Access courses

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Archaeology

Archaeology is the study of the material remains of past cultures and offers students fascinating insights into the lives and experiences of others through the artefacts they created and used, and the physical spaces they occupied. This course focuses on the archaeology of Scotland, introducing key skills in interpreting the material record that will lay strong foundations for further study, either in the College of Arts or the College of Social Sciences.

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Business and Management

This course introduces students to the academic study of Business and Management by focusing on three core areas: Finance, Marketing, and the Principals of Management & Organisational Behaviour. Students will be introduced to areas such as the fundamentals of competitive analysis, marketing research, the key tenets of managerial practice, and the role finance plays in an organisation's strategies and performance. As well as gaining knowledge of the fundamentals of Business and Management, you will gain skills useful in studying within any Arts or Social Science subject at university Level 1.

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Classical Studies

Classical Studies centres on the hugely influential cultures of ancient Greece and Rome. In this course, students explore highlights of Greek and Roman art, history and literature, starting with one of the greatest literary works of all time: Homer’s Odyssey. The course will help students develop essential study skills, including laying out arguments in essay form and working together to analyse ancient sources, all of which would be useful for further study across Arts or Social Science subjects.

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Economics

This course introduces students to core concepts from both micro- and macro-economics, developing skills and knowledge for university Level 1 study in Economics, Business, Finance or related Social Sciences. An introduction to basic concepts of supply, demand and equilibrium gives way to detailed study of costs of production and the national income. The course highlights the relevance of the subject to everyday life by concluding with savings, investment, and inflation. As well as gaining knowledge of the fundamentals of Economics, you will gain skills useful in studying within any Arts or Social Science subject at university Level 1.

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English Literature

This course provides an introduction to English Literature, and develops the skills required for successful undergraduate study in the subject.  The course covers examples of poetry, prose fiction and drama.  Students will learn how to use literary terminology, write academic essays and participate in group discussions.  Identification and explorations of key themes, such as, social class, gender roles and human development will play a significant part in encouraging engagement with the texts.  

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History of Art

This course will not run in 2023-24

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Medieval History

From HBO’s Game of Thrones and the History Channel adventure series Vikings to the recent discovery of Richard III’s skeleton images of our medieval past are experiencing something of a media ‘renaissance’. Are you interested in Charlemagne, the Father of Europe or chivalric knights? In the Inquisition or the Crusades? In peasant rebellions or the development of parliaments? In Chaucer or Giotto? This course offers a wide-ranging look at historical events and debates from Western Europe 500-1450. The themes of Power, Piety, People & Performance will be examined through four geographical and conceptual areas: Empires, Royal & Ideological States and European Movements. 

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Philosophy

This course introduces students to philosophy and prepares them for full-time study of philosophy at undergraduate level. The course has three modules. (1) Logic and reason teaches students how to reason clearly and methodically about any subject matter using the tools and techniques of classical logic. (2) Mind and matter applies the methods taught in Logic and reason to foundational questions in the philosophy of mind and cognitive science concerning whether human minds are souls, brains, or computational programs. (3) Right and wrong applies the methods taught in Logic and reason to foundational questions in moral philosophy concerning whether anything can be objectively right or wrong, and if so what might exactly make something right or wrong.

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Politics

This course offers an introduction to the academic study of politics. Politics is about power, institutions, the nature of society and, of course, people. Any society has to balance the needs of the individual with the greater group. It is the competition for power between organisations and people that both shape our society and impact on our daily lives. As part of the preparation for full time studies in politics, this course will provide an initial introduction to the concepts and language of the subject. We will also consider the specific structure and operation of institutions and electoral systems in the contemporary world, focusing specifically on the UK and the USA.

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Psychology

Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behaviour. Consisting of several subfields, such as social psychology, cognitive psychology and developmental psychology, the study of Psychology crosses traditional boundaries of Science and Social Science. This course introduces students to the science of Psychology, covering the scientific methods used in the discipline (with practical lab report writing and data analysis sessions), as well as introducing key topics and theories within a variety of subfields of Psychology. As well as gaining knowledge of the fundamentals of Psychology and data analysis, you will gain skills useful in studying within any Arts, Social Science or Science subject at university Level 1.

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Scottish History

This course considers the history of Scotland between 1603 and 1715, charting the kingdom’s key political, social, cultural, and economic changes during this turbulent period. Topics will include the Scottish ‘witch-hunts’, the mid-seventeenth century civil wars, the Anglo-Scottish Union of 1707, and the 1715 Jacobite Rebellion. Particular attention will be given to how these national events impacted Scots in Glasgow at a local level. Participants will be encouraged to consider distinctions between cultural myth and historical interpretation and to develop the critical thinking and skills required for undergraduate study.Suggested initial reading:There is no one book that would be a suitable background to the Scottish History course. However, you might like to try looking at:• Jenny Wormald, ed., Scotland: A History (2005) - chapters 4-6. Available online via the Glasgow University Library Website

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Social and Economic History

This course examines the social and economic history of Britain between 1830 and 1980. The course focuses on the changes that shaped British society during this period and explores the key social, economic, and political drivers of this change. It examines the effects of these changes on society but places particular emphasis on gender and class relationships.Themes explored throughout this course include: industrialisation, gender, class, family, consumerism, the rise of the welfare state, and the social and economic effects of two world wars.Offering an introduction to the academic discipline of social and economic history; it will serve as an introduction to first-year studies in the subject, but will also be useful to students with a wider interest in history and/or the social sciences.  

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Sociology

Sociology is a way of seeing. It offers a vantage point from which to look at different aspects of social life; equality, education, the media, health, employment, crime, art and culture. These issues and many more have provided sociologists with their material for study and analysis. This course introduces students to the key ideas, methods and themes of Sociology by looking at the development of the subject through the ideas of key thinkers (eg, Weber, Durkheim, Marx) before turning to core topics such as equality, culture and societal structures. Enabling students to developing skills and knowledge for University Level 1 study.

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Theology & Religious Studies

Religion has been a cornerstone of human societies and cultures for millennia, and this course is designed to introduce students to the scholarly study of religion and religious texts. Students will be introduced to key dimensions of the Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Texts from the Christian Bible will be analysed, and their historical impact assessed. Students will study the relationship between religion and ethics, with case studies drawn from within and outside Abrahamic traditions. We will also introduce students to the philosophy of religion, which uses rational argument to investigate religious claims, while trying to answer perennial questions about the origins and meaning of our existence. The critical skills developed on this course make it an excellent foundation for the academic study of subjects across the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.

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Archaeology

Archaeology is the study of the material remains of past cultures and offers students fascinating insights into the lives and experiences of others through the artefacts they created and used, and the physical spaces they occupied. This course focuses on the archaeology of Scotland, introducing key skills in interpreting the material record that will lay strong foundations for further study, either in the College of Arts or the College of Social Sciences.

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Biology

Biology offers an understanding of the natural world around you and is a core subject for anyone interested in pursuing study in Life Sciences. This course introduces students to the key ideas and methods of Biology, covering topics such as evolution, cell structure and function, photosynthesis, and infection and immunity. You will benefit from virtual lab work, including the use of videos of dissections as part of the course. As well as gaining knowledge of the fundamentals of Biology, you will gain skills useful in studying within any Science subject at university Level 1. 

As part of this course, there will be two practical lab sessions which will be held on-campus. These will be delivered during your timetabled class time during weeks 7 & 8 of the course. You will be expected to attend both lab sessions at the UofG's Gilmorehill campus, as these will form the basis of an assessed lab report. Please ensure that you can attend these sessions before signing up for the course.

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Chemistry

Chemistry offers a basis for understanding the physical world around you and is a core subject for the budding nurse-to-be. This course introduces students to the key ideas and methods of Chemistry, covering topics such as periodicity, bonding and structure, enthalpy, polymers and redox. You will also learn how to write formulae and complete chemical equations. As well as gaining knowledge of the fundamentals of Chemistry, you will gain skills useful in studying within any Science subject at university Level 1. 

As part of this course, there will be two practical lab sessions which will be held on-campus. These will be delivered during your timetabled class time during weeks 15 & 16 of the course. You will be expected to attend both lab sessions at the UofG's Gilmorehill campus, as these will form the basis of an assessed lab report. Please ensure that you can attend these sessions before signing up for the course.

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Geology

Geology is a branch of Earth Science concerned with the physical structure and substance of the Earth, its evolution, and the Earth processes (for example earthquakes, floods, and volcanic eruptions). This course introduces students to the key ideas and methods of Geology through timed set exercises (20% each) exploring four themes: planet earth and its history; earth processes and geohazards, the geology of Scotland; and evolution of life, climates and environments. As well as gaining knowledge of the fundamentals of Geology, you will gain skills useful in studying within the physical sciences at university Level 1.

As part of this course, there will be two practical lab sessions which will be held on-campus. These will be delivered during your timetabled class time during weeks 9 & 10 of the course. You will be expected to attend both lab sessions at the UofG's Gilmorehill campus, as these will form the basis of an assessed lab report. Please ensure that you can attend these sessions before signing up for the course.

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Mathematics

An understanding of mathematics is essential for a wide range of disciplines and professions, as well as being fundamental to further study in the sciences. This course introduces students to core topics in maths, such as quadratic equations, trigonometry, differentiation, integration, vectors and series, as well as introducing more abstract ideas of sets and functions. As well as gaining knowledge of the fundamentals of maths, you will gain skills useful in studying within any science subject at university Level 1. 

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Physics

Physics offers a foundation for many other sciences, including Chemistry, Seismology, Astronomy and Engineering, whilst developing your analytical skills. This course introduces students to the key ideas and methods of Physics, covering topics such as motion, energy, electromagnetism, and optics. You will also learn how to solve real word Physics problems by carrying out algebraic, trigonometric and numerical operations. As well as gaining knowledge of the fundamentals of Physics, you will gain skills useful in studying within any Science subject at university Level 1. 

As part of this course, there will be two practical lab sessions which will be held on-campus. These will be delivered during your timetabled class time during weeks 7 & 8 of the course. You will be expected to attend both lab sessions at the UofG's Gilmorehill campus, as these will form the basis of an assessed lab report. Please ensure that you can attend these sessions before signing up for the course.

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Psychology

Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behaviour. Consisting of several subfields, such as social psychology, cognitive psychology and developmental psychology, the study of Psychology crosses traditional boundaries of Science and Social Science. This course introduces students to the science of Psychology, covering the scientific methods used in the discipline (with practical lab report writing and data analysis sessions), as well as introducing key topics and theories within a variety of subfields of Psychology. As well as gaining knowledge of the fundamentals of Psychology and data analysis, you will gain skills useful in studying within any Arts, Social Science or Science subject at university Level 1.

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