thick here but... when someone says to me 'why don't you do an Access course?' what do they mean?

[juicychops]

Whats an Access course?

It's for mature students who have no formal qualifications. Once you have completed the Access course you can go on to do a degree course. Have a look on your local college of Further Education website to get more information.

Im doing an Open University course now so would it be pointless looking into it? Ive heard that i can get funding for ds to go to nursery whilst i study an access course whereas i don't for an open university course

I suppose it would cost nothing to look into it. There are different access courses I think.

Doesn't say anything about access courses on the website for my local college. Im going to the job centre next week so il ask there i think

I'm studying on a social science Access course if you have any questions

I just looked at mine and they do 3 - One for nursing, one for science and one general higher education one. Where are you based?

What is it that you want to study at uni juicychops?

im based in Dartford in Kent. im doing a psychology degree with the open university im half way through year 1. If i was to do an access course then i suppose it would make sense to do something that would run along side that

The social science Access course would be perfect if you want to study psychology.

I study

-sociology
-psychology
-counselling skills
-statistics

Think you would be better off deciding which degree you want to do first and where you want to study.

Your OU credits maybe enough to get you on the degree course anyway (depends on the uni you apply to)

Would i only be able to do either the access course or the OU course then?

There would be nothing stopping you doing both. But the Access course is level 3 (same as A'Levels) So you may find it to basic or repeating a lot of what you are already learning through OU

have you seen this

If you go to page 20 of the prospectus it gives you details of the Access courses at a Dartford college

Thanks Mia i didn't see that... i promise i did look!! But if it is supposed to come as a lead up to prepare for a degree then perhaps it is too late to do that now.

Its mainly because i want to get my ds in nursery part time and apparently there is government funding for this when you do an access course.

Think im going to have to try the work route now. What a bugger!

Yes it meant to be in preparation to study for a degree if you have no/few qualifications.

They won't start enrolement till the summer so it gives you plenty of time to consider your options

Are you interested in any of the degrees or foundation degrees run by the college?

With your OU experience you may be able to enrol on one of those. You would then be entitled to the same assistance for a nursery place as you would on the Access course

The thing is, because im on Income support i get my OU course paid for me and i have to complete the whole 4 years with them otherwise i have to pay back what they have already paid if i dont complete it.

so i would have to continue with this regardless of another course

In that case I think you would be better off just sticking with the OU course. Would be a lot to take on to continue study for an OU degree and taking another course.

Good Luck with the OU course though.

thanks mia for your help