[indeliblestain]

Hello all,

My name is Matt. I'm 23 years old, and have been out of work due to mental health problems since I was forced to leave school for the same reason. I am only just coming to terms with those problems, but I am on the road to recovery.

One of the things I'm starting to consider is where I would like to be in a year, 5 years, 10 years. I'm fast realising that to get to where I WANT to be, I will need to pursue a degree. It is, more importantly, what I want to do.

At this point in my life, I've decided I would very much like to go to university to study computer science, in the hopes of moving into software development (specifically video games development).

I have few qualifications (an NVQ Level 2 and some GCSEs that aren't worth talking about). I do have a lot of "home work" that I can place on an application, but I am aware that it wouldn't be realistic to rely on this.

Perhaps someone who's in a similar situation, or knows enough about the area, could offer me some advise on how I could get myself into a position where I'm an attractive proposition as a mature student for the course I'd like to study.

If you need any more information, please feel free to ask. I'd rather share as much as I can in the hopes of getting sound advice.

Thanks for your time, and I very much appreciate the help I (may) receive.

Matthew

[sputum]

You have an entitlement to free professional careers advice including a face-to-face interview if you want.
I'm not a careers adviser but I do think you have an entitlement to your first L3 qualification free (as you haven't mentioned one) I am unsure if this will continue past 2012/13.
an Access course could fit the bill (hopefully free, and designed for Uni entry)

[Dave0j]

It does really have a lot to do with your area too, myself for example I'm in North Wales and my local college has based "Mature Students" on "Students over 19 who can show they are mature enough to progress", I expect it will be the same model throughout the UK, my advice would be along the lines of "Sputum" in the post above but I'd also go to your local college and have a chat with the advice & guidence department, take along with you an up-to-date CV along with all qualifications (GCSE's etc), the fact you're 23 and you appear very motivated for the right reasons I think you'd get onto an Access Into Higher Education course with ease you just need to research which avenue you want to take in your Access Course, another thing most college do allow is resits of GCSE's English and Maths within your 1 year (or 2 year part time) Access Course another way to bump up your grades. Hope this helps