can i go to college with no GCSE's?

Question

i want to go to college but dont know if there are certain courses i cant do because i dont have qualifications?my main interest would be health and beauty or hairdressing

Answer 1

To do a degree, you need (I think) to have a minimum of around 5 GCSE's with a C grade in maths and English, and 2 A levels E grade or higher.

If you are just studyng for a Diploma, I would imagine it would be at the place's discretion.

Answer 2

If you are aged 16, 17 or 18, then I suggest you do some school-leaving qualifications such as GCSE English, Maths and another subject. Then you can apply to start a course just like everyone else.

If you are 19 years of age or over, the college may offer you a foundation studies course, to make sure you can handle the material in hair & beauty. If you are over 21 years, then no formal qualifications are necessary so long as you can show ability in the practical subjects and also in the theory.

BTEC offers a course called BTEC Entry level Certificate in Skills for Working Life (Hair & Beauty) for students who don't have the usual entry credits. It is a good idea to take this course to be sure you can handle the rest of the programme to get qualified.

Other qualification bodies offer Level 1 and Level 2 courses for students who have very little experience of work and poor qualifications.

Don't forget that hairdressing & beauty therapy involves quite a lot of human anatomy and physiology, business studies, some chemistry and a lot of health & safety. After all, you'll be putting stuff on clients' bodies and heads and you really need to know what it's all about. Styling hair and doing manicures is only part of the job and therefore only part of the qualification.

Make sure you consider courses validated by City & Guilds, BTEC, CIBTAC and ITEC and registered with HABIA. Many of these courses attract government financial support. Some are "free" in the sense that there is no course fee payable since the college gets funding from a government agency so ask about that. You will still have to buy your pack of equipment (tunic, scissors, manicure tools and so on) but colleges usually have special deals with suppliers.

Answer 3

Hi, Contact the college in question direct and explain your situation, most colleges are very helpful and you should be able to speak to someone in person.

Also alot of people are like yourself, and leave with no qualifications, good for you! I also left schooll at 16 with hardly any qualifications.

Good luck!

Answer 4

Most colleges offer a foundation levels which is basically the same as what a GCSE gives you and most colleges do extra courses such as english, mathematics and IT (mine did) and they give you certificates so its worth while if you have no GCSE's. There usually about one year and then if you want to carry higher you can

Answer 5

Colleges require students to have a basic understanding of both maths and English. You will probably have to resit your GCSEs at college in order to progress into what you want to do. Please remember you need maths in order to calculate mixing ratios for hair products and the such like. You can`t lose by resitting your GCSEs, any employer will think well of you for doing so.

Answer 6

Ask at your local college, after all what have you to lose?
However I would beware of the college too eager to have you, it could be a course that goes nowhere and means nothing

Answer 7

You could do, but they'd probably make you resit the GCSE's that were required for the course whilst at college.

Answer 8

if you want to do a degree you can do a access course.this is 15 hours a week full time ask at your local college.

Answer 9

unlikely but your best bet is to ask the college itself which you're interested in