Getting GCSEs for uni at 23

Original post by Flambo33

So basically I was trouble at school, well educated but didn't see the point in education! I didn't attend half my exams so ended up leaving school with:

Additional Science C
Science D
Maths C
Resistant materials D - (A in the mock)
English Lit & Lang E

....And that's all I have. I do have a couple of OCR level 2 (maybe NVQs) in IT but that's it. I have no A levels/btecs or any other qualifications.

I realize the mistakes i made and don't want to end up in a warehouse forever achieving nothing. I'd like to do the Civil Engineering MEng degree however I've spoken with Coventry uni & they're adamant I need 5 GCSEs, A levels in maths & physics and to have started the civil HNC, which again requires 5 GCSEs & A levels.

Apart from doing 1 GCSE or A level a year for the next 5/6 Years and funding them myself (expensive!) what are my options??

Any help is much appreciated!

You should look at doing a 1 year access course and then do the gcses along side if the college allows, if you would be comfortable going to other universities.

Reply 2

OP

Original post by claireestelle

You should look at doing a 1 year access course and then do the gcses along side if the college allows, if you would be comfortable going to other universities.

I currently work full time & need to as i have a mortgage, the only college work i can do would be part time until I get onto a Uni course

Reply 3

Carnationlilyrose

18

Original post by Flambo33

So basically I was trouble at school, well educated but didn't see the point in education! I didn't attend half my exams so ended up leaving school with:

Additional Science C
Science D
Maths C
Resistant materials D - (A in the mock)
English Lit & Lang E

....And that's all I have. I do have a couple of OCR level 2 (maybe NVQs) in IT but that's it. I have no A levels/btecs or any other qualifications.

I realize the mistakes i made and don't want to end up in a warehouse forever achieving nothing. I'd like to do the Civil Engineering MEng degree however I've spoken with Coventry uni & they're adamant I need 5 GCSEs, A levels in maths & physics and to have started the civil HNC, which again requires 5 GCSEs & A levels.

Apart from doing 1 GCSE or A level a year for the next 5/6 Years and funding them myself (expensive!) what are my options??

Any help is much appreciated!

I've moved this to the Mature Students forum, where you will find people who have had a similar experience. Unless you are able to give up work to do as claireestelle suggests, though, it will be a long haul and not many quick fixes. Universities are very stubborn about GCSEs, surprisingly more so than A level, in many cases.

Reply 4

Original post by Flambo33

I currently work full time & need to as i have a mortgage, the only college work i can do would be part time until I get onto a Uni course

Distance learn for GCSEs (there could be evening classes available for maths and English at least) and consider an open university course? They re rare but there are access courses available online if you re really unable to stop work and can't get accepted into your degree through ou credits. There will be some way to do this.

Reply 5

OP

Original post by claireestelle

Distance learn for GCSEs (there could be evening classes available for maths and English at least) and consider an open university course? They re rare but there are access courses available online if you re really unable to stop work and can't get accepted into your degree through ou credits. There will be some way to do this.

Thanks for the help, I'm just wondering if you know any reputable distant learning companies? I'm looking through a site called cloudlearn at the minute however wondering if there's a well known one people on here use?

If my only option is to get the 5 GCSEs then that's what I'll have to do :smile:

Reply 6

Original post by Flambo33

Thanks for the help, I'm just wondering if you know any reputable distant learning companies? I'm looking through a site called cloudlearn at the minute however wondering if there's a well known one people on here use?

If my only option is to get the 5 GCSEs then that's what I'll have to do :smile:

With GCSEs it's possible to teach yourself really and find a centre to take you as a private candidate. There's a search website for access courses here https://www.accesstohe.ac.uk/Pages/Default.aspx .

Reply 7

OP

Original post by claireestelle

With GCSEs it's possible to teach yourself really and find a centre to take you as a private candidate. There's a search website for access courses here https://www.accesstohe.ac.uk/Pages/Default.aspx .

Oh i didn't know this was possible, so i could book in to an edexcel test center at the right time of year and take the exams? I didn't know this was possible i will have to look into it because i assume i would be able to book in for several different GCSEs in 1 year, this would cut down my study time massively rather than trying to slog through a course a year for years to come. Great help thank you

Reply 8

Original post by Flambo33

Oh i didn't know this was possible, so i could book in to an edexcel test center at the right time of year and take the exams? I didn't know this was possible i will have to look into it because i assume i would be able to book in for several different GCSEs in 1 year, this would cut down my study time massively rather than trying to slog through a course a year for years to come. Great help thank you

Yes sure you can, you may want to look into subjects without coursework as that makes it much simpler but otherwise should be doable :smile:

Reply 9

lauren1981

5

Original post by Flambo33

So basically I was trouble at school, well educated but didn't see the point in education! I didn't attend half my exams so ended up leaving school with:

Additional Science C
Science D
Maths C
Resistant materials D - (A in the mock)
English Lit & Lang E

....And that's all I have. I do have a couple of OCR level 2 (maybe NVQs) in IT but that's it. I have no A levels/btecs or any other qualifications.

I realize the mistakes i made and don't want to end up in a warehouse forever achieving nothing. I'd like to do the Civil Engineering MEng degree however I've spoken with Coventry uni & they're adamant I need 5 GCSEs, A levels in maths & physics and to have started the civil HNC, which again requires 5 GCSEs & A levels.

Apart from doing 1 GCSE or A level a year for the next 5/6 Years and funding them myself (expensive!) what are my options??

Any help is much appreciated!

Have you looked at universities that offer an engineering foundation year? I think you would probably still need to retake some GCSEs, but the foundation year is designed for people who don't have the right qualifications for year 1 of the degree but show that they have the potential to progress. They are funded by Student Finance exactly the same as any other year of your degree (so you would get a tuition fee loan and maintenance loan).

Loughborough, Leeds, Sheffield, Nottingham, Swansea, Southampton, Newcastle and Manchester all offer an engineering foundation year (I'm sure others do too - these are the universities that I considered when I applied)

Reply 10

Schadenfreude65

14

I agree with Lauren that a foundation year would be a good option for you, after you have some GCSEs under your belt. However, many of these universities would want you to have a level 3 qualification before the foundation year. You could do an online Access course first, or maybe self-study maths A level. If a foundation year appeals to you, you should email the admissions tutors to ask their advice on how you should proceed.

Reply 11