A few questions regarding back to education:

Dunroamin

flea72 wrote: »

there are no exams on an Access Course, its continual assessment



F

Some Access courses have exams as well as continuous assessment, although they're less common.

Dunroamin

flea72 wrote: »

since the OP was enquiring about funding, then yes level 2 qualifications are relevant, because if you hold more than 5 of them, you have to pay for your Access Course (even if on JSA/ESA), unless the college are prepared to subsidise the fees from their learning fund



since you are under 25 and have no Level 3 qualifications, then the course is free (other than small admin fee).

Most colleges have an adult learner fund, which is on a first come, first served basis. its usually a few hundred pounds, to help towards books.

other than that, most people still claim JSA whilst on the Access Course. Depending on how your local job centre view the Access Course and if your actual time in college is less than 16hrs a week (a letter from the college is usually proof enough), then you can still claim.

just stay on top of your job hunting, as you do have to prove you are 'actively' seeking work and stress to them that the Access Course will ultimately improve your long-term work situation (viewed similar to government funded back-to-work schemes)

F

It's confusing to talk about having "more than 5 level 2 qualifications". I understand that you mean more than 5 GCSEs grade C or over, but not everybody will. Someone could have an NVQ level 2 on its own and that would stop funding for another level 2 course. As an Access course is level 3, this is irrelevant unless the college is allowing people to "jump" to level 3, which isn't always the case.

If the Access course is full time (which it will be if it's only for one year) students will be unable to claim JSA as they won't be available for work. If it's part time then they can claim JSA but may have to give up the course if a job or work programme comes along. I have never known JCP accept an Access course as an alternative to a back to work programme, so you shouldn't lead people to think that this is normal.

I'm afraid that there's an awful lot of misinformation in your post.

flea72

Dunroamin wrote: »

It's confusing to talk about having "more than 5 level 2 qualifications". I understand that you mean more than 5 GCSEs grade C or over, but not everybody will. Someone could have an NVQ level 2 on its own and that would stop funding for another level 2 course. As an Access course is level 3, this is irrelevant unless the college is allowing people to "jump" to level 3, which isn't always the case.

If the Access course is full time (which it will be if it's only for one year) students will be unable to claim JSA as they won't be available for work. If it's part time then they can claim JSA but may have to give up the course if a job or work programme comes along. I have never known JCP accept an Access course as an alternative to a back to work programme, so you shouldn't lead people to think that this is normal.

I'm afraid that there's an awful lot of misinformation in your post.

an NVQ Level 2, is the equivalent of 5 Level 2 qualifications. Just because it doesnt say NVQ 5 x Level 2, doesnt mean people who hold it, dont know its equivalent value

There is no misinformation in my post. i didnt say that the Access Course is an alternative to the back to work programme, in that you get to choose. i said that some job centres view it in a similar light and some are prepared to let claimants attend the course and still be entitled to JSA

Actually, the guidelines state that someone over 25 who has claimed JSA for over 2 years, is actually allowed to attend further study, as long as it leads to a work related qualification. This is where interpretation of the rules becomes sketchy. some people see the Access Course as leading to a work related qualification, whereas others see it as a pre-cursor to gaining a work related qualification.

All i know is that my local JC allow people over 25, to claim JSA as long the Access Course is less than 16hrs a week. A letter from the college is more than enough to prove this

F

Dunroamin

flea72 wrote: »

an NVQ Level 2, is the equivalent of 5 Level 2 qualifications. Just because it doesnt say NVQ 5 x Level 2, doesnt mean people who hold it, dont know its equivalent value

I know perfectly well that 5 GCSEs over grade C is a level 2 qualification! You keep talking about needing 5 level 2 qualifications, which isn't true. 5 GCSEs are one level 2 qualification, 1,2,3 or 4 of these is not.

There is no misinformation in my post. i didnt say that the Access Course is an alternative to the back to work programme, in that you get to choose. i said that some job centres view it in a similar light and some are prepared to let claimants attend the course and still be entitled to JSA

Some may allow this but I haven't come across any that do.

Actually, the guidelines state that someone over 25 who has claimed JSA for over 2 years, is actually allowed to attend further study, as long as it leads to a work related qualification. This is where interpretation of the rules becomes sketchy. some people see the Access Course as leading to a work related qualification, whereas others see it as a pre-cursor to gaining a work related qualification.

You have to be available for work to claim JSA; if you're full time at college, you won't be.

All i know is that my local JC allow people over 25, to claim JSA as long the Access Course is less than 16hrs a week. A letter from the college is more than enough to prove this

F

That's the point. You're talking about one individual situation and assuming that this is the same everywhere, when it certainly isn't.

It's the same as saying that there are no exams on Access courses, presumably because there aren't on the course you know. Some Access courses have a mixture of continuous assessment and exams and some even take A levels or Highers.

It's always dangerous to take one familiar example and assume that this is the norm everywhere.

crazy_gooner

Thanks guys for all the information. I'm not relying on JSA, hoping to get a saturday job and some help from family for commuting costs and cover my phone bill.

One question I do have is, I'm doing access to education studies which I believe is equivalent to 3 A levels and GCSE's right? If I wanted to study something else such as computing at Uni could I do so?

I know universities accept mature students more now so wondering even with an access course would it help?

Thanks

johnmorgan89

I just completed an access course and are enrolled in uni so ill tell you what I know.

crazy_gooner wrote: »

Thanks guys for all the information. I'm not relying on JSA, hoping to get a saturday job and some help from family for commuting costs and cover my phone bill.

You can claim ALG either called Assembly Learning Grant (In Wales) or Adult Learners Grant (In England). Have to say the Welsh version is much better but it's worth going onto student finance to see what help you can get.

You can normally get a small job on the side at the same time too and it won't affect income. You can also claim no tax/ni as a student too plus get money off your council tax.

crazy_gooner wrote: »

One question I do have is, I'm doing access to education studies which I believe is equivalent to 3 A levels and GCSE's right? If I wanted to study something else such as computing at Uni could I do so?

It's basically equivalent to 3 A Levels. What normally happens is you work with the course leader to get your letter and application into UCAS by mid November and you will start getting offers about January time. They normally look like this:

Name:University of whatever
Uni Code: U100/M
Course: Computer Science
Code: G430
Offer: 80 Credits, 34 Distinction, 30 Merit. 10 Pass

By January you will be right into your course and have some marks for work so the Distiction,Merit, Pass and credits will start to make sense. If you accept an offer you have an idea just how hard your gonna have to work for the next 6 months!

IMHO the tariff system at Uni is very difficult to understand. It's better to keep to the old system A,B,C if you doing A Levels or just apply to the uni you want and stick to their offer.

One problem you might run into is that some unis will want you to complete the appropriate access course ie: If you did computers then access to computing or technology would be the appropriate course not business etc.

That doesn't happen too often however and normally when the course has a highly difficult theme like Computer Science (Which has a high maths/programming content) or some of the sciences like physics or pure maths.

Some students take access to business for this reason. It's seen as the broadest course and can get you on the highest number of offers.

crazy_gooner wrote: »

I know universities accept mature students more now so wondering even with an access course would it help?

You will not be accepted for uni unless you have completed courses at Level 3 (A Level) standard. Even then you might not have enough credits for the uni you want to study at.

Access courses are designed to equip the mature students with the; study, computer, writing, reading, maths, note taking and debating skills to get on well at uni. You'll find doing an access course will give you enough credits for just about anywhere once you do the work to a high standard.

Thanks

Hope that helps

crazy_gooner

johnmorgan89 wrote: »

I just completed an access course and are enrolled in uni so ill tell you what I know.



You can claim ALG either called Assembly Learning Grant (In Wales) or Adult Learners Grant (In England). Have to say the Welsh version is much better but it's worth going onto student finance to see what help you can get.

You can normally get a small job on the side at the same time too and it won't affect income. You can also claim no tax/ni as a student too plus get money off your council tax.



It's basically equivalent to 3 A Levels. What normally happens is you work with the course leader to get your letter and application into UCAS by mid November and you will start getting offers about January time. They normally look like this:

Name:University of whatever
Uni Code: U100/M
Course: Computer Science
Code: G430
Offer: 80 Credits, 34 Distinction, 30 Merit. 10 Pass

By January you will be right into your course and have some marks for work so the Distiction,Merit, Pass and credits will start to make sense. If you accept an offer you have an idea just how hard your gonna have to work for the next 6 months!

IMHO the tariff system at Uni is very difficult to understand. It's better to keep to the old system A,B,C if you doing A Levels or just apply to the uni you want and stick to their offer.

One problem you might run into is that some unis will want you to complete the appropriate access course ie: If you did computers then access to computing or technology would be the appropriate course not business etc.

That doesn't happen too often however and normally when the course has a highly difficult theme like Computer Science (Which has a high maths/programming content) or some of the sciences like physics or pure maths.

Some students take access to business for this reason. It's seen as the broadest course and can get you on the highest number of offers.



You will not be accepted for uni unless you have completed courses at Level 3 (A Level) standard. Even then you might not have enough credits for the uni you want to study at.

Access courses are designed to equip the mature students with the; study, computer, writing, reading, maths, note taking and debating skills to get on well at uni. You'll find doing an access course will give you enough credits for just about anywhere once you do the work to a high standard.

Thanks

Hope that helps

Thanks so much for all that information it's much appreciated and well done on getting into uni.

Good to see my access course doesn't restrict me for sure if I have a change of heart although I 90% won't. I'll be working my but off to get the best grade I can.

Also regarding finance, I thought ALG in England was no more from this year? I can't find much on it. Do you know if it's still running? I've applied for a few jobs to no avail but I'll keep trying and hope something pops up.

Thanks a lot.

DTB80

In a similar boat myself. Quit job in May (I know, but REALLY hated it) and decided to go down the HE route. I've got 3 A-Levels but been out of study for 13 years and a bit short on UCAS points for course I want so was advised to do HEFC at college. Uni said if I did a "Foundation" year with them, because I had L3 qualifications, I'd have to pay (£8500!!) but if I do HEFC it's the same idea but cheaper (£2000 ish). Went to a college open day and was advised if I wasn't working it'd be free/minimal cost. Problem is I'm not claiming JSA and been living off savings so no real "proof of income" (or lack of it).
Hoping when I go to register this week I'll get some more help understanding this. It's a shame that Mature Students who are looking to better themselves are put in the position of weighing up the COST v BENEFIT. I've come so close to giving up on the idea and getting another job. Since I've been stuck in Sales for 13 years that means another Sales job which isn't what I want to do.
Looking for some PT work once I get timetable, etc so I'll see how that impacts fees.

Dunroamin

DTB80 wrote: »

In a similar boat myself. Quit job in May (I know, but REALLY hated it) and decided to go down the HE route. I've got 3 A-Levels but been out of study for 13 years and a bit short on UCAS points for course I want so was advised to do HEFC at college. Uni said if I did a "Foundation" year with them, because I had L3 qualifications, I'd have to pay (£8500!!) but if I do HEFC it's the same idea but cheaper (£2000 ish). Went to a college open day and was advised if I wasn't working it'd be free/minimal cost. Problem is I'm not claiming JSA and been living off savings so no real "proof of income" (or lack of it).
Hoping when I go to register this week I'll get some more help understanding this. It's a shame that Mature Students who are looking to better themselves are put in the position of weighing up the COST v BENEFIT. I've come so close to giving up on the idea and getting another job. Since I've been stuck in Sales for 13 years that means another Sales job which isn't what I want to do.
Looking for some PT work once I get timetable, etc so I'll see how that impacts fees.

Have you checked with the university where you want to do your degree regarding the acceptability of your A levels? I was accepted for a language degree with two very average A levels taken 25 years previously. UCAS points are irrelvant for mature students.

If it's the college that's advised you to do Access, you need to remember that they're paid for bums on seats and are as sales orientated as everybody else. (And I say that as an ex FE lecturer and careers adviser!)