Newcastle's scheme is new but by no means unique. Dundee University has been running an access summer school for eight years, during which time more than 500 students have benefited. Some are dyslexics whose condition was not diagnosed while they were at school, or people with long-term health conditions or other problems such as homelessness. Typically they start out with only half the necessary level of academic qualifications to be accepted onto a course at Dundee. At the end of the free 11-week summer school there is a final examination.
Students often do sign up for courses without really realising what they are.
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