Building Firm Foundations

Posted 16 August 2007

At this time of year many students will be reviewing their options and while most continue to study the traditional A and AS levels, some would like to know the alternatives that are available.

One option is the University Access Course (UAC) which starts in September at Harper Adams University College, Shropshire. Harper Adams is the UK’s leading provider of educational courses in the rural, land and food-based sector and UAC is a superb alternative to A levels.

This one-year, full-time course can lead to admission to a Degree or Foundation Degree course in one of the rural/land-based subjects either at Harper Adams or at other institutions. The course is open to students aged 17 years+, with a good set of GCSE results and covers key skills such as communications, IT and numeracy. In the second term students can choose what they study. Subjects range from animal health and welfare, farm engineering and farm practice to food protection and quality, leisure and tourism and business evaluation.

The majority of students continue to excel as a result of their experiences on UAC and go on to further study. Career prospects are excellent – it is well-known and documented within League Tables that Harper graduates enjoy superb advantages in the employment market with over 98% obtaining good employment within six months of graduating.

Harper Adams is constantly developing and is renowned for its top class facilities and it prides itself on the thriving community spirit and unlike big universities has a clear sense of belonging. This is reinforced through small group teaching and excellent learning support offering the best education.

Studying at Harper Adams is also enjoyable. Students are well-provided for, with accommodation, meals and all the social and recreational facilities which are all provided centrally. Best of all study on UAC is affordable. Students under 19 years will not have to pay tuition fees as these are pad for them by the Learning and Skills Council. UAC students are also eligible to apply for Harper Adams’ own Merit Scholarships to help with living costs. You can really succeed without A Levels.

Maeve Moran, who previously completed the Harper Adams University Access Course, went onto study for BSC (Hons) Agriculture and Animal Science. She now works for Oaklands Farm Eggs as Assistant to the Director. She says “I would never have been where I am without the Access Course at Harper Adams. Unfortunately I didn’t get the grade in Biology so wasn’t able to go straight onto the Animal Health course but I was offered a place on Access. I jumped at the chance! It introduced me to the world of agriculture and that was that! I went onto study Agriculture and Animal Science – it was the best decision I ever made!”

If you are interested in finding out more about the University Access Course please contact: Admissions on 01952 815000 or E-mail: admissions@harper-adams.ac.uk or visit the website: www.harper-adams.ac.uk