Different routes into higher education in Scotland
There are a number of different routes into Scottish higher education for adults.
Adults who are aged 21 and over are called 'mature students'. However for funding purposes, 'mature students' are adults aged 25 and over.
After leaving school you may already have gained qualifications that will enable you to start on a higher education course in a college or university. Using previous study in this way is called credit transfer.
You may also be able to use previous workplace or professional experience through a system called recognition of prior learning (RPL).
Universities, and in some cases colleges too, require you to have qualifications equivalent to Scottish Highers or A levels. You may be able to study for these exams at your local college.
You may have obtained further education qualifications like an HNC or HND from one of Scotland's Colleges. These can be used to enter higher education. As a result, many colleges have formal arrangements with individual universities to enable students to move from HNC or HND study to undergraduate study. Click here for further information.
Routes that do not require previous qualifications
The Open University is a distance learning institution with no formal entry requirements. The Open University's Openings courses are designed for adults who have no educational qualifications or who have not studied for a long time.
The Scottish Wider Access Programme (SWAP) is a partnership of all the colleges and universities of Scotland, working together to provide routes into higher education for adults. SWAP offers a programme of preparation for students with few or no qualifications, or with qualifications that are out of date. The one year SWAP programme is open to mature students who have been out of full-time education for at least three years. Successful completion provides entry to HN and degree courses. For further information and advice, contact the SWAP office on 0800 7310949.
Many universities and colleges run a variety of access courses and summer schools as a means of preparing students for study at higher education level. As the format and timing of these courses varies, you are advised to contact individual institutions for detailed information.
Summer schools provide an opportunity to study a course intensively over a short period of time, usually over several weeks during the summer.