How to get a level 3 qualification with only 3 GCSEs at 24
I have a bit of a complicated situation and I’m really struggling with trying to find a way around it.
When I was 15, I was diagnosed with a brain tumour and I was only able to get passes in my English Language, English Literature and Maths GCSEs. I went to college on a level 2 course after school, however I was too unwell to complete this.
Now I’m 24 and I really want to get back into education and live the life I’ve missed out on now that I know my body and my limits a little bit better, however, I cannot get on a level 3 course with my lack of qualifications as they require 4 pass GCSEs and the level 2 course that will gain me access to the level 3 course isn’t covered by the adult learner loan.
I’m just feeling a bit stuck at the moment. It’s been really hard seeing all the people I went to high school with post their graduation pictures online whilst I barely even have any qualifications at all. I’m currently studying a couple of IGCSEs generously funded by my dad, however I found out there’s a chance that my college won’t accept them even if I get a pass grade.
When I was 15, I was diagnosed with a brain tumour and I was only able to get passes in my English Language, English Literature and Maths GCSEs. I went to college on a level 2 course after school, however I was too unwell to complete this.
Now I’m 24 and I really want to get back into education and live the life I’ve missed out on now that I know my body and my limits a little bit better, however, I cannot get on a level 3 course with my lack of qualifications as they require 4 pass GCSEs and the level 2 course that will gain me access to the level 3 course isn’t covered by the adult learner loan.
I’m just feeling a bit stuck at the moment. It’s been really hard seeing all the people I went to high school with post their graduation pictures online whilst I barely even have any qualifications at all. I’m currently studying a couple of IGCSEs generously funded by my dad, however I found out there’s a chance that my college won’t accept them even if I get a pass grade.
Your most feasible choices are:
Option 1)
You can do an Access to HE course at college.
After that you can go to a brick uni to do a degree.
Option 2)
You can do an online degree with the Open University, or with the Open College of the Arts. Neither of these have any entry requirements.
As a side note though, just to remark on you saying the college might not accept IGCSEs, IGCSEs are accepted by colleges just the same as GCSEs are.
Option 1)
You can do an Access to HE course at college.
After that you can go to a brick uni to do a degree.
Option 2)
You can do an online degree with the Open University, or with the Open College of the Arts. Neither of these have any entry requirements.
As a side note though, just to remark on you saying the college might not accept IGCSEs, IGCSEs are accepted by colleges just the same as GCSEs are.
(edited 10 months ago)
Reply 2
Original post
by MeisamonI have a bit of a complicated situation and I’m really struggling with trying to find a way around it.
When I was 15, I was diagnosed with a brain tumour and I was only able to get passes in my English Language, English Literature and Maths GCSEs. I went to college on a level 2 course after school, however I was too unwell to complete this.
Now I’m 24 and I really want to get back into education and live the life I’ve missed out on now that I know my body and my limits a little bit better, however, I cannot get on a level 3 course with my lack of qualifications as they require 4 pass GCSEs and the level 2 course that will gain me access to the level 3 course isn’t covered by the adult learner loan.
I’m just feeling a bit stuck at the moment. It’s been really hard seeing all the people I went to high school with post their graduation pictures online whilst I barely even have any qualifications at all. I’m currently studying a couple of IGCSEs generously funded by my dad, however I found out there’s a chance that my college won’t accept them even if I get a pass grade.
When I was 15, I was diagnosed with a brain tumour and I was only able to get passes in my English Language, English Literature and Maths GCSEs. I went to college on a level 2 course after school, however I was too unwell to complete this.
Now I’m 24 and I really want to get back into education and live the life I’ve missed out on now that I know my body and my limits a little bit better, however, I cannot get on a level 3 course with my lack of qualifications as they require 4 pass GCSEs and the level 2 course that will gain me access to the level 3 course isn’t covered by the adult learner loan.
I’m just feeling a bit stuck at the moment. It’s been really hard seeing all the people I went to high school with post their graduation pictures online whilst I barely even have any qualifications at all. I’m currently studying a couple of IGCSEs generously funded by my dad, however I found out there’s a chance that my college won’t accept them even if I get a pass grade.
@Meisamon
Lovely seeing another poster championing Access to HE (I've taught on it for over 10 years)
You sound like a typical Access student to me, the average age of the students I teach is around 24 - 25, many have dropped out of education for health reasons, to have children, brief military career etc. With Access to HE you can apply for an Advanced Learner Loan which has a unique aspect for Access in that it is completely written off when you complete your eventual university degree.
Access is a one year program, typically made of 3 modules (subjects), the easiest to explain is Social Sciences which is Sociology, Psychology, and Criminology. Typically you need Level 2 English and Maths to get onto Access, for some careers, it needs to be a full GCSE - this includes something like Nursing, for Midwifery science is required too. I would speak to the Access manager at your local F.E college, PLUS the admissions tutor at the University you would be most interested in to see you have the correct quals. SOME providers will enrol you on Access for you money, knowing full well you don't have the right Level 2's too to progress to University.
For University, there are some excellent distance learning providers who have a mix of blended and 100% online like Arden which might interest you
Marc
Arden University Student Ambassador
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