Queries on UCAS application as a mature student

[UniQueries]

I am currently in the process as applying through UCAS for an undergraduate degree as a mature student, but am a bit stumped on two things. UCAS have advised me to email the unis, which I have, but they are closed for hols, and I'm sure Mners will know the answer so grateful for any advice!

• Reference. It must be an employer/colleague or college etc. I left college in 1994 and have been out of employment since 2015 and that company has now closed anyway. It can't be a personal friend apparently. So I literally have no one! Ive emailed the unis (as per UCAS advice) to see if the requirement can be waived but worry that will count against me.

Also. 2. I have copy certificates for my A level results (42 fucking quid) but now it's just not clear whether I also need my GCSE results/certificates. My secondary school is also no longer in existence and I did them in 1992! I know GCSEs don't give "tariff points" anyway but online the information is conflicted between adding GCSEs under "qualifications" or just mentioning them in the personal statement. I can remember what grades I got but not in which subjects IYSWIM. I really don't want to have to pay for copy certificates again if possible!

My DC were much easier as they were straightforwardly applying from college. Any advice will be gratefully received!

I am pretty sure you need to include your GCSEs if you have taken them.

You maybe don't need certificates but do need to know the board plus results (I suppose you can underplay the results if not sure if a or b - put b.

You could maybe try Facebook to find an old school mate and see what exam board they have? Or linked in.

Reference you'd best ask the university direct but an old colleague from 2015 would work -your statement woujd mention what you have been up to since (briefly) -any voluntary work or say governor role? You could use that.

Also if no recent academic experience they may want you to do access course first anyway.

As above, you should enter your GCSEs in the qualifications section, this is particularly important for some STEM degrees which do ask for minimum GCSE grades in addition to A Levels.

The reference could be done by an individual who knows your character and academic abilities. This should be an individual you worked with in your last job, however you may need to give them information about your qualifications and the course you’re applying for, in order to help them write a reference.

I definitely had to pay for my GCSE certificates. My school no longer existed either and I'm sure there was a website (maybe the local county council?) that said which schools used which exam boards for the years. So then I had to pay the exam boards (x3) £46 to check their records and send me the certificates - it turned out only 2/3 exam boards had results for me and I can't remember if they give refunds or not!

For a reference, my neighbour (and friend) is a business owner in a similar field to my chosen degree subject. She wrote a character reference for me but I would've sought out an ex boss or colleague to do one otherwise.

I agree a former colleague from your last job might be best.

Alternatively - could you not take a short course relevant to your intended subject? An evening class at a local college or something like that - probably better in person than online. That way you’d have a recent tutor who could vouch for you. (Although I realise but helpful if you have a deadline in a few weeks.)

Apologies this dropped down TIO so I've just seen the replies! My old school friend and I (still best friends) have racked our brains and I've applied for copy certificates (another £43! so hopefully it's the right board) as I am not 100% sure of all of my GCSE grades and don't want to give incorrect info. It's not a STEM subject I would like to study, it's actually history and I definitely got As both at A level and GCSE (and in English and languages etc) but I got either a B/Cs in the sciences so really need the certificates. (Seems silly that my grade in Physics in 1992 is in any way relevant!)

UCAS won't accept my ex colleague's reference unless it comes from a company email (this is not appropriate as he works for a different company now!) so advised me to ask the unis directly, so I have emailed them.

I objectively think my personal statement is good (as do my DCs who are at uni themselves!) and clearly shows my work ethic - lots of professional development qualifications as well as unrelated courses on top of full time employment etc, and obsession love of history and why I want to study it etc etc. I hope if I got the chance for an interview (which seems more common for mature students) I could sell myself in that regard!

If I don't get accepted this year I will take some formal college courses and try again next year, but I'm praying I get a chance. One of my choices is a four year foundation degree which may give me a better shot. I'm fully prepared to be rejected though as it's such a popular subject with so much competition, and obviously I'm limited to universities within travelling distance of my home.

Thank you for all answers. Fingers crossed.

I should have explained my "ex colleague" is someone I worked with over many years, in fact we managed each other at different times so he is an ex manager too! We have kept in touch and I know he would give me an excellent reference, so hopefully they will accept it, or pull me for interview instead (I'd prefer that as would like to sell myself). One of the unis sometimes asks mature students to complete a piece of work as part of their application and I'd like to do that too

Just an update, one uni has rejected me as they will only accept academic references from the last five years. I thought this was a long shot one anyway and expected rejection but I am still surprised how disappointed I feel

Crossing fingers for other two choices, one is a foundation/4 year degree so I'm really really hoping I will be accepted for that. If not though I have my back up plan for my Access to HE Dip and will try again after that!

If it had been more recent I think I cld have used my CPD (I was actually a Fellow of my professional body) but too much time has elapsed as I had to leave work due to illness and then bloody CV/shielding etc. Frustrating. I am comforting myself with the thought I can try again next year and at least my DC (the ones that wanted to go) are at the unis they wanted and I've eaten a whole bar of whole nut

Anyway, I'm off to cross fingers and entice my cats to come and give me comforting cuddles!

shame but the "recent academic experience" is usually well hidden

you could attempt a GCSE for June 24 if you don't get in. via distance learning, could start it now (if don't get offers)

You can also try and get in via clearing for places in Autumn 23.

Thank you @burnoutbabe you have made me feel better as it really did not mention the specific five year/academic only reference anywhere in the Entry Requirements for this uni. I am really conscious of the fact I am a mature student returning to study and have spent months writing/tailoring my personal statement with that in mind, eg all my specific CPD/qualifications and the online courses I have done in addition to all that and working FT. Work ethic etc. To be told they won't even read the bloody thing is so disheartening. I always said this one was a long shot but have found there is a difference between blithely saying that rhetorically, and then the feeling of being rejected before even getting out of the gate!

I have dusted myself off, will see what happens with the other 2 choices. I thought about learning another language at GCSE as that would be really enjoyable (I did French and German in formal education and have done Latin and Gaelic in short online Future Learn type courses) but I think the Access to HE Dip may "count" more if I have to apply again next year.

Oh that was a nice vent and I feel slightly more positive.

Just to update for MNers who took the time to give advice - I GOT A PLACE Absolutely thrilled.

As the company I had worked for is now closed, they accepted a reference from a private email. They didn't even want GCSE certificates which is a relief yet super annoying as I paid £42 and haven't even received them

I am beyond excited, it's a four year degree as it includes a foundation year (student finance will fund the four years) I am worried I may not be able to keep up but nothing ventured nothing gained and at least I have a chance. Thank you all.

Huge congratulations!

Bet you haven’t stopped grinning since you received the good news?! And your offspring must be mightily impressed.

Don’t worry about being able to keep up - the foundation year should put you on a strong footing. You’ll feel much more confident by the end of that.

I’m so pleased for you.

Well done OP, I am a similar age to you (45) and in y2 of a degree after doing the foundation year. The foundation year is fab, take lots of notes/save and print referencing stuff etc as you will use it constantly. Ive found mature students are better organised and better prepared than the y1 cohort when you hit 1st year, due to foundation year.

If I had my time again and wanted to prepare I would definitely brush up on grammer skills, it is the one thing I seem to struggle with a bit, due in part to the secondary education we had compared to the yoof of today.

Typo, @HighlandCowbag !

Better than mis'placed comma's'. @

Thank you @HighlandCowbag ironically that's the part that concerns me, the SPaG. I used to be a total pedant (only internally, never corrected anyone's SPaG on MN) especially re things like my DC using the correct forms of their/they're and using adverbs instead of adjectives

Unfortunately though my health problems include epilepsy and the seizures and heavy duty meds affect certain parts of my brain including my memory and (this is so weird I can hardly explain it correctly) sometimes I can sometimes look at words like too/two/to and be unsure which one is correct. Also I can remember exactly what I did on this day in 2005 but I can't remember what someone said to me 5mins ago - and I repeat myself all the time I have strategies for stuff like that like reminders on Alexa, lots of organising/To Do list apps and writing everything down immediately so your comment rang a bell and I will order lots of printer ink! When I decided to apply my epilepsy was better controlled so it's just bad timing really but still a lot lot of days are also better than others eg today as I'm not post ictal and think this post is pretty OK Spag wise. I know it'll be very hard work and I am prepared to do it all and put all of my time into it.

Recent changes like hybrid lectures etc have actually made a huge change to my DCs uni work and that encouraged me to apply. I'm also sometimes unreliable at things like turning up as my epilepsy isn't controlled atm so recorded lectures etc would be amazing. I was going to speak to disability services at uni and explain all this and ask for any tips/adjustments as they will be used to similar scenarios. I think the SPag issue is probably similar to dyslexia? Actually I might start a specific MN thread for advice on this! (feel I will also serve as a warning to people who correct MNers as it's so fucking rude and they have no idea what peoples' circumstances are).

Luckily I bought this mug as a joke present of my DC at uni who is similarly obsessed with SPaG so will buy one for myself for genuine usefulness

Thank you so much everyone for responding though as I really appreciate it.

MG921 Grammar Expletive Mug Novelty Funny Gift Mug Novelty Gift Printed Tea Coffee Ceramic Mug amzn.eu/d/cNMINoU

With the epilepsy and dyslexia you should apply for the disabled student grant. They may not give money but get equipment you need.

I have dyslexia, dyspraxia, adhd etc etc etc and I was given a lovely laptop with all sorts of bells and whistles so I could talk and it would type for me. Probably standard apps these days but this was pretty advanced for 2004. I also had extra time in exams and more leeway for assignments. It all helped and I got a 1st.

Thank you @Babysharkdoodoodood unfortunately we had a really very negative experience with DSA when one of my DCs started uni. I don't want to give identifying info but think equipment for a physical disability similar to a braille display, so an absolute essential and not just a "nice to have". Four months after the initial application (lots of forms and evidence provided) a "professional assessor" decided it wasn't necessary! It was a complete nightmare - my DC has a really "straightforward" and proven physical disability which isn't "arguable" (clumsy wording but hopefully understandable!) and the equipment is 100% essential, they couldn't do the course without it.

A lot of disabled students (basically fucked over by the government changes since 2004!) in the same situation have no choice but to live at home because thy have to use their student loans for equipment, so they're denied the experience of independent student that their friends without disabilities get to have. Unless they have families who can front the cost so not exactly a level playing field is it. Just for info for anyone else, and you also have to pay the first £200 of any DSA equipment now which is a big barrier to some families)

Luckily I myself have no plans to move out and live in halls (although slightly tempted some days!) so my loan and PIP can be used for equipment.

Financials for disabled students is a big issue (also worthy of its own thread).

Sorry I forgot to say well done on your first, a huge achievement! Can I ask what you studied? Understand if you don't want to say ofc.

International Business Management. Then did a PGCE and lectured in a college for 10 years until I burned out. Now a nice little EA job with no stress and the best colleagues in the world.
Best thing I ever did. Money's never been amazing but quality of life is brilliant now.

That's really impressive @Babysharkdoodoodood! It's good to hear how positive it's been for you.

I would love to eventually be a self employed history tutor offering 1-2-1 lessons (and I live in an area with a high demand for this kind of thing!) I've always fantasised about it, ironically it was lockdown that gave me the final shove to apply instead of just dreaming. The home learning thing for all the DCs as a whole was a bit of a fucking nightmare but supporting with history (and english) A levels was actually really enjoyable <embarrassingly boastful alert incoming> and the DC involved got three A stars and I'm totally taking credit for helping with that (I do actually realise that was nothing like being a professional tutor )

It's lovely to hear how happy you are, having a good quality of life is just the best.

And I applied for my student finance today! (Poor DH who has just had yet another dependent added to his SF account )