Undergraduate study allows you to explore the area of study you find most interesting and valuable to your future studies or career. Obtaining a degree can often be the difference between achieving your career goals and not.
Should you be considering university, you’ll no doubt be reviewing your existing qualifications to see if they meet the university’s requirements. Or assessing your options of how to get them.
Either way, you’ll need to think about GCSE qualifications as these can play a part in getting you a place at university.
Universities are becoming more open to applicants who have work experience and professional qualifications over formal ones such as A-levels or Diplomas. However, this makes GCSEs even more valuable as they serve as a reliable measure of your ability to both understand information and work in a structured way.
If you have considerable work experience but lack any formal qualifications then GCSEs will certainly help you with your application.
GCSEs for University Course Eligibility
Many universities expect at least a grade 4 or 5 (equivalent to a grade C under the old alphabetical system) in English and Maths, and in some cases, Science. However, depending on the course you wish to study, some will go further and ask for specific GCSE subjects with certain grades. Some highly competitive courses and institutions request up to seven GCSE subjects with excellent marks. This is particularly evident in many career-related degrees such as:
Engineering
To study Chemical Engineering or other engineering disciplines, you will typically need A-Levels or equivalent qualifications in Maths and Physics (or Chemistry for chemical routes). You will therefore need to have good grades in Science and Maths GCSE to secure your college path to these Level 3 qualifications.
Veterinary Science
To qualify for veterinary schools, you are generally required to have at least five GCSEs (or equivalent Level 2 qualifications). These typically include Maths, English Language, and Science (either as a Double Award / Combined Science or as separate Triple Award sciences, with a strong preference for Biology and Chemistry). As courses are exceptionally competitive, at least a grade 6 (B) or 7 (A) or higher should be achieved across your core GCSE subjects.
Medicine and Dentistry
To work in the medical profession, your GCSE profile is heavily scrutinised; at least seven GCSEs (or equivalent Level 2 qualifications) will typically be required at grades 7 to 9 (A to A*). This again must include Science, English Language, and Maths. Where Science can be taken as a Double Award, you should prioritise Biology and Chemistry, though a Triple Award including Physics would be wise.
Teaching
To enter a teacher training degree (such as a BA/BSc with QTS), at least a grade 4 (C) in GCSE Maths and English Language (or an equivalent Level 2 qualification) will be required. If you wish to teach primary education, you will also be required to have at least a grade 4 (C) in a Science GCSE. If you wish to teach particular secondary subjects, then good marks in those subjects at GCSE and A-Level would greatly help your application.
The Value of Your Experience
While your academic performance is highly regarded, an increasing number of universities are also considering various other factors when assessing applications.
Work experience, skills, professional and vocational qualifications, hobbies and portfolios of work can all prove your aptitude for a specific course and help make your application stand out in other areas. If you were looking to study Photography, for instance, you could demonstrate your strong interest in the subject with an impressive portfolio. However, bear in mind that should you have no relevant A Levels or other Level 3 qualifications, universities are more likely to refer to your GCSEs to determine your academic ability.
As is the case when applying for work, if you can demonstrate you have the relevant experience and knowledge, and that you would be a good fit for the position, you can often secure it over those solely with qualifications.
In fact, those looking to go back into education later in life are often preferred by universities as they can have a wealth of valuable experience and a dedicated attitude to learning. So, if you are looking to re-enter education but are concerned about the current GCSEs you hold, it would be worth contacting your preferred institution to see if they would consider you.
Universities, while stating strict entry requirements, place a high value on the characteristics of the individual. Older students are often easier to teach since they tend to be more mature and more committed to learning.
Mature students usually have a proven work ethic due to being in employment, which can be a highly positive influence on younger students. Plus, they are often more self-motivated and financially independent!
In short, while you may not have the GCSEs most universities ask for, if you develop your skills and gain experience in your chosen subject, you can prove why you should have that place over another candidate.
Foundation Degrees
You could also consider taking a foundation degree if they are offered in your subject area. These tend to last two years and often offer a "top-up" year which allows you to obtain the full honours degree.
Foundation degrees have minimal entry requirements, so the anxiety over your GCSE results can often be avoided. These degrees were designed to give students without the best GCSE grades a second chance to get a university-level education. Again, it is worth looking into these options at your chosen universities and seeing exactly what they will accept before you try to enrol.
Taking GCSE Online Courses
With a growing focus on technical skills and experience in the job market, there are an increasing number of routes into university that don’t follow the traditional well-trodden paths.
That being said, the reason why academic performance plays a large part in your university application is that you need to prove you have what it takes to succeed in an academic setting. So, if you don’t have any GCSEs or any other form of academic qualification, you may struggle to find a university that will accept you.
If you would like to learn and experience the self-discipline required for independent university study, consider taking an online course with learndirect. Our range of GCSEs, Functional Skills Courses, Access to Higher Education Diplomas and A-levels, can all help you on your way to higher education.
What’s more, studying online gives you the ability to acquire the qualifications you need, outside of your existing work or family commitments. So, you can continue to work full-time and support your family, while doing what it takes to reach that higher level of study.
With no classes or timetables, you decide when and where you learn. Plus, with a dedicated online tutor, any assistance you may need is only an email away.
Take the first step on the path to your future by studying online, at home with learndirect – a leading UK distance learning provider. Browse our range of GCSE subjects online or download our FREE GCSE Faculty Brochure for more information below.
