LEAPS Transitions Course & University Entry Requirements

The LEAPS Transitions Course & University Entry Requirements

 

University Admissions Policies

Each university has its own admissions policy, in other words the requirements that students are expected to meet to gain entry to their courses. This usually includes specific grades, qualifications (in Scotland typically Highers and National 5s), and sometimes specific subjects.

Contextual Admissions and Widening Participation

Entry requirements can vary depending on a student’s individual circumstances – their context – and this is often called contextual admissions, or sometimes widening participation. Universities usually have typical entry requirements and minimum entry requirements for their courses. If a student is eligible for a contextual (or widening participation) offer, then they will usually be expected to meet either the minimum entry requirements or entry requirements that fall somewhere in between the typical and minimum entry requirements.

How is the LEAPS Transitions Course considered by universities?

The LEAPS Transitions Course is a widening participation course, and each university considers it slightly differently. To help you understand how each university in Scotland considers the LEAPS Transitions Course when it comes to admission to their courses, we have created this guide (below). Please note, this guide is subject to change.

 

How should I let universities know that I am taking the LEAPS Transitions Course?

We ask all students who are taking the LEAPS Transitions Course to note this on their UCAS application. This helps demonstrate your commitment to university study to university admissions teams. We suggest adding the following:

Add the course as a qualification to your UCAS Application (added by student)

Follow our LEAPS Transitions Course UCAS student guide here to add the LEAPS Transitions Course as a qualification to your UCAS application.

UCAS Personal Statement (written by student)

I am taking the LEAPS Transitions Course, focusing on developing key academic skills and practical learning strategies to help me make a positive transition into higher education. The course is credit-rated for 20 credits (SCQF Level 7).  www.leapsonline.org/transitions-admissions

UCAS Reference (written by teacher - we suggest this is included in section 3 of the reference)

This student is completing the LEAPS Transitions Course, credit-rated for 20 credits (SCQF Level 7), focusing on developing key academic skills and practical learning strategies required for a positive transition into higher education. This is a 'complete' or 'non complete' course, so no predicted grade has been provided. For more information please visit www.leapsonline.org/transitions-admissions

 

Questions?

We know it can be confusing, so if you do have any questions please get in touch. leaps@ed.ac.uk

 

How Universities Consider the LEAPS Transitions Course

Last Updated 28/06/2024

 

Abertay University

On completion of the LEAPS Transitions Course we will upgrade a non-essential Scottish Higher subject by one grade.  So for example, for Biomedical Science we require a grade BBBB to include Biology.  We would accept BBBC provided the C was not Biology.

 

Edinburgh Napier University

Where a conditional offer is made to an applicant, the conditions will be based on the Highers/Advanced Highers being studied at school. However, successful completion of the LEAPS Transition Course can be used towards achieving these conditions. If students achieve 50% or more on the LEAPS Transitions Course then we will accept the course as equivalent to one C at Higher, achieve 60% or more then we will accept the course as equivalent to one B at Higher, and achieve 80% or more and we will accept the course as the equivalent to one A at Higher. This will be applied at confirmation stage (when we receive results and decide who has met their conditions). Applicants should also meet any specific subject requirements for the degree they are applying to. For example, if we ask for a B at Higher English, this would still need to be met and the LEAPS Transition Course could not be used as an equivalent to this specific subject condition.

 

Glasgow Caledonian University

Glasgow Caledonian University recognises the LEAPS Transitions Course as a Higher. Applicants who successfully complete the course and achieve 60% or above will be offered an upgrade by one grade in a non-essential subject at confirmation stage (when the university receives results and decides who to accept on their courses). For example, if you were made an offer of SQA Higher grades at BBBB (English B) but did not achieve the grades for this, you might be accepted at BBBC (English B) at confirmation stage. (There are some exceptions. For example, in certain circumstances a widening participation student will be eligible for an offer based on minimum entry requirements and in this situation an upgrade will not be possible.)

 

Heriot-Watt University

Heriot-Watt University recognises the LEAPS Transition Course as a Higher. For applicants who are made an offer based on meeting specific entry requirements, achieving at least 60% in the LEAPS Transitions Course will count as one Higher at any grade. Taking the LEAPS Transitions Course does not guarantee an offer, and it cannot take the place of any specific required subjects which applicants will still need to achieve. For example, if you were made an offer and asked to achieve ABBB at Higher (including Maths Higher at B), you could use the LEAPS Transitions Course to meet one of the grades required for this offer as long it was not Maths.

 

Queen Margaret University

Queen Margaret University are keen to know that applicants are taking the LEAPS Transitions Course, as this demonstrates a student’s commitment to preparing for higher education study and the level of attainment required for it. Completion of the LEAPS Transitions Course will be taken into account as part of a student’s overall attainment at confirmation stage (when they receive results and decide who to accept on their courses).

 

Robert Gordon University

Robert Gordon University recognises the LEAPS Transitions Course as a Higher. For example, if you were to be made an offer to obtain SQA Higher grades at BBCC, completion of the LEAPS Transitions Course would count as a Higher towards meeting these entry requirements.  Applicants should also meet any specific subject requirements for the degree they are applying to. For instance, if we ask for a B at Higher Biology, this would still need to be met and the LEAPS Transitions Course could not be used as an equivalent to this specific subject condition.

 

SRUC

SRUC recognises the LEAPS Transitions Course as a Higher and applicants undertaking this course will be considered on an individual basis. For example, if a LEAPS-eligible applicant were to be made an offer to obtain SQA Higher grades at BBCC, successful completion of the LEAPS Transitions Course would count as a Higher towards meeting these entry requirements. Applicants would still be required to meet any specific subject requirements. 

 

University of Aberdeen

Generally speaking, the University of Aberdeen makes offers to widening participation students of ABBB (SQA Highers). In this situation, if you achieve 60% or more on the LEAPS Transitions Course then they will accept the course as one B at Higher. (There are some exceptions. For example, in certain circumstances a widening participation student will be eligible for an offer of BBB (Highers) on its own from the University of Aberdeen and in this situation the course will not be accepted as a Higher.)

 

University of Dundee

Applicants who successfully complete the course and achieve 60% or more can use the course in place of one Higher at grade B on application. The course will not be accepted in place of any essential subject requirements. For example, if you were made an offer of SQA Higher grades at BBBC (B in Higher English), you could use the course to meet one of the B grades required for this offer as long it was not English. Please note that we cannot consider the LEAPs Transitions course for entry into Medicine, Gateway to Medicine or Dentistry.

 

University of Edinburgh

The University of Edinburgh recognises the LEAPS Transitions Course as a bridging programme. Applicants who successfully complete the course and achieve 60% or more can use the course in place of one Higher at grade B on application. The course will not be accepted in place of any specific required subjects as listed in the degree finder, which applicants would still need to meet. For example, if you were made an offer of SQA Higher grades at ABBB (English B), you could use the course to meet one of the B grades required for this offer as long it was not English. Please note that only one bridging programme can be accepted on an application. In some cases, applicants may be eligible for a widening access offer at the minimum entry requirements and this can be checked here.

 

University of the Highlands and Islands

The University of the Highlands and Islands recognises the LEAPS Transitions Course as a Higher and applicants with this course will be considered on an individual basis. For example, if you were to be made an offer to obtain SQA Higher grades at BBC, completion of the LEAPS Transitions Course may count as a Higher towards meeting these entry requirements. Applicants should also meet any specific subject requirements for the degree they are applying to.

 

University of St Andrews

An applicant’s eligibility to participate in the LEAPS Transition Course may entitle them to the University of St Andrews’ minimum entry requirements. This can be checked on their academic entry qualification indicator. Completion of the LEAPS Transition Course will be taken into consideration on an individual applicant basis at confirmation stage of their decision-making process (when they receive results and they decide who to accept on their courses).

 

University of Stirling

The University of Stirling recognises the LEAPS Transitions Course and how valuable it is in preparing to study at university. Completion of the LEAPS Transitions Course with 60% or above will be considered at the confirmation stage of the decision making process and as part of an applicant’s overall attainment.

 

University of Strathclyde

The University of Strathclyde recognises the LEAPS Transitions Course as a Higher and applicants with this course will be offered a one grade reduction in a non-named subject. For example, an offer of SQA Higher grades at AAABB (Maths A, English B) could instead be made at AABBB (Maths A, English B) for an applicant who has completed the LEAPS Transitions Course.

 

University of the West of Scotland

The University of the West of Scotland welcomes applications from students who undertake the LEAPS Transitions Course, with applicants receiving an upgrade in one subject by a grade if they achieve 60% or above.

 

Other Universities

Conversations with other universities about how they will consider the LEAPS Transitions Course are ongoing, and we will share any updates as soon as they are confirmed.