Entry requirements to University....

[mountainboo]

I am a mature student, currently half way through an Access to Higher Education Diploma, with a view to studying English at university. My first choice uni (University of London) have told me that they won't offer me a place until I gain an A Level in English, even though they are aware that I am doing the access course, which is nationally recognized as a qualification that is equivalent to A Levels. I am know wondering if I have been wasting a great deal of time and effort doing this course if my uni doesn't even consider this qualification as acceptable!

[buildersmate]

Unis can determine their specific entry requirements for either general entrance or for specific courses. For many years (and it may still even apply now) Oxbridge required a 'Use of English' exam as an entry requirement. If that is what University of London is saying for this specific course, then that is their entry requirement. However this should have been claer from the course prospectus - are you saying it wasn't?
What about another of the London-based universities (the ones that were formerly Polys) - there are several other possibilities nowadays.

[mountainboo]

Thanks buildersmate, I hadn't considered the former polys, do you know of any in particular, that offer distance learning degrees? The only other option I have is the Open University, however I'm not sure how good their reputation is. Equally, I fear that the course I am currently doing will be worthless because there are no formal entry requirements with the OU and the point of this course is that is an alternative to A Levels.

[buildersmate]

The University of London is actually a collection of colleges that are 'lumped' together for degree awarding. In the 'old' days (1970s) it was LSE, Imperial, UCL and Kings, together a with a number of specialist and prestigous smaller colleges in their own fields (like Goldsmiths for Fine Arts, for example). More have since joined and a few have left - Imperial, for example, that now awards its own degrees.
Polys, on the other hand, became Unis. Some have done a pretty good job in specialist fields; others have remaining fairly abysmal. I'm not going to mention specifics because it is personal opinions but they aren't hard to spot in places like the Sunday Times reviews of good unis.
I assumed you wanted London because of location but the OU, over more than 30 years, has gained a good reputation generally, especially for those with less-conventional career paths. As afomer recruiter I'd much more value a graduate from OU than say Thames Valley Uni. Oops!

[mountainboo]

I really appreciate that buildersmate, thank you. I originally chose UoL because my Brother-in-law has recently finished his law degree there and had positive things to say about UoL. I was under the impression that individually, it was quite a prestigious uni, particularly as my course is run by Goldsmith's. After a bit of research however, I have discovered that for approximately £3000 all you get is a study guide and a reading list and exams are at the end of the year. There is absolutely no tutor input or guidance. Now, I realize degree's from a brick uni cost maybe 4 times that for the benefit of having lectures and tutor guidance. But how can they justify £3000 for a couple of course books? I am swaying toward the OU now, which is just as well, after being rejected from UoL anyway. At least there, they will provide some help if it is needed. It is good to know that you and other employers regard the OU highly.

[mountainboo]

Buildersmate, I just wanted your opinion once more. As a former recruiter, if a prospective employee had Access to HE Diploma on their C.V would you know what that was? The reason I ask is because I am half way through mine and am beginning to feel that it is not as regarded anywhere near as highly as A Levels.

[saxy_jag]

Ooooh! That sort of thing really annoys me.

I got onto my course at a former poly on the strength of a couple of OU passes. I was also made an unconditional offer for an alternative course based on work experience alone.

At the time I applied, I also applied to our local 'red brick' uni. They called me in for an informal interview where they said, in so many words, "We don't think you'd be able to hack it, but we wanted to see you just to make sure. Of course, if you did one of *our* access courses, you'd be guaranteed a place.". They also later turned me down for a PGCE course on the basis that although I had the requisite GCSEs, I didn't have an A level in my subject (the OU courses didn't count, it seemed). Ergo, former access students wouldn't have a dinky's because if they had A levels, they wouldn't have needed the access course in the first place.

In the event, I did my history degree and got onto my PGCE course at the former poly, and I don't regret it for a moment. It was three of the best years of my life, spent with some of the most fantastic, down-to-earth and non-snotty people imaginable.

If I'm ever famous and the red brick uni offers me an honorary, I'm going to turn it down, but I'm going to wait until the ceremony to do it - very publicly!

[mountainboo]

It's great to read about your experience Saxy, thanks. As annoyed as I am about the fact that I have more than likely wasted my time on doing this access course, based on the fact that it is probably not worth the paper it's printed on (according to my preferred uni) I am facing a small dilemma. I can't afford to go to a 'red brick' uni. My options are limited to either OU or drop the access course, do a fast track A Level and get accepted into UoL. Even if I go to OU, there are no formal entry requirements so the access course seems again to be pointless.

[buildersmate]

It is 15 years since I did any serious amounts of recruiting so I don't think I'm the one of ask about being up to date. But, no, I had never heard of the Access to Higher Education qualification.
Recruiters do accept that there is more to an education path than GCSEs followed by AS/A levels following by Uni. People drop out along the way for financial or family circumstances and then go back to tertiary education later in their twenties or even later.
If the AtHE qualification is about getting one into teriary education and one then does the business there and comes out with a decent qualifications, surely that's what is important to a recruiter - it was to me.
Buenchico is good on these sort of topics - perhaps he will feel able to comment.

[saxy_jag]

I can certainly recommend OU. I've done a BSc and a Diploma in Music with them since 'proper' uni (yes, I'm a mug) and have thoroughly enjoyed myself. You can study at times to suit you and you can pay for your course in instalments if you can't afford it all at once. I've only done one English course with them, but it was very rigorous and other students who've done other English courses will attest to that. OU degrees are certainly held in equal esteem to those awarded by traditional universities - to an employer, having one means you're a self-starter and can stay committed.