Undergraduate Entry Requirements

UK STANDARD ACADEMIC ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

While each course has its own specific entry requirements listed on all course pages, there are also standard minimum academic requirements for admission onto any undergraduate degree course.

Applicants are expected to hold the following qualifications, or equivalent, as a minimum. Please note, holding these qualifications does not always guarantee entry on your chosen course as entry is competitive in nature.

Standard & Minimum Entry Requirements for Scottish Year 1 Applicants

On our course pages, you will find details of our entry criteria listed as Standard Entry Requirements and Minimum Entry Requirements for Scottish applicants who are applying for Year 1 entry. These are the academic qualifications that, depending on your personal circumstances, you will be required to meet to allow your application to be considered for a place at UWS.

Competition for places on many of our courses can be very high and even if you meet the standard or minimum qualifications stated, there is no guarantee that your application will progress to the next stage of the admissions process. We review individual applications very closely and place great importance on your personal statement and academic reference as well as your academic qualifications before making selection decisions.

STANDARD ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Our Standard Entry Requirements are the grades that you will need to achieve to allow you to be considered for entry to a specific programme of study.

MINIMUM ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Our Minimum Entry Requirements are applicable to those applicants who have not had an equal opportunity to demonstrate their academic ability at school or college and are known as ‘widening access’ applicants. We also sometimes refer to this type of applicant as receiving a ‘contextual’ offer. We may be able to provide you with a contextual offer if you fall into one of the categories below:

1. You have been in care (care-experienced/care-leaver)
2. You are a young carer
3. You have government-recognised asylum or refugee status
4. You are estranged from your family or guardians
5. You live in an area of high deprivation as defined by the Scottish Government (SIMD20/SIMD40)
6. You are a Military Veteran or a military family member
7. Live in rural area (Please ensure attendance at rural school must be highlighted in statement/reference)

If you fall into any of the first four categories above, please mention this on your UCAS application. We will automatically apply category 5 if it applies to you.

In addition, you may also be eligible for an adjusted offer of entry, if you have taken part in the UWS Foundation Academy, the Next Steps to University Module, attend a FOCUS West School, take part in the Top Up Programme or complete Routes for All Programme or LEAPs. Make sure you outline this on your application, and this will be taken into consideration by our Admissions team. 

These programmes will be taken into consideration for standard, minimum and alternative minimum requirements. Please find details of these below. 

If you have already achieved the required grades for either our standard or minimum entry criteria, we may be able to offer you an unconditional offer for some course areas. If you have not yet achieved these grades, we may be able to make you a conditional offer, which will rely on you achieving further qualifications before you can be accepted on to a programme of study.

Alternative Minimum Entry Requirements

Any applicant who qualifies for minimum entry criteria and is applying for a course which has an alternative minimum entry requirement, would be considered for this if they do not meet (or are not predicted to meet) the tariff point requirement including key subjects, where applicable. If they have undertaken any of the following Programmes, then this will be taken into account as part of our UWS Alternative Minimum Entry Requirements.

UWS Foundation Academy

The UWS Foundation Academy is a university-level module which is delivered in a blended approach, both in-school and on-campus. Successful completion of the Foundation Academy is equivalent to 20 credits at SCQF Level 7, and the University considers the programme to be equivalent to one Higher at B. Please note, Foundation Academy may only be considered towards your offer if you are already undertaking this module at a participating school. For more information, please see our Foundation Academy web page.

UWS Next Steps to University Module

Our Next Steps to University module is a 20 credit programme which is delivered mostly online, with some campus-based sessions included. The module focuses on important skills to help you succeed in University, such as study skills, presentation skills and exam preparation. If your qualifications are under the requirement for entry into one of our programmes, you may be offered UWS Summer School as a condition of your offer of admission.

Foundation Apprenticeships

Foundation Apprenticeships are a work-based learning opportunity for senior-phase secondary school pupils. Lasting one or two years, pupils begin their Foundation Apprenticeship in S5 or S6. Young people spend time out of school at college or with a local employer, and complete the Foundation Apprenticeship alongside their other subjects like National 5s and Highers.

Completion leads to a qualification at the same level of learning as a Higher and can lead to progression on to a job, such as a Modern or Graduate Apprenticeship.

Routes for All

Part of the FOCUS West initiative, Routes for All is a programme that concentrates on study skills and preparation for exams, academic courses and careers. Please note, Routes for All may only be considered towards admission if you are already undertaking this programme through a participating school.

Top-Up

Part of the FOCUS West initiative, this programme is designed for senior phase pupils who would like to progress to university after school. Successful completion of Top-Up is considered for most courses as equivalent to a Higher Grade C. Please note, Top Up may only be considered towards admission if you are already undertaking this programme through a participating school.

LEAPS

LEAPS is a widening participation programme delivered in South East Scotland, which aims to encourage and advise students who are traditionally under-represented in higher education. Successful completion of LEAPS is considered for most courses as equivalent to a Higher Grade C. Please note, LEAPS may only be considered towards admission if you are already undertaking this programme through a participating school.

Scottish qualifications

• Passes in at least five subjects including at least three Scottish Highers (Grade C, or above)

SCOTTISH WIDER ACCESS PROGRAMME (SWAP)

We are committed to widening access to education and are active participants in the Scottish Wider Access Programme (SWAP).

SWAP is designed for adult learners who have few or no academic qualifications but who have the ability to study to degree level.

By undertaking a one-year, full-time SWAP course candidates gain the qualifications for entry onto undergraduate programmes at UWS.

Many of our undergraduate courses include SWAP criteria as part of their entry requirements.

To find out how SWAP could help you to become a UWS student please contact ask@uws.ac.uk or phone our course enquiries team at 0800 027 1000 or +44 (0)141 849 4101.

English, Welsh, Northern Irish and Republic of Ireland qualifications

• Passes in at least five subjects including at least two passes at GCE Advanced Level (grade C or higher)
• Irish Leaving Certificate (ILC) with passes in at least three subjects at Higher level (grade H4 / C, or above)

Other qualifications

We are happy to consider other alternative combinations of qualifications and experience, including:

• International Baccalaureate Diploma
• Scottish Baccalaureate / Professional Baccalaureate / Welsh Baccalaureate (Advanced Diploma)

In addition to the qualifications listed above, UWS will consider a range of factors when assessing your application.

Advanced entry

For some courses advanced entry (entry into Year 2 or 3) is possible.

Candidates with a combination of Highers and Advanced Highers / AS level and A levels (or equivalent qualifications) are encouraged to consider advanced entry into year 2.

Candidates who have achieved a Higher National Certificate (HNC) or a Higher National Diploma (HND) (from bodies such as SQA and BTEC etc.) are encouraged to consider advanced entry into year 2 or 3 respectively.

Please note, some course may require additional qualifications such as SQA Highers / Intermediate 2 / Standard Grade (Credit); check each course entry for full entry requirements. The academic requirements for individual courses accepting advanced entry will be listed on the course page.