Universities with lowest entry requirements

[Umbrellasaregood]

Where can we start?
DS wants to go to Uni but is dyslexic and predicted Ds (or Cs at a big push). Looking at humanity/ social science type courses, possibly with a view to teach or social work.
Yes, it's vague but we would rather find a course that would accept him and compromise a bit on the subject than face rejections.

I never read anything about low entrance universities.
Everything is Oxbridge or Russell Group.

Hope this makes sense.

@Umbrellasaregood If you go to 'course search' on UCAS.com, you can order the results by "points tariff" (how hard to get in), either high -> low, or low -> high!

My DS is very dyslexic, was identified early at primary school as he’s so bad.

GCSES average, A Levels better, graduated last year from Loughborough with a 1st.

Uni was very hard work & he’s slogged at it, but he was determined to prove a point and he did.

@Eve !

Brilliant! Well done to him.
I'm hoping we get the same pattern here!

@Umbrellasaregood It can be very difficult for younger siblings when the older ones are high flyers. I think maybe you need to tackle the constantly comparing thing first.

As someone else has said, you also need to determine if he would get better grades with better support or if this is as good as it will get.

Both the careers he has in mind are quite tough & require quite a bit of resilience. If he decides to go for teaching I would strongly recommend he works at a school in a support role first. If it’s secondary school, he also needs to think about the practicalities/pitfalls of teaching kids who may be just a few years younger than him but more academically able. Yes you can be a good teacher without being a high flyer academically. But kids will cotton on if there are gaps in his knowledge.

Bucks New Uni?

Hi!

it’s been a while since I was looking at uni but I’m sure UCAS show the requirements grades for each course.

Maybe factor in the culture and where he wants to live then decide (e.g. if he wants to live in Manchester there are two Uni’s and I think Man Met have lower requirements). I’d then explore what facilities they have to help people with dyslexia (as a disability they should make reasonable adjustments but some places could be better than others so worth exploring)

And, because I’ve seen a few posters saying ‘don’t bother’…. If he wants to go, he should bother! A girl I went with is very dyslexic, we did psychology an essay based degree…. She got a first!! A guy I knew at uni doing graphic design also dyslexic, he got a 2:1 and he got a ton of equipment to help him. Your son will probably find some things harder but that shouldn’t hold him back!

I would suggest looking at a degree with a foundation year attached. My DS is currently doing one (I think he slept through his A Level exams..) and he says it's great. He has two academic skills sessions a week - taken back to basics with time keeping, essay writing etc.

I've only heard positive things about foundation years and how students often do particularly well after doing one - you get a more gentle first year to settle into moving away from home etc

I haven't looked at the entry tariffs for DMU, but it's worth looking there or any other uni that promotes Universal Design for Learning. This should mean that their courses are designed for students at the margins so all students are more likely to succeed.

Is it really the right thing for them to do? University education is pretty much the same sort of thing as A-Levels, but at a higher level and more self-governed.

If A-levels we’re not for them, is University?

I’m a lecturer that specialises in inclusion. In my opinion, university can be the place where kids like your son come into their own. But he will need to seek support. He should contact the disabilities office as soon as he can. He may need official certification to be awarded the extra supports available. Look into universal design for learning. De Montfort is known as being really good in the area. Good luck to him and you!

Ex polys and teacher training colleges are generally the easiest. He could get on the social work course at Winchester with CCC at A level.

Is teaching a good choice of career if he is dyslexic?

The former polytechnics.

Coventry, Oxford Brooks, Anglia Ruskin, Leeds Beckett, DeMontford, UCLAN, Nottingham Trent, Man Met, Liverpool John Moore's etc.

Some are considered 'better' than others, and entry requirements vary massively by course but they're a good place to start.

But on the whole degrees from there are worth close to nothing, yet still cost tens of thousands of pounds.

I think it depends what you aim to do in life. Lots of jobs want someone degree educated and don't really care where they got it.

I'd agree if you want to go in to Law, economics etc.

DH works in tech, where they pay big money, and they don't care where someone got their degree (he recruits). I work in social work - RG universities on the whole don't offer social work. DHs first degree is from an RG uni, it's worthless due to what it's in. His tech qualification is from a former poly. He doesn't put his first degree on his CV anymore.

“But on the whole degrees from there are worth close to nothing, yet still cost tens of thousands of pounds.“

on what basis would you say that ToInfinityAgain?

These are solid modern universities that can offer amazing opportunities for young people

It is simply not true that degrees from lower tariff universities are not worth anything. Often they are vocational degrees leading to specific jobs and have placements in the relevant sector. You want to be a social worker, do a social work degree with a placement...chances are you will end up working in social work. Same with nursing and other social/health fields.

Don't be ridiculous. Degrees still add value to earnings.

And a degree in social work doesn't mean nothing, given you can't be a social worker without one.

There are some excellent unis in that list. Educate yourself and stop sneering.

Most employers won’t put much value on them above A-Levels, but they cost about the same to achieve as does a degree in Physics from Oxford. It’s terrible value for money.

@ToInfinityAgain what qualifies you to make such a broad sweeping dismissal of university entry for the vast majority?

If anyone really likes data and wants to look up subject and university level data on things like graduate employment then you might like this: www.officeforstudents.org.uk/data-and-analysis/ and if you want to see what students think about their university then you might also like diving into some of the questions here: www.officeforstudents.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/student-information-and-data/national-student-survey-nss/

And yes I accidentally posted this on another HE thread...not meaning to spam!

@BeardyButton , it’s a few years too early for my DD as she’s currently in Y10 but because she has such pronounced needs, I always have to be ahead of the curve in terms of planning her future. My DD is registered blind and has ADHD and autism, among other disabilities. Would your university be able to support her appropriately?

I agree with looking at degrees with a foundation year. Some universities also may give contextual offers which may make them more accessible for your DS. I would be encouraging your DS to put an aspirational university or two on his UCAS application, maybe ones that require a grade higher in one or two of his subjects.
@Ellmau my DSs headteacher is dyslexic, it’s not a reason to stop someone being a teacher.

OP, my younger sister had a very traumatic adolescence and as a result she flunked out at A-level exam time - considerably worse than DDD results, if I remember right.

She did a degree in Early Years Education at Bath Spa and really enjoyed it, now has a lucrative overseas teaching job and is flying! Bad results followed by the right university can be a great path for some.

Best of luck finding a brilliant option for your son.

Unfortunately not all of them do. The BBC article I linked to earlier writes about this - some subjects from some universities are negative earning compared to non-degrees. It is a lot more complex that just degree/ no degree.

If the op’s son wants to go to uni then my advise would be to look carefully at the universities and courses and what support they offer students. Plus get as good as grades as possible in his Alevels to have more options.

@Umbrellasaregood Does he know what subject he wants to do? Is this for 23 entry?

I agree. I don't know about de Montford so don't have an opinion either way but I agree with the rest of this post.

Uni is not just about getting a degree. It is learning to live independently and with other people from different walks of life. There is a value in uni that is more than the cost which is not measured in monetary terms. It will benefit your ds especially since he is clear what he wants to do (more than half the battle won there) and wants to go to uni. He will make the best of it.

My dd is neurodiverse and she is really loving her time at uni (which is one very few people have heard of). Her self esteem took a beating growing up feeling that she was different and not good enough. But she has moved out, is doing a course that she wants to do and suits her skillset (less academic) and found a tribe. She is blossoming. I am so pleased and relieved for her.