- Location
- Anniesland Campus
- SCQF Level
- 4
- Start Date
- 27 Jan 2025
- Qualification Type
- NQ
- Course Type
- Short Full-Time
- Duration
- 18 weeks (January to June)
Gateway to College is an 18-week course which supports under 25s who want to experience college and discover where their passions lie. This course has been created to help you to get qualifications and experience on the same course, with a dedicated guidance tutor, excellent support and fantastic opportunities to help you move on to a range of courses in college or find work.
If school didn't work out for you or you left school early or without qualifications, and are now looking to study at college or to get some voluntary or work experience, then this could be the course for you.
What will I learn?
During the Gateway to College course you’ll:
- Complete voluntary placements and gain valuable experience that will support you in your future career.
- Work towards an English / Communication National 5 SQA qualification, helping you to improve your language skills and giving you the qualification you need to apply to further college courses.
- Study employability and personal development qualifications at National 5 in Self and Work, Volunteering and Sustainability among others.
Entry requirements (minimum)
- No formal qualifications are required for this course, but if you already have National 4/ 5 qualifications we can discus the best options with you
- If English is not your first language you will need SQA National 4 ESOL or higher to cope with the portfolio coursework
The Scottish Credit and Qualifications (SCQF) Framework can help you to check if you're choosing the right level of study. Take a look at the SCQF Interactive Framework here.
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 you'll have the opportunity to do voluntary placements within the college, as well as externally at events.
We have excellent links to opportunities from animal welfare to retail, hospitality to charity work.
Jobs and further study
If you successfully complete this course, you may progress to a range of Level 5 courses starting in August at Glasgow Clyde College (you'll be given interview priority).
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?
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:
- Invited to attend an information session. If English is not your first language you will be asked to complete an English skills test to ascertain your English level.
- 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 attend an information session / 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 December / January.