The Scottish Wider Access Programme (SWAP) is an alternative route for adult learners and mature students to get into university or college. What SWAP is SWAP provides full-time access programmes covering a range of subject areas which take one year to complete. It is run in colleges throughout Scotland and allows you to progress to university after successful completion. You will be eligible to take part in SWAP if you have few or no formal qualifications and have been out of education for some years. What you can study Access programmes are available in the following subject areas: art and design social sciences science engineering nursing medicine and veterinary medicine primary education community education SWAP study skills events Your college may also take part in the SWAP study skills events, which take place on university campuses. These allow you to practise university-level study skills, such as taking notes in a lecture or participating in a seminar or tutorial. You will also have the opportunity to meet former SWAP students who are now at university and find out what it's like to make the transition. Find out more The University of Edinburgh is a founding member of SWAP. More than 30,000 adults have taken the SWAP route to return to study since the programme launched in 1988. Find out more about access programmes and the SWAP study skill events on the SWAP website.Visit the SWAP website Contact us Dr Neil Speirs Widening Participation Manager Student Recruitment and Admissions Contact details Email: wpteam@ed.ac.uk Contact us through an online sign language interpreter British Sign Language (BSL) users can contact the University of Edinburgh via Contact Scotland BSL, the online British Sign Language video relay interpreting service. Find out more on the Contact Scotland BSL website This article was published on 2025-03-03
