Blog - Page 18 of 33 - Open College

Which GCSEs do Universities Prefer?

30/08/202130/08/2021Open College

When applying for a place on a Degree course, you can be forgiven for not being one hundred percent sure which GCSEs universities prefer or if they even matter if you have A-Levels. The truth is they do matter and you do need to have some GCSEs to support your UCAS application. When looking at your application Universities will be looking to see that you at least hold the core GCSE subjects, so English, Maths and ( in some cases) the Sciences. This includes applications from mature students who have been out of education for some time. Why do Universities Except you to have GCSEs? Holding the GCSEs that Universities… Read More

What is a Level 3 Award?

25/08/202125/08/2021Open College

If you’re considering changing job or career, but you’re not sure where to start, then Level 3 Award courses are ideal for you. Level 3 Awards are courses that are designed to give students an insight into any given topic or sector and to equip them with the knowledge needed to then go on and study the subject at a higher level (such as Certificate or Diploma). Level 3 Awards are also a useful way for students to gain additional UCAS points in a hurry if they need them for progressing onto to Uni. Level 3 Awards are available from many different awarding bodies including Edexcel BTEC, ncfe, cache and… Read More

Continuing Education for Adults Online

23/08/202123/08/2021Open College

Continuing education for adults online is a great way for adults to improve their skillsets easily without having to take time off work. The nature of the courses available for study are often wide ranging and reaching, meaning that there is a course for everyone looking to improve their CV or change their career direction. Whether you want to retake your GCSEs or A-Levels or just add to your professional qualifications with a Diploma, there is a course out there ready and waiting for you. Thanks to the internet and developments with online learning, it’s now very simple for an adult who wishes to continue their learning to sign up… Read More

Time for the Next Steps in Your Career?

17/08/202117/08/2021Open College

Bored, uninspired, unchallenged. If any of those words resonate with you when you think about your job, then maybe it’s time for the next steps in your career. Everyone has to work to live, we all know that, unless of course you’re one of those lucky superstars! But as you’re reading this, think it’s safe to say you’re just like all the rest of us. Everyone has a point (or many) in their career where they feel their skills aren’t being used to their full potential and this is where it’s time to think about the next steps in your career. The key to career progression is knowing where you… Read More

What is the Main Role of Education?

16/08/202116/08/2021Open College

Contrary to popular belief, the main role of education is to equip young people with the skills and abilities that they need to function and develop well within society. So rather than it just being a case of putting students through the mill and spitting them out the other side with the required qualifications, education is all encompassing and should always include other aspects of learning outside of the traditional GCSE and A-Levels. In years gone by, studying A-Levels always came with the assumption that the next step was going to be University and a Degree, but these days, that’s not the case. Many students will study up to A-Levels… Read More

5 Reasons why Online Learning is Great

14/08/202114/08/2021Open College

Although it has been around for many years now, online learning is one of those things that people still don’t fully understand or feel comfortable trying. Whether you are considering studying A-Levels, GCSEs or more vocational qualifications such as BTECs or Diplomas, there are endless reasons why online learning could benefit you, but to list them all would be impossible. So, we have brainstormed reasons why online learning is great to try and help potential students understand the true benefits of online learning. In no particular order here are our top 5 reasons why online learning is great. Range of Courses One of the greatest things about online courses is… Read More

What Learner Type am I? Active, Reflective, Pragmatic or Theorist?

28/07/202128/07/2021Open College

As we all know, everyone is different and we all have different skills and abilities when it comes to all aspects of life. This includes how we best learn and the learner type that we are. Years of educational research has shown that the more aware a student is of their learning style, the more productive and successful their learning journey can be and the better their final results will prove. Two researchers (Peter Honey and Alan Mumford) who adapted Kolb’s experiential learning model, managed to identify four main learner types as Activist, Reflector, Pragmatist and Theorist of which all learners will hold strong traits for. By using a Learning… Read More

How to Choose which Course to Study

08/07/202108/07/2021Open College

When looking at the next step of education, knowing how to choose which course to study is important. It will also make the decision process much easier and simpler for you, which will ultimately mean less stress and worry. So where do you start when working out which is the best course for you? Ideally, if you can or have an idea already, you should start with your end goal or dream career. So, for example, if your studying journey is all about becoming a Doctor, then you will already know you have to go to University and you’re going to need A-Levels to get there. Or if you’re thinking… Read More

What do you need to go to University?

05/07/202102/01/2022Open College

When thinking of going to University, you may think that the only options for a placement on a Degree course is A-Levels, but that’s not necessarily the case. The actual requirements for entry depend on a number of contributing factors that you need to be aware of. A quick visit to UCAS‘ website will be able to tell you the general requirements for going to university on different degrees, but what it can’t tell you is the alternatives for students who might not be following the traditional routes of education. So for example, the requirements for a mature student are very different to those of a school leaver. The title… Read More

What are Online Course Materials?

30/06/202130/06/2021Open College

When it comes to learning online, the way you receive your course materials is very different to that of when you are learning in a traditional school or college environment. Usually, before your course begins, you are given a list of books that you need to purchase in order to be able to study your chosen course, but when it comes to online learning, things are much simpler. Once enrolled on your chosen course, whether it’s an A-Level, GCSE, Diploma or Short Course, instead of needing to go and buy the books to support your learning, you are given a login to a learning portal. Through this portal you have… Read More