Access to Science Studies

This course is open to anyone who has not studied at university level before and does not have enough entry qualifications and experience required to apply successfully for undergraduate study. Students should have been out of formal education for a minimum of three years.

We welcome applications from all students including: 

• Care experienced students
• Young or adult carers
• Members of the armed forces community including those currently serving in the armed forces and service leavers/veterans
• Refugee and asylum seekers
• Disabled students - adjustments for disabled applicants, including those with learning difficulties such as dyslexia, can be put in place before the course starts.

If you have specific circumstances you wish to be considered, such as your existing qualifications, or whether you can be regarded as a mature student please contact the Course Director, Yulia Lukyanova at yulia.lukyanova@stir.ac.uk.

To apply for the Access to Science Studies course, you must upload your current CV and a short personal statement explaining why you want to take the course.

Our admissions team will review your application. If we decide that Access to Science Studies is the right course for you, we will then ask you to complete a short written task.

Mathematics requirements

You need to be confident about studying maths at SCQF Level 5 and data skills at SCQF Level 7.  You must have one of the following:

• Core Skills Numeracy at Level 5 or Nat 5/Nat 4 mathematics/ Standard grade (3) mathematics.
• Relevant work or life experience, which gave you confidence with numerical tasks.

Please contact our Admissions team at admissions@stir.ac.uk if you have questions about your previous qualifications or experience in maths.

If you are not confident about studying maths, we recommend you contact the adult learning department within your local authority area to ask about opportunities for increasing your level of numeracy qualifications before applying for the Access to Science Studies course.

For information about adult learning in the Forth Valley area you can contact:

• Falkirk Council adult learning
• Stirling Council learning and employability
• Forth Valley College for courses in Core Skills Numeracy
• Fife College offers a ‘Getting Ready for National 5 mathematics’ course

Please contact admissions@stir.ac.uk if you have questions.

Everyone will study six modules in the Access to Science Studies course. Each module is equivalent to 10 Credits (SCQF).

In Semester 1 all modules are mapped to SCQF level 5 or 6, and in Semester 2 all modules are mapped to SCQF level 7.

During the course, everyone studies two Learning Strategies modules. These modules cover knowledge and skills crucial to becoming a successful university student. These include:

• Effective time management
• Critical thinking
• How to do research
• Essay and report writing
• Effective learning methods
• How to develop your knowledge to perform well in presentations, class assessments, assignments and exams
• How to use the library effectively

All students have their own Personal Tutor, for individual support and guidance.

There are two semesters:

• Semester 1 - Starts mid-August to the first week in December
• Semester 2 - Starts in the second week in January to mid-May

Classes are taught on Monday and Thursday evenings from 18:30 to 21:30.

Most classes are taught face-to-face on campus in Stirling. We also have some online classes, allowing you to gain confidence with the University’s virtual learning environment, Canvas. 

You must attend two 3-hour classes and undertake 4-6 hours of independent study each week. Attendance is mandatory from the start of the course. Do not book holidays during semester time and set time aside each week for independent study.

We follow the Stirling Council schools calendar for mid-term breaks (this differs from the rest of the University).

The course starts with a mandatory online Welcome Week. During Welcome Week, you will attend Welcome Night where you will meet your lecturers and find out about the University’s support services for students. You will also have an online induction meeting where you will begin familiarising yourself with Canvas, the University’s virtual learning environment.

In June, there is a Celebration of Success evening at the end of the course. Family and close friends are invited to come along and join in the celebration of your achievements. We also give out our Access Achievement Awards, including the prestigious Jim Bradley Award, to students who have succeeded highly and contributed greatly to our learning community.

The course offers a blend of in-person teaching and online learning. Coming onto campus for classes will help you to become familiar with the facilities and start to feel like you are a part of our Stirling community. You will gain valuable experience of studying with other students online via Canvas, becoming fully prepared for contemporary university life. 

Classes, whether online or in-person, are opportunities to question, debate, discuss, and learn individually and in groups. 

Assessment

Access to Science Studies course offers you opportunities to practice and gain confidence in taking a wide range of assessments, preparing you for university life. This includes essays, multiple choice tests and short answer questions. During class, you will also be able to discuss questions with your lecturers and other students in a supportive environment. 

All subject modules include more than one assessment, allowing you to demonstrate your progression within that subject. There is also a final assessment in early December and early May.

• A laptop or desktop computer. A computer is essential for attending classes online and working on your assignments. Study will not be possible via mobile phones or tablets.
• WiFi access. A reliable WiFi signal is essential. When on campus you will have access to free University WiFi.
• Headphones and webcam. You must have headphones and webcam to hear and see your lecturer and the other students when attending classes on-line.

If you have problems in accessing the necessary technology and/or WiFi, and live in the Stirling Council area, you can contact their Digital Inclusion team at digitalinclusion@stirling.gov.uk for advice and assistance. The University also has a free laptop loan scheme.

We recommend that you find a quiet space for study. It's important that you have time for study without any distractions. You may make use of local council libraries, or the University library and study areas.