Our Programmes
All of our programmes are full-time (18-21 hours in class per week), are delivered by local colleges and run from August to June. The subjects studied depends on both the course and the college, but the majority of the units will be at SCQF level 6 (Higher level). Students are assessed on their performance throughout the year.
Those who complete the programme are each awarded a profile grading that reflects their individual performance. Any university offers you may receive will be conditional on you achieving a specific profile grading.
You can read more about profile grades here.
Those who complete the programme are each awarded a profile grading that reflects their individual performance. Any university offers you may receive will be conditional on you achieving a specific profile grading.
You can read more about profile grades here.
SWAP West Programmes By Subject Area
There are access programmes covering a wide range of subjects. These can be grouped into the following broad categories:
Access to Humanities / Social Sciences*
Some (but not all) Humanities programmes also offer opportunities to apply for Social Work or Primary Education
Access to Chemistry & Biology /Life Sciences / Biological Sciences*
Access to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths)*
Access to Health Studies – Radiography, Optometry, Physiotherapy, OT, Podiatry & Dietetics*
Access to Nursing*
Access to Medical Studies
Access to Paramedic Science
Access to Childhood Practice
Access to Law & Business
Please note that Access to Languages programmes are only offered in the east of Scotland, at Edinburgh College.
NB: Programmes marked with (*) are offered at a number of different partner colleges. Each college offers a unique selection of SWAP programmes, and programmes do vary from college to college. If you are planning to apply for a professional degree course at university (e.g. Primary Education, Social Work or certain Allied Health courses), you should check that your preferred college offers progression to those degree programmes. You can do that in the first instance by downloading the SWAPWest programme guide , but also by asking the college to which you plan to apply, and/or by contacting SWAPWest office on 0141 564 7206 for clarification.
Visit our Partners page for more information.
If you are based in the East of Scotland, or wish to go on to study at a university there, go to the SWAP East section for details of access programmes running in that area.
SWAP West Programmes by College
The table below shows which access programmes are currently on offer at each partner college.
| College | SWAP Access Programme | |
| Ayrshire College | Access to Nursing (Ayr, Kilmarnock & Kilwinning) Access to STEM (Kilmarnock) Access to Life Science (biology and chemistry) (Kilmarnock) Access to Childhood Practice Access to Paramedic Science (Kilmarnock) | |
| Dumfries & Galloway College | Access to Nursing Access to Social Science | |
| Glasgow Clyde College | Access to Humanities / Primary Education (Anniesland & Langside) Access to Life Sciences (Langside & Cardonald) Access to Allied Health Professions (Physio, OT and podiatry – Cardonald) Access to Medical Studies (Anniesland) Access to Nursing (Anniesland, Langside & Cardonald) | |
| Glasgow Kelvin College | Access to Humanities / Primary Education (Easterhouse & Springburn) Access to Life Science (Springburn) Access to Allied Health Professions (Radiography, Optometry, Podiatry & Dietetics – Springburn) Access to Medical Studies (Springburn) Access to STEM (Springburn) Access to Nursing (Easterhouse, East End & Springburn) Access to Paramedic Science | |
| New College Lanarkshire | Access to Social Science and Education (Cumbernauld & Motherwell) Access to Social Work AAccess to Paramedic Science (Motherwell) Access to Nursing (Cumbernauld, Coatbridge & Motherwell) | |
| South Lanarkshire College | Access to Nursing Access to Health Sciences Access to Social Work We run a number of January and Fast track programmes at SLC. Please contact the college for further information. | |
UHI Argyll College | Access to Nursing | |
| West College Scotland | Access to Humanities / Primary Education (Clydebank, Greenock & Paisley) Access to Life Science (Paisley) Access to Nursing (Clydebank, Greenock and Paisley) Access to Paramedic Science (Paisley) New 2 year medical studies (Clydebank) |
How to apply
To apply to any of our programmes, you should apply directly to the college at which you want to study via their online application system.
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