Can work experienced be counted towards a degree?
Discussion
Due to being unsuccessful in my applications to get on the degree courses that I wanted, at the time, I decided to try to get some 'real world' experience on my CV instead with a view to going back later. I managed to get a small design agency to take me on an unpaid basis and, after six months, they took me on properly. After three years I moved to publishing company where I've been for the last 16 years. Due, in part, to me becoming a bit too comfortable there and also the fact that there have been large changes just often enough to keep it interesting, I've never moved on. Now I'd like to. I really want to get into a good creative agency, but the issue I'm facing is the lack of a degree - everyone asks for one. 19 years of holding down real jobs in the real world don't, apparently, count for anything! Is there a way that my experience can be counted towards a degree, such that I don't have to do a full three years full time, or am I going to have to revert to eating cold beans and living in slums?
APEL as it is called is a normal route in many institutions to admission. Speak to your preferred institution would be my advice. You would have to evidence your previous learning and experience and may even need to sit an entrance exam, but this will again depend upon the institution and the course you aspire to. Good luck!
Can you short-circuit the process to a degree by using employment experience? Not usually, no. Otherwise you'd just have 30 year olds queueing up to pay their x grand for a certificate. The Internet used to be full of scams along similar lines.
As above, I would say talk to the departments in your local universities and see what they have to say. They may have an accelerated programme, or a part time one. Usually at your stage though, any jobs that require degrees are more junior roles, which are just using the degree as a lazy way of filtering out candidates. This might sound stupid, but have you tried going for more ambitious roles? You are clearly good at what you do, and if you can make contact with the people who really matter in a company (not the HR people or junior managers) then they should be looking at your ability and track record. Stuff that new graduates don't have and find almost impossible to get.
As above, I would say talk to the departments in your local universities and see what they have to say. They may have an accelerated programme, or a part time one. Usually at your stage though, any jobs that require degrees are more junior roles, which are just using the degree as a lazy way of filtering out candidates. This might sound stupid, but have you tried going for more ambitious roles? You are clearly good at what you do, and if you can make contact with the people who really matter in a company (not the HR people or junior managers) then they should be looking at your ability and track record. Stuff that new graduates don't have and find almost impossible to get.
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