Get into university

University is a popular route for people looking to achieve their dream career, and for many career paths, it is essential. But did you know that you don’t have to go to a physical college to get into university and progress to the next stage in your academic career?

Here at OSC, we offer different course options to help you get into university and get on track to achieve your goals. The options we offer include:

A Levels
Access to HE Diplomas
Selected AAT qualifications
Selected CACHE qualifications

When you choose to study with OSC to help you get into university, you are in control of your studies. You choose when and where you want to learn, rather than having that dictated to you. You’ll be able to study at your own pace, fitting your learning around your other commitments, whether that’s work, family life, or hobbies – you are in the driver’s seat.

Read on to find out more about how OSC can help you get into university.

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A Levels

Considered the traditional route to get into university, students typically study their A Levels at a physical college before going to university. Here at OSC, we understand that not everyone knows what career path is right for them when they are a teenager. We know that many are looking for their second chance to do something they love and change their career. This is why we provide a range of A Levels students can choose from to help them get back on track.

With OSC, you can choose from 20 subjects to study from the comfort of your own home, at your own pace. Students tend to choose three A Level subjects based on the degree they wish to study at university, or a subject to top up the UCAS points they have previously achieved.

Your final A Level grades will transfer into UCAS points, with up to 56 points available per A Level. You can then add your UCAS points together to reach the total number of UCAS points required by your preferred university for your chosen degree.

During your A Level studies, you’ll receive specialist support from your tutor to ensure you are fully supported throughout your course. Studying your A Levels via distance learning will allow you to start working towards achieving your dream career without your work or lifestyle being affected.

You can check out our full range of A Levels here.

Popular A Level courses

A Level Biology

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A Level Psychology

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A Level English Literature

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A Level Chemistry

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A Level Accounting

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A Level Business Studies

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A Level Physics

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A Level Maths

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Access to HE Diplomas

An Access to HE Diploma is an alternative route to university and the equivalent to three A Levels. Access to Higher Education Diplomas are tailored to a specific subject area to better prepare you for the degree you will be studying at university.

Access to HE courses are designed for those returning to education (19+) to help develop the skills needed for university, regardless of your age or background. The course materials provide you with relevant academic knowledge in your chosen subject to help you understand how to approach your university course.

The diplomas are usually completed within two years, and once you have successfully completed your Access to HE Diploma, you will receive UCAS points relevant to the grade you achieved to help you get into university.

OSC currently offers two Access to HE Diplomas. The first is Access to HE Diploma (Health), which is ideal for learners looking to study a healthcare-related degree at university, such as nursing or midwifery. The second is Access to HE Diploma (Public Services), which has been created to help students looking to achieve a career in policing, fire and rescue, law, or criminology.

CACHE qualifications

UCAS points are also available on selected qualifications from the Council for Awards in Care, Health and Education (CACHE) when you successfully complete your course.

CACHE are a registered charity and the UK’s leading specialist awarding body for the health, childcare, and education industries. Our range of CACHE qualifications have been developed by industry experts to ensure the courses are delivered to meet our high standards.

If you’re thinking of studying a CACHE course to top up your UCAS points before studying a degree at university, the following courses with OSC will help you do just that:

CACHE Level 3 Award in Childcare and Education – earn up to 24 points.
NCFE CACHE Level 3 Award in Health and Social Care – earn up to 28 points.
NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma for Early Years Workforce (Early Years Educator) – earn up to 32 points.
NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Supporting Teaching and Learning – earn up to 32 points.

CACHE qualifications

CACHE Level 3 Award in Childcare and Education

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NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma for the Early Years Workforce Early Years Educator

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NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Supporting Teaching and Learning

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NCFE CACHE Level 3 Award in Health and Social Care

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AAT qualifications

Selected level 3 qualifications from the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) will allow you to gain UCAS points on successful completion of your course.

AAT were established 30 years ago, and they are the leading professional membership organisation for accounting professionals. AAT’s qualifications are recognising around the world and by all chartered and certified accounting bodies in the UK.

If you are looking to study an AAT course with OSC to gain UCAS points, the Level 3 AAT Advanced Diploma in Accounting will provide you with up to 56 UCAS points depending on the grade you achieve. Find out more about this AAT diploma here.

Absolutely, there are other routes you can take, so it is possible to get into university without A Levels! To get into university you need to earn UCAS points, but A Levels aren’t the only way to build your UCAS points. As discussed above, you can gain UCAS points from Access to HE Diplomas, AAT qualifications, and CACHE qualifications to name a few!

So, if you would prefer a more technical approach to gaining your UCAS points while also gaining relevant knowledge to help you in your studies beyond OSC, you should consider this route.

But remember, researching your options is crucial! Take the time to find out how many UCAS points are needed and whether there are any specific entry requirements for your chosen degree.

Not necessarily! Every university has its own entry requirements, with many stating a minimum grade in English and maths, typically a grade C/4 or above. However, many universities will also accept Functional Skills as an alternative to GCSEs.

If you don’t currently have a grade 4 (grade C in new terms!), then don’t panic! You can still achieve your GCSE or Functional Skills qualifications after leaving school. Here at OSC, you can study your Functional Skills or GCSEs online from home, without it affecting your other commitments.

If you want to find out more about our range of GCSEs to help you get into university, click here. Or you can explore the alternative route and find out more about Functional Skills qualifications here.

Yes, you can achieve UCAS points with online courses! As we have already discussed, you can gain UCAS points by studying several different types of courses. The most popular online courses that can help you to achieve your UCAS points are A Levels and Access to Higher Education Diplomas.

This is a tricky question! Many professions will require you to have a degree in a relevant subject such as medicine, engineering, law, and IT to name a few.

On the other hand, there are many careers that do not require you to have a degree and will still allow you to excel. Some of our favourite careers you don’t need a degree for are:

Accounting
Bookkeeping
Human resources
Marketing
Events
Cabin crew
Mortgage adviser
Project management

So, what we are trying to say, is it really depends on what career you want to achieve! If you need a degree to achieve your dream career, then it is definitely worth going to university. But if you don’t, then there are plenty of courses out there that will help you establish yourself and get your foot in the door. Whatever your goal is, get in touch with OSC and find out how we can help you take the next step towards achieving your dream job.

Get into university

Book a callback

A Levels

Popular A Level courses

Access to HE Diplomas

CACHE qualifications

CACHE qualifications

AAT qualifications

Can I get into university without A Levels?

Can you get into university without GCSEs?

Do online courses get you UCAS points?

Is it worth going to university?

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