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Going back to school at 19 with aims of a university degree

Hey, I’m Holly. I’ve just turned 19 after a year of travelling and volunteering and now think I want to go back to education. When I did my A Levels I was unsettled and unmotivated. I didn’t do well to say the least. Now I’ve matured quite a bit and have better self-control, I want to pursue a degree in Physics at university. I don’t know what or where I need to do to be accepted into a university. Can anyone help?
Original post by Lulamaemoully
Hey, I’m Holly. I’ve just turned 19 after a year of travelling and volunteering and now think I want to go back to education. When I did my A Levels I was unsettled and unmotivated. I didn’t do well to say the least. Now I’ve matured quite a bit and have better self-control, I want to pursue a degree in Physics at university. I don’t know what or where I need to do to be accepted into a university. Can anyone help?


I am presuming your A level grades are low?

If you wish to resume education, then you have the following options:

1. If A levels are good enough, then a foundation year at Uni. They sometimes let you in to get you up to speed and then you join the main degree program if your get good enough grades.

2. Retake A levels. No idea if you wish to do the same ones.

3. Self-teach new A levels. You need to buy own books and find test centres. For science subjects theres also the issue of practicals, which cost extra money.

4. Correspondence course, which offers more support but also costs money. £300-400 per A level and then another £100 per subject for the exam fees.

The practical endorsement will als be several hundred £ as well

5. A levels at college. Quite rare these days, especially for over 18s.

6. The easiest way to get to uni is the one year Access course.
You can do via correspondence, but my suggestion is do one at a college. Normally 3 days a week for one year.

http://www.accesstohe.ac.uk/Access/FAQs/Pages/Default.aspx
Use this search engine to id what courses might suit you
You will need a science or Maths course.

https://ava.accesstohe.ac.uk/SubSites/PublicSearch/search.aspx

Anything at a college or registered institution then you have to pay, but Advanced leaner loans are available. Same as student loans but for FE. The cost in loans is several thousand, but you can get it written off if you complete a degree.

https://www.gov.uk/advanced-learner-loan

https://university.which.co.uk/advice/a-level-choices/what-a-levels-do-you-need-to-study-physics

If you need to speak to a careers adviser , then use.
https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/contact-us/home

That should be plenty to get you started.

It wont do you any harm if you start looking a courses you wish to apply for and reading the entrance requirements to ensure or know what it is they want. in terms of grades.

Example.
https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/physics/undergraduate-admissions/apply/entry-requirements
(edited 6 years ago)
Firstly, visit the UCAS website and look at the entry requirements for physics courses. The most common way for mature students to get into uni is through an access course (offered by most colleges). I know a fair number of people on my degree course who took an access course to get into uni.

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