Has anyone done the distance learning access course to midwifery or something similar

lilmisschick

flea72 wrote: »

most Unis want at least 35 credits in science based subjects to even get an interview, of which at least 15 have to be at distinction and the rest at merit.

Tbh ive yet to meet anyone who can work more than 16hrs a week and maintain those level of grades. I dont know what support you get via the distance learning route, but most people on my access course would struggle without constant input from their tutors and peers

F

As a midwifery student and mother of 3 children, I completed the access to midwifery working full time before being offered a place- we do exist! I also completed with a distinction and to be honest, if people cannot manage an access course with working full time, they really wouldn't cope with the actual degree whilst having to work on full time placements and having a young family. There are 17 out of 20 in our cohort in the same situation as myself, and a few single mothers!

OP, this is the course I completed. http://www.accesstomidwifery.co.uk/

Yes it does require a good amount of motivation on your own but it has facilitated me in becoming a very independent mature student at uni.
Good luck x

Dunroamin

flea72 wrote: »

most Unis want at least 35 credits in science based subjects to even get an interview, of which at least 15 have to be at distinction and the rest at merit.


F

A science Access course isn't normally required for either Nursing or Midwifery; most students offer Human Biology/Physiology as their only Science subject.

crystal66

lilmisschick wrote: »

As a midwifery student and mother of 3 children, I completed the access to midwifery working full time before being offered a place- we do exist! I also completed with a distinction and to be honest, if people cannot manage an access course with working full time, they really wouldn't cope with the actual degree whilst having to work on full time placements and having a young family. There are 17 out of 20 in our cohort in the same situation as myself, and a few single mothers!

Yes it does require a good amount of motivation on your own but it has facilitated me in becoming a very independent mature student at uni.
Good luck x

Good Evening

I have been thinking of undertaking an access to midwifery course with Distance Learning. I am 46 have three children at home and three older children who have all left home married etc. I also work as a housing officer for the Local Authority. I enjoy my job but have an urge to train as a Midwife which will not go away and have done so for many years. I am not naturally clever but would try my hardest with studying. Please may I ask was you working within the health industry when you studied your access course? I just wonder if I would even be considered for a place at university even if I passed the course because I don't work within the industry already and places are so competitive.

You did so well you must feel so proud and so you should!!

Kind Regards

Harriet

flea72

crystal66 wrote: »

Good Evening

I have been thinking of undertaking an access to midwifery course with Distance Learning. I am 46 have three children at home and three older children who have all left home married etc. I also work as a housing officer for the Local Authority. I enjoy my job but have an urge to train as a Midwife which will not go away and have done so for many years. I am not naturally clever but would try my hardest with studying. Please may I ask was you working within the health industry when you studied your access course? I just wonder if I would even be considered for a place at university even if I passed the course because I don't work within the industry already and places are so competitive.

You did so well you must feel so proud and so you should!!

Kind Regards

Harriet

Midwifery come down to personality alot. If you have the required qualifications, the only thing that makes you stand out, is how you come across at interview.

Having no healthcare experience doesnt put you at a disadvantage, but then again having experience is another string to your bow, so can add insight at interview stage. However, some people who have worked in healthcare give off a know it all attitude at interview which can go against them. Maybe volunteer in womens services, if you feel you want some insight, so breast-feeding counselling, surestart, nct

All you can do, is get the required grades and hope you are one of the lucky ones. Ive got friends who didnt get in first time, but kept trying and finally got accepted a year later

Just be realistic about what the role of a midwife is. It isnt about babies, its about supporting women through one of the biggest experiences of their lives

Good luck. Personally i wouldnt do an access course online, as it can be quite isolating and going back into study is a big thing, where support from your peers is what gets you through the tough times. Also gets you used to the classroom situation again and mixing with da yoof in preparation for uni

rapunzelsn

I studied an Access to Nursing diploma with distance learning centre. I was £50 pm + exam fees over 2 years. I can honestly say it was the best money i have ever spent, well worth it. I achieved top grades whilst working full time, got into a good university and i can not praise distance learning centre high enough..

Bananaspoon

From my experiences with the DLC I would STRONGLY reccommend anyone to look for an alternative!
After studying with a few further and higher education colleges and finally decided I wanted to do nursing and as I had a lot of commitments I decided to go with these guys - BIG mistake.
The learning materials are terrible ( low standard of English, many parts contradict each other or generally don't make sense) and the assignments are not much better (vague, unclear questions, spelling and grammar mistakes etc.). I had very little help from my tutor - for example, I would ask her to re-phrase a question or clarify something and she would just send a link to a GCSE-standard website with "hope this helps" - well no not really... luckily by partner is a student nurse with 4 A-levels in maths and sciences and he was able to guide me through from what he interpretated the questions were asking.
WORST OF ALL I wrote a (very polite) email to head senoir manager just a couple of asignments in to the course to raise concerns and he responded by telling me it would take two weeks for his "response" which I received after 3 weeks. In his response he was very rude and intimidating and told me out right that if I complain again he will removed me from the course - not a nice guy!

I am not the type of person who complains often but I'm truley disgusted that this "college" is taking so much money from people. There are a lot of colleges are unis that do access courses for a similar price that probably have friendly and supportive staff which I have experienced with every other course I have done ( which is a fair few).

Please feel free to ask any questions :-)

glitterycloud

I have recently finished an access course in health professions with the DLC and have had a very pleasant experience with them. My tutor at the beginning was very helpful and supportive however not all of them were the same.

My last tutor which I had for one unit was very vague and I had to push for help with him so it definitely depends on who you get as your tutor. In all I had 4 tutors and had small issues with one who took me on then a week later stopped working for DLC and my last tutor.

I am really glad that I did my access course distance learning because I work full time and have a small child so going to a college was'nt going to work with me.
It depends on your situation and what works for you.
With the distance learning course the onnus is on you to do your own study and learning, its like teaching yourself which can be tricky when you get stuck.
Hope this helps.

seleneherb

Hi everyone.
I am just about to try and embark on a new career path in midwifery and this thread has helped a little but am still a bit confused :} im a mum, im 38yrs old and would only be able to do distance learning as i work part time as a care support worker for autistic adults. Im sure the uni are only asking for gcses grade c or above and human biology, i have neither, my gcses were grade d and under back in 1992. would appreciate any help.
many thanks.

agrinnall

You should speak to the university to see what they advise, but I would be surprised if they will accept you without some evidence of your ability to cope with the basics of the course, so they may say you need to do other study first.

Blue_Bell

From what I understand from a friend of mine who wants to change career and become a midwife a lot of universities now want GCSE's at grade C and above, sometimes even B and above along with either A levels or for ' the more mature':) student an Access Diploma. I am studying law with the DLC and my friend has been studying (for longer than me) on a health diploma with them. I have GCSE's already but my friend is studying them along side her Access Diploma. She takes her GCSE's in the next week or so and then if all goes well will be applying for university in September to start in September 2016. I hope to apply for a course in law and criminology in September and if I get a place then I hope also to go to university in September 2016.