An adult student from Penzance has been awarded a scholarship for academic excellence after receiving exceptional grades on her pre-university access course.

After completing the ‘Access to Higher Education: Humanities’ course at Penwith College and achieving distinctions in all her coursework, Emily Tibbles has been awarded the Academic Excellence 2021/2022 Scholarship through the University of Kent.

Emily, who is hoping to become a teacher, is studying BA (Hons) Liberal Arts at the University of Kent and claims that progressing to university hadn’t even crossed her mind until staff at Penwith College helped her to realise her potential.

Starting on a programme of A Levels made up of Sociology, Geography and a Music Certificate, where she also achieved highly, getting an A, B and Distinction, Emily then moved onto the Access course to help her determine if university was for her.

Emily said: "When I did my A Levels, I was very worried about the thought of going to university.

"I’m glad I re-enrolled at the College to do the Access course.

"It had a lot to offer and I was able to study a range of subjects and it prepared me well to get to where I am now.

Falmouth Packet: Emily Tibbles has been awarded the Academic Excellence 2021/2022 Scholarship through the University of Kent. Emily Tibbles has been awarded the Academic Excellence 2021/2022 Scholarship through the University of Kent.

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"I don’t know if I would’ve completed my courses, let alone gone to university, without the amazing help and support that I received at the College both academically and personally."

Emily now hopes to continue studying so she can train to become a teacher and then work abroad teaching English and says she is enjoying being a student representative for politics and international relations as well as a member of the German Society and the Music Society, where she plays bass clarinet and alto saxophone.

Vanessa Hager, Humanities Access Course Leader at Truro and Penwith College, said: "Emily was a star student, whose attitude to her studies was truly inspiring.

"She was always exceptionally generous in supporting her fellow students and enriched the course in so many ways."

Emily’s advice to future students who aren’t sure if university is for them, is: "It’s okay to change your mind and be unsure.

"You don’t have to go to university straight away, if it all.

"On my Access course there was a wide range of people of different ages and stages in life.

"Do what’s best for you and what makes you feel comfortable and happy."