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Access to Nursing

ACCESS TO NURSING (SWAP)

  • Start date:   August 2025
  • 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. 

 

Start date – Aug 2025

End date –  Jun 2026

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.

  • 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

Students successfully completing this programme have articulated on to nursing degree programmes or HNC Health Care Practice or 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. https://www.scottishwideraccess.org/national-is-swap-for-me
  • 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

    Education: On successful completion you may apply to access BSc Adult, BSc Mental Health, BSc Child Health, BSc Learning Disability branches of nursing (note: you cannot access BSc Midwifery from this course).

    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. 

Interview arrangements

Be prepared to be in college for up to 3 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.

We will make our selection based on your personal 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.

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