Help!! Confusing entry requirements!!

I'm hoping someone can help me!

The universities I am hoping to apply to both require 200-240 tariff points and 45 level 3 credits through an Access course.

I'm 27 and have been out of education for nearly 10 years! So I will definately have to complete an Access course. However, once I have achieved it does it mean that will suffice or will I need 200-240 points in addition to this??? I'm not sure how many points my A-levels are worth as I haven't worked it out yet but what if they don't add up to 200-240???

Will I have to get another A-level to top them up if they don't total 200 or will the Access course be counted instead???

In my day you studied for A-levels for 2 years and then took the mother of all exams at the end of it!!! It is so complicated now, all the modules and AS levels etc!!

I hope someone can help me as I don't want to do an access course only to find I need more A-levels in additon to it!

Also, I think I will have to do a distance learning Access course as my local college one requires attendance 2 days a week which I just can't do. Any ideas on that??

Many thanks guys,

Kate

Hi

The access course gives you credits. It used to be up to 12 credits per subject and you had to build this up to 45 at level 3 to pass (if i remember right). Now however i think they have changed as the one i am starting has more subjects in it and you have to gain full credits to pass, which is 66 at level 3. The bes thing to do is to call the college you want to apply to and ask them how their credits work and if it ould be possible for you to achieve the credits needed on their course. Hope this helps.

Good luck too xx

I would ring the admissions office and ask them . Which Universities are you looking to apply to?

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Coffeebean xx


Student Midwife

I don't know about this for sure but maybe you won't need an Access course if your points are enough? Although you will probably need evidence of recent study, but you could do a small course, like something with the OU or a GCSE.
I found this on UCAS which tells you how many points you get, hope it helps-
http://www.ucas.com/students/ucas_tariff/tarifftables/
I got 2 A's and 1 C at A level which gives me 320 points... I think! It is a bit confusing! I think it used to be something like 2 points for an E, 4 for D, 6 for C, 8 for B and 10 for A which was a lot easier!!!
Hope that helps!
x x x

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Decided to postpone my application to 2010 for Beds and ARU x x x

Well I'm in Taunton, Somerset so it will be Plymouth as my first choice because the clinical placements will be closer and UWE in Bristol as my second choice.

I have just been accepted onto a Diploma in Higher Education to train as an Antenatal Teacher. The course is run by the Uni of Bedfordshire in conjunction with the NCT and will give me 240 tariff points but at level 2.

I phoned Plymouth and they said that would be sufficient over the phone but I wanted it in writing so I followed it up with an email and they said that an access course would be preferable.

Aarrrrggghh!!! I really want to do the Antenatal Education course because it looks very interesting and will be a fab start to my midwifery career but I don't want to waste the next 2 years doing that and then have to do an access course aswell. At the end of the day my goal is to be a midwife and I'll do whatever it takes to get there.

I just worry that if I phone them, someone will tell me something and I'll have nothing in writing to prove what they told me - if that makes sense?!

I've had a fab day otherwise as I've managed to get some voluntary work on a maternity unit in a local hospital and two other possible work experience placements to follow up on Monday. But in terms of applying for the degree, I just feel like my head is full of cotton wool!!!!

Right, rant over. Back to more internet research on access courses!!

This forum is fab.

Kate x

What A levels did you get? What grades?

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Hiya Kate,
I think that uni's want 5 years recent study so the A-levels you've done may not be relevant (i'm not 100%). Anyways this is how the ucas tariff points work for A-levels
A=120 points
B=100 points
C=80 points
D=60 points
E=40 points
So for example two A's (AA) = 220 points
Limz xx

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But if she has the relevant UCAS points from her a levels then she would only need evidence of recent study. It wouldn't have to be at level three to meet entry requirements as she'd already have them. She'd have to do something else but not at the same level as A levels

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thanks for that Noo ^

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Hmm, I don't have enough points it seems as they don't take General Studies into account. However I can do a part time access course at my local college and it's free apart from the exam fees so I'm going to do that.

I'm still going to do the Antenatal Teacher Training but I can take as long as I like to complete that so the Access will take priority.

So, just got to wait until Monday now to phone the college and see what I have to do to apply. Does anyone know if I am likely to get in for this September? Also, if I fall pregnant whilst doing the Access course (hubby and I are trying for number 2) what happens then??

Sorry for all the questions, it's just great to have people to ask who have actually been there and done it!

Thanks guys xx

P.S. If I get on the access course, can I change my status to say "Doing Access to Midwifery"???!! How exciting will that be??!! God, I'm so glad there are people on here who seem just as keen and desperate as me!!! No offence to anyone.... xx