In their Ucas forms they provide progress reports from the school, along with a 30,000-40,000 word leather-bound book on an academic topic of their choosing. So, both in theory and in practice, hundreds of people get into British universities without any A Levels! A common misconception is that obtaining A-levels is the only way to enter a degree course. If youve been out of education for a while, you might be struggling to get back into that education and studying mindset ready for university. In the UK, it is possible to get into university without qualifications. While A-Levels may not be a requirement, there will be other requirements that are considered to be non-negotiables. If you wont be considered without the right grades, youll need to look into taking or re-taking that GCSE qualification. Read our detailed cookie policy. You will usually need a 4 year bachelors degree from a recognised university in a relevant subject for entry. Think Student Ltd is a participant in the Amazon Services Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk. After he left school, with two AS-levels and no A-levels, Wojciechowski wrote a little series for Guardian Students called Boy Adrift about how difficult it was to take the next step in life without proper qualifications. Choosing a different qualification can offer an alternative way to study as a teacher, you can help students consider their preferences for learning and assessment. Unlike A Levels where a candidate usually does three subjects, IB candidates have to do six subjects as well as study Theory of Knowledge and complete an Extended Essay. An integrated degree course might last four years, rather than the more common three-year courses on offer. Since coursework is weighted heavily for a vocational course, you need to hand in as many assignments as you can and complete all of your coursework on time. Get tips, tricks and wise words from students and experts at each stage. How to become a social worker | Prospects.ac.uk If you want more information you can read the GoStudent Guide to Using UCAS. This is great as youll have a lot less stressbecause you wont have to worry about going through the university application process all over again and can just focus on doing great in your exams and coursework! What will I need to get into uni? Apprenticeships and college options There are many ways to get into university without A-Levels. According to Whiting, about 20 of the 70 or so students who've gone on to university graduated with firsts and almost everyone else was awarded a 2.1. Theres more of a focus on coursework than exams. Plenty of alternate qualifications can land you a place at university. You are well prepared for the assignments and homework at university. Here's an overview of whats on offer. Not at all! If youve been out of school for a long timeyourlearning style might have changed, or you may have forgotten whatyourlearning style is. Many people and universities consider the IB to be harder than A Levels and if you have a top IB result it can be seen as more prestigious than top A Level results. Can you go to uni without A-Levels? (including FAQs) Of the six subjects, three are usually done at higher level and the other three at standard level. Speaking of personal statements, you need to make yours stand out as much as possible. How to get into University without A Levels | Stonebridge Associated Claire Chalmers, student recruitment officer at Goldsmiths, says Wojciechowski's is a very special case. Of course, there is a reason that universities ask for them; however, if the points you have are made up by qualifications that the university doesnt accept, then it will be difficult to apply. To be eligible for the government's Step Up to Social Work programme you'll need a 2:1 or a 2:2 and a Masters in any discipline except social work. You also need to gain qualified teacher. Its also important to acknowledge that getting into university requires a lot of hard work and dedication. So, here are some tips for you. The other alternative is to bite the bullet: take (or re-take) the A-level you need to get in to the university course you really want to go for, and defer your application for a year. Then, after a year and a half, he found himself in a work slump and started to think about applying to university. But if you decided, for whatever reason, that you wanted to switch to a new university, you can also do that. How Will GCSE Grade Boundaries Affect My Childs Results? So which other qualifications could your students choose as a stepping stone to university? Yes, you can. The Access to HE Diploma award is on the UCASTariff. You may want to go to university yourself, but you have no A-Levels. If you can convince their university of choice that they have what it takes to be successful, then odds are they might listen. Many universities have these, and over a thousand courses are integrated degree courses, so you will be spoiled for choice! The prices vary depending on factors such as which course youre studying and where youre studying it. There are a number of pathways into primary and secondary teaching in the UK. I have heard that the top tier of universities may be less interested in me as I have chosen a BTEC, but Im not too worried about that. Unsurprisingly, universities such as the University of Cambridge or the University of Oxford are unlikely to accept applicants without A-Levels. Would they accept an application from you without that qualification? Youre going to want lots of work and life experience relating to your chosen course. You can study when and where you want to, fitting in studies around your schedule. Meaning that you can pick something very specific to what you want to study at university. A levels aren't the only option out there to take your students to university. Typically, Access students are 19+ and most have had a break from study. Universities are changing the way they think about candidates with alternative qualifications. but there are other free options that work just as well, such as. Read the Rusell Group's informed choices guide. You need a bachelor's degree to teach in primary, secondary and special schools in England. So, you have that extra confidence that youll be up to date in classes next year, especially if you dont have any qualifications relevant to the degree. If thats the case, then a vocational qualification might suit you as they are often coursework based. There are also some apprenticeships that can be done instead of university. Many integrated degree courses result in a bachelors degree at the end of it. For getting into college, they can apply even without a GED or high school diploma by supplying additional materials. There are many alternative higher education qualifications out there that you can get into university with. 5 ways to get into Uni without year 12. - HEA Australia The good news is that you can go to university without A Levels. The workload is heavy, which forces you into good study habits. All you have to do is register on theUCASwebsite and fill in all of the mandatory information, including a personal statement. It is important to note that not all universities offer foundation years and foundation year might mean different things in different universities. These are designed to give people who didnt get their qualifications at school a route into university and are normally set within a specific area of study, such as humanities, science or social sciences. How to become a teacher | Get Into Teaching GOV.UK So, you have that extra confidence that youll be up to date in classes next year, especially if you dont have any qualifications relevant to the degree. If you procrastinate a lot, what do you waste time on the most? Access to Higher Education Diploma is a qualification that prepares students for university. The programme is academically challenging but encourages personal development too. It's about the number of UCAS points you can achieve - and these can come from a range of qualifications. In the complete absence of A-levels or equivalent qualifications, some universities are even prepared to accept life and work experience as an alternative to formal education. It's a four-year foundation plus bachelor's degree course, aimed at students without the typical Ucas entry requirements. Many university courses require you to have achieved at least a C in English, maths and science, so not getting the right grades can be problematic. There are many alternative qualifications that universities accept. To do this, just try working and revising at different times of day, like in the afternoon, early evening, late evening, or morning. 4. Explore all your options and start planning your next steps. It will depend on the university you are applying to and their university entry requirements. The subjects you can study for a BTEC are: These are especially useful for students who benefit more from hands-on learning. A foundation year is also a good option for people who do not have the right A Levels. It is important to note that many universities do not recognise BTECs and, as such, you might not be able to study there with BTECs alone. Over 20.000+ qualified tutors provide first-class tutoring in all school subjects. Hopefully, you would carry these habits across to university life. Perhaps you studied humanities and arts for A Level but now want to do a degree in business. Advantages of Doing a Foundation Year at University. The answer is yes - you can get to university without A Levels, and in this blog post, we'll explore how. Wojciechowski also had to rely heavily on the advice of journalists and contacts he'd made in his working life to help him work out how to get into university. A Levels are not the only academic qualifications out there and most universities including Cambridge and Oxford will consider a broad range of academic qualifications. The application will ask for basic information, your qualifications, and your choice of courses and universities. Ultimately, the answer to both questions is: yes; however, the latter is much less common and much harder. A foundation year is just an extra year at the start of a course which helps prepare you for studying a degree. Whilst the range of subjects available is limited, the qualification is highly recognised due to its academic rigour and the University of Cambridge brand. Many people believe that university is the only option for them; however, you should ask yourself: is university the right choice for me? They would want to see students who have read widely and beyond their high school academic syllabus. Access to Higher Education Diploma Like A-levels, the IB is a measure of academic achievement and can support students in obtaining a place at a chosen university. Qualifications include Extended Diplomas, Diplomas, Subsidiary Diplomas and Certificates. UCAS has dedicated an entire page about how to get into uni without A Levels but let us talk you through the main ones below. It also asked him for two additional pieces of work before he was offered a place. But to every rule, there are a handful of exceptions: (Correct at the time of writing see the Ucaswebsite for the latest entry requirements.). A good idea is to just spend five minutes a day learning a new language on an app likeDuolingoto get yourself back into the habit. Whether you're in the process of choosing your next steps to prepare for university or you're ready to apply for a degree, we have a long history of welcoming mature students. May 25, 2020 How to get into University without A Levels Written by Adam Looker More and more people over the age of 18 are applying to university so if you are considering applying, now is the perfect time. For many universities, even if you do BTECs, they often want you to either get very high grades or to have done some A-Levels as well, so theymay not accept these qualifications alone. However, there is a range of entry requirements for universities and some may not recognize the qualifications listed above as sufficient for direct entry onto degree courses. The jump from A-Levels to degrees is even bigger, so that is a very big chasm of knowledge you need to traverse and not many universities will have faith that you can do that. So, if you were worried about keeping up in university if you took an Accessto,HE Diploma, then that wouldnt be the case at all! When you have found out your learning style, revise using those methods. Vocational qualifications often involve a mixture of classroom and hands-on learning. Similarly, to learning styles, find outthe time of day that you work most effectively. What qualifications can you use to apply to university? If you are a mature applicant, you might be exempt from the requirements. It is essential to research and understand which qualifications are recognized as suitable for entry at your chosen university. Some universities are more 'BTEC-friendly' than others. However, for many courses they are not considered suitable preparation,' advises The Russell Group. The subjects you can study for T-Levels are: You may also be able to complete a work placement too. The International Baccalaureate Diploma is widely accepted by universities in the UK and around the world. How to Become a Midwife with No Qualifications Yes, you can. A Levels: A*AA. Many students who apply to Oxford are taking A-levels but we also accept a whole range of other equivalent UK and international qualifications. In some cases, universities may require a degree of prior work experience, while in others, personal statements or interviews could hold significant weight. There's no need to feel limited by your current situation - with some creativity, research, and hard work, it is very possible that you could be on the path towards attending your desired school without having to meet the traditional entry requirements. Get the help you need direct from the university. "I'd like to write the first book-length study on him," says Sloane, who wants to pursue a career in academia. Disclaimer: The content of this blog post, including text and images, has been generated by artificial intelligence (AI). Some universities will go straight to offering places whereas others might have an interview or exam stage to assess whether a candidate is a good fit for their institution. Choosing the right A-levels is the ideal route in. A-Levels are just one of the many different qualification types universities will accept. This means that some universities will think differently. If thats the case, then a vocational qualification might suit you as they are often coursework based. "I started off saying 'I'm not like other students'.". It is worth mentioning that points are not the be-all and end-all of applications. Our goal is to connect every student with the perfect tutor. Many higher education institutions accept a range of alternative qualifications and pathways, allowing individuals from diverse backgrounds to gain access to full degree courses. You can still go to university if you play your cards right, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, 2023 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. Below are some of the most common A-Level alternative qualifications and how universities accept them. Cookies help us deliver our services. The workload is heavy, which forces you into good study habits. You may even procrastinate all day without social media. This is because for the IB Diploma you have to write an extended essay. Many universities have these, and over a thousand courses are integrated degree courses, so you will be spoiled for choice! Here are the general UK university entry requirements: Qualifications and Grades. This qualification can be completed in one year and could be the pathway towards your chosen university course. These include alternative qualifications such as GCSEs, BTECs, access to HE diploma, and international baccalaureate, as well as foundation years and access courses. Get into a career you love with our advice. He assumed that he would need to take A-levels to obtain a place to read environmental engineering, the course he had his heart set on. To register for the Think Ahead programme you'll need a 2:1 or higher in any subject other than social work. Although it is relatively new, the Cambridge Pre-U post-16 qualifications are already recognised worldwide this might be partly because the awarding body is Cambridge Assessment International Education which is a branch of the University of Cambridge itself! So, whether youve just finished school or youre looking to get back into education and go to university, this is the article for you! In terms of difficulty, IB subjects at higher level are very similar to a full A level. You may be asking yourself, can I go to university without GCSEs or other qualifications? It is not always the case that you can go to uni without A Levels if you have no A Levels you might want to consider an apprenticeship. This is a universally recognised qualification that allows international students the chance to apply for UK university courses. "In the absence of pastoral support, it's blind research and motivation," says Chalmers. At this time of year, a lot of people you know may be talking about applying to university. Like I said earlier, the IB Diploma involves a lot of work and often a very heavy workload. This would improve your university application as well as helping you in university and in the workplace. How to get into university without any A-levels. Additional entry requirements. In this article, we explore how to go to university without A-Levels by exploring other viable options and providing answers to the most common questions. Others may forgo any qualification requirements if you have relevant work experience. There may also be more coursework and assignments than if you were to do an A-Level. This means that you would have hands-on experience. You might have already done quizzes in school to find out your learning style (learning style is how you learn most effectively). There are over 450 options for study and the Access to HE Diploma is taught in schools and colleges across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Chalmers explains that while the university is committed to offering places to students without traditional qualifications, often this means offering them places on their integrated degrees. You can study your course via distance learning. If you dont have or cant get any qualifications, dont fret as you may actually still be able to go to university. Admittedly, the easiest and most common way of proving to a university that you will succeed is with A Levels and alternative academic qualifications such as the IB. APPLYING TO UNIVERSITY CHOOSING A COURSE CHOOSING A UNIVERSITY UNDERGRADUATE Cicely Oliver 18 Jan 2023 CONTENTS University entry requirements UK Tips and suggestions Mature students The course can be very specific to what you want to study at university. The IB Diploma can be a great choice for all-rounders, as students are expected to study one from each of the following groups: Students also pick a second subject from a group of their choosing. "It took a while for me to figure out this could be more than just a hobby.". Some may do so, but this is exceptionally rare. Sound unlikely? Grist and Wojciechowski both struggled with formal classroom learning. This September, Robbie Wojciechowski will be starting at Goldmsiths University as an undergraduate, despite having no A-level qualifications. To apply to university through UCAS, you need to register and fill out an online application. "I wish there were more admission tutors who were accepting of alternative students. Before applying, you need to check that you have, or are likely to achieve, the right grades at the right level and in the appropriate subjects for the course you have chosen. While they are certainly the most widely accepted (in fact, theyre the only qualifications that every university and college in the country will accept), they are not the only qualifications you can use to get to university. How to Become a Lecturer - career-advice.jobs.ac.uk Check the requirements of your course for details. This is great because, especially if you already have a job or other commitments, like looking after children. You will need to check the universitys entry requirements beforehand. FREE Downloadable English GCSE Past Papers with Mark Scheme. We use cookies to personalise content, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. Assuming you have the right amount of UCAS points and meet the overal entry requirements, you should be fine. You may not have got GCSEs or A-Levels because you and exams dont get on. First, contact the universities youre considering directly. These courses help students to develop their academic and personal skills so they can gain a place at university. You can find apps which can block you from going on apps of your choosing for a certain time or you can go the whole way and delete distracting apps while you study and redownload them after. If you get into the habit of revising regularly, then when you have to revise for tests, you will actually have to do less revision as you have already revised the content! At some universities, you can also do the foundation year over distance or blended learning, which is great if you have a family, job, or other commitments at home. Normally, when you have completed the foundation year, you just go straight onto studying the full degree with the university you did the foundation year with. Not every student thrives with A-Levels, nor do they especially like studying them. In some subjects, particularly sciences, candidates are required to have studied certain subjects to at least A-level standard. 1. Most postgraduate courses require a UK 2:1 or equivalent for entry, but some courses may consider 2:2 grades. If you procrastinate a lot, what do you waste time on the most? UCAS points are given for A-levels and alternative qualifications, with different universities having the minimum requirement of UCAS points for each course. Earn while you learn. Check outthisarticle for tips on how to write a personal statement that stands out from the crowd. Because coursework is important here, so you need to be organised to stay on top of all of your work. Contact the university directly, as there may be an alternative entry test it can arrange for you. You can take A-levels through the National Extension College, which offers a home-learning option. Some universities may require you to sit a foundation year. Entry requirements for students from Nigeria - The University of Sheffield By the time he was 22, Grist was ready to leave the army and to think about education again. Can someone go to university without any A Levels or alternative academic qualifications? Given that St Andrews courses are known to be very academic in nature, academic tutors tend to look out for potential students who have genuine academic interest through the books that they read.
