Frustrating experience as a mature applicant

[Whereyoufrom]

I’ve been in correspondence with a university about entrance onto a vocational course- it’s NHS funded, an undergraduate course and the only one I can travel to without moving house (I have school age children).
They said they won’t consider my previous degrees (both of which are in a related subject) unless I re sit a GCSE. My masters degree incorporated the subject they want me to re sit and so it feels pointless and just plain short sighted.
Anyone else had a similar experience whilst applying for a career changing degree as a mature student? And what did you do? Thanks!

The GCSE maths pass is a basic requirement for pretty much all of the undergraduate healthcare degree courses. It demonstrates you have a basic level of numeracy. You can resit as a private candidate (no study required just book a slot at a local exam centre), if you are confident in your abilities. Or ask about functional skill equivalent. It's why most Access courses for adult learners heading into healthcare courses also run English and Maths GCSE courses alongside. So anyone who didn't get them first time can have everything they need for their university application.

If both of your course offers are for the Pre-registration presentation of the professional registration eg BSc Occupational Therapy (Pre-registration) and MSc Occupational Therapy (Pre-registration), one isn't more advanced than the other. The BSc isn't at a lower level, both courses qualify you for the same job. It's just that the MSc is a condensed 2yr version of the 3yr BSc. You won't learn anything special on it or extend your skills or knowledge beyond the basic level set for registration by your board (HCPC, NMC, whichever it is). It only takes 2 years because they assume you already know how to do the critical thinking, researching, academic writing elements, so they are cut out and you hit the ground running straight away. The MSc is a much more intense route. The BSc isn't as intense and is better if you've been out of study for a while or if you've got a few other personal commitments and could do a bit less of a breakneck pace. It's also better if you need to work alongside (it's pretty much impossible to work alongside an MSc pre-reg course).

I don't understand your point re 'no maths' in the healthcare profession you wish to enter. They all require a basic level of numeracy. Nursing, pharmacy and paramedic science need maths for drug calculations. Physio & OT need it to calculate ranges of movement, joint angles, progression data. Radiography and radiotherapy need maths to calculate radiation dosages, exposure, depth of penetration and angles. Obviously there is more to all of those roles but those are just a few areas where maths is involved.

I know it's frustrating but it isn't pointless. You just have to get it done. I had to as well to do my degree and it was hard but it was part of the process for me and was due to me not getting it done in school.

I think we should be raising standards of education everywhere, not lowering them. Maths GCSE is BASIC.

I totally get that it feels perverse if they are asking for a C in maths and you have a 20 year old 'D' but combined with an MSc in Statistics (Distinction). The problem is, the course is a professional registration and the university can only be so flexible. You get a degree from the university and then have to submit a professional portfolio to the professional body for your registration which is what allows you to work and call yourself a registered nurse/ dietician/ radiographer/ OT / whatever. In order to satisfy the professional aspects of admission, the university will have a criteria that must be met. It is likely GCSE Maths/C (or equivalent) is on that list.

Thanks for all that. It’s for a SLT course.
Re: maths, I did pass my GCSE, they just want a higher grade than I got.
I also did do a lot of quantitive data analysis and statistics for linguistic research papers and my own research at undergrad and masters level. So, I do stand by my initial stance as I’m already working in an assistant role so have a good working knowledge of the role and profession.
Thanks for your post and all the information.

Did you get a C? That's all they care about. Below a C, unfortunately, doesn't count.

Yeah I was going to ask too if it was a C or above as I don't think less than a C really counts as a pass ? I am surprised you did a degree with statistics that didn't require maths GCSE>. I had to have it for Bsc Psychology.

Yup, I got a C

DOn't blame you for being fucked off about it then. A C should be ok I think.

The requirements 15-20 years back were a bit different, nobody seemed to care quite as much, especially if you'd done A Levels. They've gone crazy over English and Maths GCSEs in recent years (rightly or wrongly).

I registered for jobs and courses where a O level maths was requisite and just blagged it. I was never asked for a certificate. I am told they now ask for them so I guess I was fortunate.

So, what’s happened, @Whereyoufrom? Are you having to re-sit, or has reason prevailed?