- Location
- Langside Campus
- SCQF Level
- 7
- Start Date
- 25 Aug 2025
- Qualification Type
- HNC
- Course Type
- Full-Time
- Duration
- 1 Year (August to June)
We created this one-year course in agreement with the University of Glasgow to allow successful students to progress on to Year 2 of degree programmes within their College of Social Sciences. It’s ideal if you want to study social science subjects in a higher education setting. You’ll learn the sociological and historical factors behind societal and human behaviour, study 20th Century political and ideological conflict, and develop your critical thinking and communication skills.
What will I learn?
Through critical thinking about social and cultural issues, the HNC Social Science course seeks to develop your analytical, evaluative, problem solving and communication skills.
The HNC course provides an in-depth study of the main social science subjects including:
- Politics
- Sociology
- History
- Psychology (this will only be covered for a 12-week block of time)
- Geography
Entry requirements (minimum)
- Two SQA Higher Grade passes (minimum of one B and one C) or equivalent at one sitting. Higher grade passes must be in relevant subjects with including social subjects and English (social subjects include geography, modern studies, history, philosophy, RMPS, politics, sociology, psychology). You must have a minimum of a B grade in at least one social subject. OR
- NC Social Science Level 6 (as part of that award you must have sat an SQA Higher exam in a relevant social subject and obtained a minimum of a B grade pass); OR
- If English is not your first language, you must be able to demonstrate English language skills equivalent to IELTS 6, or have ESOL Higher A or B or Cambridge CAE
N.B. This programme is a Widening Participation initiative, and in addition to the requirements above, applicants must also meet the following criteria:
- be Scottish domiciled, residing within a target postcode area (SIMD, deciles 1-4) You can check your postcode for eligibility on the University of Glasgow’s postcode checker , or
- be care-experienced, or
- be estranged from family, or
- have caring responsibilities
(N.B. Scottish domiciled applicants must have been ordinarily resident within Scotland for three years prior to the start of their course)
If you have any questions regarding the eligibility criteria, please contact the University of Glasgow’s Articulation Development Officer, Dan Keenan, directly: daniel.keenan@glasgow.ac.uk
- All successful applicants must attend an information session and complete a short written task.
Please note that due to the high number of applicants, not all candidates who meet the minimum entry will be selected to attend an information session.
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
This course provides access to higher education degrees. These degrees enhance employment prospects in a wide range of areas including government, journalism, education, social services, the voluntary sector, and NGOs.
Articulation Routes
Second year entry to the University of Glasgow, College of Social Sciences to study:
- Politics
- Sociology
- Economic and Social History
- Central and East European Studies
- Social and Public Policy, or
- Quantitative Methods
During the HNC students will be enrolled as University of Glasgow students, benefitting from additional sessions at the university’s main campus.
To articulate to year 2 at Glasgow University you will need to achieve an 'A' in the Graded Unit, achieve all 15 credits of the HNC award and successfully complete all elements run by the University of Glasgow.
Please note: This course does not enable articulation to a psychology degree. If you're interested in this route, please apply for our HND Social Sciences.
Jobs and further study
If you are not successful in articulating from the HNC, you may be able to stay on and complete an HND Social Sciences and then apply to:
- 1st year entry / 2nd year entry at the University of Glasgow
- 1st Year entry at University of Strathclyde
- 3rd year entry at Glasgow Caledonian University (please note Glasgow Caledonian University accept 2nd year entry with an HNC and an 'A' in the Graded Unit)
- 2nd year entry at University of the West of Scotland and Stirling University depending on Graded Unit results and references.
- BA Combined Social Science with the Open University
Please note that these alternate progression routes may change and it is your responsibility to check with each individual institution.
Take a look at the course progression map for social science 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?
When you apply
You'll 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:
- Invited to book a group information session where you will be asked to do a short written task. Selection for information session will depend on the quality of your application form, so please ensure that your form is fully completed and detailed. The form should give information about your qualifications, interests and personal attributes, and if possible, give reasons why you are interested in studying to work in Social Science.
- 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 a one-to-one 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.