How I Got Into University of London Without A-Levels (And Why I Quit Later)

After Matric, I never finished Intermediate. I never took A-Levels. I never got a high school diploma either. But in 2019, I still got into the University of London’s Computer Science degree. I also left it halfway. This is the story of why I chased a formal degree and why I walked away from it.

My background: Working after Matric

I finished my Matriculation in 2014.

No Intermediate. No A-Levels. No diploma.

By the time I graduated from 10th grade, I was already working as a web developer. Financial needs made it necessary. While my classmates were enrolling in colleges, I was balancing client deadlines and project deliveries.

I tried, twice, to complete ICS (Intermediate of Computer Science), first in 2014 and then again in 2016. But work always won. Quitting felt like survival, not failure.

Finding an alternative: The unexpected path

By 2018, a nagging thought returned: should I get a formal degree?

The traditional route would have cost me six years (two for Intermediate, four for Bachelor’s). I started looking for shortcuts.

U.S. universities sometimes only required SATs for foreign students. I even began preparing, dreaming of MIT. But the reality of enormous tuition costs, distant travel, and complex visa processes made it feel out of reach.

One evening while browsing Coursera, I stumbled onto something different: University of London BSc Computer Science + Distance Learning Program + Performance-Based Admission.

No A-Levels needed. No SATs. No Intermediate. Just enroll, complete a few modules, and you’re fully admitted.

It felt like a door had opened that wasn’t supposed to exist.

I applied the same day.

One of my clients kindly provided a reference letter (Thank you Tom!). Within weeks, I had an offer in my inbox.

No interviews. No entry tests. Just my application and proof of work ethic.

Studying while freelancing: A rough ride

I officially started in October 2019.

At the time, freelancing was my main gig. I thought I could easily juggle studies with work.

And initially, I could.

The course material was delivered through Coursera. Exams were formal and structured by the university.

Here’s a snapshot of my results:

• Passed 7 modules out of 22.
• Average passing percentage: 69.7%

But I had bad study habits.

Often, I only opened coursera a week before exams. It wasn’t that the material was too hard, it was the lack of time and focus. And during this time, I even failed 2 modules (one of them because I forgot about the exam date :facepalm:).

Still, progress felt good.

Until it didn’t.

Why I quit: Life moved faster than the degree

In 2020, I accepted the CTO role at Designsvalley. That later became Webzeto. And then we incorporated in US as well in 2021.

And since then, my workload exploded.

• Managing developers
• Handling clients
• Hiring new team members
• Solving project issues

The degree became the background noise I promised I’d “get back to next semester.”

I never officially “dropped out.” I just skipped registering for modules. Semester after semester.

It was inertia, not a decision.

Eventually, I stopped lying to myself.

Reflections: No regrets about skipping the degree

Sometimes, I regret not completing it. Not because it would have helped my career. Just because finishing what you start matters.

But here’s the thing: I don’t regret not having a bachelor’s degree.

Not even a little.

In practical life, skills are the currency, not certificates. Or at least in entrepreneur / freelancer life.

If I could rewind time, I wouldn’t enroll in the first place. I’d spend that time deepening my skills, building more projects, and growing faster.

Advice to anyone considering a similar path

• Degrees are nice, but not necessary. If you can afford it and you want the experience, go for it. But don’t treat it like a golden ticket.
• Skills come first. In an era where AI is reshaping industries, real developers who understand systems, architecture, and problem-solving are still desperately needed.
• Think about your end goal. If you want to work for Google, a degree might still be worth it. If you want to freelance, build products, or start a company, skills and proof of work matter more.

Degrees are trophies, not tools you can use in real life.

Final thoughts

Getting into the University of London without A-Levels was proof that there’s more than one way to succeed.

Leaving the degree unfinished taught me something even more important: you have to know what game you’re playing.

And sometimes, quitting the wrong game is how you win the right one.