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!
Fab5 Award Winner 2016 - Martin Harvey
I got to a point in my life where I'd been in the same industry for 25 years and began contemplating a career change. I'd been out of education for almost 30 years, but I had established that gaining a degree was going to open the door into my 'second career'. Gaining an access diploma was part of 'the plan' I formulated. I felt nervous about returning to learning and study after such a long break. The negative impact upon my limited time, and the muddled financing in accessing the qualifications I would require at 'bricks and mortar colleges' made me look at other well regarded providers and after some research I came across DistanceLearningCentre.com and signed up.
Over the past few months I started and completed my Access to Science (option 1) Diploma through DistanceLearningCentre.com. I shall not pretend to you that it's been easy; at 46 years of age there are so many reasons life gets in the way. I had a demanding full time job whilst studying, my wife is a full time student in the second year of her degree, our children are teenagers, both at different ends of the autistic spectrum. Juggling all of these factors whilst trying to schedule opportunities to study has challenged my time management skills to the extreme! I have gained so many academic and organisational skills from this management of time and priority; experience, which I know, will equip me for full time university study.
I would certainly recommend DistanceLearningCentre.com to others. The quality of the tutors (including their patience with me) and the supporting materials provided, have exceeded my initial expectations. Since overcoming my nervousness at the start I have succeeded in obtaining grades which greatly exceed those required to get onto my chosen degree.
Peer-to-peer interactions with other students using the official forums and Facebook group are encouraged and I consider that these interactions have greatly enhanced my learning experience ? there is almost always someone to chat with / ask for help / give help to - and I'm sure I've made some good friends along the way.
So if you're 'stuck in a rut' and thinking you'd missed out on the career you really wanted ? it's not too late ? you can do something about it ? you can get qualifications or head to university and improve your quality of life and career chances. Signing up to DistanceLearningCentre.com has been a great decision, my 'second career' is in sight as I am just weeks away from the beginning my first semester at university. It will be 28 years later than I ever expected, however I am so much more prepared for it now than I ever anticipated, thanks to my study with DistanceLearningCentre.com. (Jun 16)
Jan 2017 update: - Martin started a University course in 2016 however he has reported that the course had not met up to expectations and is looking at changing courses for 2018. "Even though you think you know what you wanted to do having selected and passed the access course, you may still find that the reality of what you thought you wanted to study is different. However, with the fact that the access course you passed will meet entry requirements for many other degrees - there are still options open to you to change. Although I am not happy with my course, the university experience per se is worth the effort, so do not give up on the dream - even if the dream is now different!"
Fab5 Award Winner 2016 - Maria Kirk
When I started studying Access to Midwifery with DistanceLearningCentre.com I was very nervous; I hadn't studied for several years and was very unsure of my ability to complete the course to a acceptable level.
During my time on the course I have had several different tutors and each one has been absolutely fantastic. They have all been very approachable, taken the time to explain things in detail and given support when needed; this has enabled me to finish the course with mostly Distinctions, which will stand me in very good stead for obtaining a university place to study my Midwifery Degree.
Thank you to each and every one of you, and I won't hesitate to recommend DistanceLearningCentre.com to people in the future. (Jun 16)
I was so nervous about studying again, but my tutor eased me into it - Kerry McCash
I have always wanted to be a nurse but have always been unable to stop working to attend full time study at a college. I came across the DistanceLearningCentre.com website and signed up straight away. I was so nervous about studying again, but my first tutor eased me into it and made me feel like I could do this.
The course has not been easy, I have a full time job and three children but I dedicated Sunday's to studying and 2 evenings a week. The tutors have been fantastic and always on hand to help me if I needed it.
I have completed the Access to health professions, and now I have a conditional offer at my chosen university. I am so happy I came across DistanceLearningCentre.com, it has opened a new chapter in my life and I am really looking forward to starting university in September. (Jun 16)
Recommended to me by the University involved and my employer - Imogen Baldock
At school it was always my intention to join the Ambulance Service and I achieved the then relevant qualifications but my career took a different turn. Last year I decided to revisit this dream and was offered an Emergency Support role on the front line. I wish to become a Paramedic in the future and hope do so via my employer, who will send me to university whilst I'm working for them.
In order to be eligible for this scheme, I need acceptable, recent qualifications. Since I am now 37 years old, my A-levels are "out of date" so DistanceLearningCentre.com was recommended to me by the University involved and my employer. I now have this qualification and hope to join the scheme next year, meaning I could be a Paramedic in just four years of changing career.
The course was brilliant for me because it's all remote learning and was very flexible, allowing me to go at my pace and fit it around full time employment and a busy life. Tutors are available for help and guidance and the forum is very helpful for questions you may need answering outside of office hours. The materials provided are easy to understand and interesting, with good links to further resources.
As long as you have the determination and discipline required this course is ideal for anyone looking to change career paths or progress further in your chosen field. I have no hesitation in recommending the DLC to anyone.
Don't think "I'm too old", or "too busy" or "I can't". There are plenty of people on this website who have achieved their dream and you could easily be one of them too. (Jun 16)
Fab5 Award Winner 2016 - Katie Dutton
My DistanceLearningCentre.com journey started with the in April/May 2014, I got off to a great start with everything, completing most of my psychology modules at distinction. I was working full-time as a HCA in a London Cancer Hospital, so I was constantly tied up with work, commuting and studying, but I knew distance learning would be the only way I could achieve my dream of being a urology specialist nurse.
In 2015 I was admitted into hospital 3 times with septicaemia and eventually they found a hole in my bladder (fistula) which was constantly poisoning my abdomen. I found this out in the August after many invasive tests, and I was struggling to get my coursework completed, I thought I'd never get through the course. My tutor explained study break to me, and I took this opportunity to rest and try to get well again. I spent the duration of the study break in hospital, and a large amount of time in ITU; my husband was called to the hospital at one stage because they thought I wouldn't make it through the night. Luckily I did, and in December last year I went to theatre and had my bladder completely removed.
Since my operation I've gone from strength to strength, and I now have an internal reconstructed bladder made from bowel tissue (neobladder) thanks to UCLH. In February I started working on my assignments again, my tutor was really supportive and would call to explain things I couldn't understand. I was determined to finish the course and somehow managed to achieve merits and distinctions on all graded assignments.
I will always be grateful to DistanceLearningCentre.com, and the tutors that stood by me and helped me through a very difficult year. Without them I wouldn't be off to university in September to start my nursing degree. There were times when I lost faith, I thought it was too much work and I thought I wasn't clever enough. To anybody that's starting with DistanceLearningCentre.com, my advice would be to keep the finish line in mind and when things get tough, hold on to the reason you're doing it- YOU will get there, no matter how many obstacles stand in your way! (Jun 16)
Jan 2017 update: ? Katie accepted an offer from De Montfort University in Leicester and will start her BSc in Adult Nursing in February.
