Alumni

I felt that the course was great preparation for the academic challenges I have faced (and continue to face) during my degree - Sam Kenward

Now

Since completing my Diploma with DistanceLearningCentre.com I have successfully obtained a place at my one and only choice of university to study Midwifery. I'm now in my third and final year of my degree course at Brighton university.

The biggest challenge of the journey so far has been being pulled from placement in my first year due to the Covid pandemic. On the bright side though, doing an online access course certainly provided me with the unexpected advantage of being used to online learning! I have recommended the DistanceLearningCentre.com access to HE to many people who have expressed an interest in returning to education. I felt that the course was great preparation for the academic challenges I have faced (and continue to face) during my degree.

I will be close to 48 years old when I qualify and at the start I wondered if my age would hold me back, but it's never been an issue. My cohort age range is from 18 (at the start of my undergraduate studies) to over 50 and we all bring something to the mix. Every time I've had a wobble (and there have been a few) I just tell myself 'one step at a time'. It feels like five minutes ago that I was saying the same thing when I was struggling with my first assignment for my Access Course. I'm really proud of how far I've come, but it all started with that first step of deciding to study online with DistanceLearningCentre.com. (Nov 2021)

Then

I am a 44 year old mother of 3 boys. I decided a few years ago to pursue a long held desire to train as a midwife, I started this journey by getting my maths GCSE, I then started looking at Access to Nursing courses. Work commitments meant I needed the flexibility that an online provider would give me. A student midwife I was working with recommended DistanceLearningCentre.com; I'm so glad I listened to her advice!

Through DistanceLearningCentre.com I have obtained 45 Credits at Distinction in an Access to Nursing and Midwifery course. I have gained a place to study midwifery at the only university that I applied to.

In addition to the academic qualification that I needed, the course has given me confidence in my abilities. It has has been tough, I've been lucky to have the unwavering support from my husband and family and have worked really hard to complete the course in 9 months whilst working full time and trying my best to be a good mum and wife.

I now feel an amazing sense of achievement and pride as my hard work has paid off. I felt particularly rewarded when reading a message in my Mothers Day card, written by my 17 year old son who said "I'm very proud of how hard you work so you can do something you feel passionate about". My Tutors have been encouraging and supportive and have been really quick to reply to emails.

Thank you DistanceLearningCentre.com, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend you to anyone wanting to do an Access to Higher Education course. (Jul 2019)

DistanceLearningCentre.com are brilliant for encouraging independent study, and this is key when you reach university - Sarah Benson

Now

Since completing my Diploma with DistanceLearningCentre.com I have been studying Veterinary Medicine at Nottingham University. By far the toughest thing I experienced was "imposter syndrome". I think that feeling of "I shouldn't be here - how on earth did I get here? I don't deserve a place on this course!", can be particularly relevant to mature students, and I struggled with it a lot in my first year or two.

My advice would be to accept that your place has been very much earned by the work you've put in. DistanceLearningCentre.com are brilliant for encouraging independent study, and this is key when you reach university.

Many of the skills you need are not taught, they are self-directed and rely on your own motivation rather than a scheduled session and a structured format. Distance learning really helps to give a step up with this, and I think I found it less of a shock to the system than many people who came straight from A levels.

I'm now in my 5th (of 6) year of study and so I am currently around 6 months from the end of my clinical teaching. I won't gloss over the fact that it's been a tough journey, but I wouldn't change it for the world - and the days still fly by, even 5 years in. (Nov 2021)

Then

There comes a point where it gets too much, and I found myself asking why exactly I'd settled for a career path which couldn't give me the job satisfaction I craved. I decided that pursing that elusive career was better done late than never.

I researched University entry requirements and potential routes into higher education, having never completed A-levels. I found DistanceLearningCentre.com, was impressed by their accreditation and course structure, and settled on an Access to HE Diploma. I opted to take a short break from employment in order to fully dedicate myself to this decision.

DistanceLearningCentre.com provided me with a flexible solution; I could begin my course in February and moderate the following November, setting me up perfectly for a UCAS application in a very short academic year. My tutors were incredibly helpful, supportive and efficient from the word go. Tutorials were to hand whenever I needed a challenging concept explained, but the distance aspect really helped me to gain independent learning skills and work at my own pace. I found it a fantastic combination, and with plenty (!) of determination I walked away with a full house of Distinction grades, which was a wonderful feeling.

I balanced my course, which I completed in a little over 6 months, with nearly 4 months of relevant work experience to support my university application. It really was a crazy period in my life, as I lunged from working 14 hour shifts on dairy farms, to observing intricate surgeries, to sitting Chemistry exams and spending days buried in TAQs, or even being involved in post-mortem examinations. It was a whirlwind of learning opportunities, emotions and reality checks, as I knew every aspect was crucial to my application. I was determined to make it the very best it could be, and my efforts proved fully worthwhile when I applied to university in September 2016. I was offered two unconditional places to study Veterinary Medicine, which absolutely floored me. I shall be starting my course in September, and I couldn't be happier.

I can't thank DistanceLearningCentre.com enough for helping me to realise the aspirations that have loitered at the back of my mind for as long as I can remember. Believe in yourself, because it's all achievable if you put your mind to it. (Nov 2016)

DistanceLearningCentre.com prepared me for academic writing, especially Harvard referencing - Katie Dodds

Now

I attend Birmingham City University and am currently undertaking the second year of my Nursing degree within the British Army. One of the biggest challenges that I have faced during my undergraduate studies is time management, a skill which is crucial when in university as there are many assignment and exams to undertake.

My advice would be that take all the help and support that the university offer you and try and have that positive mindset. DistanceLearningCentre.com prepared me for academic writing especially Harvard referencing. I have of one year of study left and I will then be a qualified nurse. (Nov 2021)

Then

It is a huge achievement for me to have finished my Access course with DistanceLearningCentre.com and can't thank them enough for everything they have helped me with.

This makes me feel academically ready and confident to start my degree in Nursing.

The support from my tutors has been amazing and I've found the course very beneficial.

Highly recommend DistanceLearningCentre.com to anyone, Thank you for so much. (Jul 2019)

DistanceLearningCentre.com provided me with an excellent foundation to succeed while studying at university - Darrin Carey

Now

During my Diploma studies with DistanceLearningCentre.com, I received 5 offers from prestigious Law faculties. I chose to complete my Law degree at the London School of Economics.

There are a number of challenges that I faced whilst studying for my Law degree. Firstly, the sheer amount of reading required. This was far in excess of anything I could have imagined, and in addition, was much more than what I was required to complete on my Access to HE Diploma. Furthermore, there definitely was a 'step-up' required in terms of my essay writing ability.

The Access to HE Diploma will provide you with the foundations to succeed, but it is up to you to elevate your game to the next level. I probably didn't feel totally comfortable with essays until my final year! DistanceLearningCentre.com provided me with an excellent foundation to succeed while studying at university, evidenced by the university I was able to attend and the grades I achieved whilst there.

Upon completing my degree, I was able to secure a number of training contract offers for commercial Law firms operating in the city. I am completing my LPC (Legal Practice Course) now and will be starting with Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in February 2022. (Nov 2021)

Then

I'm a 32-year-old Detective in full-time employment, currently living at home with my partner. My previous educational experience was attending regular school until 16. I had been away from study for 15 years before enrolling on my access course. I studied Access to Law.

When I decided that I wanted to attend University and pursue further academic study, I looked at the options I had available to me and consulted a variety of resources. I contacted a series of organisations and was immediately struck by the speed and confidence which DistanceLearningCentre.com responded to me, and answered my questions. Reviewing the website, it was professional and had examples of prior testimonials. It also offered a wide range of courses for a competitive price. I wanted to give myself the best chance at succeeding and felt that the way DistanceLearningCentre.com communicated with me prior to signing up was indicative of the service I would receive. This is why I chose them.

Navigating the website was easy and the joining instructions were simple, however, from the moment I started, I knew I had a hill to climb. I had not written an essay before, let alone a critical one and I had never received real academic feedback. The first ungraded units identified the standard of work required to succeed on the course, and the feedback I received at this time was the most important during my study. It gave me the drive to succeed and pointed out where I needed to improve and how I could go about doing it. My tutor will tell you, the concept of "evaluative writing" was alien to me before this course!

Applying for University was a daunting task, but DistanceLearningCentre.com made the process as simple as possible. They provided an excellent guide and my tutor was extremely helpful when structuring my personal statement. I knew I had to submit something that would 'wow' the admissions teams who would be reviewing my account and without DistanceLearningCentre.com and my tutor's kind comments, this may not have been possible.

As I progressed, I found the quality of my work improving. The feedback I was receiving was positive, but the tutors did not let me rest on my laurels. My tutors encouraged me to improve. There were times where I felt confused, but I never felt alone. My tutors were always on hand to answer my questions quickly and the DistanceLearningCentre.com community was brilliant in encouraging me during the tougher times. The community is an extremely important and strong aspect of studying with DistanceLearningCentre.com.

The 'final straight' of my study (January - June) was arguably the most memorable. I was starting to receive offers from Universities and I had applied to, and the moderation date to complete my studies was nearing. Whilst my workload was high, my tutor never put me under any undue stress. I knew my deadlines, I knew I had to complete my work and my tutor me encouraged to do so. Looking back, I probably left it all a little too late and had to complete quite a significant amount of work in that period. I credit my tutor for staying calm and believing in me during this time, without it, I may not have achieved what I did.

Receiving your moderated results is an amazing moment. It is a tangible result of the hard work and dedication you have put in over the previous months. It is also a recognisable qualification, useable in the real world in support of your further studies, or your career.

I see many people ask - Can I attend a "top" University without A-Levels? Studying with DistanceLearningCentre.com, I secured offers from 5 of the best law schools in the country and will be attending the London School of Economics in September to continue my journey. DistanceLearningCentre.com will give you with the tools and platform necessary to achieve what you set your mind to. Put in the hard word and enjoy yourself whilst you do. Before you know it, you'll be taking the next step too! (Jun 2018)

Gave me key scientific knowledge and understanding to tackle degree level biochemistry - Kate Homan

Now

After completing my Diploma with DistanceLearningCentre.com, I attended Leeds Beckett University and studied for my BSc (Hons) Dietetics. The biggest challenge that I faced during my undergraduate studies was time management. Being a mature student meant I had several other commitments, so good organisational skills and leaving yourself plenty of time to complete assignments was essential.

My Access Course was essential to meeting the entry requirements for my degree. But it also gave me key scientific knowledge and understanding to tackle degree level biochemistry. It got me back into the swing of studying and meeting deadlines.

Since graduating, I have been working in the NHS as a dietitian. I have recently been interviewed for another NHS post and was successful in being offered the position of senior dietitian in oncology and gastric surgery, so I am looking forward to starting that. My Access Course at DistanceLearningCentre.com was pivotal in starting me off on my journey and was perfect for me as it meant I could work full time while doing it. (Nov 2021)

Then

Having decided to study a dietetics degree, I needed A-level equivalents in chemistry and biology to gain entry. As I couldn't afford to give up my job while studying for these, I needed a course that would fit around my full time hours. Studying with DistanceLearningCentre.com gave me the flexibility to enable me to study whilst working.

I had been out of education for several years and was worried that I would not be capable of achieving the required grades for university entry (distinctions in chemistry and biology). Furthermore, I suffer from 2 chronic health conditions, both of which significantly impact on my energy levels, and I worried that I would not have the energy to study as well as work.

Once I started on the Access to HE Diploma in Science, my tutors were very helpful and supportive. If I needed a little longer for any of my assignments they were very flexible in extending deadlines. The topics were interesting and easy to understand and I was given sufficient guidance to successfully pass all the modules so much so that I managed to complete the diploma with all distinctions! The lovely reference from one of my tutors helped me to secure interviews for all of my 5 university choices and I am now holding firm and insurance offers at my preferred institutions.

DistanceLearningCentre.com has given me the skills and confidence to pursue a career in dietetics and I am really looking forward to starting university. I would definitely recommend them to anyone wanting to gain qualifications for university entry, but who cannot afford to give up work while doing so. It requires hard work and dedication, and at times can be challenging, however, it is definitely worth the effort! (Jun 2017)