Adult university degrees

[Mortblanc]

Just a question I have had on my mind a few days.

I know there are some vast differences in how the education systems are organized between the US and UK. Not criticizing in any way, that's your business.

What I have gathered is that education is set on a track at age 11-12 with testing at 16 for qualifications and at 17-18 for A levels for university admission.

Not wanting to go into minute details about over here, but we attempt to educate all students to the same level, with university entrance established by nationally approved tests (ACT and SAT).

The entrance exams are administered to 17 year-olds normally, but they are available at any age. If you finished a secondary school course of study, which over here is a core course of study taken for 4 years (you would call it years 10-13), you can take the entrance exams at age 80 if you desire too and start university.

It is no longer unusual for people to finish law school at 50, medical school at 55-60 or for nurses to step up to MD status after 25 years on the job.

As a retired person I have the option of returning to university free of charge to pursue a degree or an advanced degree in any area of study.

Our universities are now at the point that 40% of our degree seeking students are working full time and over the age of 30. Adults entering university to improve their chances in life. They are actually showing a higher completion rate and better grade performance that the "traditional" students.

The universities have responded by offering classes in the afternoon and evenings, on Saturdays, offering compressed 3 week classes to be taken during time off from work...Also libraries and services now operate 24/7 for the returning adult students.

What is the process in GB for adults who left school at 16, that look at their lives and paychecks at age 30 and decide they have to do something and it will include a university degree, not a course at the local poly?