Part Time - Access to Nursing/Health Birmingham??

Hi Chyna12,

I looked high and low for a part time access to health course in Birmingham with no success, they only seem to offer full time now. Therefore I have enrolled onto a 'full time' course that starts in September, however it is only 15hrs per week over 3 days so I luckily don't have to quit my job!

The only alternative I could find was The Open University, it would have suited me perfectly but I am not entitled to help with fees so I would have had to pay the full £2000 course fee!! But it may be worth having a look yourself?

I hope this helps, and good luck!

Hi,

I am currently studying an access course part time at Halesowen college. I do a thursday evening
6-9pm and a saturday morning 9-12. It takes 2 years to complete and there is a fee of around £1300 to pay. They will start enrolling again soon so get in touch if you want to start this september.

Hope this a help to you

Laura

Hi, I'm in the same situation as you and I know how scary it all seems but I've just been accepted on the evening nursing course at Stourbridge. Once I'd actually been accepted all I could think was why didn't I apply years ago. Try not to let the thought of eventually giving up your job to do the degree put you off if this is something you really want to do as you'll look back and regret it. I wish you well in your college application. Maybe I'll see you in September!

South and City College Birmingham. I know they do a Health related Access Course. They have a wikid Science teacher. Not sure about part time. Check it out.

I actually ranged South and City College Birmingham last week, they run a Health related course, but it's not on a part time basis.

Thank you all the same.

Hi,

Thank you for advice about the work situation.


I have an open day to attend at Stourbridge College next week, I am hoping it all goes well and I am accepted onto the course, can you give me a little insight on what the open day was like, it said I will be having a Maths and English Test, I am spending the weekend brushing up on both, maths especially.

We were told we'd do a numeracy test but when I got there they said they were not doing them this year. To be honest the tests we did do were very basic, we had to read a text and then answer questions. We did have to write a bit about what news stories had interested us recently and why. I was anxious beforehand but when I did them I was very surprised how easy they were. Mainly just using common sense, there was nothing to trip you up or confuse you. Really I can't stress enough that they aren't looking for academics just people who can follow instructions. X

Hi,


I attended the open day yesterday and it went ok, I am just awaiting a decision I should hear within next 2 weeks. I was slightly concerned with the content of the evening course, whereby it is compulsory you have to study English Study Skills, English Literature, Maths and Psychology. Quite a few of us were abit skeptical about this, however the Tutor assured us that we could get into University providing we pass these subjects. I thought there may have been slightly more options.


Also although I will have GCSE English Language and Literature B Grade, I will still have to attend the English subjects.

I was just wondering what were your views or anyone else's for that matter.

Thank you.

Hi,

Even though you have GCSE English Lang & English Lit B Grade's, the English taught on the Access Course will most likely be taught at level 3 standard, which is the equivalent of A levels.

Don't forget, even if there is fewer options on what to study, it is only for 9 months, you need to pass the course, studying what ever they throw at you TO GET into university.

Pass as many units as you can, to the best of your ability. Do not put Psychology down, because you may not have wanted to study it. Psychology itself will help you to understand how to research in a detailed manner and understand concepts of Psychology and other academic subjects.

English Study skills will help you to write up reports and learn about yourself, your strengths and weaknesses on which you can improve on and write on your personal statement for university.

Maths is a core subject, you thought you do not needed to study maths? If you have GCSE Maths C grade, and it is from the last 3-5 years (I think max 5 years), then you can skip Maths and get the units automatically. Check with your college/ and your university courses.

Some subjects are compulsory for a reason. They have been doing/teaching Access courses for a whilst.

Can I just ask, how you can be skeptical before you started the course? I have found by experience, it is easy as anything to get into an Access course, but passing it to get into a health related degree, is another matter.

Hope that helps (and not caused any offense).
Jiraya.

Hi Jiraya,

No offence taken, I welcome all the information given, I'm all new to this and have so many questions. Thank you for taking the time to explain.

Ah, Sorry if it seemed that I was trying to be patronizing or anything, just that it is difficult to realize what some people are signing up for.

This course actually runs for 2 years as it is on a part time basis. I am not in anyway putting down Psychology down. I can't wait to start studying different aspects of Psychology.

What I meant by concerned and skeptical is basically will this be enough to get me into University. I am hoping to go to BCU and have seen the entry requirement and thought to myself, how will I obtain all those credits with one subject, however you have mentioned passing as many units as possible. I understand now.

I must not have written it up in my long post, each subject for example Psychology will have a few units to teach. So even though it seems like you are doing only 5/6 subjects, you will be doing 4-5 assignments PER subject. I am studying Psychology, and I have 6 units, 6 units at 3 credits a piece is 18 credits. Biology has 5 units, 3 units at 3 credits a piece is 15 units. As you can see, that you get plenty of credits that you can achieve.

I have posted the below requirements for BCU in bold.

Access to HE Diploma in a Health and Social Care Subject
Full award (60 credits) of which a minimum of 45 must be at Level 3 including 24 at Merit or Distinction, of which a minimum of 18 must be in a Science or Health related subject and 15 at Level 2 which must include Mathematics and English Language GCSE equivalent if you do not already have these two subjects at GCSE.

This seems like a very achievable target. You are lucky, they are saying you only need 24 credits at Merit OR Distinction. You can get a combination of them both or just minimum Merit's, which is quite good. Are you going choosing to go to BCU for definite? or do you have other first choice options? I know some people on a Access Health related course, and to studying health related degree, they need 45 credits at Distinction, which is a full 15 units, straight A's.

My understanding is if you have English and Maths GCSE C or above you would not have to take these subjects again, however at Stourbridge College even if you obtained a C recently in both Maths and English, it is compulsory that Maths and English are taken again. However I am aware the requirements do vary in different Colleges. It makes perfect sense about the English Study Skills.

If your GCSE's are more than 5 year's old, as I have said before, you may need to repeat them again. However some universities may accept them, even with the time/year. When I mentioned, English Study Skills, I was talking about English too, it might be taught at level 3, and trying to get level 3 Distinctions are equivalent to A grade A level work, very different to GCSE standard.

By no means do I think the Access Course is going to be easy, I will honestly admit it is going to be very challenging for me and I know that before I've even started.

I had the same thoughts as you but when I checked it out I saw that uni's work on a points system. The uni's I looked at required you to get mainly distinctions and merits in each assessment. I was quite surprised that you can get onto a nursing degree without studying the biology element at access level. I have really looked into this and trust me the access will be enough to get you in (if you get the distinctions and merits). Just a note of caution, I was told I'd hear from Stourbridge within two weeks but it was closer to four so don't get too disheartened if you don't hear before that


Posted from TSR Mobile

Hi,


I received a letter last week Friday to say I had been accepted onto the Access Course, I thought wow that was quick considering I went on the Tuesday and they did say I would have to wait upto 2weeks. So I'm very happy about this. See you in September 1 Goodey.


Jiraya my choice of Universities are below.


1st: University of Birmingham
2nd: Birmingham City University
3rd: University of Wolverhampton


University of Birmingham requirements are higher and does require an overall 60 credits with a minimum of 45 credits at level 3 including 30 at distinction, 15 at merit (to include study of Physiology) and 15 credits at level 2.


I will be speaking with my Tutor to see how I could obtain the credits for Physiology, if we are studying Psychology, or is this part of parcel of it. (sorry if that sounds like a silly question) the most I know is Pschnology is mind and Physiology is body.:-) I will be more than happy with the other two Universities, however I intend to aim high for all modules.


Thank you for all your help and advice

University of Birmingham requirements are higher and does require an overall 60 credits with a minimum of 45 credits at level 3 including 30 at distinction, 15 at merit (to include study of Physiology) and 15 credits at level 2.