Independent & FE College Applicants
Independent or mature students are traditionally applicants who have been out of full-time education for over three years prior to applying to university. When deciding to return to study, consideration should be given to both your choice of university plus the degree programme you intend to follow for three, four or five years. Planning is crucial and you should give yourself enough time to prepare a competititve application.
It is always useful for prospective students to check course and Faculty entrance requirements in our Prospectus. However, we do not always require mature students to offer traditional school examination passes in order to gain admission. Indeed such students may be accepted on the basis of a range of college-based qualifications so varied that it is not possible to list them all here. Nevertheless, all independent or mature students will be expected to present evidence of recent academic study and their ability to achieve good grades. Once you have an offer, you should apply for a scholarship or bursary. Applying as an Independent or mature student is a relatively straightforward process and there is a team of advisors in the Admissions team available to give you the right information to make an informed choice
Candidates should remember that applications are carefully read by the Admissions Officers and many factors are taken in to account when making offers, including the UCAS Personal Statement and Reference. Therefore no applicant is guaranteed admission on the basis of grades or qualifications alone. Every application is considered on its individual merits. Actual offers may be higher or lower than the standards published here. All applicants must also have to satisfy the Faculty Entry Requirements at Standard Grade or GCSE level or equivalent although normally these are satisfied within most SWAP Access Course curriculums. It should also be realised that the rates quoted here are subject to change depending on the volume and quality of applications submitted to the University in a given year.
Scottish Wider Access Partnership (SWAP) Access Course
SWAP access courses are designed for adult who have been out of formal education for a number of years (normally three) and who now wish to prepare themselves for going on to Higher Education. Applicants must normally offer of an A profile on the college assessed SWAP Access Course which is benchmarked at SCQF Level 6 (the same level as SQA Highers). Candidates are strongly encouraged to take one or two relevant external Higher exams which accompany the SWAP Access Course. For applicants to degree programmes in the School of Physics & Astronomy, candidates must offer a minimum of AB at Higher grade to include Mathematics and Physics. Candidates under serious consideration are likely to be interviewed. www.scottishwideraccess.org
Higher National Certificate
A Higher National Certificate (HNC) is acceptable for Admissions purposes for entry to year one of a four-year undergraduate Honours degree. The HNC should have a minimum of 96 credits at SCQF Level 7 or NCF Level 4 and the content must be relevant to the degree you intend to apply for. Applicants are expected to have a Graded Unit at 'A' to be eligible for admission. Applicants presenting an HNC must also satisfy the appropriate Faculty entry requirements. Candidates under serious consideration are likely to be interviewed and asked to supply one assessed item of coursework in advance of the interview.
Higher National Certificate: Applied Sciences (Pathway to Medicine)
Perth College and the Medical School of the University of St Andrews have a unique Memorandum of Understanding whereby up to five HNC Applied Sciences (Pathway to Medicine) students are guaranteed entry to the BSc (Hons) Medicine degree programme at the University of St Andrews providing they pass the HNC and achieve 70% in particular units. Following completion of the Medical Science degree at St Andrews, three-year clinical placements are available in hospitals in the following locations: Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Manchester . All candidates will be interviewed and must sit the UKCAT (United Kingdom Clinical Aptitude Test). This access course is specifically designed for adults who have been out of full time education for three or more years and who have not previously graduated from a degree programme. For more information please contact Perth College Admissions on 0845 270 1177 or contact the Course Team Leader: Dr Robert Boyd: Robert.boyd@uhi.perth.ac.uk
Higher National Diplomas
A Higher National Diploma (HND) will usually satisfy the entry requirements for entry to year one a four-year undergraduate Honours degree programme. The HND should be in a subject relevant to the degree being applied for and with an AB profile on the Graded Units. In exceptional circumstances, a relevant HND will be considered for entry into the second year of a degree programme. Applicants pursuing this route must achieve AA in the Graded Units plus submit two items of assessed work and attend for interview. HND qualifications will not normally be considered for third year entry. Applicants presenting an HND must also satisfy the appropriate Faculty entry requirements.
BTEC National Diploma (Level 3)
This is a unit-based qualification that focuses on particular aspects of employment within the vocational sector. As such the award offers a qualification which can extend study and provide vocational emphasis for learners. Candidates presenting with a subject relevant BTEC National Diploma (Level 3) will be expected to offer three Distinction grades for admissions purposes. School leavers would normally be expected to progress to AS and A Level qualifications or equivalent following their GCSE examinations rather than a BTEC National Diploma as it has a strong vocational rather than academic emphasis. Candidates under serious consideration are likely to be interviewed and asked to supply one assessed item of coursework in advance of any proposed interview.
Access to HE Diploma
Candidates need to achieve at least 60 credits with a minimum of 45 credits at level 3. Distinctions are required in the majority of the level 3 credits, the number of which will depend on the course choice.
Flexible study
Most University of St Andrews students are working towards a full-time degree by daytime study. However, an increasingly large number of students are now studying in a part-time mode, either during the daytime or in the evenings. Some students start their degree programmes by studying in a part-time mode, and then later become full-time students. Other students start as full-time students, and then move to part-time study because this better fits their personal circumstances. If you intend to enrol on the Part-time Evening Degree, we may even be able to give you credit for existing qualifications.
If you are thinking of applying to University after a significant period of time eg three years, we recommend you consider undertaking four SQA Highers or three A Levels in relevant academic subjects. These qualifications are internationally recognised and are presented by the majority of our applicants. They have the added advantage in that each subject is graded A,B,C etc and so your academic achievement can easily be recognised by Admissions Officers and you can benchmark your success against your fellow students. Highers and A Levels are taught in many FE and Sixth Form Colleges across the country.