- Location
- Cardonald Campus
- SCQF Level
- 6
- Start Date
- 25 Aug 2025
- Qualification Type
- NQ
- Course Type
- Full-Time
- Duration
- 1 year (August to June)
Want to work in healthcare? If you’ve been away from education for three years or more, Access to Nursing, run in partnership with Scottish Wider Access Programme (SWAP), can help you make a fresh start and progress to higher levels of study. You’ll be introduced to a broad range of science and healthcare subjects from first aid to dementia care, and develop your skills and knowledge on your way to doing a degree programme in nursing or a health-related field.
What will I learn?
The SWAP Access to Nursing course will cover the following subjects:
- First Aid
- Foundations for care practice
- The human body
- Numeracy
- Communication
- Dementia
- Understanding mental health issues
- Preparing for higher education
- Other nursing/health/science related units
Assessment will be continuous, with a mix of practical and theoretical assessments. There is no final examination.
Entry requirements (minimum)
- English/communication and numeracy skills are essential
- If English is not your first language Higher ESOL at A/B or equivalent is necessary.
Although this course has no formal entry requirements, you must have been:
- Out of education for at least three years and your highest qualification is National 5, or equivalent; OR
- Out of education for at least five years and your highest qualification is a non-related HNC
Additional Information
- You will be required to attend an information session and interview at the college
Entry requirement equivalency table
- If you do not meet the entry criteria for your chosen course, you may be offered an alternative course in the same subject area.
For further information about the Scottish Wider Access Programme (SWAP), please visit the SWAP website.
Employer and industry links
This course is delivered in partnership with Scottish wider Access Programmes (SWAP).
SWAPWest is a partnership between colleges and universities in the West of Scotland which aims to support access to higher education for adults.
Jobs and further study
Progression routes are subject to successful completion of the course. If successful you may progress to undergraduate nursing programmes and a range of HNC courses at Glasgow Clyde College. This includes:
- SWAP partnership with Glasgow Caledonian University, University of the West of Scotland and Stirling University
- HNC Healthcare Practice
- HNC Occupational Therapy Support
- HNC Social Services
- HNC Additional Support Needs
Successfully completing this course may also help achieve employment within the care sector.
Take a look at the course progression map for health care 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 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 be:
- Invited to attend an information and activity session that covers the course requirements/content/delivery, progression routes and funding. You will also be asked to participate in a small group discussion/ activity with questions and complete an individual written task. Please note: A scoring system will be used for your initial application, your participation in the activity/discussion and the written task.
- Due to the high number of applications for this course, an interview is not guaranteed and only the highest scoring candidates will be offered places.
- 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 June / July