Access to HE Courses

NEH

benjismum wrote: »

NEH - A very interesting post. Does the five year life span mean you have to go to uni within 5 years of finishing the course? I'm not looking at going to uni myself but this is interesting as I haven't come across it before. I think the difference for me with this course is the fact that I'm not looking for a career - simply to add to my knowledge and for something to fill my time! However, perhaps in the future my plans will change and I'll be glad of having done it. The workload does sound pretty heavy, although I don't work so have plenty of spare time. I'm glad things worked out for you in the end

See someoen has already answered it...

but it is something they fail to mention...it still stands as a qualification, say on you CV for example but in terms of uni if after 5 years you haven't used it then yes you would be asked to either do some sort of refresher course or the crouse again as i did....

My first one was about 7 years old when i decided to think about uni again...I have had two attempts at uni that have failed now due to ill health and even the course i did after my 2nd attmept i have had to put on hold but c'est la vie i will get back to it one day and my career path may not be open to me anymore but i'll find something to do..:o

I think it's always good to keep the old brain matter going..each time i recover sufficently enough i seem to end up doing some course but that may just be my stubborness and determination :rotfl:

Oldernotwiser

An Access course is about providing evidence of "recent relevant study" so when this is no longer recent it's no longer valid. These courses are really only relevant for someone going to university, not for someone wanting to gain more qualifications to further their career.

NEH

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

An Access course is about providing evidence of "recent relevant study" so when this is no longer recent it's no longer valid. These courses are really only relevant for someone going to university, not for someone wanting to gain more qualifications to further their career.

It is however when they first came out they were the equivalent to 2/ 2 and a half A levels...

ells888

benjismum wrote: »

ells888 - Thank you Are you doing the Access course part time? If so, what hours do you do each week? I would be looking at doing it part time myself as it would fit in with my life easier. Good luck to you!

Hi benjismum,

Yeah im doing it part time .. its easier as i work 16hr a week and have 2 kids on my own. Dont know how i fit it all in but i manage. Before we broke up for summer i was doing 8 hours in college a week, the classes started at half 9 (flexible for mums on school run) and finished at lunch, that was one day and the other was half 9 til 3. But they had plenty of night classes too, its all very flexible. If ya need any help or advice just pm me xx

Oldernotwiser

NEH wrote: »

It is however when they first came out they were the equivalent to 2/ 2 and a half A levels...

They are equivalent to A levels but only really valid for university entrance.

bestpud

alwaysonthego wrote: »

I did enjoy the Access course, however we were not taught how to do the referencing correctly.

We weren't either! The tutor openly admitted she didn't like teaching referencing so we were given very basic information and that was it!


OP - I'm another who very much enjoyed my access course and found it excellent preparation for HE!

I did it part time as I had 3 children at the time, one being only 2 years old, and it was very manageable. It was intensive full time and many of the parents struggled to keep up, but so did the younger students who were working alongside the course.

Good luck with your skills for life courses - I think that's a good way to start, personally, and good luck with your driving lessons too. :j

NEH

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

They are equivalent to A levels but only really valid for university entrance.

Well in the jobs and interviews i have been for since, the employer has always been interested in so it has stood me in good stead and shown that I do have the eqivalent to A-levels...As it's such a broad range of subjects and practical skills as well employers do like the access course.

bestpud wrote: »

We weren't either! The tutor openly admitted she didn't like teaching referencing so we were given very basic information and that was it!


OP - I'm another who very much enjoyed my access course and found it excellent preparation for HE!

I did it part time as I had 3 children at the time, one being only 2 years old, and it was very manageable. It was intensive full time and many of the parents struggled to keep up, but so did the younger students who were working alongside the course.

Good luck with your skills for life courses - I think that's a good way to start, personally, and good luck with your driving lessons too. :j

Wish i had had your tutor....on my second one we were given a booklet and she drummed it into us how to do referencing, she really was a stickler for it....

MrsManda

NEH wrote: »

Wish i had had your tutor....on my second one we were given a booklet and she drummed it into us how to do referencing, she really was a stickler for it....

That's not necessarily a bad thing, especially if you go on to do further study. I've just finished my second year at university and one of the modules I took this year had a 40% coursework module. 30% of people who took the module had a note put on their file as they had a high similarity index from the plagarism software and 6 people had to attend a disciplinary panel for plagarism resulting in their marks being reduced. Most of this was due to bad referencing and misunderstanding about plagarism rather than people delibrately trying to cheat.

Oldernotwiser

NEH wrote: »

Wish i had had your tutor....on my second one we were given a booklet and she drummed it into us how to do referencing, she really was a stickler for it....

Why is this a bad thing?

Oldernotwiser

NEH wrote: »

Well in the jobs and interviews i have been for since, the employer has always been interested in so it has stood me in good stead and shown that I do have the eqivalent to A-levels...As it's such a broad range of subjects and practical skills as well employers do like the access course.
.

I passed A levels goodness know how many years ago but nobody can take them away from me. Once an Access course is past its "sell by date" it has no validity whatsoever.