Need some help

Capricornus

[FONT=&quot]I'm 20 years old and I have just finished college with a BTEC National Dimploma Level 3 (Equivalent to A Levels). I applied for university this year but got rejected everywhere which I believe is down to me not having GCSE English and Maths.

So I have decided to take up GCSE Maths and English at a different local college. What I want to know is are the GCSE's going to be free for me? Looking at my local colleges website

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• [FONT=&quot]If you are over 19 years old and a student on either an English or Maths course (up to the equivalent of GCSE), your course is free.[/FONT]

• [FONT=&quot]If you are over 19 years old and a student for the first time on a level 2 course (e.g. you haven’t previously gained GCSE A-C), you only pay a registration fee of £35. [/FONT]

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Looking at the first point if the course is equivalent to a GCSE then it should be free for me, also looking at the second point it's confusing as both points seem to contradict each other. Isn't GCSE A-C equivalent to GCSE? :j

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If you are over 19 years old and in receipt of means-tested benefits (please see list below), your tuition fees are either free or reduced. You will be required to pay a registration fee of £35, unless you are an asylum seeker or refugee not in receipt of benefits.

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I'm not sure if the third point applies to me. I'm living with my parents and I myself am not in receipt of any means-tested benefits but my parents are on Income Support, so does that mean that since I'm living with my parents I'm in receipt also??

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Finally I emailed the college and they said it will be free if I don't have 5 GCSE's at grade A-C. I have two Level 2 vocational qualifications and one is 1 GCSE at grade C and the other is 3 GCSES at grade C. So that leaves me at 4 GCSE's at grade C. Which if I am correct is not enough for a full level 2 qualifications as 5 GCSE's are required. If a person who has finished a full level 3, are they entitled to do a level 2 for free if they haven't done it?[/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot] Lastly I want to know how I can apply for the open university, as I qualify for the full financial support and I want to take up a certificate of higher education. Do I first register for the course and then apply for the finance? Or the other way around?
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My plans are to finish my GCSE English and Maths, get the Certificate of Higher Education(So I have an advantage over the A Level people) and apply for a good university next year. :beer:
Thanks in advance.

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Oldernotwiser

If you already have a level 3 qualification, this overrides the fact that you don't have a level 2, I'm afraid.

With the OU, you apply for a course and then the finance. This can take a little while so don't leave it close to the deadline.

Capricornus

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

If you already have a level 3 qualification, this overrides the fact that you don't have a level 2, I'm afraid.

With the OU, you apply for a course and then the finance. This can take a little while so don't leave it close to the deadline.

In that case, I will argue the point that I'm part of the household which is in receipt of means tested benefits.

MrsManda

Capricornus wrote: »

In that case, I will argue the point that I'm part of the household which is in receipt of means tested benefits.

But you, yourself are not in receipt of means tested benefits.
Have you contacted the admissions tutors of the university courses you applied to to ask if it is your lack of G.C.S.E. English and Maths which is the problem rather than lack of experience, bad personal statement etc...?
They may be able to provide you with some guidance on what you can do to improve your chances of getting a place.

As it's English and Maths which you want to get qualifications in you may be able to get a funded place through Learndirect.

Oldernotwiser

Capricornus wrote: »

In that case, I will argue the point that I'm part of the household which is in receipt of means tested benefits.

That won't help you. Are you claiming JSA?

Capricornus

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

That won't help you. Are you claiming JSA?

No lol there's no way I will ever in my life join a place like the job center. lol I will phone the college up after the bank holiday, if I can't get it for free then I'll just have to sort out a way to pay them in installments or something.

Capricornus

MrsManda wrote: »

But you, yourself are not in receipt of means tested benefits.
Have you contacted the admissions tutors of the university courses you applied to to ask if it is your lack of G.C.S.E. English and Maths which is the problem rather than lack of experience, bad personal statement etc...?
They may be able to provide you with some guidance on what you can do to improve your chances of getting a place.

As it's English and Maths which you want to get qualifications in you may be able to get a funded place through Learndirect.

Sorry didn't notice your reply sooner.GCSE English and Maths are a requirement for university entry, I couldn't even get on a course through clearing because I didn't have GCSE English and Maths. Thanks,I will check out Learndirect.

Edit

Just checked out Learndirect and it said some funding may be available for me, how does Learndirect work?

Hmmmm just looked through their courses. They don't have GCSE's, looks like they only offer courses for grown up kids.

Indie_Kid

Capricornus wrote: »

[My plans are to finish my GCSE English and Maths, get the Certificate of Higher Education(So I have an advantage over the A Level people) and apply for a good university next year. :beer:
Thanks in advance.

This point confuses me. if you have a certificate of higher education, you won't start in the first year of uni.

Capricornus

sh1305 wrote: »

This point confuses me. if you have a certificate of higher education, you won't start in the first year of uni.

That is the whole advantage, no?

newmum1

Hi as another above have stated try learn direct I think they are free to everybody who is going to study maths or english. Due to the way in which learn direct works and the fact that you can do mostr of it away from the centre the chances are that you will complete it much quciker than taking the GCSE route. I have just done the learn direct maths and it took me about 4 months although it can be completed quicker than that. good luck!

narabanekeater

Hmmmm just looked through their courses. They don't have GCSE's, looks like they only offer courses for grown up kids.[/QUOTE]

Just like me and 1000s of others then:o