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Access programmes in Scotland

These are courses for people with few or no qualifications who want to go on to study for an HND or degree. Most of these courses are run through the Scottish Wider Access Programme (SWAP). Although most SWAP programmes are one-year, full-time programmes run by universities and colleges, there are many programmes available on a part-time or flexible-learning basis.

On an access programme, you will be able to look at the different options and prepare for the methods of teaching and learning that each will involve. Your progress is usually monitored by continuous assessment, but some courses do have examinations. The SWAP programmes provide additional guidance to students in preparing for higher education. They provide a broad curriculum of study in areas of social sciences, education, science, technology, nursing, medical and health studies. If you successfully complete the SWAP programme and receive a satisfactory reference from the college, then you will be guaranteed a place on a degree programme. The guarantee will not necessarily be for your first choice of study. Access programmes run by specific universities may guarantee an interview for that university, or in some cases, a place.

Things to consider

A number of colleges and other institutions have courses which prepare you for further study, but are not aimed at higher education. It is important to check that the access programme is acceptable for the course of study you have chosen. Ask about the progression routes from the course you are studying to ensure you are on the correct programme. For example, if you contact SWAP, they will make sure you are on the correct programme before you start.

It is advisable to undertake some study prior to starting the course. This could be a subject related to the access course or general study skills. You can get advice on this from the college or university where the access course is run.

For most full-time access courses, it is possible to get funding. Ask for an appointment at the college to discuss finance before you start.

Newbattle Abbey College, Scotland's only adult residential college, offers a one-year, full-time access programme. Grants are normally available for this.

Further options

The Open University runs a series of short introductory programmes through their Openings Programme which are designed to prepare you for level 1 of Open University undergraduate study. Each course covers a different subject area and gives access to an Open University course in that subject area.

If you are unsure about what to study, there are pre-access courses where you can find out more about a range of subjects to help you to decide. These courses can also be a good way of building up your confidence and finding out if you will enjoy studying.

Further information about Access to Higher Education programmes in Scotland can be obtained from:

Scottish Wider Access Programme

t: 0800 7310949 - this number automatically directs callers to the appropriate regional SWAP Office.

(West and Central Access Consortium)
300 Cathedral Street
Glasgow
G1 2TA

t: 0141 553 2471
e: swapwest@btconnect.com
w: www.scottishwideraccess.org

SWAP: East

25 Buccleuch Place
Edinburgh
EH8 9LN

t: 0131 650 6861
e: swap.east@ed.ac.uk
w: www.scottishwideraccess.org

SWAP: North

The Administrator
The North Forum
FG10 Faculty of Education
University of Aberdeen
Hilton Place
Aberdeen
AB24 3FX

t: 01224 283694
w: www.scottishwideraccess.org

Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF)

The SCQF has been created by bringing together all the mainstream Scottish qualifications into a single unified framework.

The aims and benefits of the SCQF include:

• increasing understanding of the qualifications system;
• showing the relationship of qualifications to one another;
• assisting learners to plan their progress from one qualification to the next
• facilitating the transfer of relevant credits gained from one qualification towards another qualification;
• helping employers plan training for employees;
• establishing links with other framework developments across the UK and also in Europe to facilitate cross-border credit transfer.

The SCQF was developed and is being established jointly by the organisations in Scotland that have prime responsibility for qualifications: QAA, Universities Scotland, SQA and the Scottish Executive. These Development Partners established a Joint Advisory Committee (JAC) to provide a means whereby they could continue to work together on the development and maintenance of the framework.

The SCQF builds on and replaces the Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer system (SCOTCAT). The underlying principle to the SCQF is that learning, defined by learning outcomes that have been or could be assessed and externally quality-assured, should be able to be credit-rated. Building on this principle, the SCQF provides the context in Scotland through which the transfer of appropriate specific credit can take place within and between HEIs and between FE colleges and HEIs.

The framework has 12 levels covering a range of qualifications from Access 1 (National Qualification) to HE Doctorate. The framework is displayed in the table below. SCQF credit points are used to quantify learning, to show clearly how 'large' a qualification is. All required learning is taken into consideration. The SCQF works on the basis that each point is awarded for every notional 10 hours of learning, which includes both programmed and independent study. Each qualification in the framework has been allocated a number of general SCQF points, based on the total credit value of the component parts of the qualification. (SCQF points should not be confused with UCAS Tariff points, which may be used by some HEIs when making offers.)

SCQF credit points and levels are used in programme design, setting entrance requirements and as a basis for credit transfer. This approach facilitates broad comparability of achievement and should make it easier for HEIs to award specific credit for direct entry to the programme or for entry into the later stages of first or subsequent years.

Please note that in the table below, Access 1 and 2 are SQA national qualifications which are usually taken at school and not run through the SWAP programme referred to earlier.

Further information on SCQF is available from:

Margaret Cameron - SCQF Project Manager

Room HO37
William Harley Building
Glasgow Caledonian University
70 Cowcaddens Road
Glasgow
G4 0BA

t: 0141 331 3303
e: m.cameron@scqf.org.uk
w: www.scqf.org.uk

QAA Scottish Office

183 St Vincent Street
Glasgow
G2 5QD

t: 0141 572 3420
e: d.bottomley@qaa.ac.uk