2025-2026

Very happy to have been given a 2nd chance at a new career. - Nigel Steele

Growing up in a single-parent family, with a very working-class background, I had no professional role models around me; those kinds of careers seemed very ‘out of sight, out of mind’ during my original school studies. I had very little idea of having any kind of career back then, and my unspectacular GCSE/A-Level results reflected that. However, in the years thereafter, I developed an interest in science and technology, as well as gradual exposure to the role of a Healthcare professional when my mother became a Mental Health Nurse following a mature study course of her own – which inspired me to follow a similar route.

Eventually I started researching options for further study, and noticed

DistanceLearningCentre.com being recommended quite a bit on online forums. One thing led to another, and I started my Access to Radiography diploma through DistanceLearningCentre.com in late 2025, back then I had no realistic intention of meeting the June 2026 moderation deadline, especially while working in a full-time job, but my first tutor quietly encouraged me; she said “you really do get out of the course what you put in”, so I took her words to heart and really got stuck in.

Having been out of education for so long (I started my diploma at 48), some assignments could be initially very daunting, but my tutors encouraged me every step of the way. DistanceLearningCentre.com tutors have lots of experience with students having similar struggles, and they can help you break your challenges into smaller pieces to make them more manageable. They’ll help you build confidence, and pretty soon you’ll be surprising yourself!

I found the provided course materials very clear and easy to follow; all the info is provided to complete your assignments, but further discerning research will certainly help to achieve those distinctions. Learning is so much easier now than when I was at school! My advice for your assignments is to be thorough and make full use of the advice provided for each question; paste it at the top of your document while drafting, and you’ll keep it in mind.

It’s now August 2026, and I will start my University course in Radiotherapy & Oncology in the coming weeks; it all seems a bit surreal but I am happy, excited, and very determined. Completing this diploma was definitely the right decision!

I gained 5/5 offers whilst also achieving 45 Distinctions in my course! - Annika Solanki

Completing an Access to Higher Education Diploma in Social Sciences gave me a pathway to University at a time when it did not feel possible. Having struggles with my health led to me not being able to complete my A-Levels, and at that time it felt as though there was no pathway to University for me. Although, after completing an Access Diploma, I have secured a place to study Anthropology at UCL, something which I could have only dreamt of a year ago. 

My tutor was always willing to help and provide guidance whenever necessary, especially during the UCAS period, and the feedback they gave was always useful. I found the course to be extremely interesting as I was studying Criminology and Psychology, both subjects I had never done before or considered doing. Obviously, my confidence was knocked after not being able to finish school, but through completing the modules with DistanceLearningCentre.com, I slowly regained my academic confidence and eventually was able to apply to university via UCAS with the help of my tutor, where I gained 5/5 offers whilst also achieving 45 Distinctions in my course! 

Having now completed the course, I would definitely recommend Access and DistanceLearningCentre.com to anyone looking for an alternative pathway to university, as it definitely benefitted me greatly

The content was thought-provoking, informative and challenging, yet dare I say it… fun - Breanna Hibbert

I doodled on my GCSE exam papers as I was petrified of failing. I was convinced that it was better to fail because I didn’t try than to try my hardest and fail. Because if I tried my hardest and failed, surely that meant I wasn’t good enough, would never be good enough, and would be a failure forever. Anyways, my GCSE grades were awful, which isn’t surprising. Maybe it would’ve been different if I was a budding Van Gogh?

I moved back to my hometown when I was 18 and knew I had to leave ASAP. I have been estranged from my parents from a young age, and being in my hometown was not the best start to adulthood. I knew I wanted better for myself. I knew I wanted to study law. 

Consequently, I applied to DistanceLearningCentre.com. But that crushing fear of failure was still very much present. So, my grand plan was to pick an Access course that was somewhat easy, go to university for three years doing another course that was somewhat easy, and then do my Graduate Diploma in Law to convert my somewhat easy degree into an LLB. That would mean I only needed to study law for one year. I couldn’t study law for three years at university or do an Access to Higher Education Diploma in Law & Legal Professions, as I might fail! Anyways, the grand plan was going well until the somewhat easy Access course was extremely hard to complete. So, I took many very long study breaks.

I am unsure what happened, but as the Christmas break was coming to an end and a new year was approaching, I sent an email to Student Services asking to change my course to Law & Legal Professions. I think I just became really brave after Santa’s visit. Maybe it was the Christmas spirit. I was finally excited to learn again. I now know that I have to be obsessed and totally in love with a subject to be able to study it. 

DistanceLearningCentre.com didn’t know about my grand plan. They didn’t know I always wanted to study law, yet they supported me through all the very long breaks, the changes in courses and the changes in course dates. They did know I have dyslexia and a late diagnosis of ADHD, and they never made me feel like these were issues that would hold me back.

I debated doing A-levels, but I am glad I didn’t, as my Access course in Law & Legal Professions has given me an invaluable foundation of knowledge in law that three different A-levels in varying subjects would not have given me. The course has a Socratic and interdisciplinary approach to law. The content was thought-provoking, informative and challenging, yet dare I say it… fun. Well, DistanceLearningCentre.com did it… They made tort law somewhat fun, which I believed was impossible.

My tutor was approachable, professional and incredibly supportive.  I have the utmost respect for them for bearing with my perfectionist tendencies. My tutor told me that perfect doesn’t exist, and I am starting to believe that. I am envious of those they will tutor next. I wish I could take them to university with me. They encouraged intellectual independence yet made room for my inquisitiveness. They never made me feel like I couldn’t do anything and always pushed me to be better. Their approach to tutoring has prepared me for my first year at university. Their feedback was encouraging and complex, and it is very obvious that they love their job.

I am going to university this year to study… Law. For three years. Something I never believed I would even try to do. 

My experience of studying with DistanceLearningCentre.com was amazing when I stopped being so scared of failing. So, if you are scared to start, then start. Experience the joys of learning about what you love, being tutored by amazing people and being so extremely proud of yourself when you are done

The flexibility of online learning and remote tutor support has made this achievement possible - Aaron Mulhern

The DistanceLearningCentre.com Access to Physiotherapy course has enabled me to take a major step towards my goal of becoming a physiotherapist. Crucially, at my stage in life and supporting a son who is presently struggling with mental health issues, the flexibility of online learning and remote tutor support has made this achievement possible. 

The course included study skills units which were a useful refresher after many years being out of academia. The rest of the course was divided between biology and psychology units. I knew that the biology units would focus on human biology and could see the obvious utility of this knowledge for my future career. The psychology units, on the other hand, were a pleasant surprise; I found the content engaging and pertinent. The course material and, in particular, the assignment guidelines are presented in such a way that you have clear guidance to complete the assignments with the scope to delve deeper and broaden your reading and understanding if a topic interests you. I found myself reading deeper into topics such as schizophrenia, which I had not expected to be engrossed in. 

Thanks to this diploma I look forward to taking the next step on my journey.

I would recommend it to anyone wanting to do further study - it will change your life!  - Tanya Andrews

I did the paramedic science course with DistanceLearningCentre.com as I have always been interested in the subject; it has turned out to be one of the best decisions I have ever made. I am so pleased to have gained distinctions in all units of the course, which I managed whilst being displaced and dealing with institutional housing failures in my personal circumstances. This proves that even with challenges and failures, nothing is impossible with hard work, perseverance and the amazing support and encouragement of your tutors.

Having been out of study for many years, the course was like a reset to the system via its initiation into the course with basic math and literacy, subsequently progressing into in-depth subjects such as chemistry, mental health and physiology. I have fun memories of days filled with reading with hot chocolates and sweets next to me, which didn’t feel like a chore but enjoyment, so different to how I felt obligated to study work I was not interested in at school!

Being dyslexic was supported amazingly by DistanceLearningCentre.com, especially in help with feedback on my work, comments on my grammar and ways that I could improve my work.

The framework, organisation and sources provided by the course was excellent. The flexibility of the course allowed me to also study at my own pace, which helped me to navigate my personal challenges. All the tutors I had, and my main tutor towards the end, were excellent. Their encouragement helped me grow as a person and also academically. 

The layouts and structure of the units were very conducive to deep learning, as the materials, tasks and then assessments followed an organic progression to solidify learning in stages to ensure all memory was stored, self reflection on each unit was also valuable. The materials and assessments, which were like a mental gym workout, many times actually felt good afterwards, like my brain was stretched and so worth it!

I found as I learnt and understood the materials and work, it helped my personal confidence and insight.

I am very grateful to DistanceLearningCentre.com for all they have done to help me given my challenges and I really did in the end manage to prove I could achieve high-level work with my own effort and DistanceLearningCentre.com support. I took the leap to do the course due to interest in the subject and units, and it has rewarded me infinitely in viewing the world at deeper angles. The course itself is so well put together, conducted by passionate tutors. I would recommend it to anyone wanting to do further study - it will change your life! 

Ultimately, the course actually changed me as a person and enabled me to understand other human beings and in understanding how interconnected we all are. Having now finished, the opportunities it has given me are infinite!