Learning and Teaching Strategy update 2008
Name of Service: Recruitment, Admissions and Participation Service (RAPS)
Contact name and email address: Fiona Andrews (f.andrews@admin.gla.ac.uk)
Title of case study: Development of Access Provision to Medicine and Dentistry
Keywords: widening participation, access and opportunity, retention
Description
In alignment with the Learning and Teaching strategic objective to increase the numbers of students
entering the University from Low Participation Neighbourhoods, the following provision has been
developed:Access to Medical Studies SWAPWest (Scottish Wider Access Programme) developed an Access to
Medical Studies programme in partnership with the University to encourage adults to return to
education to pursue degrees in the medical related professions
“I always wanted to study to be a Doctor but nobody I knew ever thought about going to medical
school.” “It was only when I started working in the health service that I realised I had the skills to
progress further. The chance to study for a degree will see me finally realise the potential I know I
have.”
These are some of the comments that adults have made when seeking to apply to the Access to
Medical Studies programme.. The Faculty of Medicine and RAPS developed this provision by working
closely with Stow College, who provided their considerable expertise in delivering access programmes
in science and specialist health care subjects. Progression into the MBChB (the medical degree
programme) is the main progression route for this SWAP Programme, although progression routes
from the programme are available for degrees in Pharmacy at University of Strathclyde, Medical
Physics at the University of West of Scotland and Biomedical Sciences at Glasgow Caledonian
University. The programme jointly agreed with all partners includes a range of SQA units. The
programme of 21 credits ensures that students have an underpinning knowledge in the sciences as
well as the core skills essential for degree study.
The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) supports the design of SWAP programmes.
By creating a programme from SQA units the partners had confidence that the programme was at
SCQF levels 6 and 7 and would be appropriate for progression to University study. In particular, during
the three year pilot period changes could be made to the curriculum to ensure the academic content of
the programme matched the needs of the partners while guaranteeing the overall quality and
academic level. In addition, students undertake SWAP “Preparation for Higher Education” throughout
the programme.
Outcomes: Each year students have progressed onto medicine and related degrees. In 2008, seven
students were offered places in Medicine at University of Glasgow, other students progressing onto
pharmacy and biomedicine. Over the last 3 years 16 SWAP students have progressed on to the
MBChB with only 1 student withdrawing due to family circumstances.
Access to Dentistry: The Dental School has been working closely in partnership with RAPS and the
SWAP staff to develop an access programme of study enabling mature students from lower socioeconomic groups to progress into Dentistry. Students complete a one year full-time programme of
study in a Further Education College (the programme was developed and agreed by the Dental
School in partnership with SWAP and Further Education partners) and on successful completion of the
course and satisfactory interview performance students are admitted to the BDS. This programme
builds on the successful Faculty of Medicine SWAP Programme (see above). The first college intake
to the SWAP Access to Dentistry Programme was in August 2008 and three students are currently on
course, with Faculty admission expected in 2009. Throughout this year there will be on-going review
of the curriculum, appropriate recruitment activity for AY 2009-10 and close scrutiny of student
attainment ensuring that the students are appropriately prepared for progression into higher education.
Conclusion
The Medical programme, running since 2004, is now well established within the portfolio of access
programmes available from SWAPWest and has been successful. The Dental programme is currently
at an early stage and it will be monitored and evaluated over the next three years. Throughout the
developmental stages of the above provision, both Faculties have gained a better understanding of
the socio-economic challenges facing pupils in WP areas in the West of Scotland, and staff are more
actively involved in developing and implementing appropriate strategies/activities to ensure that our
student community will be a diverse group of individuals from a broad geographical and socioeconomic base.