Alumni

The Access Course gave me a massive advantage with regards to biology and academic writing/referencing - Wayne Capps

Now

I successfully completed my BSc (Hons) in Adult Nursing with Kingston University. Due to the nature of the degree, finding a work-life balance was the most challenging aspect as I could plan my studies around my life when studying with DistanceLearningCentre.com.

The Access Course prepared me immensely for the challenges of the degree. Giving me a massive advantage with regards to biology and academic writing / referencing. Upon finishing my undergraduate studies, I commence work in the local medical authority as a Critical Care Staff nurse, fulfilling the dreams I set out when I started my access course all those years ago. (Nov 2021)

Then

Living in Gibraltar Access to Higher Education is not readily available, and after leaving my job in the Gaming Industry my dream of becoming a nurse came one step closer to reality after enrolling with DistanceLearningCentre.com.

Having been out of education for nearly 17 years, a return was extremely daunting to me, these doubts were cleared up instantly after my first conversation with my tutor, the website was extremely easy to navigate, and a clear road map was provided to me. Being able to work at my own pace was a massive plus for me.

Being a stay-at-home Dad to a 1-year-old, and a 3-year-old with special needs is a challenge in itself, but thanks to the flexibility, support and great course materials provided I was able to complete my Diploma with top grades in 7 months, fitting my studies around my children.

I will be starting my degree in Adult Nursing at the University of Gibraltar in September feeling more confident than I could have imagined thanks to the confidence I have developed during my time at DistanceLearningCentre.com.

I would highly recommend this experience to anyone looking for a change in career or obtain further education. (Jun 2018)

Following my Access Diploma, I went into a heavily academic/written degree with the knowledge and ability to write a high-class essay with ease - Izzie Mills

Now

I attended the University of Exeter where I graduated with a degree in Law. I found the biggest challenge was the age-gap between yourself and the other freshers in your year. I found that it was a slight issue at first getting to know others and bond with them because there were a few years in-between us but honestly, you will find people who genuinely get on with you and in fact, don't care about your age!

My advice for future undergraduates is to just get stuck in. University has the cliche "time of your life" trope, and for most it will be because they get involved in anything and everything that interests them! I've gained so many experiences I never thought I would have had and learnt so many new things, such as boxing!! Another piece of advice I'd give is treat your degree like a full-time job. If you solely focus on your degree work during Monday-Friday, you'll find you have a weekend free to relax and get on with some life admin.

I feel like the Access course with the DistanceLearningCentre.com definitely helped with my academic confidence. I went into a heavily academic/written degree with the knowledge and ability to write a high-class essay with ease. I also felt like I could manage the workload very well at university as I had put a strict time-limit on my studies with DistanceLearningCentre.com so I knew how to complete the work I needed to do within their set deadlines. When you're working through the SAQ's and TAQ's, you're predominantly working independently and if you need / want help, you'll ask your tutor. It's very similar to university!

After graduating earlier this year with an upper second-class honours (2:1) degree, I started my Legal Practice Course with a Masters in Law in Professional Legal Practice (LPC LLM) at the University of Law! I'm also currently a Caseworker with the National Centre for Domestic Violence as it is an area of the Law that I am incredibly passionate about and want to specialise in when I qualify as a solicitor. (Nov 2021)

Then

I'd always wanted to go to university but was faced with many different obstacles. After missing out on grades I'd needed at A-Level, I was close to giving up my dream of ever studying at university and becoming a lawyer.

DistanceLearningCentre.com allowed me to grow in my confidence. The flexibility of the course allowed me to juggle between looking after my Grandfather, working as a care assistant, my studies and of course, living my life. It certainly wasn't easy, but you quickly learn how to manage and adapt your time efficiently and to motivate yourself around an already busy life.

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend DistanceLearningCentre.com. The tutors are incredibly and immensely helpful and supportive if you need assistance. I've gained a place at a top Russell Group University to study Law LLB and I couldn't be prouder of myself. Hard work really does pay off, thank you DistanceLearningCentre.com! (Jun 2018)

DistanceLearningCentre.com gave me a very accurate insight into how self-study and independent learning is at degree level - Thomas O'Farrell

Now

Upon completing my Diploma with DistanceLearningCentre.com, I got accepted onto the BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy program at Oxford Brookes University in September 2018. I went on to graduate with a First Class Honours degree in July of 2021. There were three main challenges that I can remember during my studies:

Firstly, the amount of content and information that we had to try and learn in first year was initially quite overwhelming, however, having study groups, effective time management and organisational skills, I was able to manage this.

Secondly, academic writing was not my strong area, but I took advantage of the academic writing support team, allowing my family and peers to read my papers back to me and tried not to be too proud to take criticism. All of this really helped with my grades.

Lastly, being a mature student in an educational environment with fellow students much younger than myself was initially quite awkward. However, I had a lot to offer, being slightly older with more life experience. My classmates were excellent and gave me a new perspective on study techniques and tips. You're all in the same boat, so take advantage of being a mature student with your experience and learn modern ways of doing things from your younger peers.

DistanceLearningCentre.com gave me a very accurate insight into how self-study and independent learning is at degree level. They provided me with the materials, which I had to go away and learn, with methods of my choice in my own time. My tutor was always on the end of an email or telephone if I did need support throughout. This reflects how my learning was at University. DistanceLearningCentre.com also introduced me to the essential components involved in carrying out a research project such as internal and external validity, reliability, independent variables, dependent variables, and correct referencing etc. which I still referred back to when I was carrying out my final year dissertation!

As of right now, I am living in the United States with my wife and 2 daughters. I am in the process of transferring my degree and my diploma from DistanceLearningCentre.com over here so that I may begin working as a Physiotherapist in the US. DistanceLearningCentre.com have been excellent in sending off the transcripts I needed which have been accepted here. In the meantime, I am working as a Physiotherapy Aide to further develop my clinical skills and understanding of the US healthcare system.

Choosing DistanceLearningCentre.com was one of the best decisions I have made. They helped me get into university as a mature student (who left secondary school at a young) age, and graduate with a First Class Honours in Physiotherapy! (Nov 2021)

Then

Since leaving academic education after my GCSE's at 16 years old, I have served in the Royal Marines, worked and studied abroad. I would never have predicted that I would ever have the opportunity to enter Higher Education. When I discovered my passion in life (Physiotherapy), I was well aware that I would require a university degree in order to pursue my dream career. DistanceLearningCentre.com gave me the chance to do this.

Their well-structured learning materials and supportive tutors have been exceptionally consistent throughout my Diploma. It was hard and enjoyable work however, with perseverance and dedication I came through! DistanceLearningCentre.com not only helped me with my studies, they supported me through the whole UCAS application process. I was accepted into my first choice university (Oxford Brookes) to study Physiotherapy BSc, which I will begin this September.

I would highly recommended DistanceLearningCentre.com to anyone looking for a path to higher education as they have essentially helped me achieve my dream, thank you DistanceLearningCentre.com! (Jun 2018)

I am now working as a qualified Midwife in my local hospital - Katie Gleed

Now

After completing my Access Diploma with DistanceLearningCentre.com, I attended the University of the West of England and studied for my degree in Midwifery. The main challenge was having the self-discipline to ensure I set aside time to complete the work especially since I continued to work full time as a dental nurse. I found it helpful to plan my weeks ahead and set myself goals, this also allowed me to ensure that I had the much needed down time to relax and see friends and family.

I started my Access Diploma with DistanceLearningCentre.com course when I was 28 and so it had been a while since I had been at school, the access course helped me to get used to being back in education, with meeting coursework deadlines and researching the areas I found more challenging. I am now working as a qualified Midwife in my local hospital, a dream come true! (Nov 2021)

Then

I have always wanted to be a midwife but at the age of 29 I felt it would probably never happen. I didn't have any A levels and thought it would take years to achieve them, I also couldn't afford to give up work to go to college. Doing the Access to Midwifery course with DistanceLearningCentre.com was the best decision I ever made! I was able to continue working full time whilst doing the course from home at my own pace.

During the course I had some difficulties in my life which meant I was struggling to focus and had even considered giving it all up but my tutor encouraged me to continue and helped me to get back on track with my assignment deadlines. She was genuinely interested to see how I'd got on at each stage of the interview process and was as excited as I was to hear I'd been offered a conditional place at the University of the West of England.

Both my tutors helped me to achieve over and above the grades that I needed to meet these conditions and the course gave me the confidence to go to university after being out of education for over 13 years. I'm now due to start university in a few weeks and my dream that once seemed only that is now actually happening!

Thank you so much to everyone at DistanceLearningCentre.com! (Jun 2018)

My advice to current DistanceLearningCentre.com learners would be to throw yourself in and accept that you won't get quite as much sleep as you want - Lucy Depla

Now

I'm currently in the final year of my Nursing studies at Edinburgh Napier. Covid has been a pretty big adjustment. I started my training the September before the pandemic hit, and as a result my course has been massively chopped and changed. Being flexible for my studies is a skill I've developed.

My advice to current DistanceLearningCentre.com learners would be to throw yourself in and accept that you won't get quite as much sleep as you want. I'm doing a pre-registration postgraduate course, and DistanceLearningCentre.com gave me the biology knowledge that I needed to start my training. It also got my brain rolling again after a few years out of education. (Nov 2021)

Then

After completing a languages degree and flitting between jobs in the hospitality and travel industries, I found myself feeling unsatisfied with my day to day life.

An amalgamation of autoimmune diseases cropped up throughout my family, which lead to me extensively reading into the likes of diabetes, MS and vitiligo, and my fascination in these was what was really giving me the joie de vivre. Whilst job hunting I kept finding myself researching my lifelong goal of nursing, but falling at the hurdle of qualifications. DistanceLearningCentre.com has allowed me to not only get into a nursing degree, but into a masters in nursing.

At school I always struggled with biology, and to be frank I hate exams, so this style of study with coursework and assessments suits me perfectly. Any difficulties I had were met with assistance from my tutor, but I found all my modules were very clearly explained, and wouldn't say I struggled majorly at any stage. Of course the flexible nature of DistanceLearningCentre.com was the only way I could prepare myself for starting my degree; not only working long hours, but equally travelling for work on top of this, meant that I would go for weeks at a time, with no opportunity to focus on studying. The Individual Learning Plan (ILP) was a great way to make the amount of work to be covered more achievable, and is something I will adopt for future studies. (Jul 2019)