Isobel Ritchie

“I took away the belief that it’s never too late to start again and that there are different paths to success. LMC helped me regain my confidence and showed me that with the right support and effort, I could not only achieve my goals but exceed them. The experience taught me resilience, independence, and the importance of using the tools and resources available to me."

After a break from education, Isobel returned to learning through the Access to HE Diploma at LMC and quickly found her stride. She achieved Distinctions across all modules, rediscovered her passion for Psychology, and built a strong foundation of academic skills and confidence. Since finishing her Access course Isobel is progressing to university, and is focused on developing her research and critical thinking abilities, with aspirations for a future career in Psychology.

Isobel studied the Access to HE Diploma at LMC from 2024 to 2025, following a three-year break from education. After two unsuccessful attempts to return to learning, she found the course to be a turning point. The modules were genuinely engaging for her, and she was particularly interested in Psychological Investigation and Planning & Carrying Out Research in Sociology. The course structure, tutor support, and detailed feedback helped Isobel rebuild her academic skills and confidence.

“I chose to study at LMC after finding the Access to HE Diploma online. The course description stood out to me straight away and just felt right. I was looking for a way back into education that didn’t rely on exams, which I’ve always struggled with due to having ADHD. The coursework and personal development-focused nature of the course allowed me to learn what I was studying instead of merely retain information for an exam. It offered a clear, supported route into university, which was something I didn’t realise was still even on the cards for me.”

During her time at LMC, Isobel developed essential academic skills including essay writing, Harvard referencing, and reading journal articles. She also improved her time management and built a strong work ethic. Beyond academics, she gained confidence and became more receptive to feedback, using it to grow. These skills and behaviours will be key to her success at university and in the future career.

“I really enjoyed the hands-on nature of the research modules and having the freedom to choose what I wrote about in many assignments. Also, the creativity that was put into the lessons by my tutors was invaluable to keeping me engaged. I connected well with my peers, who had all felt similar struggles but were ready to succeed. One of my proudest moments was my presentation, Public speaking used to be something I really struggled with, but with encouragement from Laura and my classmates, it went really well, and being able to speak about something I’m passionate about made it even better.”

The course gave Isobel both the qualifications and the confidence to progress to university, marking a significant professional milestone. It also helped her uncover a passion for Psychology and develop key skills in research, writing, and critical thinking, all skills she plans to carry forward into her future career. Overall, the Access to HE Diploma provided a strong foundation for her academic and professional journey.

“I took away the belief that it’s never too late to start again and that there are different paths to success. LMC helped me regain my confidence and showed me that with the right support and effort, I could not only achieve my goals but exceed them. The experience taught me resilience, independence, and the importance of using the tools and resources available to me.

The course is challenging, and it does require commitment, but it’s also one of the most rewarding things I’ve done. You’re given so much support, and the tutors genuinely want to see you succeed. If you’re willing to put the effort in, you’ll come out of it not just with qualifications but with real confidence and skills you’ll carry forward. A year ago, I never imagined I’d be where I am now. I recommend the course, especially if you’ve struggled with traditional education or feel like you’ve fallen behind, This course reignited my love for learning and immeasurably boosted my confidence, but most importantly, it helped me move forward after feeling stuck for so long."