Can I get onto a uni course with an NVQ3?

[SkyeSkye]

Hi,

I know it probably varies and depends on the course.

I don't have a C in Maths ...I have never been very good at it but I qualified as a Veterinary Nurse (NVQ 2&3 route) and I can do the calculations to work out medication dosages once I learnt them! But otherwise I do suck at maths.

I did that job for 15 years, now a SAHM with two toddlers.

I would love to be a Speech and Language Therapist and attend Uni, but I'm not sure if my NVQ3 could help me get onto the course or not?

I feel a bit embarrassed to email them and ask... I've never been to uni, it was never even mentioned by my parents. I didn't get good grades at GCSE (C in English, that's the best one!) I'm 33 and would love to be working towards a new career.

Any advice? Should I just declare it hopeless?

It’ll depend on the uni! But even if they do require it, you could sit it at a college.
There’s also an option for functional skills if GCSE Maths doesn’t suit

Ask them! The older students all did really well on my degree.

What NVQ 3 is it?

Have a look at Birmingham City University's entry requirements as an example: www.bcu.ac.uk/courses/speech-and-language-therapy-bsc-hons-2022-23#entry_requirements. I think the maths GCSE is going to be a must, and there might be other additional requirements.

You usually need to have evidence of recent study which is why lots of mature students do an Access course.

You need to look on the ucas website at the individual university entry requirements but I suspect your lack of a c in maths maybe a barrier.

I highly recommend an access course. Great for getting you uni ready. Functional skills will be a must either way. But it also depends on the course. The degree I am looking onto only requires English. You need to ring around and do your research into each individual course and university

I got onto a health degree with grade d maths, I worked with a nurse who didn’t have a c either.

Thanks for the replies.
I'll look into an access course or functional skills course.
The NVQ 2&3 I have is in Veterinary Nursing.

There's no way I could achieve a C in Maths. And if I did it would probably take me about 20 years! I just don't get it.

I did suspect that it would be a massive barrier as it has been all my life, but I don't want to be a Veterinary Nurse anymore. :(

If you can do the practical maths you need to be a vet nurse you’ll be absolutely fine with functional skills!

OP, you may like to know there’s now a new ‘Mature Study and Retraining’ board under the Education topic - where you’ll find several threads addressing similar questions to yours.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mature_students

(Feel free to ask MNHQ to move your thread there if you think it might be helpful.)

The likelihood is that you'll need a C or above in Maths. As others have mentioned, functional skills is an option however it won't be accepted on all courses.

Could you look at a higher level apprenticeship route in? While these will also require a C, they will often combine it with the main course to run concurrently therefore saving you time.

Have you thought about starting off with the Open University? Lots to choose from and no formal qualifications required.

Please, just call around. They don't know who you are so there is no reason to be embarrassed

@SometimesRavenSometimesParrot I've had a look at the nearest uni to me, and their requirements for the SLT course and they don't accept a Functional Skills qualification.

Gosh. I feel so down. I really do feel stuck and all because I'm awful at maths ;(
Having a little cry and feeling sorry for myself after having put the kids to bed.

I'll do my best to try to not let them turn out like me.

@EdmontinaDonsAutumnalHues Thank you- I'll get this thread moved over to there just incase anyone has some more experience with this kinda situation.

@ShirleyBadass I will have a look into an Apprenticeship thank you.

@clockover I have looked at their website before but I'm not sure what course I'd do from there to get where I'd like to be.

It’s a pleasure. But please don’t feel down. Take a look at some of the other threads here - you’ll soon start to feel strengthened. So many people don’t see a way ‘back’ - and often it’s because they’re missing one crucial bit of information, or sympathetic encouragement at just the right moment. You’re almost certainly not completely stuck!

Please please don't feel down about it! It's so common and it's totally achievable!

I am working with a lady on a teacher training qual who has just passed after taking it 6 times but she got there!

And even if it takes time, the thing I keep seeing is something like in 6 years time you'll still be here doing the same thing so you may as well still be here in 6 years time with X qualification.

https://www.rcslt.org/speech-and-language-therapy/become-a-speech-and-language-therapist/apprenticeships/#section-5

Bumping for new people asking similar questions, or offering solutions.

Just wondering if the uni or a local HE college might offer an access course? I have friends in their 30s who’ve recently started a degree and they both did a one year access course first to prepare them. One is doing accountancy and the other photography. I’m my experience mature students do so much better than students in their teens, I know Uni was wasted on me when I did my BA, I was much better at MA level after working a few years. Good luck.

Don't be despondent, just have a plan! GCSE Maths is usually free to do at a local college, if you don't have a grade C. If you can, do the lower paper Maths GCSE, the highest you can get is a C, but it's much, much easier. I got a C first time and I'm rubbish at maths. Do past papers online and use BBC Bitesize to help you, you might surprise yourself.

Do it alongside an Access course in September. On the access you usually apply to uni when it opens in October for a hopeful conditional offer for the next year. Good luck.