ESOL Gateway to Automotive
- Location
- Anniesland Campus
- Start Date
- 25 Aug 2025
- Qualification Type
- NQ
- Course Type
- Short Full-Time
- Duration
- 18 weeks (August to January)
Applications open 24th February 2025
Are you mechanically minded and great with engines? Do you like to solve problems and fix things? This course will teach you the basics of automotive mechanics and engineering along with an ESOL qualification and personal development.
The course is delivered both full-time and part-time and is an ideal taster programme to explore a future career as a mechanic.
What will I learn?
Please note: this is not an ESOL programme
During ESOL Gateway to Automotive you'll learn:
- SQA Level 5 ESOL
- SQA Level 4 / 5: Employability units
- SQA Level 4 / 5: Personal development units
- SQA Automotive skills for work: SCQF Level 4
- Automotive skills for work: The garage
- Automotive skills for work: The car
- Automotive skills for work: The technician
- Automotive skills for work: The vehicle modification project
Entry requirements (minimum)
- ESOL Intermediate 1 / National 4 (minimum of 2 units achieved) and IELTS 4.5, or equivalent
- You should have an interest in automotive engineering / car mechanics and demonstrate this in the application form
- You'll be required to provide evidence of current English level and you may be required to do an assessment to ensure you are offered a class at the correct level.
Entry requirement equivalency table
- If you do not meet the entry criteria for your chosen course, you may be offered an alternative course in the same subject area.
Employer and industry links
During the course there will be the opportunity to visit garages, speak to mechanics and for possible work placements / taster sessions.
Jobs and further study
If you successfully complete this course you could progress to the ESOL Gateway to Automotive course starting in January at Glasgow Clyde College.
Following this, you could progress to IMI Certificate in Transport Maintenance, apply for an apprenticeship, or we can put you in touch with employers to get work.
Making an application
For courses starting in August, you can make up to two applications.
Applications are made to a course and a first choice of campus. If the course is oversubscribed at your first choice you will be automatically considered for alternative sites and may be made an offer without a further application.
I've applied — what happens next?
Your application will be reviewed by the admissions team and you will either be:
- Invited to attend an information session
- Advised that your application is unsuccessful – you have not met the entry requirements for this course and are advised to contact the College Student Advice Centres to discuss alternative options which may be available to you.
- We aim not to reject an application and if you don’t meet the entry requirements you may be referred to a different course or level.
The process will consist of an information session, interview and successful completion of an entry level check. Proof of qualifications and residency must be supplied before an offer can be made.
If you are invited to interview, you will be informed of the outcome of your interview by email within 14 working days. The outcome will be one of the following:
- Unconditional offer of a place – you have met all the entry requirements and your place is guaranteed. You will be required to accept this offer to secure your place.
- Conditional offer of a place – your place is secured pending you meeting the entry requirements. This may mean achieving school or college qualifications which you may not be able to provide to us yet. You will be required to accept this offer to secure your conditional place. Once your conditions are met this will change to an unconditional offer of a place which you must accept before you can enrol on the course.
- Waiting list – you have met all entry requirements, and have been interviewed however, the course is now full so you have been placed on a waiting list. If any spaces become available you may be contacted, usually around the course start date. We would advise that you also consider other application options.
- Reserve list – following your interview, you have unfortunately not been successful in this round of recruitment. We have placed your name on a Reserve list and your application may be reconsidered at a later date. This could happen any time up to the start date of the course but it is very possible that you will not be offered a place. We would advise that you also consider other application options.
- Unsuccessful – your interview has been unsuccessful. You may be offered a place on a course at a different level, or advised to contact the College Student Advice Centres to discuss alternative options which may be available to you.
Once an offer is received, you must reply within 14 working days or risk losing your place, as the system will automatically decline your offer after 14 days.
Once you have accepted your offer, you will be sent out instructions about student funding, joining instructions and induction date. This will normally be sent out in June / July.
