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.

This also depends who you are. For example, a working class girl from a minority ethic background is always better off with a degree.

Just because he is dyslexic doesn't mean uni isn't for him. I know lots of dyslexic people with degrees maybe are now very successful. My siblings and I are all dyslexic all have degrees. My brother failed his English GCSE (got As in maths and science) and had to resit it to get to university but he did a physics degree at a Russel group and now has a good job.

I am the only one of my siblings who didn't go to a Russel group uni I went to a good mid table former poly and there were quite a few dyslexic students on on my humanities course.

Maybe something like sociology at one of the ex polys? Does he have certain places he's drawn to living in? Maybe start that way and work backwards to see what's on offer?

Find out what kind of supportive the unis have for dyslexia? What support does he have now? Extra time? Mind maps? Using the annotate functionality on word? There are lots of hacks out there,

That IFS study caused considerable concern at the time. But it measures earnings against all other earners. It doesn't measure someone in the Arts against a non grad in the arts. Some people, shock, want to study, aren't motivated purely by earnings , and want to work in particular fields. Perhaps they should consider, for example, paying people in socrial care better rather than pointlessly telling those people they should go and do economics at LSE.

All that list shows is what society prioritises....

I forgot to mention that the Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) is very generous and worth accessing as part of the Uni Student Finance application process. The maximum award is 25,000 and none of it has to be paid back or returned. Before it is given, your ds' needs will be assessed to determine what he gets.

My dd got a new laptop, printer, specialist software to help with lectures and writing essays, mentoring and study skills sessions.

1. I have a degree in Physics from Oxford (well, joint honours). I'm by no means a high earner, as I'm a teacher.
2. You do know how student loans are repaid? Lower earners will never pay back the money (although more of them will pay more back from next academic year).
3. As PP have said, some specific jobs need specific vocational courses. My DD is studying an art/design subject at a former poly, which was an art school long before polytechnics were dreamed up. Like many small vocational courses, it's very highly regarded by employers who actually recruit for that precise thing.

Perhaps try for a very unpopular degree at a middle ranking university rather than the lowest grade one possible just to try to find a student cohort which is similar to his older sibling's friends etc.

www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/advice/adults/in-education/higher-education

Yes. I think so. It would take a lot of people from all over the uni working together. But it is doable and I have seen it done.

I would think about whether it would be wise to think about the support of home as well. My anecdotal experience says that One risk factor to non-continuation is moving away from home. Uni can be a huge change. My feeling is that if you can keep the rest constant (not moving half as of way across the country) then you are least cut down that massive change.

I don’t teach at DMU but I have heard great things. I think of them as leading the way on this.

@Cornishmumofone thank you. I hadn't heard of the universal design.

@Umbrellasaregood DS won't be mature enough to enter a work environment just yet.
Would a teaching or social work degree be the right thing for him as I'd think both would require work placement quite early?

@BeardyButton , thank you for responding. Food for thought. DD is pretty smart academically as she is at a super-selective grammar school but she needs such a lot of spoon feeding (more than her six-year-old sister) in terms of her life skills and social and emotional support. I/we were hoping for a Foundation course at Oxford (she would be eligible due to her care experience) but maybe this is too ambitious?

@BeardyButton , I forgot to add that I will also check out DMU on your advice. Thanks so much, it’s great to have insider information.

The important question, of course, is whether they add more value than they cost.

Some so, some don’t. If it’s a life-changing experience that will never get you a job then doing the course is a perfectly valid decision, but I suspect it’s quite unusual that land management at Bournemouth matters enough to someone’s self-image that it’s worth £40,000 of debt.

University of South Wales has pretty good dyslexia support, free laptops, scribes etc and has courses on the lower end of admissions requirement- especially on the Newport campus for example the BA hons in youth and community work is BCC to CDD, as is the BA hons health and social care managememt

Winchester is a very supportive and inclusive uni. Their social work degree only requires three Cs and from what I know of them they led a uni that accepts lower grades.

IME universities are often better than schools at supporting dyslexic students (not because teachers don't try hard, but because universities have a different structure and different resources, and for various reasons it becomes easier for them to provide decent, targeted support). So he might find he finds his feet there - if university is what he wants to do.

FWIW, my very dyslexic brother was predicted C grades at the start of sixth form (based on performance at GCSE); the predictions rose to Bs by Christmas of his final year (what a surprise, a dyslexic student does better when he can choose the subjects he likes!). I forget what he actually got, but he got a first at university. I'm not saying this to be all pollyanna, but because dyslexic people often don't fit the predictable patterns. It could well be he will be one of those who thrive when he's given the conditions to succeed. And, on that note, in terms of universities that seem to do well with dyslexics: UEA wants BBB for some of its teaching courses, and might be worth a punt, as might Swansea (also good with dyslexics). University of Northampton is very supportive; I've known people who said really good things about Liverpool Hope and Goldsmiths. It is always fine to get in touch and ask what support is there, or to search their website and see if it gives a good impression of support given.

When you say he is dyslexic, has he had a full assessment from an EP or specialist teacher or has he just had a screening in school or college? If he hasn't had the full assessment then get that done now so he can have DSA set up before he starts, that will probably get him a fortnightly 1:1 study skills, a laptop and specialist software. Support at university is MUCH better than at school and college but it can take a while to set up - DSA applications take at least 14 weeks so it needs to be applied for well before he starts.

Foundation years can be good too, plus look at what extra support they offer in terms of wellbeing and academic support.

Land management's quite lucrative, isn't it? My understanding (and excuse me if I'm wrong) is that it's one of those degrees, like law, that are very dull to study, but do result in reliable and often well-paid work?

Someone doing a degree in land management presumably has a very specific career in mind.

It’s also worth pointing out a “worthy” degree is not the only thing that can be gained from uni. Rightly or wrongly it’s a rite of passage for many, and especially for young adults such as OPs DS gaining independence in a supportive and productive environment can be exactly what they need.

Plus anyway, for something like social work all that really matters is that it’s accredited.

Student loans don’t work like a payday loan and shouldn’t be looked at as debt in the same way other loans are.

Definitely do this.

he has two treasons to go to uni. One: the careers he’s interested in require a degree and two: he wants to go for the experience.

I would check unis that provide good support. Eg UCLAN offer excellent support.

Work experience/ voluntary work will be useful for his statement. In schools or see what’s available via doit.life/volunteer/i-want-to-volunteer

And if he's considering social work as a career, personally, I'd recommend he does a degree in something first, then a master's in social work. He'll need a social work qualification to be a social worker. Years ago, social work courses wouldn't take 18yo (some courses were 19+, others 21+) and I don't know why it changed, but in my opinion (as a social work manager, part time lecturer, practice educator and recruiter) it shouldn't have done!

Uni is not just about getting a degree. It is learning to live independently and with other people from different walks of life.

But is it worth 3 or 3 years of spending £9K per year plus accommodation? That's a huge amount of money!!

Sorry 3 or 4