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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

Is she the first to go to university?

38 replies

AsdaYellowTins · 13/10/2022 17:33

Hi DD has applied to various unis. some have sent the widening participation forms. DH and I did not go to university. I did however obtain professional exams and am qualified in my field.
I did this by distance learning (not OU) and by night school.
The "first to uni" question says no higher education qualification being held. Do my professional exams count as higher education? thanks very much

OP posts:
gogohmm · 13/10/2022 17:37

Do you have qualifications equivalent to a degree or hnd if so then you do have higher education, the fact it was or, distance learning and night school doesn't matter.

Whycanineverever · 13/10/2022 17:47

I have been wondering this as well.

Original poster
AsdaYellowTins · 13/10/2022 17:51

I am a qualified accountant. I went to work straight from A levels. I didn't go to Uni. I have no idea if my qualifications are equivalent to a degree. I think I will contact the Uni in question and ask them to confirm, as if I get this wrong, they could toss out her application. I wonder if it varies from uni to uni.

OP posts:
Greeneyegirl · 13/10/2022 18:04

Hmm i ticked i was the first to go to uni as neither of my parents went to uni but my mum had since done a professional qualification but i didnt count that

BrutusMcDogface · 13/10/2022 18:06

What? Do you have to tell the uni now if you’ve been to uni yourself? Also, her application will be declined if you haven’t? Sorry, think I’ve misunderstood here.

anyway, if you have a level 7 qualification then that would count as degrees are level 7.

ErrolTheDragon · 13/10/2022 18:11

BrutusMcDogface · 13/10/2022 18:06

What? Do you have to tell the uni now if you’ve been to uni yourself? Also, her application will be declined if you haven’t? Sorry, think I’ve misunderstood here.

anyway, if you have a level 7 qualification then that would count as degrees are level 7.

Undergrad bachelors degrees are level 6

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QualificationtypessintheeUnited_Kingdom

Of course applications won't be declined because of parents' educational level; it might perhaps have some bearing on contextual offers?

WhoopItUp · 13/10/2022 18:13

BrutusMcDogface · 13/10/2022 18:06

What? Do you have to tell the uni now if you’ve been to uni yourself? Also, her application will be declined if you haven’t? Sorry, think I’ve misunderstood here.

anyway, if you have a level 7 qualification then that would count as degrees are level 7.

Degrees are level 6. Master’s programmes are level 7.

lovelypidgeon · 13/10/2022 18:17

ErrolTheDragon · 13/10/2022 18:11

Undergrad bachelors degrees are level 6

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QualificationtypessintheeUnited_Kingdom

Of course applications won't be declined because of parents' educational level; it might perhaps have some bearing on contextual offers?

Show quote history

The relevance is that universities can make lower offers to some students based on their background. One factor they take in to account in deciding this is the students' parents education level. I think OP is concerned that if her child is given an offer on this basis and they didn't actually qualify for it the whole application may be thrown out.

ErrolTheDragon · 13/10/2022 18:21

AsdaYellowTins · 13/10/2022 17:51

I am a qualified accountant. I went to work straight from A levels. I didn't go to Uni. I have no idea if my qualifications are equivalent to a degree. I think I will contact the Uni in question and ask them to confirm, as if I get this wrong, they could toss out her application. I wonder if it varies from uni to uni.

I think contacting the admissions tutor is a good idea. I don't think it's very clear if/how various professional qualifications fit into the educational levels definition.

bare · 13/10/2022 19:59

I was wondering this as I went to a College of Higher Education and got a degree, but it wasn't a Uni then (it is now).

landyland · 13/10/2022 20:13

I found this question annoying as I went to Uni twice - BSc and Masters (middle class background) and DH didnt go to Uni at all (working class background). Similarly my father went to Uni and my mother left school at 14. What is that question telling them in that case?

dudsville · 13/10/2022 20:18

I did not know there were levels. Every day's a school day!

BrutusMcDogface · 13/10/2022 20:50

Oh, my mistake.

thanks for clarifying.

Era · 13/10/2022 20:54

My understanding is that the question is trying to see whether parental education (for either parent) went beyond senior school.

FatOaf · 13/10/2022 22:47

My understanding is that the question is trying to see whether parental education (for either parent) went beyond senior school.

It's a pointless question, to be honest, because everyone can say their parents didn't go to university if they choose to. The university can't ask for proof. Nobody has an official certificate stating that they don't have a degree.

Original poster
AsdaYellowTins · 14/10/2022 04:56

Hi the context is the widening participation scheme. If DD is eligible, her A level offer will be lower. The uni in quesion has sent her a form that both DH and I have to sign, we also have to get references from our employers that confirm that neither of us has been to uni. On the forms it refers to higher education as opposed to university. It also says on the forms, that if you fill them out incorrectly, the application for this course for this uni, will be rejected.
I have emailed the uni's admissions to ask the question, as it is better that she doesnt apply for the contectual offer, than lose her application, but also if she is entitled to a lower offer, it woudl be good to take that opportunity.

OP posts:
ErinAoife · 14/10/2022 05:34

If you are a qualified accountant, you have higher education status..

SpanishSteps123Ole · 14/10/2022 06:05

The Professional Diploma in Accounting is equivalent to an HNC level qualification, or the first year of a university degree.

kaplan.co.uk/insights/article-detail/insights/2021/05/06/what-are-the-aat-levels-equivalent-to#:~:text=The%20Professional%20Diploma%20in%20Accounting,year%20of%20a%20university%20degree.

If you have AAT that's level 4 and so if her dad hasn't got high qualifications then your DD is the first to go to uni.

burpypants · 14/10/2022 06:52

I don't know this either, me and dh did not go to university but both are qualified chartered accountants and therefore hold a level 7 qualification. It's a few years until our dc go to university but I'd also be interested in the answer.

Era · 14/10/2022 06:55

You can’t tick the boxes if you have post secondary school level qualifications.

Betsyboo87 · 14/10/2022 07:04

Which accounting qualification do you have? Fully completed ACCA is considered masters level here

I would expect ACA/CIMA to be the same level. Not sure that answers your question for the application though

Rewis · 14/10/2022 07:39

Does the first to go uni only cover parents? So if parents didn't go to university then the child is the first to go? Regardless if grandparents or siblings etc. Has?

Oblomov22 · 14/10/2022 07:39

What is the exact wording please? On the UCAS portal. Can you screenshot it.
Apparently the wording was deliberately changed. But I don't know if that was last year or this year.

Does it ask only if a parent went to uni? Which your answer would be no.

It used to be: higher education qualifications, certificates, which as an ACA or ACCA qualified accountant you clearly do, irrespective of not going to uni. Do you would answer yes?

Does dd need or want a contextual / lower offer?

Durham offered ds1 a lower offer, based on our postcode which I was most uncomfortable with because it's just wrong (100's of ex council houses round here sold to private many years ago, who now have mortgages).

Check with her school Uni admissions officer? For clarification. That'll make you feel better.

TimeForMeToF1y · 14/10/2022 07:46

ErinAoife · 14/10/2022 05:34

If you are a qualified accountant, you have higher education status..

But if the question is did your parents go to uni the answer is no. I think you are tying yourself in unecessaty knots

Surely it's a fact based question as pps have said for context ans statistics, no need complicate matters

Sindonym · 14/10/2022 07:50

Email the admissions tutor so you have the answer in writing. Or write on the form the qualifications you have & how obtained. They can then decide what to do with the info.