Tracey Griffin - July 2008

My name is Tracey and I am married with two children, 14 and 4. I decided to do an Access course but could not find one near me at my local colleges that suited me. The hours were unsociable and did not work out beneficial to me with my husbands job or around the children. After doing some research I found the DLC!! To my relief it is QAA approved and just what I was looking for and could not believe my luck. I made an enquiry and within about 3 days was up and running and on my first module. I did the Access to Midwifery course. I have always wanted to do midwifery and without the DLC I believe it would have been virtually impossible for me to realise my dream. I could not comit to 3 evenings a week at a local college, but with the DLC I could study whenever I chose to.

I applied to 3 universities and when I mentioned the Access course I was doing at interview they all seemed impressed particularly with the modules I was doing. Having now passed my Access course modules and the exam I am now due to start at Edge Hill University at Ormskirk in September 2008. Since joining the DLC and also the forum I have found the support from the tutors exceeding my expectations. I thought I would have difficulty reaching them but they were always at the end of the phone or email when I needed support. I have also made some good friends on the forum and we support each other.

Prior to joining the DLC my confidence was starting to diminish due to personal circumstances and I had the courage to just go for it and now my confidence has rocketed, knowing I can now cope with a 3 year degree in my chosen career of midwifery. This has certainly given me the confidence I never knew I had to better myself and for my family too. If anyone has considered doing an Access course the DLC is the way forward, without this access course I would have been completely lost. Thanks to my tutor for all your support.

Tolu Solaru - July 2008

It has always been my dream to study midwifery and in order to achieve this it was necessary to gain the appropriate qualifications for entry to higher education.

Working full time and being a mother of one meant that it was impossible to study through the traditional mode of learning and I had almost given up on studying until a midwifery forum directed me to the DLC.

My studies with the DLC started in September 2007 and were finally completed in July 2008. I found studying with the DLC interesting, informative, exciting and sometimes challenging. The weekly calls from my tutor and the course materials were of immeasurable help and the modules studied have improved both my academic and personal skills. There were days I just wanted to throw in the towel and walk away but the support of my family and DLC tutor coupled with the desire to succeed kept me going.

I have finally achieved the required credits needed and I cannot wait to start the midwifery course with the University of Leeds in September 2008.

Thanks to my course tutor and the other DLC staff, I could not have made it without you guys.

Keeley Abbs - July 2008

I started studying the Access to Midwifery with the DLC back in 2007 but after completing only two modules I gave up, I’m still not sure why, I just wasn’t motivated enough. In September 2007 I started at a local college to do the Access course, thinking it would keep me motivated. After two months on that course I found it slow going and had not done any work at all, I also lost confidence as I was told not to apply for Midwifery because I wouldn’t get in, so I gave that up.

I decided to start back with the DLC in January 2008, and this time I was determined to succeed. I had already applied to Universities for Midwifery and had interviews. After my first interview I got accepted on the Midwifery degree!

I believe getting that offer of a place and receiving help and support from my tutor kept me motivated enough to complete the Access course with the DLC! I’m now preparing to start University in September and I can’t wait! I have waited a long time for this. I feel proud that I managed to pass the Access course as well as looking after my six young children!

Thanka to my tutor for all your help and support, you have been great!

Asana Ramart - July 2008

I left school 18 years ago. It was my dream to become a nurse but I didn’t know how.

Having a family under my care makes it hard for one to take care of the family and study at the same time. It feels is impossible to achieve what you want. It was like a dream come true when I found DLC.

Thanks to DLC I have now achieved my goal. I’ve been offered a place at London Southbank University for adult nursing and I have gained my confidence back. I am so happy. Thank you DLC and a big thanks to my tutor.

Karolyn Mooney - July 2008

Distance Learning Centre is a fantastic way of getting the qualifications and skills needed for higher education, with great support from the tutors.

My confidence grew so much with each assignment done, if I can do it anyone can! I never thought I would finish as quickly as I did, with four children and a part time job, but I was able to fit it in.

I am now starting a diploma in adult nursing and it's thanks to the Distance Learning Centre.

Claire Hill - March 2008

I decided to take the access to Midwifery course long distance learning because due to work commitments I couldn't go to college. The course allowed me to work in my own time and with a young son and a full time job that is what I needed! All of the Universities accepted the access course and so i thought this was the best path to take.

I found the course really informative and enjoyable, the tutors were great and always on hand if I needed some help. At first I found it quite difficult to write the essays with correct referencing but my tutor sent me examples and that really helped. After that I found the course fairly easy and finished it within 6 months, which I thought was good going seeing as the course was advertised as a year full time at the local colleges.

Thank you so much DLC!

John Dunlop (Psychology Degree Queens College, Belfast)

Thanks to the DLC and my tutor, I have now been offered a place at Queen's university to study a Psychology degree. This has been a life long dream of mine. I knew that I would need a lot of support and encouragement in order to achieve my goal. Well, I certainly got that from DLC.

My tutor gave me a lot of support and help when I really needed it and I learnt a great deal in the process. Studying with the DLC has really been a life changing event for me. I could contact my tutor by phone or email anytime I needed to. The support was very important to me as I came very close to quitting a few times.

The course is well laid out and easy to follow and the support is top notch. Not only do I have the knowledge to go to university now but also the confidence, which is priceless. Apart from the support given, being able to do it by distance learning was critical at the time. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to go class working as I do as a Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist because my timetable is never the same.

Thank you DLC and a big thanks to my tutor, who was a huge source of help, support and encouragement.

Sally 34 (Student Midwife at University of Greenwich)

Hello! In February 2005 I made a life changing decision to study ‘Access to Midwifery’ with the Distance Learning Centre. I know it’s a cliché, but if I can succeed you can too!

Having spent fifteen years as a 'stay at home mum' I was determined to return to adult education and pursue my dream of training to be a midwife. Many moons had passed since I left school in 1989 with average grades, so I considered which route my journey would take in order to gain the necessary entry requirements. I was delighted to discover that this was possible via distance learning!

Working from the comfort of your own home has many advantages and for someone like me who has a large family of six children this mode of study proved convenient and achievable! I chose to study over a period of two years to coincide with my youngest starting full time education, during which time I was able to secure a voluntary position at the local hospital to aid my application.

The Distance Learning Centre provides students with a personal tutor for the duration of the course. I cannot praise my tutor enough for her support, encouragement and belief in me!

Nic Philp (Midwifery Degree)

' I decided to do an access course via distance learning so I was able to work at my own pace, and to gradually ease myself back into learning. I found the way to successfully completing the Access to Midwifery course, was self motivation, hard work and commitment-which I feel has prepared me well for university.

The tutors are very helpful, and there is always help, either by email or phone when needed. ....and the extra bonus is, I was offered a university place on a renownedly difficult entry course-first time! My confidence has also increased, and the self belief that I can actually learn again after ten years out of study!'

Thank you again, for all your help over my time with you. I can't wait to start uni next month, though a little apprehensive at times! The DLC is a fab idea, and I have recommended you to many people, so hopefully I have thrown some work your way! Thanks xxxxx, you are very much appreciated x

Naznin Qureshi (Student Nurse)

When I first started the access course, I never believed that I would be able to get through it. I really struggled in the beginning, really found it hard, and at one point I wanted to drop out, but my tutor kept telling me that I can do it and then once I finished the first module and my tutor phoned to tell that it was OK, that I had covered everything I could not believe it, after that my self confidence went sky high and as I got into the course, I was able to write essays, do research, even maths and plan my work, one by one I was finishing the modules.

I could not believe it I could do things that I never believed I could, this made me feel like I was one step closer to university. Now 11 later I am able to do anything put in my way. I am not scared or worried about University I know I can cope with the essays and any other work I will be asked to do. I have worked really hard to make my dream come true, but I could not do it without my tutor who has given me a lot of help and encouragement, she is brilliant very supportive. Thank you xxxxx.

Debi Gilchrist (just after starting her Nursing Degree)

Myself and another girl in my group are the only two that have used an Access course. However, I must say in comparison, the course I took appears to be more detailed with much more that ties in with nursing. I have just completed my first assignment and it has been placed in the box of no return!!!

The access has really helped in this area. I am just so glad that I did it. I can use all my coursework to help with all sorts of topics, theories etc that are being used in discussions. I feel confident that I have some prior knowledge of all these areas including biology and ethics, especially the psychology based subjects, I am really into those. I also pass on certain tips that I may have discussed with you and also feedback from my work.

One girl called me the 'oracle' and they all think that I am the organized one!! Which I found amusing as I never thought of myself as anything like that, showing that the course has boosted my confidence.