Alumni

you can have more than what you have, because you can become more than what you are. - Corey Smith

Now 

I progressed onto study adult nursing at the University of Central Lancashire. However, after a year decided I wanted to instead go for the Physician Associate undergraduate which my lecturer encouraged me to do too, as he believed I had the ability to be more than just be a nurse. However, I was short on 6 credits in Chemistry, so I decided to go back with DistanceLearningCentre.com to study Access to Medicine as I was so impressed with my previous course which hasn't just given me the qualifications I needed to get into university the first time round, but also gave me the skills to complete assignments and exams.

My struggle at university was putting it on such a high pedestal, yes, it is difficult, but I felt like the assignments I did with DistanceLearningCentre.com were very similar to the type of assignments I did at university which really prepared me for university and I was given plenty of time to complete assignments unlike at the DistanceLearningCentre.com where I gave myself weeks not months to complete an assignment. I felt like the DistanceLearningCentre.com did not only teach me the knowledge in the subject area I was studying, but they taught me how to write, structure, and reference an essay which is essential for university, and they taught me how to revise, which I feel like is the most important underrated thing to do, not just revising the subject area but knowing how to revise a subject. 

However, most of all they gave me the confidence in my abilities to go for challenges and take risks, as throughout my childhood I was behind on everything, I couldn't speak until I was 6, my primary school wanted to put me in a school for kids with learning difficulties and I left high school without a single GCSE to my name. I had no confidence in myself to achieve anything, and thought I was dumb. It was only because of years of being at a job where I was 'used and abused' to put it politely, and saw other people around my age or younger progressing soo much more than I was, that finally pushed me to even begin my journey with DistanceLearningCentre.com, but I never thought for a second then that I would achieve everything that I have now and hopefully still will achieve in the future, I felt I'd be lucky if I even passed anything.

After completing my course with the DistanceLearningCentre.com, throughout my first year of nursing at university I achieved first-class grades on all my assignments and exams, having the best grades in my class and having fellow students wanting me to proofread their assignments and asking me for help. But what uni made me realise is that I didn't want to be a nurse I wanted to be more, I just settled for nursing because I never believed I'd be able to even do that and when I further gained more confidence in my abilities and a passion for healthcare and learning, I realised one important thing which I feel like everyone is told as kids but never fully listens too, you can achieve anything, you're not born smart, you can achieve anything as long as you're willing to put work in and not give up because if you don't atleast try to go for what you want, or your dream then there will be a 100% possibility that you'll never achieve your dream, but if you at least try, then there is a chance, and I feel like that was the biggest lesson I have learned from DistanceLearningCentre.com, that you can have more than what you have, because you can become more than what you are.

Nearly three years since completing my DistanceLearningCentre.com course, I have progressed in my career and am now working part-time at a pharmacy in Carnforth where I have gained additional qualifications, providing flu plus COVID vaccinations, and working as an auditory examiner at the pharmacy performing otoscopy and earwax micro-suction to patients. I am also working the rest of the time self-employed working at many pharmacies. However at the beginning of February, I am opening up my own shop (Phoenix Inkers,  tattoos and laser aesthetics, in Warrington) where I'll be providing laser aesthetics (laser hair removal, tattoo laser removal, laser carbon facials, and ultrasound liposuction/lipo-laser) which I am able to do through completing level 4 laser technician course, and my partner does tattooing. In addition to all that, I am a couple assignments of finishing my Access to Medicine course with DistanceLearningCentre.com and I have just done my application to uni for the physician associate Master's degree which am hoping to get onto, and if my business does well, be a silent business partner or working part time there while studying to become a physician associate which is my dream to become. (January 2025)

Then 

Before I started this course, I had no self-confidence at all in my abilities to even pass the course let alone get into university, as I left school without a single GCSE to my name. I had been a pharmacy dispenser for nearly 5 years in a career I grew to dislike a lot and where progression wasn’t possible for me. Moreover, I got tired of endlessly drifting through life procrastinating and feeling like I wasn’t good or smart enough to ever succeed at anything, as well as looking after my kids as a young dad which further added to my doubts that I wouldn’t be able to achieve my goals. I evaluated my current situation and decided to take my own progression into my own hands, concluding that if I didn’t take the steps towards my goal of being a Nurse, I’d live in regret for the rest of my life for not even attempting, and remain at a job where I had no joy in what I was doing, along with no opportunities of progression. There was nothing scarier in this world than that to me.

DistanceLearningCentre.com had everything I needed to achieve this goal, an access course to Nursing equivalent to 3 A levels, plus Maths and English. Additionally, what I didn’t realise is that it wasn’t just the qualifications I’d be gaining from DistanceLearningCentre.com. I developed the essential skills not just for the course but for university from the very start of the course as I learned how to use punctuation, grammar, and how to structure paragraphs effectively to be able to write essays and reports. Additionally, the developmental units aided me to write an amazing personal statement.

Now that I have fully completed this course with my tutor completing a beautiful reference for me (for university) and achieving distinctions in all my graded units, passing both English and maths, along with gaining a place at university for adult nursing, I have developed into a completely different person that I can honestly say that I am proud of. Furthermore, I have now got the confidence in myself to achieve my goals and find my head in books most of the time fascinated with biology and psychology wanting to learn more as well as just reading in general. I learned a great deal of information regarding mental health in the psychology units and it facilitated me to better understand my mum’s mental health condition (schizophrenia). Lastly, In the last year of working independently with no one to rely on but myself to research, study, and revise, I have become a stronger person learning how to overcome obstacles and developing the necessary skills to achieve my goals.

Overall, this course as well as the support and the aid I received off my tutors is the reason I was able to succeed and become the person I am today. (June 2022)

Believe in yourself and do it, because the feeling you get when you are almost done is second to none - Toni Bridle

Now 

After completing my Access to HE Diploma I did indeed go on to attend university and I am currently in my final year of adult nursing at Sunderland University, due to qualify in September. It has come around so quickly but I have thoroughly enjoyed every moment and would say to those thinking about going into further education, to do it! Believe in yourself and do it, because the feeling you get when you are almost done is second to none. Upon reflection, I would never have thought I could achieve the things I have over the past three years, or dealt with some of the situations I have, but they have all made me the nurse I almost am and I cannot wait to cross the finish and finally be able to put on that nurses uniform and say I have done it! 

I had always wanted to go to university but could never find a course that would allow me to continue to work whilst also complete the access course due to work commitments; however, the DistanceLearningCentre.com Access to HE Diploma was perfect for me, allowing me to study within my own time and at a pace that worked for me. I feel it helped prepare me for my degree and how to prioritise my time and management of this effectively. 

Some of the biggest challenges I have faced within my degree studies would be in relation to referencing, I would say due to the gap in education and not having the knowledge behind this in comparison to those who attended an access course face to face. (January 2025)

Then 

For the past year I have completed multiple courses trying to gain UCAS points to allow me to fulfil my dream of becoming an adult nurse and progressing within my career pathway, however along the way I faced many bumps in the road and the courses I had completed provided me with credits rather that UCAS points. I struggled to find a course that provided me with these points that also worked around the hours I was available, and because of this I had lost all hope of getting into university until I stumbled across DistanceLearningCentre.com online.

From that moment my hopes were restored. The course seemed almost too good to be true, an online course that can be completed in my own time? What is the catch I kept asking myself! I did some research and couldn’t find anything but positive feedback.

From then on, I applied and DistanceLearningCentre.com finally enabled me to get onto the right pathway and opened up so many opportunities!

To start with I was nervous as I wouldn’t say I am the most academic person but that was short lived after I met my first tutor who was amazing. The information provided and the professional approach made learning easy! I was actually enjoying learning! All the tutors were amazing and I couldn’t have asked for better to push me in the right direction not only to just achieve a pass but they knew my capabilities better than I did and made me excel to achieve higher grades and never allowed me to give up even when my emotions got the better of me.

The course in general has helped me develop not only my skills and knowledge but also gain confidence in my own abilities as I never thought I would be able to complete this course whilst working within the NHS through the global pandemic, facing new challenges every day and being pushed beyond my limits, let alone be able to complete this diploma in as little as 6 months without the support, encouragement and guidance provided from all the tutors within DistanceLearningCentre.com. I am incredibly grateful that they kept me motivated and determined to succeed without letting me give up!

I would highly recommend this course to anyone wanting to do achieve an access course from home, the structure and way it was managed has been second to none and I only wish they could be part of my upcoming journey! If it wasn’t for DistanceLearningCentre.com I wouldn’t have gotten into university and be about to embark on my newest adventure in the adult nursing world! (June 2022)

I am due to graduate in the summer 2025, i still can’t believe I have made it this far - Karen Tegg

Now

I am at Glasgow Caledonian University studying Paramedic Science. 

The biggest challenge for me, is juggling all the coursework on top of working. We are independent learners so sometimes you don’t feel like you know what to study; however, I would encourage others to just stay on top on the class work, don’t allow it to build up and most importantly ensure you make time for yourself. 

My studies with DistanceLearningCentre.com helped me to get back into the swing of studying and researching. It made me be organised and gave me the chance to prepare for university. 

I am now in 3rd year, my final year. I am due to graduate in the summer 2025. I still can’t believe I have made it this far, I’m so proud of myself and if I can do it, anyone can follow their dreams too. (January 2025)

Then

I began my access to higher education diploma in August 2021 with the hopes of studying Paramedic Science at university. I have been out of education for 5 years after previously studying health care and child nursing and although I loved it, my dream was to always become a paramedic. 

After several attempts at applying to university for the paramedic science degree and having no luck, I took the knock backs in my stride and decided to look for an Access course that I could do in my own time, but would also be beneficial to my future university application, not to mention, get me back into the way of academically thinking. That’s when I found DistanceLearningCentre.com. 

I have never studied solely online before, I learn better in a classroom environment however due to the current climate with covid, this wasn’t an option. I have been pleasantly surprised at how well I have navigated through my studying alongside my work and social life. At first, it is a lot to take in, however the support I received from tutors and also the DistanceLearningCentre.com Facebook group was incredible and I never felt alone. 

My tutors were excellent at replying quickly to my emails, and reassuring me when I had any doubts. I can’t thank them enough for supporting me. The course materials were informative and I found them interesting to learn from.

I am so happy and pleased to say I received a conditional offer at Glasgow Caledonian University to study Paramedic Science! All the stress, worry and late nights were 100% worth it. Thank you again to everyone at DistanceLearningCentre.com I would recommend it to anyone! (June 2022) 

The course helped me understand the basics of social work, and the topics I was assessed on prepared me for this - Charlotte Middis

Now 

I progressed to the University of Sunderland to do a full-time BA(Hons) Social Work.

My biggest challenge has been the financial aspect of studying at university due to unpaid placements. We do get bursaries but it is difficult for to me manage financially when I can only work zero-hour contract jobs, which have to be worked around an already full-time placement, and student loans and bursaries only go so far when you live independently. In terms of studying itself I have found the academic side of university manageable, however, there are a lot of deadlines so being organised is important. Seeking support from tutors at DistanceLearningCentre.com and in other educational settings including University when needed would be my advice as I have always found them to be supportive.
I feel my studies with DistanceLearningCentre.com prepared me very well as I had been out of education for over 10 years. I had done various apprenticeships, however, I had not studied or needed to write essays. The course helped me understand the basics of social work, and the topics I was assessed on prepared me for this, as well as helping me to develop my written skills and writing essays which prepared me for assignments in Uni.

I am in my final year of University now and currently on my final placement. I am on track to graduate in July. I am unsure what classification I will receive yet, but I achieved many grades at a 1st, and some at 2:1. I believe I would be on track for a first, however, at lowest, a 2:1. (January 2025)

Then 

Having worked in Social Services in administrative roles for several years, I decided I wanted to take the step to study to become a Social Worker, however, I did not have the grades required or UCAS points needed to be able to apply straight to university. Being a mature student, I was unsure on my options in terms of what I could do to meet the requirements whilst working this around a full-time job.

I had heard of Access to Higher Education courses through friends and colleagues but when looking at options to study these courses at my local colleges, they all required attendance at the college for a minimum of 2 days per week, which was not suitable for me due to full-time employment. I was unable to reduce to part-time due to also living independently and needing my full-time wage to support myself.  I then began searching for distance learning courses and this is when I came across DistanceLearningCentre.com.

My tutor was available to support with queries I had, responded to queries quickly, and my assessments were marked in good time as well. Feedback was always constructive which I found beneficial in terms of helping me to improve and develop in future assignments. Course materials and assessment guidance are very well structured which made learning independently and in my own time much easier to do.

As a student who also suffers with mental health problems including depression, anxiety, panic disorder, and PTSD, I was extremely apprehensive about studying and had concerns regarding whether I would be able to complete this course. Despite always being highly academic, I was concerned that my mental health would affect my performance. My tutor was extremely supportive and understanding with this and appropriate support and guidance was offered when this needed, which enabled me to continue studying and successfully complete my course.

I was supported with my UCAS application, my tutor checked my UCAS personal statement and offered feedback on this, and also provided me with an educational reference. I was successful in interviews for both of my chosen universities and received conditional offers at both. Thanks to DistanceLearningCentre.com and my tutor, I have successfully completed my course in the timeframe that I set for myself, have achieved distinctions in every assignment, and met the requirements for university. I am due to start University to complete my BSC Honours Social Work degree in September 2022 and can now work towards my dream of being a Social Worker. This course has also given me the confidence to start university knowing that I can study independently and have been supported to develop my skills in essay-writing, Harvard referencing, and academic studying. (June 2022)

I am a fully operational front-line Paramedic - Jonathan Fallon

Now 

I attended Liverpool John Moore's university and studied Paramedic Science. I qualified in June of this year and attained my professional registration in June also.

My biggest challenge would be the uni work-life balance. With my course I was required to study full-time, complete assignments as well as attend various clinical placements on both an emergency ambulance, and hospital wards. My biggest piece of advice is effective time management through discipline. Knowing how to "triage" if you will, what jobs and assignments require attention before others is a great way to tackle the workload.

My studies with DistanceLearningCentre.com prepared me greatly, especially as a mature student. I had a real appreciation for independent workload prior to commencing a level 6 degree. DistanceLearningCentre.com equipped me with essential skills such as how to study effectively, as well as Harvard referencing.

Currently, I am a fully operational front-line Paramedic for North West Ambulance Service.

DistanceLearningCentre.com more than prepared me for the trials faced by university study. I was able to attain and hone key skills that ensured me to pass my course. (November 2024)

Then 

For years I've worked in healthcare and have dreamed about becoming a Paramedic. Life and, lack of training/job opportunities always kept me back until I found DistanceLearningCentre.com access course in Paramedic Science.

I was able to study around my full-time job and, I obtained all 5 university interviews through UCAS and I'm now set to start in LJMU 2021 for Paramedic Science.

My tutors offered more guidance and support than what I expected and have helped me achieve a dream I've had for over 10 years. Thank you to my tutors for your guidance and patience. This course helped me and it can help you achieve your dream! (July 2021)