We talk to Arturs about his experience studying Access to Science

At CRC, we offer Access to Higher Education Diplomas – a one year course that helps students to develop the study skills and academic knowledge to progress onto a degree level course. People who typically join Access courses may have been out of education for a while or haven’t achieved the ‘right’ grades at A Level to study the course they wanted to. Around 40,000 people every year study on an Access course and there is no upper age limit. The courses are part-time and flexible, to fit in with work and childcare. 

Could you describe your path from secondary school to studying at CRC?

I went to North Cambridge academy and I was actually doing really well, I got pretty good grades, and I ended up getting a scholarship to go to a private school, Stephen Perse, but unfortunately due to some life circumstances I had to drop out – it was, just kind of life problems and mental health to be honest and then I was out of education for a few years. When my problems kind of passed I decided I wanted to go back into education and give it another go but I was a bit stuck because I didn’t know that CRC offered the Access course.  I thought I was going to have to take A Levels privately, do self-study and pay for exams. But then actually I had a conversation with someone, and I started looking at what courses are available, and I noticed that CRC offered an Access course, and I saw that it was funded for people who don’t have a Level 3 qualification. So, I decided to apply and I’m here now, so it’s great.

What led you to choosing to study an Access to Higher Education qualification?

I mainly just googled to see what the options were, and CRC was one of the results that came up and I thought it was great because I live only a 20-minute walk away, so it felt like fate to be honest.

What course are you studying and how are you finding your time at CRC?

It’s great, better than I expected. All the teachers are lovely and supportive. I think it’s really educational as well, and with the Access course particularly there’s also a compulsory study skills part which prepares you for university,  which I thought was a really good addition, just because the goal of this course is to get you into university and prepare you, so I thought it was really helpful. The labs are well equipped and it’s a good learning environment. And it’s not just educational things you pick up; you also pick up life skills which is great.

What are you hoping to do after you complete the Access course?

I want to go into architecture after the course, and I feel like some people will maybe want to go into a certain job and they think the Access course can’t really help with that, but you learn so many valuable transferable skills. I think science is such a valued thing across a lot of fields, I can go into architecture after this which is great because I’m studying maths and physics as part of the course, so I can apply my knowledge to architecture, and it’s accepted if I wanted to go to an architecture course. I’m hoping to go to Leeds University.

Personally, what has the Access course meant to you?

After my personal troubles, I really saw this as a second chance for me. I was so grateful to find it because I just thought I didn’t have many options left. It felt like I was starting a new chapter in my life and a second chance to have a go, like giving myself a second chance to set myself up for life.

Did you have any worries or concerns before you started the Access course?

I was a bit worried that the Access course is more for adults, but there are also 16–18-year-olds who come here, so I wasn’t sure how that mix would be. I wasn’t sure how the people would be, so I suppose I was a bit worried about that, but I’ve had no problems here and the community is really diverse, and everyone is nice. It’s a great course and people should try it out.

Thank you to Arturs for speaking to us about his experience of studying on the Access course. If you’d like to find out more information about Access to HE, click here.