17 May 2012 | Filed under: Adult Learning

Giving birth to a new career

Any student would be over the moon to be offered one of just 70 places on a degree course that 2,000 people applied for.

But if you’re a mature student who has gained the right qualifications for university in a single year, the sense of achievement is even greater.

That’s how Dawn Sutcliffe feels after being accepted on a Midwifery degree course at Bournemouth University’s Portsmouth campus following a one year Access to Higher Education course at Barton Peveril.

The 27-year-old from Hedge End is one of several success stories nurtured by the college’s Adult Learning team on a course which, she says, has definitely given her confidence and been good preparation for university life.

“I took a media arts degree in New Zealand first time around, lived the student life and had a lot of fun,” explains Dawn, who moved to the UK four years ago.

“When I came here my qualifications weren’t recognised but after a series of temping jobs I was looking for some stability and a challenging career.”

The Access to HE course was one of several things that suddenly fell into place in Dawn’s life and she has worked hard to balance the demands of her studies and a full-time job.

“My tutors have been really, really supportive and it’s been nice going back to a college environment with people who have also been out of education for a while,” she says.  “We keep each other motivated!”

The Access to Higher Education Diploma overcomes a lack of traditional entry qualifications by enabling learners to study modules on a part-time basis. To find out more, drop in to Barton Peveril College in Chestnut Avenue, Eastleigh, between 6pm and 8pm on Tuesday 19 June.