Kyle’s journey with Arden University

When Kyle Collins left sixth form college, university felt like a distant dream. A first-generation student from Manchester, Kyle had always been interested in business but struggled to find motivation in traditional subjects at school. Years later, his journey would take him from Arden University’s Foundation Year in Business, through a degree at the University of York, to a graduate role at IBM.

This is Kyle’s story of resilience, self-belief, and how Arden’s support gave him the foundation to succeed.

Early challenges in education

“I was never really seen as one of the top people academically in high school,” Kyle admits. “I had a handful of GCSEs, but not great grades, and while I enjoyed learning, I just wasn’t interested in the subjects being pushed at me.”

At sixth form, Kyle tried four A-levels, including business and economics, but dropped one due to the heavy workload. After the first year, he decided to leave college altogether.

“I felt like I was wasting my time. I’d always said I wasn’t going to go to university – nobody in my family had, so it just wasn’t something I imagined for myself.”

Starting work and hitting barriers

Kyle spent the next two years in business administration roles, including call centre work and reprographics. “I thought I was on the path to becoming a businessperson. I grew up watching The Apprentice and Dragons’ Den. But I kept hitting walls. Without a degree, people didn’t trust me with bigger responsibilities. That’s when I realised I’d need university to progress.”

The problem was his grades. “With my A-level results, most universities wouldn’t consider me. Arden was the only one that was willing to take a chance on me.”

Finding a foundation at Arden

In 2019, Kyle enrolled on Arden University’s Business degree with a Foundation Year, studying at the Manchester study centre. “It was pivotal for me. Doing one subject I actually cared about, in a blended format, really reignited my interest in learning.”

Kyle quickly adapted to the routine of lectures, assignments, and blended study. “I didn’t even own a laptop when I started. Arden got me back into the flow of education, of handing in assignments on time, speaking up in class, and just learning how to learn again.”

The small class sizes and community feel were also a boost. “At Arden, you know the lecturers and the people on the front desk. You can have one-on-one conversations and ask questions directly. I don’t think I would have coped going straight into a big university with hundreds in a lecture hall.”

He finished his Foundation Year with 65%, a mark that gave him new confidence and opened the door to future opportunities.

Moving on to York

Despite his progress, applying through UCAS was difficult because his Arden Foundation Year didn’t generate points in the system. Kyle had to apply directly to universities, explaining his modules and grades. “Most rejected me. But the University of York, a Russell Group uni with a strong business school, accepted me. That was massive.”

At York, Kyle studied Business and Management, later securing an internship at IBM. “I’d never even heard of internships before Arden. Doing research, I realised they were key to standing out. York gave me the chance to apply, and I landed a year-long placement in London.”

From intern to graduate role

Kyle’s year at IBM was challenging. “I was surrounded by senior leaders with teams of 20 or 30. At first, I felt I had no value to add. It was a real test of imposter syndrome. But I kept pushing myself to learn.”

His efforts paid off. Within months, Kyle won several national awards, including the Amazon Reinvent Award, which saw him flown to Las Vegas as a “future technology leader.”

“That was surreal,” he says. “I had no tech background, but I think people resonated with my story and determination.”

At the end of his internship, there was no guarantee of a job. “The team I’d worked in wasn’t hiring graduates. But because I’d built a reputation across IBM – even through things like LinkedIn – another team offered me a graduate role.”

Kyle graduated from York with a 2:1 and returned to IBM full-time as a Technology Consultant, where he now works in hybrid cloud and data services.

Lessons learned

Looking back, Kyle sees Arden as the turning point. “Arden gave me a second chance when no one else would. It reset my relationship with learning and gave me the confidence to aim higher. Without that Foundation Year, I wouldn’t have made it to York or IBM.”

He also values the diverse student mix at Arden. “My brother’s friend even ended up in one of my classes! But beyond that, having people of different ages and backgrounds made me realise university isn’t about age or status. We were all learners together.”

Advice for others

Kyle has plenty of advice for students in similar positions.

• On confidence: “Don’t let bad grades define you. University might feel out of reach, but there are routes like Arden’s Foundation Year that can get you there.”
• On internships: “They’re game changers. Even if it feels intimidating, apply for them because they open doors you don’t even know exist.”
• On networking: “I used to think networking wasn’t for me. But it’s just about talking to people, being genuine. One casual chat at IBM turned into a million-pound account, just because I took the time to connect.”
• On resilience: “You’ll face imposter syndrome. I still do. But keep pushing. Every achievement builds confidence for the next step.”

Find out how you can follow in Kyle’s footsteps by enrolling on a foundation degree with Arden University here.