Mature student, no A Levels or GCSEs, want to enroll to University. What are my options?

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Hello, I am trying to find information on this, but I did not grow up in the UK (I have been living here for 5 years), so I don't know much about the education system here and when I try to google it, I get confused. So hoping mumsnet can clarify things for me.

So I never went to University and don't have A-Levels or GCSEs because they are not a thing in the country where I am from. I am thinking of enrolling to uni here.

But I read somewhere that since I am 30, I would enroll as a mature student and wouldn't need these? So what kind of qualifications do I need then? And will I be eligible for a student loan as a mature student? Thank you for your responses

Do you have equivalent qualifications from your home country? Did you take national exams at age 18, for example? Do you have any evidence of recent study? This will be important. Any courses or certificates or diplomas undertaken recently? You can apply to do an Access course if not.

You might need to do an access course. Have you found a course you like, if so then email them to ask what the requirements are. The loan should be fine as you haven't had student finance before.

Look up access to university courses

I was taken out of school at 13 (traveller family) and did an access course at 21. It was brilliant, all qualifications required in one year and I got into the best local university. Loads of support with applications etc.

Yes you're entitled to student finance.

Good luck!

If you have equivalent qualifications from your home country then you could just apply directly. My ex got into university with his Polish qualifications no problem

You’ll need to do an access course, either at the university or a local college.

What degree do you want to do, as it’ll vary a bit

Hi OP, I used to lead an Access to HE diploma. You will need Eng Lan and maths GCSE (or equivalent eg Functional Skills to enrol. It is funded by the Learner Loan Company - affiliated to Student Finance England. Most diplomas cost around the 3.5k mark, however, once you progress to university, it is written off. There are a variety of awarding bodies and pathways. Contact your local FE college for more information. Good luck in your studies 🤓

@BeEasyonYourself Access is a great course - congrats to you 🙌🏼

My friend did an access course post being in the army and now has a Masters degree. He said it was really useful having not done anything post GCSE and really enjoyed it. It also taught him good study methods and prepped him well for university. Go for it.

OP, if you do have some sort of official certificates/qualifications from your schooldays, the Admissions staff at universities should be able to tell you if they would accept those instead of A levels and GCSEs. If English is not your first language they may want you to provide a test result proving you are fluent enough with reading, writing and speaking/listening to cope with a degree course. Good luck!

What do you want to study and does location matter? What do you hope to do after your degree?

What is the normal progression from school to university in the country you went to achool in? Would you have qualified to start a 3 year Bachelor-Level degree at university if you had stayed in that country?

If the starus of your exusting school-lebeling qualifications are deemed equivalent to A-Levels then you can just apply as normal.

If they are deemed to be a bit short of A-Levels or your grades weren't good enough for them to be deemed equivalent then look for a course which starts with a 1-year "Foundation" or year-zero.

If You left school with no qualifications at all then you may need to go to a lower level college and get some A-Levels or equivalent first, but it will depend on what you want to study, and where.

For example, this page details the default position for most countries for the University of Sheffield - but if your situation is more cimplex then talk to the admissions officer. For example, if you came to the uk as a refugee and your schooling was disrupted due to a complex situation in your home country then that would be treated differently than if you had your country's standard schooling experience but didn't qualify for higher level study

You could also study at the Open University. They offer an Access course but no qualifications are needed and you do not have to do the Access course.

You might need an Access course, for which you also need English and Maths gcses or equivalent, or to take a foundation year. Some overseas certificates can be used as equivalent. Best speak to any potential unis.

What subject is it you hope to study? If it has been a while since you studied a shorter course can help you regain good study habits as well as add knowledge.