Student Story: From 1 GCSE to University Graduate

Imagine leaving school and trying to start your career with just one GCSE. For Jason, from Belfast, this was reality. He initially pursued a plumbing apprenticeship after finishing school, hoping it would be the right fit, but soon realised his true passion lay elsewhere, engineering.

On 9 June, Jason will be at The Open University (OU) Degree Ceremony in Belfast, celebrating his success and his Bachelor of Engineering degree. He’s been on quite the journey to get to this point.

"I think leaving school with 1 GCSE, growing up in a council estate, and no one in my family having attended university before, people didn't expect much from me. So achieving this degree and the path itself is a massive achievement," shared Jason.

“Leaving school, it dawned on me I needed to do something I enjoyed and make a good living from.”

“I tried an apprenticeship in plumbing but quickly found out it wasn’t for me. I tried again and joined an engineering course and loved it!”

During his studies Jason faced major life events, including moving homes and changing jobs.

"I have moved home once and changed jobs twice during this period. The flexibility The Open University allows works around your personal situation, so it was fairly straightforward.”

With the help of dedicated tutors and the OU’s expertise in supported distance learning, Jason has managed to fit his studies around his life and open up pathways he once thought impossible.

“The resources were excellent; the OU library was a valuable and comprehensive source of information. The teaching materials were well laid out and easy to follow.”

"If you're thinking about studying with The Open University, make sure it's what YOU want. Have a clear idea in your head of how this benefits you, your life, and your career. Have a clear plan on how this will affect your life, both now and in the future.”

"If this isn't for you, there may be another course that is. If you aren't enjoying the course, talk to someone—your classmates, tutor, or family. It can be difficult, but The Open University offers great support routes."

OU study is available to anyone with a desire to learn, regardless of previous qualifications, and this ‘openness’ has changed Jason’s career trajectory who now works as a Project Engineer in Larne.

“It cements my status as an engineer and opens to door to a lot more job opportunities. My current role required a degree level candidate.”

Looking back on his journey, Jason is delighted with his accomplishment, when asked what his proudest achievement was he simply stated, "Going from 1 GCSE to a degree."