How do you go about accessing University as a mature(ish) student?

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Who only has GCSEs?

DS2 is 19yo. Left school three years ago with decent GCSEs including maths at grade 8.

He gained a good level 4 apprenticeship which he was initially enjoying, then lockdown happened and he was wfh, then his dad became terminally ill, was in a very bad way at home while DS2 was supposed to be wfh in the next room, then DH died.

DS hasn't coped, he hasn't done what he should have at work or college, is unlikely to get the qualifications he should at the end of this year, may not be kept on, but even if he is, wants to leave anyway. The company have tried to help, but DS is in a very dark place and isn't responding. Boss has suggested he takes some time off sick, which he will do.

Anyway he's asking about the possibility of going back to FT education. That would be a bad idea now, if he can't apply himself at work, it's unlikely to happen at Uni, but to give him something to work towards, what does he need to aim for?

Alevels? How do you do them as an adult? Or is there another way?

Just contact your local FE college.

I have. They only seem to offer A levels to 16-18 yos

You don’t.

You need a Level 3 qual.

You need to Google Access Courses. I did one - Science - aged 31, and was by far the eldest student - it was mostly 19-21 year olds.

I got into several RG Unis off the back of that and am doing a Masters this year.

My Access course was 9 months long, 3 days a week, with coursework and exams every 8 weeks - no massive exams at the end. It covered 50% of A Level Bio, 50% of A Level Chem and 25% A Level Physics (which they’d done as a trial and scrapped it the following year as it was pointless, and added extra Maths instead).

It’s intense, I took out a Student Loan to cover the fee, which was then wiped out when I graduated from Uni.

Yes, that was my question. What he needs to do to access it 😆

He would need to do an Access to HE course. He'll be able to get an advanced learner loan which will be written off if he then goes onto university.

So who offers the access courses? The universities or local colleges? How do you know if it's a good one?

Local FE colleges offer Access courses. Also the OU.

He should look at doing an Access to Higher Education course. There are ones for different subject areas. I did mine at the age of 42! It's not an easy option. It's hard work and the drop out rate on my course was about 50%. I only had 3 'O' levels (chaotic childhood + death of a parent) but went on to achieve a first class honours degree in my subject.

So if you don't do A levels at 18 there's no other way to do them?

The FE college here does do access courses but they're for things like childcare and public service.

The last thing he needs is an online course.

Contact your local university. I can only tell you about Leeds because I escorted some people who were looking at accessing university. I went as a friend.

Theirs is called Learning For Life, they ran a workshop, you got access to the finance people to talk you through funding etc. I went to uni at 18 so all new to me but this is for accessing a foundation course to university instead of doing A levels. He is too old for funded A levels which is 16-19.

You can do A levels but you would have to pay. Education is free until 19 if you are doing a particular level. He just needs to look at accessing university. Bypass the A levels.

What would he want to do at uni? Even if the Access course is in a different specialism it may not matter too much.

He's thinking maths

Might still be able to do A levels at 19 in a FE environment or an Access/Level 3 NVQ or similar. It will vary from one to another. He could approach a uni and ask their advice on meeting entry requirements.

What's the closest the college does? Science? Health? Could he do a couple of stand alone OU modules in maths? Aiming for a degree with an integral foundation year would be a good way forward.

Yes I thought of a foundation year, but he still needs A level equivalents?

An Access course is A level equivalent. But now you've said a maths degree he would need to show some evidence of ability in maths specifically. Hence my suggestion of a couple of OU modules. Or pay for an A level Maths evening class. That said worth looking at some of the low tariff uni entry requirements - UCLAN for example might take him any Access as long as he has grade 7 GCSE maths

He got an 8 at GCSE maths, but has had a shocking time since. He's now signed off sick, which we should have done sooner and the priority needs to be getting him well, but I thought the knowledge that all is not lost might help him.

He's been using apparently degree level maths problems he's found on line to distract himself.

He's being quite a snob about the Universities he'll consider though. He thinks if he's going to do it, it should be a good one.

He could do the Foundation year, then transfer to the first year at a 'better' uni once he's done that first year - it's quite a common tactic.

Oh please.

Access courses are A Level equivalent. Colleges offer them. If he wants to do A Levels he’ll have to pay himself and learn online.

I graduated from an RG Uni with a First in a STEM subject, as did three of my college friends, who went to the same Uni as me. Two in Chemistry, one in Biochemistry and one in Microbiology. Four others went to different RG Unis and did similar subjects.

And the Access Science course I did, has a 60% drop out rate. Most had gone by Christmas. The Head of Adult Education was sure I’d be one of them, being a lone parent to 2 primary aged kids and a baby, but nope - I did the whole year and got Distinctions in every exam and piece of coursework.

If an RG Uni isn’t “good” enough for him, that leaves Oxbridge, so good luck with that 😬

Oh please what?

PP had suggested a lower tariff degree course. DS would prefer a "good" course if that's the avenue he takes. So basically he's saying he wants to do what you did?

I did a levels at night school at my local FE, did them both in a year whilst applying for university. I then did a foundation course at uni as I switched direction from my A levels. Did a degree then PhD - so it is possible
Good luck!