- Location
- Anniesland Campus
- SCQF Level
- 4
- Start Date
- 25 Aug 2025
- Qualification Type
- NQ
- Course Type
- Short Full-Time
- Duration
- 18 weeks (August - January)
Applications will open in 2025, date TBC
Do you want to work within the Trades Sector and gain essential skills to work in Construction?
Are you interested in Painting, Decorating, Joinery and gaining your CSCS Card?
Do you already have a good proficiency in English? National 3 level, IELTS Band 4, ESOL Pre-Intermediate or higher?
Our ESOL Gateway to Trades course is designed to support - you.
Please join us to improve your confidence levels, get key qualifications you need for progression in college or into employment, access careers guidance, employment opportunities and future learning.
What will I learn?
Please note: this is not an ESOL programme
During this ESOL Gateway to Trades course you will study:
- SQA Level 4 / 5: Employability units
- SQA Level 4 / 5: Personal development units
- You will work towards SQA construction units
- Painting and Decorating
- Woodwork
Entry requirements (minimum)
- SQA ESOL Pre-intermediate 1 (minimum of two units achieved)
- You should have an interest in working in the construction sector
- A successful interview
- You will 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
Through career planning and CV workshops on the course, you will have the opportunity to contact employers and apply for jobs.
Jobs and further study
- NPA Carpentry and Joinery or NPA Painting and Decorating
- Modern Apprenticeship in the construction sector
- Industry employer contacts
Take a look at the course progression map for construction courses.
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?
When you apply
You will receive an automated email confirming that we have received your application (remember to check your SPAM folder).
Your application will be reviewed by the admissions team and you will either be:
- Made a direct offer (unconditional or conditional)
- Invited to book an interview 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.
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.