Access
to HE courses are designed for people who would like to study at university but
who left school without the usual qualifications, such as A levels.
Successful careers
Yvonne Brissett
Dr Stuart Prior
Linda White
Albert Phipps
Ian Webber
Gabrielle
Holmes
Dr Erik Johansson Cox
Nneka Akudolu
Susan Nelson
Scott Ellis
Sue Long
Current degree students
Current Access to HE students
Nneka Akudolu
Nneka was working as a waitress before she enrolled on the Access to HE course. She is now a Criminal Barrister.
1997: Access to Legal Studies, Tower Hamlets College
2001: LLB Law and Politics, Cardiff University
2002: Bar Vocational Course, called to the Bar
2007: Criminal Barrister, Chambers of Philip Singer QC
I was in a waitressing job, working anti-social hours for very little money. I had to step back and look at my options, but with four GCSEs to my name I felt I didn't really have many!
I saw an advert for an Access to HE course taught at Tower Hamlets College. I didn't have any particular career ambitions when I enrolled on the course - I just wanted to get a degree and see where that took me.
At the beginning of the course, I found it daunting to get back into studying and doing homework after being out of education for so long, but that soon passed.
The tutors were incredibly helpful and motivating, and the students supported and encouraged each other. I was surprised I enjoyed the learning so much. But the real highlight for me was when I received an offer of a place at Cardiff University.
I definitely couldn't have taken a degree without first completing the Access to HE course. I had bags of confidence after completing the course.
I now have a good job, which will hopefully enable me to be financially stable in the future. My earning capacity has increased enormously.