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Access to Nursing

ACCESS TO NURSING (SWAP)

  • Start date:   August 2026
  • Level of Qualification:   SCQF Level 6
  • Course Type:   Full-time

ACCESS TO NURSING (SWAP)

This course provides an opportunity for students who are returning to education to gain the university entrance qualifications required for Nursing and Paramedic Science.

Please note: Applications for all Full-Time, Part-Time and Schools courses for August 2026 entry are now closed.
If you are interested in studying with us, applications for our January 2027 Full-Time Short Courses will open on 13th October 2026.

Applications for August 2027 entry will open in mid-January 2027. These courses will be showcased at our December Showcase Event, with full details available closer to the time.

Work-Based Qualifications (SVQs) still have spaces available, and applications are accepted throughout the year. For information on our available Work-Based Qualifications (SVQs) and how to apply, please visit our Work-Based Qualifications (SVQs) page.

Please check our website regularly for updates, course information and future application dates.

 

Start date – Aug 2026

End date –  Jun 2027

SCQF Level - 6

Mode –  Full time

This course is fast paced, dynamic and includes units that are relevant in the study of health care and nursing. All subjects will be taught and assessed throughout the year with no end-of-course examinations.

A combination of workbooks, practical activities, and written assessments are used to assess your level of knowledge and understanding.

Our friendly lecturing team are highly qualified and have diverse experience across health and social care including medicine, nursing, psychology, social work, and education.

Find out more about the Scottish Wider Access Programme (SWAP)

  • What the course includes

    • Medical terminology and Practical Skills 
    • Caring for People with Dementia  
    • Mental Health 
    • Social influences, values and principles 
    • Human development and behaviour 
    • Human biology units 
    • Communication, numeracy and IT 
    • Preparation for higher education 

Why choose this course

This course provides a direct pathway into our HNC Healthcare Practice course, which offers paid placement opportunities with NHS Lothian. Progression from HNC includes access to a wide range of university health degrees, with articulation into Year 2 of some nursing programmes possible if the required placement hours are achieved.

Students successfully completing this programme have progressed on to nursing and paramedic science degree programmes, as well as having also progressed onto the HNC Healthcare Practice at the college or entered employment within the Care sector. 

 

Entry requirements

Please note: This course is to prepare you for a career in health and social care

  • This is a full-time course, and you must be available for up to 5 days a week and committed in terms of attendance and engagement
  • It is essential you are able to support others
  • You will require to meet the SWAP criteria for selection- visit here for information on the SWAP Eligibility Criteria
  • Some experience in care would be an advantage 
  • You must be eligible to join the PVG scheme and must not be barred or under consideration for listing (criminal record check).   
  • You must meet the VISA requirements to study Nursing at University in Scotland and not be deemed to be an international student in relation to fees

If English is not your first language, ESOL Level 5 is the minimum however ideally your English should be at Level 6 as you need to be at Level 7 to progress to university for Nursing. 

  • Where it leads

    On successful completion you may apply to access BSc Adult, BSc Mental Health, BSc Child Health, or BSc Learning Disability Nursing (note: you cannot access BSc Midwifery directly from this course). 

    You may also apply directly to Year 1 of Paramedic Science degrees, which are one of the most popular and competitive progression routes for SWAP students. 

    Another option is to progress on to the HNC Healthcare Practice course at the college. This is ideal if you would like to gain more hands-on clinical experience and broaden your university choices. From HNC, students may apply for Midwifery (normally alongside Higher Biology or Human Biology) and allied health profession programmes such as Physiotherapy, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Radiography, Podiatry, Dietetics, Speech & Language Therapy, and Occupational Therapy. 

    Articulation into Year 2 is only available for Adult Nursing, Mental Health Nursing and Learning Disability Nursing, and requires the completion of the HNC Healthcare Practice with the necessary placement hours. 

    Students will be supported to apply through UCAS. 

    Previous students have gone on to study at the University of Stirling, University of Edinburgh, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh Napier University and Robert Gordon University. 

    Take that next step in your career and apply for this course today. If the course is not yet open for applications, feel free to ask any questions by clicking make an enquiry. 

    Whether you progress straight to university or build on your success with our HNC Healthcare Practice, this course is the first step to a rewarding career in healthcare.

Interview arrangements

Be prepared to be in college for up to three hours. 

As part of the interview process you will be invited to college to take part in a group task and a 1:1 with a member of the course team where you will be asked a few questions. 

  • What do you understand the role of a Health and Social Care Worker is, including behaviours that would be expected by the worker? 
  • What do you think makes a great student and team member? 
  • How would you deal with a situation where you have had to work with someone you didn’t like or didn’t like you? 
  • What would you do if you saw a someone being treated in a way that made you feel uncomfortable? 

We will make our selection based on your personal statement, answers to the statement and the task- your qualifications will also be checked. 

You will also take part in a group task based on the health and social care standards  Health and social care standards: my support, my life easy read version - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) 

Fees, Finance & Funding

There may be help available to assist with your study related costs. Impartial, confidential help and advice on financial matters is available from the Student Funding Team - including Bursaries, Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA), Student Awards Agency for Scotland, Student Loans Company and student support funds. Click here to find out more

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Take that next step in your career and apply for this course today. If the course is not yet open for applications, feel free to ask any questions by clicking make an enquiry.

Make an enquiry