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University of Southampton

Southampton

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Southampton Uni - reject all access students?

Apparently they do. According to Southampton, Access is not on par with A levels? ^^

Got this info from a friend of mine doing the Access course who applied to Southampton.

Reply 1

MarshallJT

I think it probably depends on the course/ departments themselves.

I found this after a brief search:

http://www.humanities.soton.ac.uk/default.asp?sec=223&sub=746&pag=1

We welcome applications from students on Access courses, and make offers conditional on a level of achievement within those courses. It is important to consider before embarking on an Access course if it is appropriate to the specific course of study you wish to join - our admissions team can advise on suitability.

But going through the overall site of the University there seems to be nothing mentioned about Access Courses or even other qualifications (Irish and Scottish secondary grades like highers...etc) only A-Levels and IBs.

University of Southampton

Southampton

Reply 2

xxx Ella xxx

to be fair an access course in no way on par with A-levels. my cousin does an acces course and is in two days a week, with one essay at the end of the year.... i know, i have no idea how she copes!

Reply 3

Variola

Southampton does not reject purely on basis of Access, my friend is doing nursing there and we were on the same access course.

Access courses are a lot tougher than people imagine, lots of assignments, lots of presentations, seminars and a 5000 word project at the end of the course, that was mine, hardly the skive it has been made out to be.
The other thing that needs pointing out is Access courses are not an alternative to A levels, they are there to bridge the gap between college and Uni, hence they gives you relevant skills for Uni, like presentation skills, critical thinking, proper referencing and seminar skills.

Reply 4

Pt40

xxx Ella

to be fair an access course in no way on par with A-levels. my cousin does an acces course and is in two days a week, with one essay at the end of the year.... i know, i have no idea how she copes!

I think she must be fibbing! :eek:

I am in college 4 days a week with a minimum of 15/20 hrs a week of self study on top, which ramps up when assignments are due. We have completed 5 so approx one every 2 weeks so far. The course content is very much the same as A levels, but they expect you to complete it in a much shorter time.

Some people do see access as a soft option, but I think they must be the ones who have never experienced it. Most universities i have contacted hold it in high regard. They also tend to look favouroubly on mature students.

Reply 5

PatmaCrotch

I am on the access yes it is intense at times and I am sure I will struggle at some point BUT it is no where near as hard as A Levels and doesn't pretend to be in any of the litrature. If it was equal the goverment would do away with A leeles and send everyone on to it to save money!

Reply 6

aruwen

I think it depends on the access course - I am on I think the only access course in Scotland that entails taking highers (3/4) plus doing core subjects like numeracy, crappy stuff like working with others, philosophy, etc. I'm 39 and this is fecking hard for me - I'm doing the three highers but I'm also doing OU in order to enhance my uni application!

Up here in Scotland there is a bizarre network called Scottish Wider Access Programme, basically a government quango set up to ensure that those taking access courses are given a conditional place at an affiliate uni. The uni I want to go to isn't affiliated with my access course, so I need to work doubly-hard to ensure my application enhanced.

I have essays to be in each week in my highers (History/English/Politics). I have group projects to work on, teambuilding events to do (crap but need to do it to pass the access course). The access course at Abertay Uni for example sounds similar to the one that Ella's cousin is on. Another person I know on another site did an access course at Caledonian Uni in Glasgow and never had to write an essay the whole year!

Reply 7

Stettin

I've e-mailed Soton and they told me they want Access students who want to do Engineering to do the Foundation course. So they don't see it on the same level but to be honest I kind of agree with them.

On Access you skim across the subjects especially if your doing broad courses like Access to Science. There you have biology,Chemistry,Physics and Maths. You have to combine 2 full years of A-levels into one. That isn't including the GCSE work.

Reply 8

Seaab

xxx Ella

to be fair an access course in no way on par with A-levels. my cousin does an acces course and is in two days a week, with one essay at the end of the year.... i know, i have no idea how she copes!

I wish

I'm currently on an access course doing Physical Science pathways which include Biology Chemistry, Physics and Physical maths (as well as Study skills and IT). Although I am only "in" college 3 days a week I am expected to match the hours at home and then some. At the moment I am finding I am doing 20/25 hours a week at home. I have been getting approximately 2/3 assignments a week (one week I received 5). We also get an exam in each subject once a term. The layout of access courses has changed this year with it being a graded course (used to just be pass or fail). One of my uni choices has recently updated their prospectus (last couple of weeks) to take into account the grading system and now require at least half of the credits from the Access course to be merit or distinction.

I cant really say how they compare with A levels as I completed an A level 6 years ago in one year and found it ok. I also have 120 credits with the OU but found that universities recognise these even less than an access course :frown:

But yes I have to agree, some universities prefer A levels although access is also a level 3 course (as are A Levels).

Reply 9

heidigirl

Seaab

I also have 120 credits with the OU but found that universities recognise these even less than an access course :frown:

Since when? They aren't just 'OU credits', they are also CAT credits (and so transferrable, so technically in the same subject should allow you to go straight to the second year in a 'proper' uni), and 120 is equal to a full academic year, and almost every uni I've looked at are happy to accept OU courses, varying from specifying 60-120 points (though very few want 120, mostly Oxbridge etc). Which unis told you they didn't recognise them?

Reply 10

AshMcD

xxx Ella

to be fair an access course in no way on par with A-levels. my cousin does an acces course and is in two days a week, with one essay at the end of the year.... i know, i have no idea how she copes!

So far as I know Imperial are the only college who flat out refuse access courses.

And it's possible your cousin may be doing a level two pre access course. I assure you, I'm in college 20 hours a week with a further 15 - 20 hours independent research and am so far averaging one 1500 word essay every two weeks and two oral presentations I'm currently planning for.

Reply 11

AshMcD

Stettin

With what I said above, I do fully agree with this.

A level students get two years studying at this level, so why shouldn't we? I'm doing Chemistry, Biology, Extended Biology and critical skills (and Maths a L2). I will be applying to a Foundation Year.

Durham actually said the only reason they wouldn't put me on direct entry is not because of the access course but because I don't hold maths at GCSE.

I think we all need to be open and honest about access courses. It's the only way the myth of them being easy can be extinguished.

In my opinion, access courses are not easy. There are a lot of drop outs, it's certainly a lot harder than many people claim it to be.

Are they on par with A Level? Well the clear fact is, yes they are. I'm studying the exact same things my A Level student cousin is studying. The only difference is she has had an extra year and will therefore probably have a more in deapth knowledge of the situation.

In any case, I absolutely love the things I'm studying and I can't wait to get to uni next year!

Reply 12

debthedestroyer

Access over two years could be seen as an 'easy' route to uni, but it still takes a lot of time and commitment, especially when you consider that a lot of the students have child(ren) or full time jobs and rent to pay which many A-level aged students do not. The one year Access is intensive 20 hours a week with another 15 hours minimum study on top. Access pupils also get to hit uni with a very clear idea of what they want to do and bonus life experience. This is why we rule :smile:

To answer the OP's question though, a friend on my Access course just received an offer from Soton to study criminology, I think.

Reply 13

JazzDemon

Iv'e just finished my access course doing History, Psychology, Sociology and English (started in September 2009) and have been offered a place for Philosophy/Political Science joint honours. They do accept em!

Reply 14

Bubbles793

Nope load of rubbish Ive got a place on Physiotherapy an exceptionally competitive course offering only 29 places out of over 800 applicants this year and so has another girl on another access course at my college. Access courses are tough as we have to work, juggle families and committments alongside etc I think most unis including Southampton respect this xxx

Southampton Uni - reject all access students?

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