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
Sue Long
Sue was working in the housing department at a city council when she enrolled on the Access to HE course. She worked until recently as a further education access officer.
1999: Access to Arts and Humanities, Cambridge Regional College
2003: BA (Hons) History, Lucy Cavendish College, University of Cambridge
2007: Further education access officer, University of Cambridge*
I left school at 15 years old with no qualifications. I thought you had to be super-brainy and super-rich to go to university. No-one in my family had ever been so there was no pressure. I did what everyone did back then and took a typing course.
I was 45 years old, a mother of two and working in the housing department of the city council when I found out about the Access to HE course. I'd done quite well in my job but without a degree I couldn't go a lot further.
I met people in professions where a degree was required and they weren't that different from me. I started thinking 'maybe I've missed out here'.
The Access to HE course completely changed my life. I had no idea that it would be such a major stepping stone to other things. It was probably the most crucial year of my life.
The tutors were absolutely fantastic. Many of them had also been mature students. They knew how to motivate us and keep us going.
I got a real buzz out of being in the classroom with such a variety of people of different ages, ethnicity and background. I made new friends, found I actually enjoyed learning and I developed new interests.
I kept thinking to myself 'I can't believe I've got this second chance'.