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Russell Group Universities that might accept with Access with No GCSEs?

I was looking down the business or political science route however I am still deciding.... A little lost there tbh. I am not too sure that any prestigious universities would accept me with no GCSEs.

A little panic attack happened when I saw most universities with that as a minimum.... Help!
Original post by EST1991
I was looking down the business or political science route however I am still deciding.... A little lost there tbh. I am not too sure that any prestigious universities would accept me with no GCSEs.

A little panic attack happened when I saw most universities with that as a minimum.... Help!


Min Maths and English. You normally require those to get on Access.
Enough will consider Access.
Reply 2
Original post by 999tigger
Min Maths and English. You normally require those to get on Access.
Enough will consider Access.


I actually didn't need to english or maths, they gave me a assessment though lol.
Original post by EST1991
I actually didn't need to english or maths, they gave me a assessment though lol.


Well I doubt you will find any RG or really any Uni that wont require at least English and probably Maths GCSE.
Reply 4
Original post by 999tigger
Well I doubt you will find any RG or really any Uni that wont require at least English and probably Maths GCSE.


For someone, who has got 4 months till exam period. Do you reckon I can go from never taking my GCSE maths and frankly being slightly scared of maths because I was never too good at it to passing my GCSE maths?
Original post by EST1991
For someone, who has got 4 months till exam period. Do you reckon I can go from never taking my GCSE maths and frankly being slightly scared of maths because I was never too good at it to passing my GCSE maths?


Honestly I dont think so and you should be focusing on your access course. Its possible but imo finsih your Access in as good a state as possible.

If you had asked on here I would have suggested getting it sorted before you started access or at least during. If youve got great access results, then dont let that deter you and imo take another year to do the GCSE plus work and save money.

All you need to do is check the uni entrance and you will find they do require Maths and English. I doubt there will be many who will waive it.

It says on their entrance pages if they accept Access, what grades and any additional qualifications. Several will ignore GCSEs i.e you muts have 5, but I think fewer will accept not having Maths and English. Your research will show you the way.
(edited 6 years ago)
Reply 6
Original post by EST1991
I actually didn't need to english or maths, they gave me a assessment though lol.


Surely they made you do an alternative English/Maths course?

As people have mentioned, you will struggle to get into university without the basic pass in GCSE`s. Most Russell Groups require for some courses a B in both. Depends on the university and course.

Sounds pretty negligent on the colleges behalf to en-roll you onto an access course without GCSE`s and not providing you a chance to do them?

Original post by EST1991
For someone, who has got 4 months till exam period. Do you reckon I can go from never taking my GCSE maths and frankly being slightly scared of maths because I was never too good at it to passing my GCSE maths?


Would require a lot of work alongside your current qualifications. To get a C it is do-able if you sit the foundation paper it is pretty simple. Although with all the new changes they are now graded on numbers so you probably need to speak to your tutor to see. Maybe have a look at some past papers and see if anything rings a bell.
It is more about individual course admission practices, rather than a university.

Some will take the L2/3 maths and English components of your Access course as equivalent or as satisfying of the GCSE requirements. I have heard people get in to Durham (for not-so-competitive courses) like this. Stands to reason other courses at other RGs will do it.
Contact the universities directly! The access courses often cover level 2 maths/English which many universities accept as a substitute for gcse's. I had an E in GCSE maths and still managed to get two offers from RG universities.
Original post by Notorious_B.I.G.
It is more about individual course admission practices, rather than a university.

Some will take the L2/3 maths and English components of your Access course as equivalent or as satisfying of the GCSE requirements. I have heard people get in to Durham (for not-so-competitive courses) like this. Stands to reason other courses at other RGs will do it.


It varies. Some unis have it university wide. They just need to do the research.
If the RG unis are where the OP is set on going then it wont lake long to check for themselves and do the research, then they will know one way or another.

What they should do is not let that distract them from getting the best mark possible. They can then see if theres any flexibility with the course organiser. maybe some of the specialist unis like Birkbeck might have that flexibility. Not RG though.
Original post by 999tigger
It varies. Some unis have it university wide. They just need to do the research.
If the RG unis are where the OP is set on going then it wont lake long to check for themselves and do the research, then they will know one way or another.

What they should do is not let that distract them from getting the best mark possible. They can then see if theres any flexibility with the course organiser. maybe some of the specialist unis like Birkbeck might have that flexibility. Not RG though.


There can be a uni-wide policy which is generally disregarded by the admissions director for a course, for example where there might be too many vacancies and there is a drive to get people in. And with all entry requirements, there is a deal of over-stated formality and a bit of PRmanship.

I mention Durham because I helped someone with their application for criminology there, and they got an offer about a week ago even though they have not a single GCSE C+. So it is not quite as simple as "no RG will take you on without GCSEs"; as with everything, it depends.
Original post by Notorious_B.I.G.
There can be a uni-wide policy which is generally disregarded by the admissions director for a course, for example where there might be too many vacancies and there is a drive to get people in. And with all entry requirements, there is a deal of over-stated formality and a bit of PRmanship.

I mention Durham because I helped someone with their application for criminology there, and they got an offer about a week ago even though they have not a single GCSE C+. So it is not quite as simple as "no RG will take you on without GCSEs"; as with everything, it depends.

I didnt say it was that simple, but its a reasonable starting position and then they have to d the research. If I was in the OPs position would aim t get great
Access results and worry about the rest later. I still think after research a large number will still not waive it. No harm in trying though.

Ps I see you got dragged back in on that thread about access courses and the arrogant one......
Original post by 999tigger
I didnt say it was that simple, but its a reasonable starting position and then they have to d the research. If I was in the OPs position would aim t get great
Access results and worry about the rest later. I still think after research a large number will still not waive it. No harm in trying though.

Ps I see you got dragged back in on that thread about access courses and the arrogant one......


I think you are generally right. For a the majority of courses all the RGs won't disregard GCSE, but for some at some unis it is possible.

And unfortunately. This is the difference between you and me; you had the good sense to ignore the tag!
Original post by Notorious_B.I.G.
I think you are generally right. For a the majority of courses all the RGs won't disregard GCSE, but for some at some unis it is possible.

And unfortunately. This is the difference between you and me; you had the good sense to ignore the tag!


On the first part we agree. Im just past checking all the unis myself and feel the OP can do it. They always have discretion, but at some stage imo they need to get it sorted out because later on down the line it could be an issue for employment.

On that thread I had wondered why id been tagged, then realised it was the arrogant one and fortunately you had already written what was my impression of the OP. Its very rare that i see someone not worth helping, but they managed it. Id have repped you more because you hit the nail on the head, but unfortunately the OP couldnt see it. I suspect LSE and other people will.
Original post by 999tigger
On the first part we agree. Im just past checking all the unis myself and feel the OP can do it. They always have discretion, but at some stage imo they need to get it sorted out because later on down the line it could be an issue for employment.

On that thread I had wondered why id been tagged, then realised it was the arrogant one and fortunately you had already written what was my impression of the OP. Its very rare that i see someone not worth helping, but they managed it. Id have repped you more because you hit the nail on the head, but unfortunately the OP couldnt see it. I suspect LSE and other people will.


Luckily Doonesbury took over and humbled him with some empirical data. But a few years of being humbled by education and he will be reformed, I feel. I must be more giving because I actually gave him some advice about uni offers, even though he called me naive in a previous thread. But, hey, I am known for magnanimity.
Original post by Notorious_B.I.G.
Luckily Doonesbury took over and humbled him with some empirical data. But a few years of being humbled by education and he will be reformed, I feel. I must be more giving because I actually gave him some advice about uni offers, even though he called me naive in a previous thread. But, hey, I am known for magnanimity.


You had it under control. One of those nice moments where I was smart enough to run and do other threads. My assessment of people like that is they dont listen.
Always makes me laugh when you answer some threads and they end up arguing with you.

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