Humanities - Psychology: Access

Course overview

Are you interested in becoming a teacher, social worker or psychologist, but lack the qualifications to get into university? Or perhaps you’d like to study politics, history, literature, law or business, but it’s been a while since you were a student and you’re not sure how you would cope.

If you would like to go to university and if it’s been at least three years since you were in full-time education, we’ve got the perfect place for you to start!

The SWAP Access to Humanities programme is designed to help you get ready for university even if you’ve been away from education for many years. Successful completion also provides you with a qualification for entry to university. Our partners include:  

• Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU)

• University of Glasgow

• University of Stirling

• University of Strathclyde

• University of the West of Scotland (UWS)

What you will learn

• A range of social science subjects, including psychology, sociology, history, politics, geography, and philosophy

• Communications (English) and literature at Higher level

• National 5 Application of Maths

• Preparation for Higher Education (Prep for HE), including support to develop ICT and academic research skills

Assessment types include essays, reports, class-based tests, group discussions and presentations at the end of each unit, rather than big exams at the end of the year.

Entry requirements

• No qualifications are required to apply for this course; however, you must have good communication skills, which may be tested during the application process.

• When you apply, please let us know how long it has been since you were last enrolled as a full-time student in school or college

• In the personal statement section of the application, please tell us:

  • What is your goal in terms of a future career or university course?  

  • What skills or personal qualities do you have that would make you a successful student?

  • What challenges do you think you might face in being a full-time student again and what strategies could you use to cope?

  • Tell us the title of the last book you read and what you learned from it (or what you enjoyed most about it).

• If your application is successful, we’ll ask you to complete a written task (online) and book a date to meet with us on campus for the second stage of the process. We’ll let you know shortly after our meeting if we can offer you a place.

• Recent School Leavers: If you have been enrolled in high school within the last three years, you are not eligible for this course. If you are unsure, you can check your eligibility by contacting SWAPWest directly via 

For this course, if English is not your first language

• you need to have SQA ESOL Higher (or equivalent, click here to see equivalent qualifications)

• If you do not have a formal ESOL qualification but your language skills meet this level, you should apply for your course and then contact our Admissions team to organise an internal language assessment  here at the College.

Future prospects

This course offers opportunities to progress to university degree courses in primary teaching, secondary teaching, social work, psychology, history, sociology, social and public policy, community education, law, business, marketing, criminal justice, philosophy, English literature, local authority and civil service, heritage and tourism, and NGO/third sector, among many others.