No References

I am thinking about applying for uni, probably to do an online degree.

I intend to re do my a-levels privately and apply either through clearing or in the next round of application year.

Getting a reference will be difficult as I don’t have much work history due to poor health, and I left my sixth form 8 years ago.

Is it possible to get into a uni course without a reference if I have good grades? Would applying through clearing help me get a place without a reference?

Does anyone have any experience with this or been in a similar position?

Any advice or insight would be greatly appreciated.

Have you thought about doing a one-year Access to HE course instead of a retaking A levels? By doing this you would be able to get a reference from your tutors, and you can apply for funding to help with fees:

https://www.accesstohe.ac.uk/about-access

Would an access course be the same ‘standard” as A-Levels when looking at a uni application? I feel like I need the best academic backing I can get when applying due to my lack of employment history and circumstances.

When I did my a-levels 8 years ago I got A* B B, and at the time access courses didn’t have many options, so is this different now?

Thank you very much for the link and advice too, I’m very appreciative of the help.

Yes Access courses are recognised as full level 3 qualifications. If you have an idea of what you want to study at uni, look at the entry requirements and check which Access courses are accepted. There are a wide variety of courses available.

For some courses they say they review access course candidates on a case-by-case basis. Do you know what else they consider when looking at an applicant?

Due to my poor work history, would it be better to go the traditional route of doing a-levels if I can find a private college who could also provide a reference?

A*BB are great a-levels! Why are you going to re-do them? Which course do you want to do at uni? If you are re-doing then just to get a reference that is a really bad idea! You would be better off working for a year in the area you want to study in and getting a reference from an employer.

Thank you! But it’s one of those catch 22 things of can’t get a job without a reference, can’t get a reference without a job or academic tutor. Or my uni application might have ok grades, but no reference and work history so to get into a good uni might be difficult.

At the moment I’m looking into distance learning courses, but if I wanted to go to uni in person it would be a competitive one so I’d imagine I would have a better chance with good references and grades.

Asking for work experience or volunteering can be a way of getting that first reference, and could also be relevant to your application anyway. What course are you wanting to do at uni?

A*BB are great a-levels! Why are you going to re-do them? Which course do you want to do at uni? If you are re-doing then just to get a reference that is a really bad idea! You would be better off working for a year in the area you want to study in and getting a reference from an employer.

It's not just the reference that is an issue. Unis usually require evidence of recent study (it varies but probably within the last five years) so taking an Access course or retaking A levels would cover this too.

What course are you thinking of applying for?

Yes this is what I assumed, although some people have told me universities won’t care about this and won’t care about a reference and I should just apply with my grades and no reference… which is obviously very confusing because I thought that would be a big deal for the application! Also, even if I got a place, just going into uni studies with years of academic break seems a bit daunting?

I am thinking about applying for uni, probably to do an online degree.

I intend to re do my a-levels privately and apply either through clearing or in the next round of application year.

Getting a reference will be difficult as I don’t have much work history due to poor health, and I left my sixth form 8 years ago.

Is it possible to get into a uni course without a reference if I have good grades? Would applying through clearing help me get a place without a reference?

Does anyone have any experience with this or been in a similar position?

Any advice or insight would be greatly appreciated.

Hi,

You can still apply to Universities with just a CV or your highest level of education. If you don’t have any of those you are better off going for a Foundation Year. I help with all the admissions process.

Also, realised I never replied to this thinking of applying for law, with the university of law or another distance learning uni. I have also looked into the Cambridge foundation year if I decide to go the in person uni route.