[formanmark]

Im a mature student and i didnt do any a-levels instead i did an apprenticeship as an Installation electrician.
The apprenticeship did include electrical principles and basic physics but nothing to the extent of an a-level course.

Well i have not been in a classroom in 5 years and im starting my foundation year of electrical /Electronic Engineering.
If im honest im worried ive forgoten most of what i knew and if what i knew would be enough anyway. Ive brought a few maths, engineering and electronics books to refresh my memory but is anyone else worried about keeping up with the kids straight from collage?



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[formanmark]

Also i have heard mixed views on the foundation year. Some say its basically just to boost UCAS points and its nothing like the course that follows, where others that it is a couse to get you back into academic learning and gets you to the standard needed for the course that follows. Anyway have any experience?


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[pheonix254]

I haven't done a foundation year, but from my mature student friends who did, they spoke highly of it - it gets you back into the swing of things and ensures that you're at the right level to be able to start the course - it's probably not at the same level as the course itself, but don't let that put you off. The first year of a engineering degree (the one following the foundation year) is around the same level as A-levels anyway, designed to ensure that everyone from all the different cultures and backgrounds are all at the same required academic level.

With regards to "keeping up," well, as we get older, we don't learn as quickly, but equally you're better placed to be asking the right questions and to see how the course is relevant in certain areas to do with the real world - pretty important with engineering - so whilst you don't pick up the concepts quite as fast, you'll understand them better and for longer than the students fresh from 6th form. It might seem like you're spending more time in the library than your course-mates though, and less time getting hospitalised through drunkenness - you've already found your limits, whereas the rest of the freshers won't have. They calm down soon enough. (and I'm not saying you can't enjoy the university lifestyle, oh no.)

anyway, hope this helps. The degree is a hard one, no doubt about that, but it's worth it.

Stu Haynes MEng MIET MIEEE

[Theafricanlegend]

(Original post by formanmark)
Im a mature student and i didnt do any a-levels instead i did an apprenticeship as an Installation electrician.
The apprenticeship did include electrical principles and basic physics but nothing to the extent of an a-level course.

Well i have not been in a classroom in 5 years and im starting my foundation year of electrical /Electronic Engineering.
If im honest im worried ive forgoten most of what i knew and if what i knew would be enough anyway. Ive brought a few maths, engineering and electronics books to refresh my memory but is anyone else worried about keeping up with the kids straight from collage?



This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

College*.

[formanmark]

Thank you for the reply. The information is exactly what i was after. Still going keep this thread going if there is any other mature students that are going to study engineering


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[tweeto]

(Original post by formanmark)
Im a mature student and i didnt do any a-levels instead i did an apprenticeship as an Installation electrician.
The apprenticeship did include electrical principles and basic physics but nothing to the extent of an a-level course.

Well i have not been in a classroom in 5 years and im starting my foundation year of electrical /Electronic Engineering.
If im honest im worried ive forgoten most of what i knew and if what i knew would be enough anyway. Ive brought a few maths, engineering and electronics books to refresh my memory but is anyone else worried about keeping up with the kids straight from collage?



This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

I'm 28 and will be starting my foundation year at Cardiff University this September. I have never done any A-levels, nor did I complete my GCSE's (no interest in school )

Although I did complete an Access course this year, where I did score quite high. But yeah I was extremely nervous before starting my Access course, as I haven't been inside a classroom for 12 years, and my memories weren't great

I know that the foundation year at Cardiff, you only learn what you will need for the degree, where A-level students have to learn loads more Maths etc...

You'll be fine, i'm pretty sure it will be quite basic at the start and then generally pick up pace to As/A level

Where will you be studying?

I can't wait to get going again, especially at Cardiff!

[formanmark]

In Going to be studying at derby and yes im really looking forward to it as well. Im looking at going uni more of a job than going back to school and as i was i always want to be the best at my job thats why i was worrying. Think i need just chill out abit. Hey least im old enough to not care who i et on with or annoy so im not worried about the move or freshers like i bet alot of students are.


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[Summa Laude]

If you're doing a foundation year you needn't worry one bit.

[chendry0911]

At 23 with little qualifications other than int 2s and standard grades (Scottish) I'm starting an HNC Mechanical Engineering course this year, which I'm nervous about as I too haven't been in a classroom for 6 years lol and fear that I'll struggle as I feel like iv forgotten most of the things I learned at school and if what I learned was even enough.


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[Deepa_Pillay]

Hey any of u staying in Talybont South House 25??

[ProfessorPester]

Is a mature student someone ver the age of 18? If so then i will be a mature student. I'm more worried about fitting in, depending on my choices, i will be either 21 or 22.

[formanmark]

I dont really know i got told i was a mature student over the phone. I was thinking im only 24 but then thought about it with my foundation year ill be 29 when i leave so i geuss she was right. When i say mature student fore this topic i mean someone who has been out of the classroom for over 3 years. Shure do forget it a lot faster than you learn it lol


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[alan143]

(Original post by tweeto)
I'm 28 and will be starting my foundation year at Cardiff University this September. I have never done any A-levels, nor did I complete my GCSE's (no interest in school )

Although I did complete an Access course this year, where I did score quite high. But yeah I was extremely nervous before starting my Access course, as I haven't been inside a classroom for 12 years, and my memories weren't great

I know that the foundation year at Cardiff, you only learn what you will need for the degree, where A-level students have to learn loads more Maths etc...

You'll be fine, i'm pretty sure it will be quite basic at the start and then generally pick up pace to As/A level

Where will you be studying?

I can't wait to get going again, especially at Cardiff!

Hey.

I’m interested to know what you will be studying at Uni?
I’m 27 and in a similar position to what you were last year.
I did get a few, GCSEs A/CC/D but more fluke than anything!! School didn’t interest me in the slightest.

I’m now at the point in my life where I need something behind me, something to be proud of. I’m sure you understand exactly what I mean.

I’ve just applied to do an access course in Cardiff doing business then hoping to study at uni in Cardiff doing Business and Economics.

Having been away from the class room for over 10 years I am worried but I have learnt so much away from the class room which should hold me in good stead I hope.

What was your experience going back to education?

Good luck with your future anyway!!

[R22 Driver]

Hi Mark,

I will be in the same boat as yourself this year. Currently I'm finishing up a HND in Electrical / Electronic Engineering in Belfast. I've applied to Bristol, Manchester, Newcastle and Queens Belfast for the BEng in EEE. I shall be 27 this year when I start.

My mind still isn't made up about going to England. The fees are still down over here compared to 9 grand in the UK.

I left school with abs dam all GCSE's. One I think. Had no interest what so ever in school back then. I wish I was 16 again back at school as times have changed considerably. Since I left school I was working in Construction doing different things over the years. In 2009 when the Construction went pear shaped here in Ireland I decided to go back into Education as I knew my life was going no were. I started out on the Btec National Diploma in EEE. I completed it and went onto the HND and hope I get an offer for Uni this year.

When I started out again I did struggle with the Maths as the class was full of young ones just out of school. Though some of them helped me out and I studied the maths in my spare time or asked the lecturer for any help if needed. I got through it eventually.

I wouldn't worry to much, If I managed to get this far in Engineering then there is hope for a lot of people believe me.

Good Luck!

[tweeto]

(Original post by alan143)
Hey.

I’m interested to know what you will be studying at Uni?
I’m 27 and in a similar position to what you were last year.
I did get a few, GCSEs A/CC/D but more fluke than anything!! School didn’t interest me in the slightest.

I’m now at the point in my life where I need something behind me, something to be proud of. I’m sure you understand exactly what I mean.

I’ve just applied to do an access course in Cardiff doing business then hoping to study at uni in Cardiff doing Business and Economics.

Having been away from the class room for over 10 years I am worried but I have learnt so much away from the class room which should hold me in good stead I hope.

What was your experience going back to education?

Good luck with your future anyway!!

Hi, sorry about the delay, just finished exam period

Yeah you sound like you were in my exact same position and I know exactly what you mean. I just wanted something to show for my life and that would set me in good stead for the rest of it (I can't muck around forever ).

I'm halfway through the foundation year and am absolutely loving student life Not going to lie, it can be tough going at times (work-wise), but I expected that and i'm better for it. I have passed everything to date and am more than confident that I won't have to repeat anything. I will be going on to do either Civil or Mechanical engineering next year, so it's no surprise that this year is tough going.

I just wasn't ready for university at 18/19 or even 25!! Now I actually enjoy learning and being educated. The access course last year was really good and I thoroughly enjoyed it, it really set me up for university. Everyone last year kept assuring us that you will never do anything more intense than an access course, as it's such a fast pace. But university is a completely different ball game, well for foundation in engineering anyways. Just as an example....First year civil engineering has had two pieces of coursework and two exams to date (obviously a few labs thrown in there as well). To date i've had 15 assignments and 12 exams! It's so full on.

It has been the best decision of my life and I hope to have a masters in engineering in four years time. I would highly recommend it to anybody.....Nobody can actually believe that I have went back to school, says a lot about what I was like when younger!