Furness College has transformed the way it is helping students back into learning by adding new subjects to its popular access course.
The college offers an access course to help students return to education in a supportive environment at the Channelside campus with the aim of moving on to university study or a better career.
It has now added the option of a social sciences pathway, which means students can do a combination of law and sociology, alongside its allied health professions course.
Head of Area Keith Wardle, who oversees the access course, said: “Our access course is very popular with a variety of students who want a cost-effective way to get into higher education or return to learning to help them get ahead in their careers. It’s affordable to study with an advanced learner loan and we have support and help available from our student services team.
“The new subjects ensure this is genuine access because sociology and law are subjects that students do not have to have studied previously. This is an excellent way to progress to careers in social work, local government, criminology and the civil service as well as humanities subjects at university.”
“Access is also a good course if you want to change career, for example to start a role in supply chain, where key contract concepts are covered in law.”
The Access course now has two key pathways:
Allied Health Professions: This is designed to provide a pathway into higher education and future careers including nursing, midwifery, physiotherapy, paramedic and other health care related professions.
Social Sciences: Students have the opportunity to study a combination of Law and Sociology. Popular progression routes include study and/or careers in law, humanities subjects, social work, local government, criminology and civil service.
Tom Neighbour successfully completed the access course at Furness College and is now studying podiatry at university.
He said: “I fell ten points short of my first-choice university so instead of completing another hard year at sixth form I felt that the access course was a better choice. On the course you can choose to do morning or afternoon sessions for the subjects which can fit around your lifestyle and preferences.
“The work is not difficult just as long as you attend the lessons and you are paying attention and assignments are set early so you have the ability to complete them to decrease the pressure later on.”
The course starts in September. For more information click here: https://www.furness.ac.uk/courses/course-detail/course/fulltime-access-to-university-diploma-university-pathway/
Tom Neighbour (pictured) completed the access course at Furness College and is now at university