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Hall of Fame - reviews

You can achieve it all!

To demonstrate just how proud we all are of your success, we have created the Awards of Achievement, which are awarded annually to our ten most oustanding students.

The winners get back half the cost of their course fees!

Studying an Access Course to HE whilst serving in the British Army has been a challenging yet rewarding endeavour - Alan Richardson

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Alan Richardson has completed the Access to HE Diploma at an excellent level. He has been studying whilst serving in the Army. Alan has been in the British Army for 10 years as a Combat Medical Technician (CMT) in the Royal Army Medical Corps. He has been on multiple deployments to Afghanistan, Kenya and Canada. He has worked with many units including teeth arms units and is currently in an Instructor role training future Tri service (Navy, Army, RAF) CMT’s which is both a time consuming and mentally demanding job, but equally rewarding as he trains the next generation of Medics.

Studying an Access Course to HE whilst serving in his current job role involved overcoming adversity as, the life of an Army phase 2 and 3 instructor involves long working hours, frequent deployments to complete our mandatory clinical and educational/Instructional competencies. Alan wished to further his education to enable myself to transfer to a different job role (Radiographer). He had to balance his family life alongside both my military duties and academic challenges. This required great time management skills and the ability to prioritise tasks effectively, especially during the last two months of his course as he was working full time in the NHS assisting with the staff shortages while continuing his clinical portfolio and competencies. He found it challenging to complete the course in under 6 months but by being resilient and facing the challenges that arose during the course he completed his Access to HE course in time.

Pursuing an Access Course to HE while serving required academic excellence as the course is designed for individuals who don’t have traditional qualifications such as A-levels but wish to pursue higher education. Alan said that course was quite rigorous and demanding in places, requiring him to develop his critical thinking skills, research abilities and academic writing proficiency. He believes that by undertaking the course he has demonstrated academic excellence by consistently meeting high standards of academic performance throughout all of the units.

Studying an Access Course to HE whilst serving in the British Army has been a challenging yet rewarding endeavour for Alan, which improved his resilience, discipline and academic excellence. Thus, preparing him for his future university and new career course. By overcoming adversity and demonstrating academic excellence, he now has the ability to enhance his personal and professional development.

I want to thank DistanceLearningCentre.com for their support - Caroline Greaves

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Before I started the course, I was doing book keeping part time and running my own makeup business, but I wanted to pursue an ambition of mine to go to university to study to become a primary school teacher. I have completed an Access Diploma in Primary Education (with English) to enable me to enrol in university. I have received a conditional offer from Worcester University to do a BA (Hons) in Primary Initial Teacher Training with QTS, starting in September 2023.

I want to thank DistanceLearningCentre.com for their support. (June 2023)

DistanceLearningCentre.com not only restored my confidence in studying but also opened up numerous new opportunities… - River Beaumont

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High school taught me that further education wasn’t possible for someone like myself. I was hesitant about online learning due to past experience. Shortly before starting the course, I was diagnosed with severe dyslexia. I found it difficult to get my head around the course at first but when I spoke to my tutor, I felt a lot more at ease.

I have never learned in my own environment before; at first, I always did most of my assignments incorrectly, however when speaking to tutors it was great to be reassured and listened to. I would regularly make mistakes and would need to talk to my tutor again but in the end, I would always get to the finishing line. I can say it was a hard journey as I struggled with a lot of the work. Without the invaluable support from my tutors, it is safe to assume that I would not have succeeded. I have faced hard challenges in my time, for me learning has always been the most difficult.

DistanceLearningCentre.com not only restored my confidence in studying but also opened up numerous new opportunities that I thought were previously beyond my reach. (June 2023)

I learned so much that I will be able to apply to my course at university - Fadzai Tinarwo

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After the birth of my daughter in 2020, I finally took the decision to pursue my studies. This decision came after many years of self-doubt, anxiety and reluctance. I knew I had to take that important first step, the time felt right for me and I am so glad I went for it. Before enrolling with DistanceLearningCentre.com, I did my Functional Skills Maths & English Level 2 and completed in 2021. In November that year, my journey with DistanceLearningCentre.com began.

Working as a Mental health support worker for some years, prepared me for the career path I was about to embark on. Having worked alongside skilled professionals such as Social Workers, and seeing how they applied their skills and knowledge to their work and how much they impacted people’s lives really inspired me to pursue a career in Social Work. So, I enrolled myself on an Access to HE Diploma in Health and Social Care with DistanceLearningCentre.com.

The distance learning method was very convenient for me as I had a new born at home, and it was during the Covid-19 pandemic. Being a mature student, it was important that I did not feel under pressure, so this meant that I could study at my own pace and suitable time. I really enjoyed my course; the study materials were straightforward and easy to follow. The course content was very much relevant to what I will be studying at university. I learned so much that I will be able to apply to my course at university, such as essay writing, Harvard referencing, independent learning, meeting deadlines etc. My tutor was very efficient, supportive and helpful throughout. She supported me with my UCAS application and personal statement writing which I found quite daunting.

Halfway through my course, I experienced some personal challenges that affected my ability to focus fully on my studies and as a result, I failed to make moderation in June 2022. I felt really disappointed in myself and began to question my abilities going forward, I was on the verge of giving up on everything including my dream of becoming a Social Worker. I had lost all motivation and felt that I was never going to make it to university. Thankfully, I managed to pick myself up and carried on after taking a short break. I have to thank my tutor, for her patience and encouraging me during that difficult time. I also want to thank the student support team for their understanding and willingness to help find a way to resolve a matter I had brought to their attention. In spite of everything, I am happy to say I completed the course with more than enough UCAS points required for my Degree, I managed to achieve 42 Distinctions and 3 Merits! I am really proud of myself for having the mental strength to keep going and refusing to accept defeat.

I am excited for the future and looking forward to starting my Social Work Degree in September. All of this would have not been possible if it wasn’t for the great support, I got from DistanceLearningCentre.com, I am truly grateful and highly recommended. My life will never be the same, I am finally going to university! Thank you DistanceLearningCentre.com for everything. (June 2023)

Access Diplomas coupled with this establishment can open a plethora of opportunities for further education - Daniel Logan

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Following the completion of my GCSEs I sought to continue forwards and complete my A levels. Unfortunately, however, I was forced to withdraw from secondary education due to mental health related conditions. Since then, I have been on a long road to recovery, that has now concluded with DistanceLearningCentre.com.

After 5 years out of education, DistanceLearningCentre.com reinstated the confidence needed to pick up where I left off, finally achieving my level 3 qualifications with an Access to Higher Education Diploma.

In the beginning, I admit I personally was somewhat skeptical of how an Access Course would hold up against conventional A levels, but do not doubt - with the additional aid and support of my tutor, I was able to achieve distinctions in all my units. I did the Medicine Access Diploma and have since received an offer from Bristol University for Veterinary Science. As such do not considered yourself limited for options, Access Diplomas coupled with this establishment can open a plethora of opportunities for further education. (November 2022)

I was so proud of myself ... This is only the beginning - Jazmin Moran

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A couple of years ago I enrolled to do an Access to HE Diploma with DistanceLearningCentre.com as I wanted to study Paramedic Science. At first, I couldn’t really see it being possible. I’ve had so many setbacks in my life (sometimes my fault and sometimes not) I didn’t really believe I could do it.

I volunteered during Covid and then joined the Red Cross where someone, somehow believed in me enough to offer me bank work as an ambulance crew.

I always knew I wanted my daughter to have a different upbringing to the one I’d had and I was going to have to work really hard to ensure that.  Finding the money for the course was difficult, I was living on benefits and scraping by most of the time. A lot of the people around me mocked me for wanting to change my life.

Somehow though I managed to keep going and I had contact with an organisation that really celebrated each time I managed to pass a module! My tutors were both supportive and honest with me and gradually I began to believe it might be possible to gain the marks I needed for a Uni place.

I wanted to give up when we had to move address four times and sometimes live with other people which made studying almost impossible. As time went by I caught the studying habit and somehow it started to feel more natural and I truly wanted to do my best ‘Maybe I can really do this after all’.

When I’d exceeded the marks I needed for my conditional offer at Uni it was such a good feeling.  I was so proud of myself: no-one else did the work – just me. No-one else paid for the course – just me. No-one can take it away from me.

I’m so grateful that I carried on despite the many obstacles in my way. I learned so much in terms of self-discipline, how other people can help you learn, how to self-organise, how to study, and on and on and on – not to mention I learned an awful lot about biology, psychology, sociology, etc.

My little girl tells me I’m a Super Hero and I give her a cuddle as we go upstairs to bed for a story set in the future.

Once upon a time, there was a woman called Jazmin - she was amazing and although things didn't always go smoothly for her she hung on in there and kept going! I have reminded myself through crippling anxiety that this is only the beginning and not the end. (June 2023)

I've learned from DistanceLearningCentre.com how powerful it is to have faith in oneself and that everything is achievable. - Sumeera Qayyum

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Due to personal reasons, I was unable to finish my A Levels. In addition to having dyslexia, I find it extremely difficult to comprehend or write about numbers. I attended a school where students with special needs were punished for not being able to succeed and their needs were not even acknowledged. Even though I had been struggling for 21 years in secret, I received an official diagnosis of severe depression, anxiety, and cPTSD in 2022. I was first reluctant to talk about mental health concerns since they have long been seen as a weakness. However, I've learned to turn my weaknesses into strengths and now believe that everybody has the right to reach out for help. 

Despite my condition, as a child, I was constantly compared to others, felt sad and misunderstood, and lacked any self-esteem at all. I dropped out of school and went on to acquire a diploma in photography before beginning my career as a wedding photographer. After 12 years of working as a professional photographer, I reached my limit and needed help with my mental health. A fascination with the human brain's workings and the realization that everything in my life was a reflection of others and not myself commenced when I started attending therapy sessions. After 12 years of being away from school, I started digging deeper into the field of psychology and decided to change my career.

Even though I was really nervous when I found out about DistanceLearningCentre.com, I soon started to believe in myself. I received a call from the support team within an hour of disclosing my disability and mental health conditions, all they were concerned about was my well-being.

I had aimed to complete my diploma in 6 months and be ready for June moderation, yet shortly after the start of the diploma, there was a tragic death in my family of a loved one I was incredibly close to, leading my depression to return to an advanced state. I discussed it with my tutors and they were supportive. I finished the diploma approximately 4 months after submitting the mathematics unit. I was collapsing near the end of the course and had to face my fears of numbers again in the Psychological Practical unit. The statistics and numbers were daunting and caused anxiety attacks, but there was definitely no turning back and I achieved a distinction in my Practical unit. Due to my dyslexia, I had to use text-to-speech to go through the materials, which took longer, and I found myself in a race against time to finish the Diploma. When I initially downloaded the materials for the Psychological Practical, I assumed I'd achieve a Pass; however, the materials were incredibly useful and informative, and my tutor was always willing to assist me with prompt and detailed responses. For the very first time in my life, my tutors have taught me how to believe in myself and have been encouraging. I've achieved distinctions throughout, which was beyond my wildest dreams when I first started the diploma.

I've learned from DistanceLearningCentre.com how powerful it is to have faith in oneself and that everything is achievable. I've been accepted to university and will begin my path toward becoming a psychologist soon. My sole purpose in life right now is to support everyone experiencing difficulties similar to mine.

My story… has just begun (June 2023)

I loved the flexibility of the course and the fact that I could work at my own pace - Vaibhavi Mistry

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I was a mum of two teenage daughters, one of whom was suffering from postnatal anxiety and feeling extremely isolated. I had experienced being in the laboratory with the idea of becoming a scientist before, but there seemed to be too many hurdles in my way from the health perspective of things. My GCSEs were done in the early ’90s, and A-Level was missing in the subject of science, but I instead had business with no relation to science grades, so I was nowhere near what was required. I also have the experience needed in the laboratory but not the knowledge behind it to make any application stand out, so when the University suggested that I take the Access to Higher Education in Science course from DistanceLearningCentre.com, I was really thrown a lifeline. As this was online learning, I felt reassured that I would be able to continue studying no matter what was happening at work. As a laboratory support worker, I have the task of collaborating with WHO on a molecular Malaria programme, which goes out twice a year with a lot of background work, so dedication is paramount.

I took a leap of faith and began my access course in May 2021, aiming to have it completed within one year; unfortunately, I had become rather ill. Despite this my dedication to complete the access course was strong. I loved the flexibility of the course and the fact that I could work at my own pace after work and at weekends. In the past, I had really struggled in exam-style conditions, so the predominantly essay-based assessment style was perfect for me. I found the course content fascinating and relevant to my chosen field. This foundational knowledge really helped me during my university interviews.

I felt supported the entire way, from the very initial call that I had with my first tutor to the final email from my last. When I found myself having moments of self-doubt, my tutor was always there to remind me of my true ability.  Despite being online learning, I felt a great sense of community within the Facebook group for students. I have been really impressed by DistanceLearningCentre.com’s commitment to providing the best student experience possible, and it was great to be a part of that process.

With the support of my tutors and other students, I completed the course in 2 years due to health reasons, and continued with health battles, as I came to completion, I could see the “light at the end of the tunnel” and achieved more than the grades I needed to apply for university. I am due to begin my Allied Biomedical Science degree in September 2023 at the University of Westminster. Huge thanks to DistanceLearningCentre.com for their continuous support. (June 2023)

I gained more confidence ... and I achieved the highest marks possible - Addy Ndhlovu

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I had finished my A levels 20 years earlier and was approaching 40 years old. Through a lot of research from universities and online, I found doing an Access to HE Diploma in Allied Health Professions was going to be my best way to go into university to study physiotherapy.

From recommendations I made enquiries with DistanceLearningCentre.com and from the word go, I was impressed with the way they explained how everything would be structured for me to complete the course and also with the highest grades possible.

True to their word, I started the course and everything went flawlessly. The tutors helped me navigate every part of the course that I had problems with. The course had very relevant study materials and the course was set in a way that I could continue to go to work full time and have time to do the coursework. This prompted me to gain more confidence as I went along the course and I am glad to say I achieved the highest marks possible.

My sincere gratitude goes to my tutors who guided me and the Facebook community whose valuable information and encouragement propelled me further than I thought I would go. Having left High School 2 decades ago I never gave up on going to university and if can do it, with guidance from DistanceLearningCentre.com and a bit of motivation, anyone certainly can. (November 2022)

From the first moment, my tutor provided me with outstanding support and reassured me that I can finish my Diploma and she would be with me in every step of the way - Jogita Vilsone

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I always had a dream of studying in university, but I was seriously lacking confidence, since I’ve been out of education for 7 years, and didn’t know where to begin. I was looking through access courses, since my time of studying was very limited due to personal responsibilities such as work, parenting and developing my own business. Covid also affected a lot, because studying in classroom was not an option and online studying meant a lot less in person support from tutors. To make things even more confusing English is not my first language and I did not know if I was able to produce good enough quality assignments.

But, from the first moment, my tutor provided me with outstanding support and reassured me that I can finish my Diploma and she would be with me in every step of the way. Her detailed explanations and feedback gave me the confidence to keep going and my work got so much better! She was always one email away, with quick replies and tutorials every time I had questions, or something wasn’t clear enough. I’m so grateful for all the support I received including video tutorials and supporting materials about every topic which made studying so much easier.

DistanceLearningCentre.com also provided me with tools to help navigate and apply through UCAS which resulted in a successful university application. Thank you to my tutor and DistanceLearningCentre.com for a detailed reference and the endless support that I received throughout my Diploma!

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