The (un)Official Thread for Access to HE 2011!
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Original post by jami74
Hi Kiefer,
Yes, there is no more Adult Learning Grant unless you were on a two year course which started in 2010 then you'll continue to get it for your second year but no new applicants. According to direct.gov colleges will have Discretionary Learner Support but I've not been given any positive answers about this from my college, maybe I should phone and ask them again now that I'm enrolled but I don't like asking for things.
I think fees are reduced if you have never studied a Level 2 course before (5 GCSEs/NVQ 2 etc), if you are under 25 and have never studied a Level 3 course (A Levels/NVQ 3 etc) or if you are on certain income related benefits. However I think I read somewhere that it might be changing for 2013, I can't remember where I saw it though. I'm not sure what area you are in though but I think NVQs usually take more than a year. I think NVQ 3 is equivalent to A'Levels so if you are wanting to study a related degree maybe you won't need the access course anyway.
Good luck either way.
Yes, there is no more Adult Learning Grant unless you were on a two year course which started in 2010 then you'll continue to get it for your second year but no new applicants. According to direct.gov colleges will have Discretionary Learner Support but I've not been given any positive answers about this from my college, maybe I should phone and ask them again now that I'm enrolled but I don't like asking for things.
I think fees are reduced if you have never studied a Level 2 course before (5 GCSEs/NVQ 2 etc), if you are under 25 and have never studied a Level 3 course (A Levels/NVQ 3 etc) or if you are on certain income related benefits. However I think I read somewhere that it might be changing for 2013, I can't remember where I saw it though. I'm not sure what area you are in though but I think NVQs usually take more than a year. I think NVQ 3 is equivalent to A'Levels so if you are wanting to study a related degree maybe you won't need the access course anyway.
Good luck either way.
I was hoping to do a Business and Administration Apprenticeship - I'm using the Access Course in-case I wanted to change my mind as to what I want to do as a career.
See, the thing is, I love learning so many things that I actually don't know what to choose as a career oddly enough, I like IT and Business, but I love a lot of Science as-well, and a lot of History and Psychology.
Initially, I'm going to use my 1 or 2 year apprenticeship program to decide what I want to do, and save up money from it in case I want to do an Access Course. Either way though, the two year working experience will be valued none the less for my CV and for the future, and the NVQ level 2 and 3 will be valued for my CV, too!
Thank you. :-)
Original post by Kiefer
I was hoping to do a Business and Administration Apprenticeship - I'm using the Access Course in-case I wanted to change my mind as to what I want to do as a career.
See, the thing is, I love learning so many things that I actually don't know what to choose as a career oddly enough, I like IT and Business, but I love a lot of Science as-well, and a lot of History and Psychology.
Initially, I'm going to use my 1 or 2 year apprenticeship program to decide what I want to do, and save up money from it in case I want to do an Access Course. Either way though, the two year working experience will be valued none the less for my CV and for the future, and the NVQ level 2 and 3 will be valued for my CV, too!
Thank you. :-)
See, the thing is, I love learning so many things that I actually don't know what to choose as a career oddly enough, I like IT and Business, but I love a lot of Science as-well, and a lot of History and Psychology.
Initially, I'm going to use my 1 or 2 year apprenticeship program to decide what I want to do, and save up money from it in case I want to do an Access Course. Either way though, the two year working experience will be valued none the less for my CV and for the future, and the NVQ level 2 and 3 will be valued for my CV, too!
Thank you. :-)
Hi therree!
about your apprentaship i have completed the level 2 nvq in business administration and to be honest it did me no good at all! i completed the nvq in 5 months, then spent the rest of my year being the skivvy of the company! its the easiest thing i have ever done. and ive never got another job in admin or reception! haha so if you can do your access course it will probably be better for you!
Original post by RinniieX
Hi therree!
about your apprentaship i have completed the level 2 nvq in business administration and to be honest it did me no good at all! i completed the nvq in 5 months, then spent the rest of my year being the skivvy of the company! its the easiest thing i have ever done. and ive never got another job in admin or reception! haha so if you can do your access course it will probably be better for you!
about your apprentaship i have completed the level 2 nvq in business administration and to be honest it did me no good at all! i completed the nvq in 5 months, then spent the rest of my year being the skivvy of the company! its the easiest thing i have ever done. and ive never got another job in admin or reception! haha so if you can do your access course it will probably be better for you!
Ah :/ I cannot do my Access Course yet, due to the fact that I am 18, and I'll also need money to pay for the Access Course in a year or two, and I'll need other money for travel and such. Therefore, I'll need to do some kind of work - I just thought an apprenticeship would be better since I'm gaining qualifications as-well as pay
.Thank you for your response!
- Kiefer
Original post by Kiefer
Ah :/ I cannot do my Access Course yet, due to the fact that I am 18, and I'll also need money to pay for the Access Course in a year or two, and I'll need other money for travel and such. Therefore, I'll need to do some kind of work - I just thought an apprenticeship would be better since I'm gaining qualifications as-well as pay .
Thank you for your response!
- Kiefer
.Thank you for your response!
- Kiefer
Ring round colleges some will accept you even if they say 19+ and they can sort out funding for you.
Original post by Beebumble
Ring round colleges some will accept you even if they say 19+ and they can sort out funding for you.
I've already studied a Level 3 program, though.
Initially, I have been offered for a second interview at a sixth form, so it may look promising. Either way, if I can't get onto college for A levels, I'll do an access course later. Thanks for your help
!- Kiefer
I had an interview about a week ago, and it wasn't really much an interview, it was just more confirming what I had put on my application form 
The lady checked what qualifications I had, asked me what I wanted to do as a degree and what uni's I was looking at, then just gave me the acceptance letter and information about the induction day at the end of July. Oh well, can't complain. I really look forward to starting I just really need to get my timetable so I can rearrange my shifts for work.
The lady checked what qualifications I had, asked me what I wanted to do as a degree and what uni's I was looking at, then just gave me the acceptance letter and information about the induction day at the end of July. Oh well, can't complain. I really look forward to starting I just really need to get my timetable so I can rearrange my shifts for work.
Original post by DisconcertingWink1
So, I just arrived back from my interview — and it went perfectly well.
The interview itself was very informal and relaxed in atmosphere, although no room had been allocated, so the interviewer had to randomly select one of the numerous empty rooms. His choice backfired, however, as it had been booked in advance by a fellow tutor. This caused a slight problem when, during the assessment period, the door opened and a rather confused and surprised woman entered, to discover two guys scribbling away on paper. Thing is, at the time, the interviewer was in a different room along the corridor conducting a one-on-one discussion with one of the fellow applicants, so me and another applicant had to explain our presence, which did little to clarify the situation. Eventually the woman decided to leave us as we were, without even bothering to consult our interviewer, and sauntered off to locate a separate room for her own interviewees. There were several more interruptions in the same vain, but they weren't too disruptive, to be honest.
Anyway... The interview consisted, essentially, of three parts: An overview of the course, the modules involved and any questions we had about the Diploma; an assessment period; and a one-to-one exchange with the interviewer, discussing your aims, travel arrangements and a brief evaluation of your current qualifications.
The first part basically involved the interviewer, a tutor of history on the course, explaining the complexion of the various modules. The modules of the course included English Literature — a study of poetry and prose, and a specific novel (Howard's End by E.M. Forster); History — primarily a study of 20th century events including World War I, etc.; Philosophy — examining the theories of prominent philosophers of the past including Kant, Nietzsche, Hobbes, etc.; and Political studies — examining a particular conflict, which this year will be North Korea. He then explained our college days would be Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, from 9:00 to 15:30 — quite formal then, which I like.
After that introduction had concluded, we were then handed our assessment, which comprised of two separate pieces of work: one was essentially a personal statement in which you had state your aims, motivation for applying and what you eventually wanted to achieve with regard to Higher Education and beyond. The other was an extract from a speech made by Barack Obama which you had to read and answer questions on, for example: 'Circle the words which Barack Obama repeats and explain the effect of repetition in language'. Both were fairly rudimentary stuff, and I was also surprised to discover that we didn't have to complete a Numeracy assessment, even though it stated so in the letter I received. So all that revision!... Oh well.
It was during the assessment that the individual interviews took place, with applicants — there were only three of us, all men — taking it in turns to be interviewed. The interviews were conducted, as I alluded to earlier, in a separate room. I went second. The interview was standard fare, really — just a formal chat about your interests, verifying personal information, current qualifications, which degree you wish to study at university and your career aspirations. He asked me about my GCSE results and informed me that I would indeed need to resit maths GCSE, as most good universites expect prospective applicants to have at least a C in maths. That news was the only negative aspect of the entire interview process. But hey, it's not distrastrous.
After we had completed our assessments — I was the last to do so — and had handed them in, we were free to leave, escorted politely out of the college by the interviewer himself — decorum, eh?
So, all-in-all, a positive and stress-free experience which has made me even more eager to study the course — that's if I'm accepted of course.
The great thing is, I can discover this afternoon whether I've been awarded a place or not, via email. So no anxiety-ridden wait for me, then.
For those still awaiting to be interviewed, I hope your experience proves to be as good as mine.
Good luck.
The interview itself was very informal and relaxed in atmosphere, although no room had been allocated, so the interviewer had to randomly select one of the numerous empty rooms. His choice backfired, however, as it had been booked in advance by a fellow tutor. This caused a slight problem when, during the assessment period, the door opened and a rather confused and surprised woman entered, to discover two guys scribbling away on paper. Thing is, at the time, the interviewer was in a different room along the corridor conducting a one-on-one discussion with one of the fellow applicants, so me and another applicant had to explain our presence, which did little to clarify the situation. Eventually the woman decided to leave us as we were, without even bothering to consult our interviewer, and sauntered off to locate a separate room for her own interviewees. There were several more interruptions in the same vain, but they weren't too disruptive, to be honest.
Anyway... The interview consisted, essentially, of three parts: An overview of the course, the modules involved and any questions we had about the Diploma; an assessment period; and a one-to-one exchange with the interviewer, discussing your aims, travel arrangements and a brief evaluation of your current qualifications.
The first part basically involved the interviewer, a tutor of history on the course, explaining the complexion of the various modules. The modules of the course included English Literature — a study of poetry and prose, and a specific novel (Howard's End by E.M. Forster); History — primarily a study of 20th century events including World War I, etc.; Philosophy — examining the theories of prominent philosophers of the past including Kant, Nietzsche, Hobbes, etc.; and Political studies — examining a particular conflict, which this year will be North Korea. He then explained our college days would be Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, from 9:00 to 15:30 — quite formal then, which I like.
After that introduction had concluded, we were then handed our assessment, which comprised of two separate pieces of work: one was essentially a personal statement in which you had state your aims, motivation for applying and what you eventually wanted to achieve with regard to Higher Education and beyond. The other was an extract from a speech made by Barack Obama which you had to read and answer questions on, for example: 'Circle the words which Barack Obama repeats and explain the effect of repetition in language'. Both were fairly rudimentary stuff, and I was also surprised to discover that we didn't have to complete a Numeracy assessment, even though it stated so in the letter I received. So all that revision!... Oh well.
It was during the assessment that the individual interviews took place, with applicants — there were only three of us, all men — taking it in turns to be interviewed. The interviews were conducted, as I alluded to earlier, in a separate room. I went second. The interview was standard fare, really — just a formal chat about your interests, verifying personal information, current qualifications, which degree you wish to study at university and your career aspirations. He asked me about my GCSE results and informed me that I would indeed need to resit maths GCSE, as most good universites expect prospective applicants to have at least a C in maths. That news was the only negative aspect of the entire interview process. But hey, it's not distrastrous.
After we had completed our assessments — I was the last to do so — and had handed them in, we were free to leave, escorted politely out of the college by the interviewer himself — decorum, eh?
So, all-in-all, a positive and stress-free experience which has made me even more eager to study the course — that's if I'm accepted of course.
The great thing is, I can discover this afternoon whether I've been awarded a place or not, via email. So no anxiety-ridden wait for me, then.
For those still awaiting to be interviewed, I hope your experience proves to be as good as mine.
Good luck.
Hi DisconcertingWink1 it seems to me reading the above that your interview went very well,hope u get a place.I think most universities also require a potential applicant to certain degress a certain number of GCSEs alongside a Access Diploms.In my experience DisconcertingWink1 some will not take the equivalents in Maths or English and will expect a potential applicant to do the relevant GCSEs when they take the graded Access diploma.Obviously if u already have the GCSEs then its less work to do when you start your Access diploma but for those who need to do these GCSEs it is achievable.
So glad I've found this thread I'm starting an access course on 15th August doing social care (hoping to go to university to do social work) I've heard the course is pretty intense so trying to enjoy myself this summer before the hard work kicks in!! Bought a few books already but haven't gotten round to reading them yet. I bought a new desk and chair yesterday so I'll be able to study. I'm so so super excited
Hope many days a week will you guys be in college? I think we're doing two full days at college & two days at placement. I'm also considering doing Higher English at night but don't know if that'll be too much on top of working and doing my volunteering
On my course we do 12 modules - 3 or 4 of which we do exams for at different times of the year, the rest we write essays. Then towards the end we do one big piece of written work which has to include all modules. For this we will be marked A,B or C!!
What age are you guys? I'll be 26 when my course starts, hope I'm not going to be the oldest in my class!!
Good Luck to everyone who has applied/got an interview and congrats to everyone who has a place!!
LMx
I'm starting an access course on 15th August doing social care (hoping to go to university to do social work) I've heard the course is pretty intense so trying to enjoy myself this summer before the hard work kicks in!! Bought a few books already but haven't gotten round to reading them yet. I bought a new desk and chair yesterday so I'll be able to study. I'm so so super excited Hope many days a week will you guys be in college? I think we're doing two full days at college & two days at placement. I'm also considering doing Higher English at night but don't know if that'll be too much on top of working and doing my volunteering
On my course we do 12 modules - 3 or 4 of which we do exams for at different times of the year, the rest we write essays. Then towards the end we do one big piece of written work which has to include all modules. For this we will be marked A,B or C!!
What age are you guys? I'll be 26 when my course starts, hope I'm not going to be the oldest in my class!!
Good Luck to everyone who has applied/got an interview and congrats to everyone who has a place!!
LMx
Original post by socialworkertobe
So glad I've found this thread I'm starting an access course on 15th August doing social care (hoping to go to university to do social work) I've heard the course is pretty intense so trying to enjoy myself this summer before the hard work kicks in!! Bought a few books already but haven't gotten round to reading them yet. I bought a new desk and chair yesterday so I'll be able to study. I'm so so super excited
I'm starting an access course on 15th August doing social care (hoping to go to university to do social work) I've heard the course is pretty intense so trying to enjoy myself this summer before the hard work kicks in!! Bought a few books already but haven't gotten round to reading them yet. I bought a new desk and chair yesterday so I'll be able to study. I'm so so super excited I'm super excited too. Mine doesn't start until 5th September but I'm just starting to think about stationary, bag etc. Not sure whether to buy some folders and stuff now or wait and see if they give us a list of things to get, don't want to end up with the wrong type of folders.
How many days a week will you guys be in college? I think we're doing two full days at college & two days at placement. I'm also considering doing Higher English at night but don't know if that'll be too much on top of working and doing my volunteering
My course will be over four days. I'll also be working at least one day and still trying to keep up the pretense of being a stay-at-home Mum.
On my course we do 12 modules - 3 or 4 of which we do exams for at different times of the year, the rest we write essays. Then towards the end we do one big piece of written work which has to include all modules. For this we will be marked A,B or C!!
We have six modules with exams in January and June. I'm not sure what we have to do to get the credits though, maybe lab reports, essays, presentations, I really don't know.
What age are you guys? I'll be 26 when my course starts, hope I'm not going to be the oldest in my class!!
A decade older than you.
Good Luck to everyone who has applied/got an interview and congrats to everyone who has a place!!
LMx
LMx
Good luck to you too. It is very exciting, I just can't think of anything else.
Original post by scotton86
Wooooooo! I've got my interview on Tuesday
So excited, so excited, so excited!!
So DisconcertingWink1... did you get it?!
So excited, so excited, so excited!!
So DisconcertingWink1... did you get it?!
Thats super my fingers and toes are all crossed for you!!! I'm so excited for mine on weds
Original post by DisconcertingWink1
Get my place? I sure did; the college confirmed my place only a few hours after the interview had concluded.
And I wish you good luck for your interview.
Which Access course have you applied for, by the way?
And I wish you good luck for your interview.
Which Access course have you applied for, by the way?
Congratulations on getting a place!
Original post by DisconcertingWink1
Get my place? I sure did; the college confirmed my place only a few hours after the interview had concluded.
And I wish you good luck for your interview.
Which Access course have you applied for, by the way?
And I wish you good luck for your interview.
Which Access course have you applied for, by the way?
Well done! I'm hoping they let me know on the day too... work are waiting on edge to hear!
I'm doing an Health & Social Care Access to HE. (Hoping to go to Uni to do Paramedic Sciences)
Got everything crossed for tomorrow!
Original post by DisconcertingWink1
Cheers.
Yeah, having to wait any amount of time for an answer is absolute agony, so I hope you receive one relatively quickly. I'd imagine that colleges would, at this stage, have to inform applicants of their decisions with more immediacy than they would have done earlier in the year, seeing as the start of the academic year is readily approaching.
Have you thought about any particular universities to which you wish to apply yet?
I've got everything crossed for you too, mate. Good luck for the interview tomorrow.
Yeah, having to wait any amount of time for an answer is absolute agony, so I hope you receive one relatively quickly. I'd imagine that colleges would, at this stage, have to inform applicants of their decisions with more immediacy than they would have done earlier in the year, seeing as the start of the academic year is readily approaching.
Have you thought about any particular universities to which you wish to apply yet?
I've got everything crossed for you too, mate. Good luck for the interview tomorrow.
Well if I do find out tomorrow I'll let everyone know. It's not until 1500.
I bought a house 2 years ago, with the other half, so I'm pretty restricted to where I can go. I'm looking at Birmingham City Uni, Stafford and Coventry. All very competitive, about 900 applicants for 20 places on each (So I've read, don't quote me on that.) Still, pretty tough odds eh?
I've got to stand out from the crowd, and that I will
Dot
Original post by scotton86
Well if I do find out tomorrow I'll let everyone know. It's not until 1500.
I bought a house 2 years ago, with the other half, so I'm pretty restricted to where I can go. I'm looking at Birmingham City Uni, Stafford and Coventry. All very competitive, about 900 applicants for 20 places on each (So I've read, don't quote me on that.) Still, pretty tough odds eh?
I've got to stand out from the crowd, and that I will
Dot
I bought a house 2 years ago, with the other half, so I'm pretty restricted to where I can go. I'm looking at Birmingham City Uni, Stafford and Coventry. All very competitive, about 900 applicants for 20 places on each (So I've read, don't quote me on that.) Still, pretty tough odds eh?
I've got to stand out from the crowd, and that I will
Dot
Best of luck today and let us know how it went asap
Woooooop! did it!
The interview went really well, she was impressed with my 'free writing' part of the assessments I did and copied it for me so I could use bits in my Personal Statement!
Handed my notice in at my job today, it's sinking in now. I'm leaving a really successful career to go to college. I must be crazy!
Love it!
The interview went really well, she was impressed with my 'free writing' part of the assessments I did and copied it for me so I could use bits in my Personal Statement!
Handed my notice in at my job today, it's sinking in now. I'm leaving a really successful career to go to college. I must be crazy!
Love it!
Original post by scotton86
Woooooop! did it!
The interview went really well, she was impressed with my 'free writing' part of the assessments I did and copied it for me so I could use bits in my Personal Statement!
Handed my notice in at my job today, it's sinking in now. I'm leaving a really successful career to go to college. I must be crazy!
Love it!
The interview went really well, she was impressed with my 'free writing' part of the assessments I did and copied it for me so I could use bits in my Personal Statement!
Handed my notice in at my job today, it's sinking in now. I'm leaving a really successful career to go to college. I must be crazy!
Love it!
Well done!! I'm sure it'll work out in the end.
In the mean time I'm still waiting on that bloody letter.
I'll give them until Monday then I'll start bugging them!Congratulations Scotton86!! Yes, you are mad but its so worth it. If you are at a time in your life when you can do it its so worth giving up work for! Life is far too short
Had mine this morning at CCN - went really really wel and i can expect my letter in the next 10 days I can't wait so i can get the ball rolling and buy all my stuff for the course and get my timetable etc
Had mine this morning at CCN - went really really wel and i can expect my letter in the next 10 days
I can't wait so i can get the ball rolling and buy all my stuff for the course and get my timetable etcOriginal post by RinniieX
what is everyone buying for their access courses! its been years since i was in uni! and i dont know what to buy! books? pads folders?
far to excited to start college! arggggggh!
far to excited to start college! arggggggh!
I'd just start with an A4 notpad and some pens the teachers should tell you what else you'll need when you start.
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