[ak56]

I'm considering applying to one but I'm a bit concerned about the work load, I am motivated, but I read somewhere that the work-load of an Access to HE course is basically similar to a BTEC National Diploma, but done over one year instead of two - is this accurate?

Cheers

[BigV]

The course runs for 36 weeks and takes you from 0 to University entry level standard (A level or thereabouts),. I am starting one this year and I am told 15.5 hrs a week in class and then probably another 20hrs a week home study.

They are designed for those people who have been out of education for a while and no formal qualifications are required for entry. So they start off easy, but from what I hear the work load gets heavy very quickly and if you don't keep on top of things you soon fall behind. Basically you are cramming 2years worth of work into 9 months.

If you want to get on this year you really need to hurry up with your application - Most courses start the first week of September.

[Roodie]

If you are motivated, as you say you are, then the workload shouldn't be too much of an issue. Yes there is loads to do, but if you plan your time well, don't get behind and pay attention you'll do fine! We had some on our access course who just couldn't be bothered and this showed in their marks - they were scraping a pass and just didn't seem interested.

I loved doing the access course, it was great and really prepared me for university.

[cliffg]

Sorry to be Job's comforter here - but if you're worried about the workload on an Access to HE course - then how will you cope with the work load on the HE course ?

[jenny henshaw]

I've just completed the access to nursing and midwifery course. I did the course over 2 years in the evenings. It was 2 evenings during the first year which was pretty full on, but went down to 1 evening this year. Some weeks you'll easily spend 20 hours at home doing assignments, but other weeks you won't have any to do! I've got a place to do nursing at uni in March 2011, so the hard work does pay off.

[hawkoftheeye]

I completed my access to HE: Computing with Business course in summer 2009. I was studying full time, which meant 15 odd contact hours and probably 20 odd hours of private study per week. My experience of it was that although the workload was quite demanding it was steady. If you are motivated to succeed then you will find it poses no problems for you.
I would certainly recommend it as it does give you a valuable insight into what to expect out of academic life.

[kathyowen]

I've just applied for an Access course to HE (applied Science) evening. It is 1 evening a week for a year. this is to get me into Nursing. i am slightly concerned about the work load to as I am a mortgage adviser full time, although i will be giving this up (with no regrets) next year if I get a place. I would say I'm an average academic, but for this year trying to juggle kids, husband full time job and access course, is going to be a challange but it will all pay off.

[Roodie]

(Original post by kathyowen)
I've just applied for an Access course to HE (applied Science) evening. It is 1 evening a week for a year. this is to get me into Nursing. i am slightly concerned about the work load to as I am a mortgage adviser full time, although i will be giving this up (with no regrets) next year if I get a place. I would say I'm an average academic, but for this year trying to juggle kids, husband full time job and access course, is going to be a challange but it will all pay off.

Hi Kathyowen, will you be doing the access course in West Cheshire College? I did the applied science course too, although full time, and it got me a place on the very competitive dietetics degree at Chester, and I loved it. I gave up work to do the access course but it was a massive struggle financially as there is no help available at all. But there was a lot to do on the course, loads of assignments and exams at the end of each term. It may have been restructured since then though. But if you plan your time you should be able to manage. Good luck x

[kathyowen]

(Original post by Roodie)
Hi Kathyowen, will you be doing the access course in West Cheshire College? I did the applied science course too, although full time, and it got me a place on the very competitive dietetics degree at Chester, and I loved it. I gave up work to do the access course but it was a massive struggle financially as there is no help available at all. But there was a lot to do on the course, loads of assignments and exams at the end of each term. It may have been restructured since then though. But if you plan your time you should be able to manage. Good luck x

Hi Roodie Yes it is at the Wirral Met. There is only one thing I can do and that is put my head down a work hard for the next year. It'll be good practice for next year. I am hoping to get into Chester Uni for nursing. Haven't decided what field yet. I can't afford to do it full-time or I would, when have a few things to clear off before I give up next year.
Thanks for your reassurances.

[xmcnickyx]

I did the access to health course in the evening and worked 30 hours a week (with a young child, was 9 months old when I started)

I didn't find it too much hard work but I discovered that I loved the study and found the work easy enough, others in my class really struggled with the course and working full time etc. It was a lot of work (2 evenings a week and A LOT of self directed study) but I loved it.

I was often studying up till midnight BUT I got mostly distinctions so I think it depends on what you want out of it. It seemed really easy to pass IMO

[BigV]

Wow, you make it sound so easy!!

I am suppose that your baseline level / ability makes a big difference to how you cope as well. I had no problems passing the entry assessments for the Access course but I noticed many others struggling and taking a long time to finish. I would guess that those people may be the ones that struggle most.

I have no qualifications and I know my maths and English will need work, but hopefully I can get through the course as comfortably as some others seem to have managed.

I have my heart set on computing or computer science type courses for 2011 and I am looking at Uni's like Warwick/Leicester/Birmingham/Loughborough etc , so I guess I will need to get quite a lot of distinctions. Living in Coventry means Cov will be my back up choice, but there doesn't seem much point as it has such a crap reputation.

[Amy1986]

Ive just compleated the Access to He course. And my thoughts are

It's not for the faint hearted. Be willing to give up all your free time for the next 9 months as you wont have any for the assignment work load.

Make sure you attend ALL lessons, as the course moves so fast, and if u miss a lesson you will miss vital information to help you with the assignments.

make sure you stay organised and in control, Have an area at home where you can work from where you wont ahve to move any of the paperwork you get (i've filled 2 lever arch files and three ring binders)

Good luck to you all, and you have a bloody good qualification at the end of your hard work!

[Robbie_Tor]

(Original post by Amy1986)
Ive just compleated the Access to He course. And my thoughts are

It's not for the faint hearted. Be willing to give up all your free time for the next 9 months as you wont have any for the assignment work load.

Make sure you attend ALL lessons, as the course moves so fast, and if u miss a lesson you will miss vital information to help you with the assignments.

make sure you stay organised and in control, Have an area at home where you can work from where you wont ahve to move any of the paperwork you get (i've filled 2 lever arch files and three ring binders)

Good luck to you all, and you have a bloody good qualification at the end of your hard work!

Excellent point, can vouch for this. And, cute profile pic

[Amy1986]

(Original post by Robbie_Tor)
Excellent point, can vouch for this. And, cute profile pic

I like to tell people how it is and not wrap things up, and thanks for the compliment

[accesstohe]

(Original post by Amy1986)
I like to tell people how it is and not wrap things up, and thanks for the compliment

Hey, i'm starting my Access Course this September, will also be doing GCSE English and Maths alongside it at another college in the evening 2 nights a week, do you think this is doable, on top of all the access course workload? Thanks

Also, did you get the chance to resubmit your assignments or do you only get one chance?

[jeffercake]

Hi,
I'm halfway through my part time access course, and really enjoying it.
I've completed my first year with 9 credits @ merit and 36 credits @ distinction - so I'm not doing too bad!

Last year I attended college for one and a half days, I studied in the library for about 2 hours a week, and also at home for about one evening a week. You could expect to double that if you're on a full time course.

I have 4 young children, and a husband who works very long hours!

Tbh, I think the access course is pretty easy. Plus, you get lots of help from tutors. Good luck!

And a PS to all those wondering if they can manage GCSEs alongside the access course - I'm planning on studying the OU Certificate in French this coming year, alongside my second access year I'm pretty sure it will be do-able!!

[Artattack]

I agree with Amy1986 - forget any spare time for 9 months, don't miss classes etc! I am in the second half of the first term of a 1 year Access to HE Art & Design course.
We are in college approx 10 hours/week.
I am shocked by the amount of work you have to do (at the interview I asked how much homework and was told "couple of eves or 1 day per week" - more like 2/3 days per week!). It does make sense really as it's the equivalent to A-Levels that would take 2 years, just wish they'd been more honest at the interview, so I could have decided if it was actually right for me.
We were given a short list of easily affordable art materials to buy before the course started, then another list after it started with materials etc we also needed that comes to nearly £200! I think maybe they were worried people wouldn't sign up for the course if they knew about homework & costs before.
Anyhow..I missed one class and fell so far behind and have been trying to catch up since (only 3 hours sleep before class one day!)
One last moan is - and I don't know if others find this, but the assignment paper can be really hard to understand, so I am often not sure if what I am doing is right, as there is no second chance (apart from whole course again) I get really worried
Due to having a part time job & other commitments I struggle to get work done - BUT saying that if you have the time & money (as in don't need to work full time) & really, really want the qualification & a degree, then it is a great course and will be good prep for a degree. The teachers at my college are fab (a million miles from my old mean art teachers of school days) they are very positive about our work and you get really interesting projects to do.
I just wish I had more time to spend on work so I could get some good grades... I get the results for one project next week

[Flibbles]

There's a great deal of work sure, but if you're at a decent college then the tutors will do everything they can to help you.

People from all backgrounds are on my course so even if you think you couldn't manage it, chances are that you actually could.

[Artattack]

I hope they will help me! I did have a meeting with a tutor but guess they are busy and 'try and plan a few hours a day to do your art' is the advice a got - but many days I don't have room for any hours.
Unfortunately I tend to get very stressed out, very easily and trying to balance my other commitments with all this work, I am finding life really hard, sadly a few bad grades & I can see myself dropping out
I really wish I had better 'time management' ability and could relax more, because I am quite good at art but if I can't sort my head out the art ability alone won't get me through.
If anyone has any tips/advice on books/site they use to cope with studying I'd be really grateful

[la bird]

The Access course isn't that difficult in my opinion, if you apply yourself. People bitch and moan and standards of teaching, amount of work, yet they arn't willing to put the work in. If your a hard worker in my opinion, get on with work set, do extra reading, your going to do well at an Access Course and also at university.

The problem I've found with Access is people compare it to school, they look at the tutors and teachers for to much support, and Access from what i've seen and heard do have elements of disorganisation and its funny how adults can suddenly resemble children again.

The work load comes in spells, it all seems to be set at the same time, which is the only way to do it really, as its only a one year course. I cracked on with work as I got it, about 5-6 assignments, and to be honest, as I got it out the way, I havn't really had anything to do over the last 10 days, while the rest of my course is rushing around trying to get everything done.

End of the day if your reasonably organised, and motivated well, then you won't have a problem. If you do an Access course because you have nothing else to do, or it sounds like an easy option, perhaps take another look at your motivation for wanting to get back into education.