NQ Social Care Practice (Level 6)
- Location
- Cardonald Campus
- SCQF Level
- 6
- 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
This is an 18-week full time course which introduces the key social subjects related to the care sector, which makes up around 1 in 13 jobs in Scotland and has been steadily growing over the past two decades. So, if you’d like a rewarding career in a social care setting, helping people, and making a positive difference to their lives, this 18-week course will get you started.
You’ll gain a solid introduction to everything that goes into a caring role and how it can help a broad range of service users - from understanding people’s needs and behaviours, to keeping people safety from harm and communication skills. This course is for anyone who has an interest in people and understanding why people behave the way they do.
What will I learn?
During this NQ Social Care Practice (Level 6) course you'll study subjects including:
- Human development and behaviour
- Values and principles
- Substance misuse
- Counselling theory for practice
You'll also have ongoing guidance sessions, and a social care placement experience which includes the completion of two SVQ Level 2 units.
Entry requirements (minimum)
- You should have three National 5 qualifications, or equivalent, one of which must be English (although History or Modern Studies will also be accepted); OR
- Access to Social Care (Level 5, or equivalent social care qualification.
- You should be aged 16 by the course start date.
- We welcome your application if you dont have formal qaulification but have relevant life and/or work experience.
If you do not meet the entry criteria for your chosen course, you may be offered an alternative course in the same subject area.
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.
Employer and industry links
The social care section 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.
As a result of these long-standing links to the social care sector and social care providers, which enables us to access positive and rewarding social care placements for our NQ 6 and HNC level courses.
Jobs and further study
If you successfully complete this course you could progress to HNC Social Services starting in August at Glasgow Clyde College.
You could also find employment within the care sector as a Support Worker or Care Worker.
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.
The social care sector in Scotland makes up 7.1% of all employment, roughly 1 in 13 jobs, and has been steadily growing since 2008. (Source: Scottish Social Services Council).
Take a look at the course progression map for social care and counselling courses.
Making an application
For courses starting in August, you can make up to two applications.
Applications are made to a course and a first choice of campus. If the course is oversubscribed at your first choice you will be automatically considered for alternative sites and may be made an offer without a further application.
I've applied — what happens next?
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.