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Mature students straight into 2nd year

Is it true that mature students (over 21) can go straight into the 2nd year of a degree when they enrol (if they feel they are capable)?

Reply 1

RxB

1

crescendo

Is it true that mature students (over 21) can go straight into the 2nd year of a degree when they enrol (if they feel they are capable)?

I think only if they've already done a degree.

Reply 2

crescendo

OP

I remember browsing through the Open University website and it said that they recommend that you start at level 1, which implies that if you want, you can start at level 2.
But thats Open University though.

Reply 3

sashh

Yes, but so can some 18 year olds.

It depends on the course, the students, the uni etc. etc.

e.g.If you have spent 20 years working in IT then you will not need to be told how to switch a computer on.

It may also be possible to take some first year and some second year modules / courses side by side.

Reply 4

JennLlama

1

It also depends on your experience and qualifications. For example, some Scottish Universities will allow you to go straight into second year if you have done Advanced Highers. I don't think it's generally recommended though.
Jenn xx

Reply 5

Fluffy

15

I'm on my 3rd degree, and none of my universities (Swansea, Oxford or Queen Mary University of London) allow matures to skip year 1.

Reply 6

lepen

Do the Scottish students actually take their advanced highers in six years? T

I met Scots at Edinburgh who confided that they didn't think the Highers were much good at all.

When I was at Edinburgh, in an awful lot of courses, sciences, computer studies courses especially were mentioned and arts courses the official line of the University was that because of the six year system of Scottish schools, contrasted with seven years in the rest of the country, the first year will be for many students in large part a foundation year. It was put by Edinburgh University that this was considered a necessary, good and desirable thing.

Then there were a few statements issued in my first and second year from the chancellor that stated that the the intention in development of courses at that time would be to move further towards having first years as foundation years to suit most students, especially Scottish students (though this was always hinted at separately), who had large educational gaps where futher education would be concerned.

There were many non-Scots who couldn't quite believe this state of affairs, I mean these statements, having I supposed got used to or in some way accepted the undesirable existing state of affairs, not to say tragic. They don't put this in the prospectus. There were not so many Scottish students at Edinburgh when I was there, the numbers having since increased rapidly over a few years.

I did not even know before I went to university that Scottish students go to unviersity before they are of a legal age to drink in bars, and have only had six years of post age 11 schooling before they are of a legal age to drink in bars. While I spent an awful lot of the last three years or more of my school age life drinking in bars while attendintg two schools, Scots whom I met did not know what they were doing being in a bar and really didn't want at all to be there. They were not accustomed to this. It is not their fault that they find themselves in a bar with other people and hating it and disliking themselves and what they are doing and not identifying in any way with going there and the social context of relaxing and drinking with people or visiting bars or even drinking alcohol.

I poured over the prospectus and it did not mention once that Scots have only six years at school at go away to allegedly to adult study before fully being adults, nor in any other application literature nor in interview in person in Edinburgh. It was not common knowledge at all where I came from, a major British city. It is not on the news.

Reply 7

nikk

15

My friend was allowed to go straight into the 2nd year of her course because she already had a HND which covered most of the first year material.

Reply 8

username5154

15

crescendo

Is it true that mature students (over 21) can go straight into the 2nd year of a degree when they enrol (if they feel they are capable)?

It depends on which university you go to. Give them a call if you are allowed to do that.

Reply 9

hallucination

1

crescendo

Is it true that mature students (over 21) can go straight into the 2nd year of a degree when they enrol (if they feel they are capable)?

At my last uni (Kent) you could go straight into the second year if you were proficient in java programming.

Reply 10

Howard

5

crescendo

Is it true that mature students (over 21) can go straight into the 2nd year of a degree when they enrol (if they feel they are capable)?

Normally subject to holding an alternative qualification. I remember a girl joining the second year of my degree with a HND.

Reply 11

Ericz

1

I think for certain subjects, it is a myth rather than a reality.

Take my case for example, I have finished my GCE A Levels, a year one degree in law from UOL and I am 22 years old this year, but I have only been offered a place in the first year at University of Manchester for M100 Law.

So I guess it is probably a myth for law. :frown:

Reply 12

ancientone

8

Depends on the subject and your past experiences. I'm a mature student and doing my second degree, but in a different subject to my first degree, and at a different University. Had I done a similar course to the one I've already graduated in then there's a good chance I could have gone into the second year. The thing is though, why waste the chance of a year at University? I loved it first time, and am loving it second time. I'm going to do the full three years and enjpoy every second of it.

Reply 13

Manatee

14

crescendo

Is it true that mature students (over 21) can go straight into the 2nd year of a degree when they enrol (if they feel they are capable)?

That's the first I've heard of it...

Reply 14

ChemistBoy

16

JennLlama

It also depends on your experience and qualifications. For example, some Scottish Universities will allow you to go straight into second year if you have done Advanced Highers. I don't think it's generally recommended though.
Jenn xx

Don't you mean SYS?

Reply 15

JennLlama

1

ChemistBoy

Don't you mean SYS?

By SYS I assume you mean Sixth Year Studies - the CSYS (Certificate of Sixth Year Studies) is the old Scottish qualification you could study for in your final year at school. It has now been replaced by Advanced Highers. I imagine with CSYS (i.e. as a mature student) you might be considered for second year entry onto a course.
Jenn xx

Reply 16

ChemistBoy

16

JennLlama

By SYS I assume you mean Sixth Year Studies - the CSYS (Certificate of Sixth Year Studies) is the old Scottish qualification you could study for in your final year at school. It has now been replaced by Advanced Highers. I imagine with CSYS (i.e. as a mature student) you might be considered for second year entry onto a course.
Jenn xx

Oh right, yes. Also A-level students can be considered for 2nd year entry too.

Reply 17

Weejimmie

1

crescendo

Is it true that mature students (over 21) can go straight into the 2nd year of a degree when they enrol (if they feel they are capable)?

Not if they feel they are capable: if the course directors and tutors think they are capable.

Reply 18

niamhster

10

ChemistBoy

Don't you mean SYS?

It's advanced highers not Sixth year studies any more. The scottish higher system changed slightly about 5years ago now.

Mature students straight into 2nd year

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