NQ Social Care General (Level 5)
- Location
- Cardonald Campus
- SCQF Level
- 5
- Start Date
- 26 Jan 2026
- Qualification Type
- NQ
- Course Type
- Short Full-Time
- Duration
- 18 weeks (January to June)
Applications open Monday 20th October 2025
Could you be the person who makes someone's day better? If you'd like a rewarding career helping people and making a real difference to their lives, this short 18-week full-time course will get you started. The care sector makes up around 1 in 13 jobs in Scotland and has been growing steadily for the past two decades. That means there are genuine opportunities out there for people who care.
You'll gain a solid introduction to everything that goes into a caring role. From understanding people's needs and behaviours to keeping them safe from harm, you'll develop the communication skills and knowledge you need to support a broad range of people in social care settings.
What will I learn?
During this NQ Social Care General (Level 5) course you'll learn:
- Human development and behaviour
- Social influences
- Understanding mental health issues
- Working with individuals with additional support needs
- Influences on mental health and wellbeing
- Recognising, responding and reporting abuse
- Challenging behaviour in a care setting
You'll also have ongoing tutorial guidance sessions.
Entry requirements (minimum)
- Three National Qualifications at Level 4, or equivalent, one of which must be English, although History or Modern Studies will also be accepted; OR
- Sucessful completion of an entry level social care course (Level 4)
- Applications are also invited from those without formal qualifications but who have relevant life and/or care work experience
- You should be aged 16 by the start date of the course.
- Applications will be considered by personal statement, qualifications and a suitable supporting reference.
The Scottish Credit and Qualifications (SCQF) Framework can help you to check if you're choosing the right level of study. Take a look at the SCQF Interactive Framework here.
If you do not meet the entry criteria for your chosen course, you may be offered an alternative course in the same subject area.
Employer and industry links
The social care department has excellent links with care providers and organisations who provide us with valuable insight into current care practices, and you may have the opportunity to visit relevant sites as well as hear from expert care practitioners.
Jobs and further study
If you successfully complete this course you can progress to Advanced Social Care (Level 6) starting at Glasgow Clyde College in August.
You could also gain employment within the care sector as a Support Worker or Care Worker.
What's the best that could happen? No matter whether you become a care assistant, a counsellor or a social care service manager, a job in social care or counselling means you’ll get a real sense of achievement from your work, and you’ll go home every day knowing you made a difference.
Take a look at the course progression map for social care and counselling courses.
I've applied — what happens next?
When you apply
You will receive an automated email confirming that we have received your application (remember to check your SPAM folder).
Your application will be reviewed by the admissions team and you will either be:
- Made a direct offer (unconditional or conditional)
- Invited to book an interview session
- Advised that your application is unsuccessful – you have not met the entry requirements for this course and are advised to contact the College Student Advice Centres to discuss alternative options which may be available to you.
- We aim not to reject an application and if you don’t meet the entry requirements you may be referred to a different course or level.
If you are invited to interview, you will be informed of the outcome of your interview by email within 14 working days. The outcome will be one of the following:
- Unconditional offer of a place – you have met all the entry requirements and your place is guaranteed. You will be required to accept this offer to secure your place.
- Conditional offer of a place – your place is secured pending you meeting the entry requirements. This may mean achieving school or college qualifications which you may not be able to provide to us yet. You will be required to accept this offer to secure your conditional place. Once your conditions are met this will change to an unconditional offer of a place which you must accept before you can enrol on the course.
- Waiting list – you have met all entry requirements, and have been interviewed however, the course is now full so you have been placed on a waiting list. If any spaces become available you may be contacted, usually around the course start date. We would advise that you also consider other application options.
- Reserve list – following your interview, you have unfortunately not been successful in this round of recruitment. We have placed your name on a Reserve list and your application may be reconsidered at a later date. This could happen any time up to the start date of the course but it is very possible that you will not be offered a place. We would advise that you also consider other application options.
- Unsuccessful – your interview has been unsuccessful. You may be offered a place on a course at a different level, or advised to contact the College Student Advice Centres to discuss alternative options which may be available to you.
Once an offer is received, you must reply within 14 working days or risk losing your place, as the system will automatically decline your offer after 14 days.
Once you have accepted your offer, you will be sent out instructions about student funding, joining instructions and induction date. This will normally be sent out in December / January.