Are Access courses only for people with no A levels/Scottish Highers?

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I am considering doing an Access course some time in the next couple of years. I left school at 18 in the 1980's with 2 or 3 Highers, did a Scotec year-long full-time course in Photography and then did 2 A-levels when I was 21. But I was badly informed about how many A levels I needed to apply for the university course I wanted to do then and did one less than I should have. So I never went to uni in the end...

Can any mature student do an Access course?
Does it depend how old your existing qualifications are?

bump

Access courses can be done by people with no/some/the wrong A levels/BTECs etc. I know a few people who did them for a variety of reasons - some almost straight from school, some much later.

If you have a degree in mind, call the department and ask about access courses, and how your qualifications and experience count towards accessing the degree

Hey,

I think anyone can apply for an access course. I had to go for an interview and explain why I wanted to do it.

In Edinburgh for example, if you apply to uni, highers are only valid for 3 years then you have to start again so access course the best place to start!!!

Best thing I ever did, go into 3rd year at uni in September!!

Good luck!

Thanks!
girly are you in Edinburgh? Am moving back there this summer...

Hey,

I am in Edinburgh. Where are you moving to?

Stockbridge, whereabouts are you? Are you new on here or have you changed name?

Hiya,

As far as I know any mature student can do an Access course. You don't need any qualifications to do it.
But equally if you have A-levels/Scottish Highers in different subjects to the Acces course that should be OK too. When you took them should be irrelevant.

I have 3 A-Levels (but no degree) and I did an Access course last year. Other students in my class had no qualifications.

I really enjoyed the course, and I'm really glad I did it.

However, are you doing it to get into university? Many universities will take work experience into account if you are a mature student, the requirements aren't necessarily the same as if you came straight out of school. How old are you? How much work experience do you have? It could be worth looking at if you could go straight to uni now.

Hi.
If you are thinking of doing this as a route into a particular degree then I STRONGLY recommend you email a couple of relevant admissions tutors with a summary of the qualifications that you have and ask their advice. There is a lot of variation in what is required for "mature" students and you want to make sure that you do the best possible course. We often recommend a single a-level in preference to an access course but it depends completely on the existing qualifications.
Good luck

access course are available to any one regardless of age or qualifications.good luck