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Hi,

I started my access course in Jan this year running through to Jan next year to apply for uni in 2012 and after finding the course I want the entry requirements for Access students state

"Normally we require 15 credits at level 2 and 45 at level 3 of which at least 39 level 3 credits should be graded at merit or above."

What does this mean as my course is pass/merit/dist?

What level is equivalent pass/merit/dist? Is it simply 1/2/3?

Thanks people.

As the previous thread about "are access courses enough to get into uni?" got merged, I'll answer here... the answer is no.

I just got turned away from an Access Course as I only have 3 GCSE's and the uni's wants 5 + Access course so the enrolment person wouldn't even give me the chance to do it.. I even offered to do 2 GCSE's at the same time but she said no.

Absolutely gutted right now, thought I was gonna cry when she told me lol.

Can somebody help????

i have just received an email from one of my chosen universities asking me for the grade i obtained in my Access to HE course???? im stuck!! as all my certificates have a grade next to each module but i dont have an actual grade for the whole course. what do i tell the university?
i got the following:

Examining body OCN
Subject Information Technology
Module details Date: 01/07/10 Title: English - Understanding and Responding to texts Level: 3 Grade: Pass Value: 3 Creds
Date: 01/07/10 Title: English - Speaking and Listening Level: 2 Grade: No gr Value: 3 Creds
Date: 01/07/10 Title: English - Technical Skills for Writing Level: 2 Grade: No gr Value: 3 Creds
Date: 01/07/10 Title: Study Skills Level: 3 Grade: Pass Value: 3 Creds
Date: 01/07/10 Title: Mathematics Level: 2 Grade: No gr Value: 3 Creds
Date: 01/07/10 Title: IT - Computer Hardware and Networking Level: 3 Grade: Pass Value: 6 Creds
Date: 01/07/10 Title: IT - Essential IT Skills Level: 3 Grade: Dist Value: 3 Creds
Date: 01/07/10 Title: IT - Presentation Graphics Level: 3 Grade: Pass Value: 6 Creds
Date: 01/07/10 Title: IT - Relational Databases Level: 3 Grade: Dist Value: 6 Creds
Date: 01/07/10 Title: IT - Systems Analysis Level: 3 Grade: Dist Value: 6 Creds
Date: 01/07/10 Title: IT - Visual Programming Level: 3 Grade: Merit Value: 6 Creds
Date: 01/07/10 Title: IT - Website Development Level: 3 Grade: Dist Value: 6 Creds
Date: 01/07/10 Title: IT - Word Processing Level: 3 Grade: Dist Value: 6 Creds

any help on what to reply back to the uni would be greatly appreciated, i have also contacted my tutor from last year but i do not want to wait for a reply as i want to reply back as soon as possible. thanks

does anyone know where you can find out what you actually study on an access course? i've been looking for a syllabus everywhere and cant find one.
i'm a little concerned that i'm going to have to spend a whole year learning things which i already know.
I know that sounds a little arrogant, but i just dont have that time to waste, just to prove that i know how to study.
Whatever happened to interviews for mature students to 'demonstrate their motivation and commitment to study'

i dont know, that's what i'm trying to acsertain. bangor uni has told me that i need more qualifications, and the only access courses i can find in the area are at coleg menai or yale in wrexham. but both colleges websites simply say things like 'chemistry' or 'biology'

beginning to think that its just not worth it

i didnt say i was too clever to do an access course, and the link above only states the names of the modules, not the syllabus info which i said i was looking for.

my main gripe is that the prospectus says that if you do not have the specific qualifications, then mature students applications will be assessed individually. This is the reason i applied, in the hope that by 'demonstrating my motivation and commitment' through interview, or even via an entrance examination, that i could prove myself to be a suitable candidate.


the reason i'm concerned about doing an access course is it takes a year, and even if you pass will all distinctions, there is no guarantee of gaining a place on a course.
Or is that what the uni means by 'displaying the commitment to study' i.e. giving up a job to do a year with no income other than that which you can gain from a part time job, still somehow manage to pay housing and subsistence costs, and put your family through the hardship this would entail?
am i alone in thinking that thats a bit much to ask?

its the funding thats the issue with the access course, i.e. none, whereas a degree does at least have some level of funding.

as for the syllabus, i'm not looking for a lesson by lesson breakdown, just something a little more informative than for example 'chemistry' and an indication of the level of the teaching. i'll then be able to make an informed decision, as if its at a level i can easily cope with, then i'll be able to (hopefully) find a part time job, as i wont need to spent a lot of time doing extra work.

one thing i am really worried about is all the changes going on with the university system at the moment, it seems like there are going to be fewer and fewer places available, which is going to make successful applications even less likely, as the demand for these places is obviously going to increase.