Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms Study in the UK - advice needed

Gentlemen:

our daughter just finishes school and would love to study Biomedical Science in the UK. However, all Universities seem to require good grades (A-Level) in Chemistry from school. In our school system, she had to choose between biology and chemistry when entering tenth grade and therefore has no chemistry on her last report from school.

Is anyone aware of other possibilities to prove the required skills in Chemistry that would be accepted by the universities? I thought of a test when applying for the studies, or maybe a semester or a year of studying Chemistry before entering for biomedical science.

Any help will be appreciated.

Thanks, Andy

Hi Andreas,

If you Google "a level chemistry in one year" there are loads of links that come up, some of which offer distance learning solutions.

I don't have any idea whether any of them are any good or not, but perhaps your daughter might consider spending a gap year studying in the UK?

There is a "mapping" of qualifications between countries. I suggest you contact the Admissions department at one of the unis and see what they say.

My uni for those "falling short" could do a foundation year and then enter the first year.

Often there is a summer school attached to the universities aimed at topping up prospective student's qualifications - as Richard said; contact the admissions department.

Possibly try the Open University.

Most UK Universities are very keen on enrolling foreign students, suggest you contact the admissions departments for those places that she would like to study in. They are best people to advise you.

Does she have a 'reasonable" grade for chemistry at a lower level? That might be good to stress.

Lots of good advice above - there is a lot of flexibility in the system so talk to the university directly.

One thing to watch out for is the quality of the university. Quite a lot of ordinary colleges were made into universities when a previous government had a policy of getting half of all kids through university and whilst many are of good quality some are not.

As far as I'm concerned it is still Paisley Tech, not West of Scotland University.

http://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/league-tables/rankings

This is a useful ranking and guide to Universities. The point above re conversion of colleges and Polytechnics in recent years is good advice.

Dear Andy,
A few years ago I was in a similar position. After completing an economics degree I decided I wanted to be an engineer.
I had good numeracy skills and could handle formal mathematics but lacked any of the requisite physics qualifications. I had to spend a year doing a single physics a-level. (I also did a masters during the year to fill my time). Of course if your daughter is intelligent she could do it in the same year As her german qualifications.

You can sit a-levels at different times of the year and often at your local embassy.

In many ways, whilst this will take extra time it may be of benefit To the admission process in other ways.

Studying an a-level by yourself, booking into exams and passing would be a considerable achievement for a student before university. This would be looked on favourably.

Sitting the uk exam would demonstrate comittment of the long held ambition to study in the UK.

Sitting an english exam would underline her english skills. Many foreign students in uk universities still get onto courses whilst having poor english skills. Universities like a good verification.

It is my understanding that German youths stududy at a later age than in the UK. Universities in the UK put great emphasis on demonstrating maturity and time management skills for entrants. The extra year would be of benefit.

UK university entrance dececision makers prefer to give offers to those who already have qualifications rather than those who have yet to sit the exams. It is a matter of risk and ensuring the correct supply of incoming students. As your daughter will have the bulk of her grades already, deferring for a year whilst she does the alevel will put her in a good position.

I have applied to many uk universities over the last decade And ddone three degrees. If you want any more advice then PM me.

as someone else asked. What was the age of her last chemistry qualificatio?

Charles