Access to Higher Education
Key Information
APPLICATIONS FOR 2025-26 ARE NOW OPEN
Credits: 40 at SCQF Level 7 (20 per Access subject)
Cost: £580 (£290 per Access subject)
Funding: Funding options available- please see Funding section below
Delivery: Online
Eligibility: See criteria below
Entry requirements: No formal qualifications are required for entry to most Access subjects. The only exception being certain science subjects which require a relevant qualification at Nat5 level or above. Further details below
Time commitment: Minimum of 15-17 hours per week including live class time and independent study time.
Our Access to Higher Education programme offers a pathway into a university degree for those who may not have the standard entry qualifications required for undergraduate study.
What is Access to Higher Education?
Our Access to Higher Education Programme offers a part-time, flexible route to degree study for adults returning to education, or those who meet our Widening Participation eligibility criteria. Access at the University of Glasgow can enable progression on to our professional degree programmes, including Nursing, Primary Education and Law, or into a wide range of degrees across the Arts, Social Sciences, Sciences and Engineering.
We offer a wide range of academic subjects on Access, with students taking two relevant subjects to allow them to progress on to their degree of choice. In addition to their two Access subjects, students will engage in our Skills, Support and Progression programme. This class is delivered for one hour a week every fortnight, and will give students the knowledge and skills required to succeed on Access and to successfully progress onto undergraduate study.
Students who study on our Access Programme will recieve a UofG student number and student card, a UofG email account, access to our Virtual Learning Environment (Moodle) and full use of the incredible UofG Library.
Who is Access for?
Our Access to Higher Education programme is there to provide a route into undergraduate degree study for those who have been out of formal education for three years or more. If you have not been out of formal education for three years or more, you would still be eligible for Access if you meet one (or more) of the following Widening Participation criteria.
In order to be eligible for on Access, students must meet one of the following criteria:
- Been out of formal education for three years or more
- Reside in an SIMD decile 1-4 postcode area (applicants can check their eligibility on the University of Glasgow’s Postcode Checker
- Be care-experienced
- Be estranged and living without family support
- Have caring responsibilities
- Have Refugee or Asylum Seeker status
We would also welcome inquiries from those who faced extenuating circumstances during their education, and who do not have the relevant qualifications for entry to university as a result. If this is you, please fill out our extenuating circumstances form.