Uni with no alevels?

[pinkflower223]

Hi there,
I took a year out when I left school due to personal reasons and now I've decided I think I want to go to university, I never took alevels but wondered if the possibility is still there and if so how do I go about it?

My understanding is that, to progress to degree level, you will need some form of proof if level 3 qualifications (gcse / btech similar are level 2).

Have a look at Access to HE courses, they are a one year course usually provided by local colleges and some universities. They are subject specific so Access to HE Business or Access to HE Art and Design, they are specifically for people returning to education who don't have Level 3 qualifications, and are equivalent, also, if you then go on to enrol onto a degree course then the Access course fees are waived so it is technically free (you can get student loan to cover initial course fee)

You could do distance A levels in the subjects that interest you or are relevant to what you want to do or an access to higher education course.

If you know what career you want and what it takes to get there then you can map out a plan the qualifications you need.

The OU sometimes has undergrad courses for those with no qualifications.

Hi OP, you should ask MNHQ to move your post somewhere it'll be seen: this is a quiet corner used by university lecturers

The Mature Learning board might work, OP

Just to echo what others said. Most unis will require a levels/ access to HE course to bring you up to speed.

The OU doesn’t for most courses AFAIK.

I transferred from another uni to OU for third year (I had to take a year out from my previous uni. I then moved house so it wasn’t possible to complete it with commuting and a young family. I had completed 305 credits of the 360 credits required for the full degree). I went straight in at L3. You can transfer 240 credits from previous study, so I did a further 120 with OU over the course of a year, equivalent to full time.

My understanding is that L1 modules at the OU are pitched in between a levels and a normal y1 degree level to get everyone working at the level they need to be, and then L2 modules are closer to y2 of a ‘normal’ degree. Personally, I thought L3 was pretty similar in terms of what was expected in y3 at RG uni I had started at.

I really loved the OU. I really enjoyed the two modules I did. I was really well prepared for the masters I went on to do at a regular uni too.

Good luck!

Access course?

Yes, I recommend an Access to HE course at a local college. The advantage of these over distance learning is the level of support you will get from tutors and fellow students.

I did my degree with the OU without having taken A levels. Did PGCE after that.

We've moved this thread to mature study now.

I never did a levels. I am currently in my foundation year at uni, it gives me the skills I need to progress onto the degree course next year. Use the personal statement when you apply to convince them you have what it takes. It's the best decision I have ever made!

Open university would offer you a place on one of their degrees

@Buddrinker84 that's what I'm hopeful for really is a foundation year so fingers crossed🤞

I hadn't been in education for 15 years or so, the first semester is a real baptism of fire, at 36 and managing 2 kids, it's tough, but you learn to prioritise. I'm so surprised by the marks I have been achieving and hoping it continues! Good luck on your new adventure, it will be worth every minute. X

I don’t have A Levels and I’m doing a foundation degree. I had a Level 3 qualification before I started but there was the option to do a maths and English test and write an essay to get a place on the course.

www.bristol.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/2023/foundation-science-engineering-mathematics/

Someone I know is currently doing this foundation year at Bristol. He left school at 16 with decent but not outstanding GCSEs. Started an apprenticeship then had some awful life trauma and went off the rails a bit. Currently loving life in Bristol.

I believe they also do an Arts and Social Sciences one.

@SpyouttheLand that gives me some hope the same sort of situation as the person you know happened to me so had to take some time out from studies after leaving school so my fingers are crossed that I'm able to get on a foundation year course🤞

I did an access course with the university. I had to gain so many credits. It was just a couple of evenings a week. You could apply elsewhere with it you weren’t tied to the same university, I was accepted into Edinburgh, Glasgow and LSE.

Bumping …