Education

• Scottish Highers: AAAB (126 UCAS Tariff points) including English, plus SQA National 5 (Grade B, or above) / Intermediate 2 (Grade B, or above) / Standard Grade (Credit) Maths 
• A levels: BBB (120 UCAS Tariff points) - if you do not hold A level English, then must hold GCSEs in English Language (Grade A) and English Literature (Grade A). All applicants must hold GCSE Maths (Grade B, or above) 
• Irish Leaving Certificate: H1 H1 H1 H2 or H2 H2 H2 H3 including English and OL Maths at O2
• International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma: 32 points (4, 4, 4 at HL) including English, plus SL Maths at 5
• Scottish Wider Access Programme (SWAP): Access to Humanities (BBB)
  
• BTEC Level 4: DDM

These are the minimum entry requirements for the programme. Due to the highly competitive nature of this programme additional qualifications are often required.

Successful applicants who gain a place on this course will need to register on the PVG Scheme, managed and delivered by Disclosure Scotland. An application form will be sent from the University once you have accepted your offer. The fee for joining the scheme is £59.

Visit the Disclosure Scotland website for more information on the PVG scheme.

English language requirements for most courses

For applicants whose first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level. The qualifications below must have been gained within two years of the start of your course.

General English language requirements at UWS: International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic module (not General Training)

• overall score 6.0
• no sub-test less than 5.5

Common equivalent English language qualifications

All stated English tests are acceptable for admission for both home/EU and international students for this programme:

• CAE (Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English): 176 overall; no sub-test less than 169
• CPE (Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English): 176 overall; no sub-test less than 169
• Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English: ISEII with the minimum of a Pass in all sub-tests
• PTE Pearson Academic English: An overall score of 54 with no element below 51 (for programmes that require IELTS 6.0 with no element below 5.5). An overall score 61 with no element below 51 (for programmes that require IELTS 6.5 with no element below 6.0)

IELTS Score Exceptions (Research degrees, Nursing & Midwifery degrees with NMC registration, Certificate of Higher Education, etc.)

For our research degrees (MRes, MPhil, PhD, DBA, DProf), applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:

• overall score of 6.5
• no sub-test less than 6.0

For Health, Nursing & Midwifery courses that lead to professional registration with the Nursing & Midwifery Council, applicants are required to have an IELTS or Occupational English Test (OET)*.

For such courses, the IELTS score is as follows:

• overall score of 7.0
• score of at least 7.0 in reading, listening and speaking and no less than 6.5 in writing

* Note that the Occupational English Test (OET) will now be accepted in addition to IELTS as proof of a Nurse's English Language Competence (Nursing & Midwifery Council, 2019). 

For our Certificate of Higher Education courses, applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:

• overall score of 5.0
• no sub-test less than 4.5

TOEFL IBT

TOEFL IBT*: 78; no sub-test less than:

• Reading: 17;
• Listening: 17;
• Speaking: 17;
• Writing: 17

* Please note that TOEFL is still acceptable for admission to this programme for both home/EU and international students.
For international students, the Home Office has confirmed that the University can choose to use TOEFL to make its own assessment of English language ability for visa applications to degree level courses. We therefore still accept TOEFL tests taken in the last two years for admission to this programme.

West African Senior School Certificate of Education (WASSCE)

West African Senior School Certificate of Education (WASSCE) including acceptance of WAEC Scratchcard*

• C6 or above in English

*UWS will accept a WAEC scratchcard confirming that an applicant has achieved C6 or above as evidence of meeting English language requirement from Nigeria if the student graduated within the last 5 years. After 5 years applicants would be required to provide the WAEC Certificate.

Pre-sessional courses

Applicants who do not meet the minimum English language requirements have the option to study one of our preparatory and pre-sessional English courses. The UWS courses available are:

• 10 week pre-sessional - entry criteria UKVI IELTS 5.0 with no element below 4.5.
• 5 week pre-sessional - entry criteria UKVI IELTS 5.5 with no element below 5.5.
• English Language for University Study - entry criteria UKVI IELTS with score of 4.0 in all elements (10 month course), or 4.5 with no score below 4.0 (7 month course).

Find out more about our English lanaguage Courses.

Students on certain degrees will incur some additional costs not covered by their tuition fees. These could be for things like specialist equipment, study materials and textbooks, work placements, graduation, membership of relevant organisations or costs related to carrying out fieldwork.

For students on course with an element of fieldwork, there may also be extra costs for travel and accommodation.

Note: The library will hold some copies of the textbooks but not enough for every student. Students can purchase second hand copies when possible or use older versions if advised by the module cordinator. Students can also sell their copies after the course. This helps manage the cost.

Year 1

Books and other printed materials (Mandatory)
There are 6 modules to be studied. Each module handbook lists the books, journals and policies that are the most vital to the module. Journals and policies can be accessed on the VLE. It is probable that students would buy three core books per session (c.£80-100). Materials can be shared or borrowed from the library.

Technology & equipment (Optional)  
It is highly recommended that each student has the use of their own laptop or PC. Students can access digital technology in the library, if required. Costs of laptops and PCs can typically range from anything between £250-1400 depending upon the specification and brand.

Placement, field trips & study abroad (Mandatory)
The School will pay excess travel whilst on school experience placements. That is, travel costs over and above what you would normally pay to travel to University for the equivalent number of days and only for the cost of using public transport.

Misc. costs (Mandatory)
You must join the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme. This helps ensure people whose behaviour makes them unsuitable to work with children and protected adults cannot do 'regulated work' with these vulnerable groups. If you are applying to become a member of the scheme for the first time, the fee is currently £59. If you are already a member of the scheme you will need to have a record update processed through an Existing PVG Scheme Member Application.

Year 2

Books and other printed materials (Mandatory)
There are 6 modules to be studied. Each module handbook lists the books, journals and policies that are the most vital to the module. Journals and policies can be accessed on the VLE. It is probable that students would buy three core books per session (c.£80-100). Materials can be shared or borrowed from the library.

Placement, field trips & study abroad (Mandatory)
The School will pay excess travel whilst on school experience placements. That is, travel costs over and above what you would normally pay to travel to University for the equivalent number of days and only for the cost of using public transport.

Year 3

Books and other printed materials (Mandatory)
There are 6 modules to be studied. Each module handbook lists the books, journals and policies that are the most vital to the module. Journals and policies can be accessed on the VLE. It is probable that students would buy three core books per session (c.£80-100). Materials can be shared or borrowed from the library.

Placement, field trips & study abroad (Mandatory)
The School will pay excess travel whilst on school experience placements. That is, travel costs over and above what you would normally pay to travel to University for the equivalent number of days and only for the cost of using public transport.

Year 4

Books and other printed materials (Mandatory)
There are 6 modules to be studied. Each module handbook lists the books, journals and policies that are the most vital to the module. Journals and policies can be accessed on the VLE. It is probable that students would buy three core books per session (c.£80-100). Materials can be shared or borrowed from the library.

Placement, field trips & study abroad (Mandatory)
The School will pay excess travel whilst on school experience placements. That is, travel costs over and above what you would normally pay to travel to University for the equivalent number of days and only for the cost of using public transport.

Graduation fees (Mandatory)
These fees are set annually by the University and are subject to review. For session 19/20 these were set at £10 Registration Fee.

Tuition Fees & Additional Costs

Tuition fees are calculated based on where you are from and what you are studying. Some courses also involve additional costs, such as mandatory field trips, equipment or studying abroad.

Find out how much it will cost you to study at UWS as an undergraduate student.

Funding for Scottish Students

Scottish students studying at undergraduate level at UWS are entitled to various funds and support towards tuition fees and living costs.

Find out more.

Funding for English, Welsh & Northern Irish Students

English, Welsh and Northern Irish students studying at undergraduate level at UWS are entitled to various funds and support towards tuition fees and living costs.

Find out more.

Funding for EU Students

EU students studying at undergraduate level of UWS may be eligible for SAAS funding, as well as support to meet the costs of childcare and various sources of additional funding.

Find our more.

Funding for International Students

There are several scholarship and incentive schemes available to international students studying at undergraduate level at UWS, as well as support to meet the costs of childcare and various sources of additional funding.

Find out more.

Discretionary & Childcare Funds

UWS administer a range of discretionary and childcare funds. These are designed to support students who are experiencing financial difficulty or struggling to meet the costs of childcare.

Find out more.

Benefits & Tax Credits

Becoming a student can have an impact on your entitlement to certain benefits. It may mean you are no longer eligible to claim a benefit you have been receiving, or your new income from student funding may affect the amount you are able to receive.

Find out more.

Additional Financial Support

If there isn’t a statutory source of funding for you or your course, or you are in need of additional financial support, you may wish to consider more alternative sources of funding such as trust funds and scholarships.

Find out more.

Money & Debt Advice

Choosing to become a student can have a big impact on your budget and you may need to reassess your spending to account for a reduced income. We’ve put together some guidance to help you manage your money and make the right financial choices for you and your family.

Find out more.