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Premedical Studies and Allied Health: Access

A bright science lab with colourful lab coats hanging by the windows, a tall DNA model standing proudly on the bench, and lots of molecule models ready for some hands-on experiments and creative discovery
Qualification Qualifications Explained
Access
Study Mode
Full Time, Part Time
Duration

1 Academic Year - 2-3 Days p/w
Start date
Aug 2026
Campus
Springburn
Apply now

Course overview

Your first step towards Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine, life sciences or Allied Health careers - with extra preparation and support.

This Scottish Wider Access Programme (SWAP) course is designed for adults returning to education who aspire to study Medical, Dental, Veterinary, or Health Science degrees, but who need more preparation before progressing to our Access to Medical Studies and Allied Health programme. Further information about SWAP Access courses can be found on the SWAP website.

You’ll study Biology, Chemistry, Maths, and Communication Skills in a supportive environment, building your knowledge and confidence for higher-level study. The course provides the scientific foundation needed for future health and life-science routes and can also lead to HNC/D programmes or degree-level study in science-based subjects.

It’s a full-time, intensive course, with classes between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday. Learners must be ready to commit fully to the academic workload and consider time, childcare, and finances before applying.

This course is for:

  • Adult learners returning to education
  • Learners aiming for degree-level study Medical, Dental, Veterinary, or Health Science degrees, but who need more preparation before progressing to our Access to Medical Studies and Allied Health programme.
  • Those looking for a SWAP route into a related university course or HNC Applied Science.
  • People who enjoy problem-solving, experimentation, and exploring how science shapes our world.

ℹ️ This Access programme is not suitable for recent school leavers - please consider our NQ Steps to Science courses instead

What you will learn

You’ll study a mix of science and academic subjects designed to prepare you for progression to higher-level Access or HNC study:

  • Biology – human systems, cells, nutrition, and health sciences.
  • Chemistry – structure of matter, reactions, and scientific processes.
  • Mathematics – building confidence with numeracy, graphs, and data analysis.
  • Communication Skills – developing writing, presentation, and academic study techniques.

You’ll also gain valuable experience in teamwork, research, and independent learning - all key for success in health and science disciplines.

Access to Medicine student Alexander speaking during an interview in the library at Glasgow Kelvin College.

Access to Medicine at Kelvin 🩺✨

Hear from Alexander as he talks through the course and what you can expect.

Part of the Scottish Wider Access Programme (SWAP), this course is designed for learners returning to education and looking to progress towards a career in medicine.

A new direction. A new future.

View on YouTube

Entry requirements

✅ You have been out of education for three years or more (Nat 5 quals) and 5 years (for Highers)

✅ You want to follow the progression routes listed in the progression opportunities section below

✅ You do not already hold a Higher National Certificate (HNC) or degree

✅ You are looking for a SWAP route into university or higher-level science study

✅ Applications are also welcomed from Care experienced student, or students that have experienced exceptional circumstances and educational disadvantage.  These will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the SWAP west office.  

ℹ️ Entry is competitive and based on your application, personal statement and performance at interview.

Personal Statement Requirements:

  • Explain your interest in Medicine, Health, or Science and your long-term goals.
  • Describe any relevant life, work, or volunteering experience in health, care, or science settings.
  • Highlight the skills that will help you succeed - such as motivation, teamwork, and communication.
  • Show that you understand the commitment needed for a full-time course.

Applications missing this key information are unlikely to progress to interview.

Additional requirements:

  • On starting the course, your academic skills will be reviewed to confirm that you’re on the best pathway for success.
  • If support is needed in a particular area, staff may recommend a different Access route to help you achieve your goals.

ℹ️ For this course, if English is not your first language

  • you need to have SQA ESOL Higher (or equivalent, click here to see equivalent qualifications)
  • If you do not have a formal ESOL qualification but your language skills meet this level, you should apply for your course and then contact our Admissions team to organise an internal language assessment  here at the College.

Career Opportunities

This course provides an excellent foundation for future careers in:

🩺 Medicine and Allied Health Profession

🦷 Dentistry and Oral Health

🐾 Veterinary Medicine

💊 Pharmacology

🔬 Biomedical or Life Sciences

🏥 Physiotherapy and Health Support Roles

Future prospects

Successful completion allows progression to:

  • Access to Medical Studies and Allied Health (SWAP) at Glasgow Kelvin College (internal applicants are prioritised).
  • HNC or HND Applied Science programmes at Glasgow Kelvin College.
  • Degree-level study in Biological, Chemical, or Health Sciences at partner universities.

This course is an ideal stepping stone for adults who want to progress steadily toward university study in medicine, science, or allied health - with the skills and support to succeed.

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Read What Our Student Said

Video Transcript – Alexander: Access Medical Studies and Allied Health

I'm Alex, I'm on Access Medical Studies at Glasgow Kelvin. I chose this course to try and just get a change of career.

Prior to starting this course, I'm actually in my second year, I was on pre-medical studies. Prior to this, I was in the army for eight years. I had enough of that and thought, bit of a career change. Access course, it's under SWAP, so it's a Scottish Widening Access programme. It's designed for mature students and people returning to education. It's great, especially for someone like myself. I left school with no qualifications. I thought I was rubbish at education.

To be given the opportunity to come back, it's a chance that a lot of people don't really get. I really rate it. I think Swap's really good. And if anyone's even thinking about going back to education, look at Swap courses. The way I see it personally is it's a chance to rectify any mistakes I made. I kind of realised, right, I can now, I've got the chance to make this up. So the fact that I'm able to come back to college and potentially, or the course of my life essentially, is an opportunity in itself.

The kind of subjects you'll do is biology, chemistry, maths, English. Because it's an access course it's a bit more, that's part of the challenge when it's all together and you're constantly learning it all.

During the course there's also labs of practical elements, it's not all just sitting, writing the textbooks, you're doing experiments, you're doing labs, you're doing dissections, chemistry experiments where you're mixing different chemicals, it is really good.

Plans after this course, I've applied for uni, hopefully get into uni, so dentistry at Glasgow or Dundee, one of the two, and then that'll be a five-year degree, enjoy that, and move on from there, hopefully get a job as a dentist.

On the financial aspect, I know money can be difficult, but to put it in perspective, I've got a mortgage, I've got a house, I've got a car, I've got all these things and I still manage to make college work with all the support that college offers, it's feasible. Don't shoot it down, look into it first. If you've worked it all out, get an application and go for it.

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