UCAS application with non standard qualifications

[violetmarigold]

Hiya,

DD is applying to university, and it's a bit of a minefield for her as not only is she the first in our family to want to go, she's just finished a Level 3 apprenticeship so doesn't have the support of college to help her with her application - so we thought we'd ask MN!

Should she be approaching universities to check that they will accept her application before submitting her UCAS application, or will she be able to swap out if places won't accept her? She doesn't have the standard 3 A Levels, just a BTEC Diploma from one year of sixth form, a Level 3 Diploma in the subject she wants to study at University, and three years good industry experience.

She's really hoping that her current employers will offer her a degree apprenticeship this summer, but if they won't, she wants to have a university offer in hand so that she can continue to study her subject.

Thanks for any help

What subject?
So, she has two diplomas? Are they just a ' diploma' or are they extended diplomas, or a subsidiary diploma?

If she has two completed level 3 BTEC Diplomas, then that is the equivalent of 4 A levels.

I would call the universities though, and make sure.

Also, if she is taking her apprenticeship through a college, she CAN access support through their careers department.

She will need an academic reference- her training provider will supply this.

She has left it late, but but it is not impossible.

Hope that helps

PS
Don't email universities- call.

She should check with the uni websites if the L3 diploma she currently has is suitable - she can email to ask if she's unsure.

She'll need a reference - will her employer provide one?

It's sounds positive - I assume she's now 21? With a Level 3 to demonstrate academic ability and relevant industry experience I'd be very hopeful of all unconditional offers to choose from.

@Somethingkindaoooo

PS Don't email universities- call.

Don't call - email! (No one is in offices right now.)

Should she be approaching universities to check that they will accept her application before submitting her UCAS application, or will she be able to swap out if places won't accept her? She doesn't have the standard 3 A Levels, just a BTEC Diploma from one year of sixth form, a Level 3 Diploma in the subject she wants to study at University, and three years good industry experience.

That sounds like a solid application. Are you sure the BTEC equivalent entry qualifications aren’t listed in the course webpage? You might have to click a bit, but BTEC, Access Diploma etc offer levels should be listed somewhere. She should definitely make contact with admissions if she feels unsure or needs advice.

Thank you everyone!

The Diploma she got for the first year of sixth form is equivalent to one A level we know that - it should have been 1 1/2 but there was a mix up at college and so they said 1 for the first year and then would have been 2 for the 2nd - but she was offered an apprenticeship after her work experience which she took instead.

The diploma attached to the apprenticeship is more complicated, it's issued by OAL and we thought it was equivalent to 3 A levels, but a university admissions team she has approached have said they thought it was only equal to 1, so her current Uni tutor is finding out from OAL, but of course time is against her.

References are not a problem, she could get a reference from her Uni tutor or work. Uni tutor doesn't seem to know much about academic courses though or applying, she seems to specialise in apprenticeships.

Subject is food science - she'll still be 20 come September so I think she might not meet the mature student requirements?

Is it this one:
https://www.oawards.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/OAL-Specification-L3-Food-Ops-Feb-17.pdf

If so the guided learning hours suggest it's just under one A level equivalent.

Do any of the unis she is interested in have a Foundation year, or even foundation degree, option? Having the equivalent of two A levels might be enough for those, and she'd have the option of a full degree.

No, it's this one, I think it's very similar though.

www.oawards.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/OAL-L3-Food-Technology-Qualification-Specification-160817.pdf

A couple of the courses she is looking at are Foundation, do you think she's not likely to get on a normal undergraduate course then? If work are able to offer her a degree apprenticeship she's been told her Level 3 is sufficient for that, and it's the same qualification, so we assumed it would be ok.

For example, this is the degree apprenticeship she could go on, for which the qualification is a BSc in Food Science and Technology.

www.ntu.ac.uk/course/animal-rural-and-environmental-sciences/app/level-6-food-industry-technical-professional-degree-apprenticeship

They should all convert to ucas points so look for courses with relevant tariff and then check for any specific subject requirements. There are only a couple of weeks left to submit an application though, does she have the personal statement ready and a referee lined up?

Thanks Lizs, yes, her boss or her Uni tutor will give her a reference (does that have to be submitted with the application?) and personal statement is done. It's just hard when she's trying to figure it all out on her own!

Yes the reference is part of the submission process.

Thank you, she says she can sort that next week.

www.ucas.com/ucas/tariff-calculator

You can use this calculator to work out how many UCAS points the qualifications she has equates to and then some university course pages will state how many points they need for entry (some don’t state this or require full traditional a levels in specific subjects)

www.ucas.com/advisers/offer-rate-calculator

This is a calculate that works out how likely you are to get an offer on a course with the qualifications and grades you are likely to achieve or have already achieved. It is currently offline but should be back up soon.

You should apply for courses that you are likely to get offers from. Having an aspirational option is good but so is having an insurance choice that you will definitely get an offer for and you would be happy to attend.

Some qualifications (such as the one OP links to) haven't got a tariff score. The spec you've linked to also suggest a one A level equivalent qualification.

Has her employer had previous apprentices go onto the degree apprenticeship from the L3 one? The uni needs to agree as well as the employer - employers can be keen on saying yes without actually having the uni's input!

She has five options on the form - she should put a couple of foundation years/degree programmes down. She may get lucky and get offers for year 1 of a degree based on existing qualifications and experience, but otherwise I'd have thought a definite offer for a foundation programme.

Good luck!

Thanks Titchy - no she's the first apprentice they've had! The Uni that she's doing the level 3 through do a degree and a foundation so she's hopeful that she's be offered a place on one of them.

She really wants a degree apprenticeship and to stay with her current employers, but they can't confirm for financial reasons until later in the year, so she thought she'd better get a UCAS application in just in case.

Thank you everyone for your help!

Call when they are back.
I rarely get replies from universities via email.