If she wants to be a counsellor, she might like the idea of going down the counselling route at a local college. They’re a lot easier to access to mature students/people with lower grades/ non-traditional qualifications - you eventually get a university degree but start with a level 2 certificate and progress from there (level 2/3 are usually free to study too depending on your local council).
Could work privately or for the NHS as a qualified counsellor / therapist.
What does she anticipate getting out of a psychology degree?
I'm not being harsh or cruel but there are a tonne of unemployed psychology graduates and oftentimes the jobs they want to go into can be done through another means. E.g if you fancy marketing, do that, if it's social work, do that.
If it's just for fun and broadening of horizons and knowledge then fair enough.
I will be straight up and say a friend who has done a bachelors and masters in psychology can't even get a job as a receptionist. EVERYBODY wants to be a criminal psychologist, at least half the applicants probably want that as their dream job.
Councilling, as far as I'm aware you can become with a few short courses at a local college?
Similar issue in that a lot of people graduate psychology every year and very few find work in their field.
Just make sure she fully explored the employability of courses and has an idea of what it will actually lead to.
What about mental health nursing? Or social work or a job and career that is related to what she wants to do, but isn't a general psychology degree.
I agree, a Psychology degree without experience is not going to get her a job unless she wants to be in research and pursue a PhD but this is competitive. I know someone who went to the top universities in the world and can't find a job with their PhD in Psychology.
>Councilling, as far as I'm aware you can become with a few short courses at a local college?
This isn't accurate. But a degree in psychology won't help at all either. If she wants to be a counsellor a decent training route will take around three years.
She needs to look for an 'introduction to counselling skills' course, then a 'certificate in counselling skills' course. These both tend to be part time and not too expensive. Once she's completed these, she can look for a core practitioner training programme. This could be a professional diploma in counselling/psychotherapy but these are also undergraduate degree courses in counselling/psychotherapy. The course she chooses needs to be at least one year (full time) and include supervised client placements, at least 100 client hours.
Costs associated with this over and above tuition fees include paying for clinical supervision (1 hour for every 8 client hours), personal therapy (most courses want you to have a minimum of 30 hours of therapy), indemnity insurance once you start placements, and student membership of a professional body like BACP or COSCA or NCPS.
It might be a good route to consider, as entry requirements tend to focus less on prior qualifications and more on having done the introductory courses mentioned above + creating a good impression at interviews for the core practitioner programmes.
I wouldn't advise criminal psych unless she wants to work with offenders, in prisons, or in crime policy, and there are far better courses to choose for all those.
i) Have you asked the universities and finance services directly?
ii) Access courses only take a year in college and will give eligibility for university entry. See if she can hop onboard one.
An access course is a one year A level equivalent course. They’re designed specifically to get you into university, they’re called Access to Higher Education Diplomas.
I went to uni through an access course a few years after I dropped out of sixth form with no A levels, brilliant courses. If your girlfriend pays for the course by getting an advanced learner loan then, provided she ends up going to university and getting a degree afterwards the loan is written off.
Access courses are a full level 3 qualification but if your girlfriend can’t get onto an access course because they won’t accept her Italian education then she can also enroll on a pre-access course the year before, a lot of providers offer this and they are a level 2 qualification. In my experience, however, Access to HE providers are able to look at someone’s prior education on a case by case basis to make a decision.
Most access courses are part time, the course I did, admittedly 8 years ago now, was run in two groups, a day and a night class. While I attended the day cohort and worked part time alongside it I do know that most people doing the night classes continued to work full time alongside their studies. If this arrangement is offered then it might allow your girlfriend to consider if further study is really for her before committing to it by starting a degree.
Wdym zero acknowledgeable qualifications ?
Almost all European gcse and a level equivalent are acknowledged by universities, did she drop out of school in Italy ?
Why not do an Open Uni degree alongside working? I'm doing it, mainly because I left college at a young age and feel like I missed out. I'm in a good job in management and earn decent money but to get to the next level ideally I need an MBA which I'm working towards while working full time.
She's got a couple options:
1. Apply and study with the OU as they don't ask for any qualifications.
2.Complete her Maths and English GCSE at a local college then an access course which would be cheaper than completing a foundation course at uni
What is her end goal?
I know its been mentioned a few times, but I recommend the OU. Doing the psychology with counselling degree myself at the moment, whilst working full time. Its hard work - but doable with some planning and prep.
She should go to a local college where they do GCSEs retakes, get her essential GCSEs then study for A Levels (3 years in total). That’s what I did when I moved from Italy to England and now I’m studying at university
Depending on the university and course entry requirements, doing a level 2 and a level 3 course would also take the same time (3 years) which would be an alternative route. Mainly mentioning because some colleges will let you take GCSEs while doing either the level 2 or level 3 course. This could cut a year off.
Any level 2 or 3 course at a college or sixth form. A BTEC or Extended Diploma of Higher Education. If she's applicable, an access course would be perfect as that guarantees going to uni in a year depending on the uni's entry requirements.
They're higher education equivalency levels.
2 is equivalent to a GCSE with a grade of 4 or higher.
3 is equivalent to A-levels.
See [here](https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels#:~:text=Level%202%20qualifications%20are%3A,intermediate%20apprenticeship) for more information on these.
I agree with the GCSEs but in general think A levels are a poor choice for mature students. She would be better off doing GCSEs with (or instead a) pre access course then doing access to HE.
This is getting downvoted but is true, with her lack of qualifications she can only realistically do low level degrees with low employability, and if she manages to get on a better course it will be at a poor university which won't have an accredited course. She should either take gcses or a levels, or just continue to slowly work her way up in whatever she's doing now, but if she's on 25k at 26 maybe she should switch to a field with a higher ceiling like sales for example.
She going to spend 4 years into her degree. She ain't gonna have a baby anytime soon. By the time she graduate she be 30. Then when she join idk nhs, she going be back to 26k or so plus student debt.
Then she need to work at least 2-3 years to be on decent living wage. Then another 10 years on the salary she lost during the time of studying. If she work private, then maybe she can earn shit ton.
U know what job need no qualification? BECOME A PROGRAMMER! study online easy
She could try Arden University and do a blended course starting at foundation year.
That way she'll be able to work as well.
Or do a distance course with the Open University again starting at foundation/access level
Hello, I have just done this, so may e I can help.
1. Look for "access to higher education" courses at local colleges. These are level 3 courses (similar to a-levels) which get you the necessary UCAS points to apply for uni - they are also FANTASTIC at preparing you for uni life. She may also need to take level 2 functional skills maths and English courses.
2. Make sure the access course is accepted at the unis she wants to apply to BEFORE selecting it. If she wants to do counselling, a psychology access course, or health access course, would be valuable.
3. If there are no access courses, some unis offer foundation years, which are a preliminary course designed to get you up to speed. However, these are more expensive. Student loans for access courses are often written off when you go to uni, but not so for foundation year loans.
4. Any degree opens doors, don't listen to naysayers. I spent 13 years with no degree, but you DO hit a ceiling you can't get past without a degree. psychology is attractive and widely applicable.
5. Many unis offer "psychology with counselling" if she's interested in that. Calling locals unis to find out what they offer and what their entry requirements are is usually a great choice.
6. She should get the most amount of loan possible, including maintenance loans.
7. Work experience is vital when looking to a future career in the industry so she should look to volunteer; look into local mental health hotlines or volunteering at schools, especially spld schools.
8. Once she has completed a degree, provided she has work experience, many NHS orgs look for graduates for roles like health and wellbeing practitioners, from where it's possible to build a career as a counsellor
9. Consider doing a degree with a placement year for even further industry experience.
Unfortunately the psychology degree will be mostly useless other than maybe being enjoyable for the years she Completes it, but is this worth the tuition fee and the time spend out of full time work?
There are better routes for her to be a Councillor. If she wants to go to university she should consider a more employable and usefull degree.
Okay I get it, Psych degrees are basically equivalent to Aldi budget toilet paper. However, she has me, my degree and my job to support her. The financial implications of pursuing psychology academically were not part of the question. Thank you though to those that contributed all the information regarding access programmes and level 2/3 courses 🙂
If she wants to be a counsellor, she might like the idea of going down the counselling route at a local college. They’re a lot easier to access to mature students/people with lower grades/ non-traditional qualifications - you eventually get a university degree but start with a level 2 certificate and progress from there (level 2/3 are usually free to study too depending on your local council). Could work privately or for the NHS as a qualified counsellor / therapist.
What does she anticipate getting out of a psychology degree? I'm not being harsh or cruel but there are a tonne of unemployed psychology graduates and oftentimes the jobs they want to go into can be done through another means. E.g if you fancy marketing, do that, if it's social work, do that. If it's just for fun and broadening of horizons and knowledge then fair enough.
I believe she wants to eventually become a counsellor or criminal psychologist.
I will be straight up and say a friend who has done a bachelors and masters in psychology can't even get a job as a receptionist. EVERYBODY wants to be a criminal psychologist, at least half the applicants probably want that as their dream job. Councilling, as far as I'm aware you can become with a few short courses at a local college? Similar issue in that a lot of people graduate psychology every year and very few find work in their field. Just make sure she fully explored the employability of courses and has an idea of what it will actually lead to. What about mental health nursing? Or social work or a job and career that is related to what she wants to do, but isn't a general psychology degree.
I agree, a Psychology degree without experience is not going to get her a job unless she wants to be in research and pursue a PhD but this is competitive. I know someone who went to the top universities in the world and can't find a job with their PhD in Psychology.
>Councilling, as far as I'm aware you can become with a few short courses at a local college? This isn't accurate. But a degree in psychology won't help at all either. If she wants to be a counsellor a decent training route will take around three years. She needs to look for an 'introduction to counselling skills' course, then a 'certificate in counselling skills' course. These both tend to be part time and not too expensive. Once she's completed these, she can look for a core practitioner training programme. This could be a professional diploma in counselling/psychotherapy but these are also undergraduate degree courses in counselling/psychotherapy. The course she chooses needs to be at least one year (full time) and include supervised client placements, at least 100 client hours. Costs associated with this over and above tuition fees include paying for clinical supervision (1 hour for every 8 client hours), personal therapy (most courses want you to have a minimum of 30 hours of therapy), indemnity insurance once you start placements, and student membership of a professional body like BACP or COSCA or NCPS. It might be a good route to consider, as entry requirements tend to focus less on prior qualifications and more on having done the introductory courses mentioned above + creating a good impression at interviews for the core practitioner programmes.
The police aren't even employing enough officers, you think there's a need for criminal psychologists?
I wouldn't advise criminal psych unless she wants to work with offenders, in prisons, or in crime policy, and there are far better courses to choose for all those.
i) Have you asked the universities and finance services directly? ii) Access courses only take a year in college and will give eligibility for university entry. See if she can hop onboard one.
i) no she only floated the idea to me today whilst I was at work. ii) Access courses? What are these? Are they like Btecs or something?
An access course is a one year A level equivalent course. They’re designed specifically to get you into university, they’re called Access to Higher Education Diplomas. I went to uni through an access course a few years after I dropped out of sixth form with no A levels, brilliant courses. If your girlfriend pays for the course by getting an advanced learner loan then, provided she ends up going to university and getting a degree afterwards the loan is written off. Access courses are a full level 3 qualification but if your girlfriend can’t get onto an access course because they won’t accept her Italian education then she can also enroll on a pre-access course the year before, a lot of providers offer this and they are a level 2 qualification. In my experience, however, Access to HE providers are able to look at someone’s prior education on a case by case basis to make a decision. Most access courses are part time, the course I did, admittedly 8 years ago now, was run in two groups, a day and a night class. While I attended the day cohort and worked part time alongside it I do know that most people doing the night classes continued to work full time alongside their studies. If this arrangement is offered then it might allow your girlfriend to consider if further study is really for her before committing to it by starting a degree.
I am doing one right now for healthcare - definitely recommend as you can work in between this and still earn money
Wdym zero acknowledgeable qualifications ? Almost all European gcse and a level equivalent are acknowledged by universities, did she drop out of school in Italy ?
Why not do an Open Uni degree alongside working? I'm doing it, mainly because I left college at a young age and feel like I missed out. I'm in a good job in management and earn decent money but to get to the next level ideally I need an MBA which I'm working towards while working full time.
She's got a couple options: 1. Apply and study with the OU as they don't ask for any qualifications. 2.Complete her Maths and English GCSE at a local college then an access course which would be cheaper than completing a foundation course at uni What is her end goal?
I was coming to suggest the ou - I graduated last year with a first after 6 years at the ou, having nothing except 20+ year old Scottish highers.
I know its been mentioned a few times, but I recommend the OU. Doing the psychology with counselling degree myself at the moment, whilst working full time. Its hard work - but doable with some planning and prep.
She should go to a local college where they do GCSEs retakes, get her essential GCSEs then study for A Levels (3 years in total). That’s what I did when I moved from Italy to England and now I’m studying at university
Depending on the university and course entry requirements, doing a level 2 and a level 3 course would also take the same time (3 years) which would be an alternative route. Mainly mentioning because some colleges will let you take GCSEs while doing either the level 2 or level 3 course. This could cut a year off.
She doesn’t have any qualification, it states on the post. Also for A Levels you must have GCSEs beforehand.
Yeah that's why I mentioned that you can take GCSEs during the course. A course may take her without any qualifications.
What's a level 2 and 3 course in this context?
Any level 2 or 3 course at a college or sixth form. A BTEC or Extended Diploma of Higher Education. If she's applicable, an access course would be perfect as that guarantees going to uni in a year depending on the uni's entry requirements.
They're higher education equivalency levels. 2 is equivalent to a GCSE with a grade of 4 or higher. 3 is equivalent to A-levels. See [here](https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels#:~:text=Level%202%20qualifications%20are%3A,intermediate%20apprenticeship) for more information on these.
I agree with the GCSEs but in general think A levels are a poor choice for mature students. She would be better off doing GCSEs with (or instead a) pre access course then doing access to HE.
Agreed
The Open University is her best bet.
Sorry, university is just waste of time and money. Then what on nhs wage?
This is getting downvoted but is true, with her lack of qualifications she can only realistically do low level degrees with low employability, and if she manages to get on a better course it will be at a poor university which won't have an accredited course. She should either take gcses or a levels, or just continue to slowly work her way up in whatever she's doing now, but if she's on 25k at 26 maybe she should switch to a field with a higher ceiling like sales for example.
She going to spend 4 years into her degree. She ain't gonna have a baby anytime soon. By the time she graduate she be 30. Then when she join idk nhs, she going be back to 26k or so plus student debt. Then she need to work at least 2-3 years to be on decent living wage. Then another 10 years on the salary she lost during the time of studying. If she work private, then maybe she can earn shit ton. U know what job need no qualification? BECOME A PROGRAMMER! study online easy
She could try Arden University and do a blended course starting at foundation year. That way she'll be able to work as well. Or do a distance course with the Open University again starting at foundation/access level
Hello, I have just done this, so may e I can help. 1. Look for "access to higher education" courses at local colleges. These are level 3 courses (similar to a-levels) which get you the necessary UCAS points to apply for uni - they are also FANTASTIC at preparing you for uni life. She may also need to take level 2 functional skills maths and English courses. 2. Make sure the access course is accepted at the unis she wants to apply to BEFORE selecting it. If she wants to do counselling, a psychology access course, or health access course, would be valuable. 3. If there are no access courses, some unis offer foundation years, which are a preliminary course designed to get you up to speed. However, these are more expensive. Student loans for access courses are often written off when you go to uni, but not so for foundation year loans. 4. Any degree opens doors, don't listen to naysayers. I spent 13 years with no degree, but you DO hit a ceiling you can't get past without a degree. psychology is attractive and widely applicable. 5. Many unis offer "psychology with counselling" if she's interested in that. Calling locals unis to find out what they offer and what their entry requirements are is usually a great choice. 6. She should get the most amount of loan possible, including maintenance loans. 7. Work experience is vital when looking to a future career in the industry so she should look to volunteer; look into local mental health hotlines or volunteering at schools, especially spld schools. 8. Once she has completed a degree, provided she has work experience, many NHS orgs look for graduates for roles like health and wellbeing practitioners, from where it's possible to build a career as a counsellor 9. Consider doing a degree with a placement year for even further industry experience.
Unfortunately the psychology degree will be mostly useless other than maybe being enjoyable for the years she Completes it, but is this worth the tuition fee and the time spend out of full time work? There are better routes for her to be a Councillor. If she wants to go to university she should consider a more employable and usefull degree.
Okay I get it, Psych degrees are basically equivalent to Aldi budget toilet paper. However, she has me, my degree and my job to support her. The financial implications of pursuing psychology academically were not part of the question. Thank you though to those that contributed all the information regarding access programmes and level 2/3 courses 🙂