SWAP Access to Zoology, Marine Biology and Environmental Science
- Mode:Full-time
- Duration:37 weeks
- Starting:18 August 2025
- SCQF level:Level 6
- Duration:-
- Mode:-
- Starting:-
- SCQF level:-
- Cost:-
SWAP Access to Zoology, Marine Biology and Environmental Science
Overview
If you share our passion for animals and the environment and you would like to start your journey to become the next Attenborough then look no further! If your career ambitions include reintroducing species in the wild, surveying whales and dolphins and monitoring their health, investigating the impact of climate change on wildlife and much more this is the course for you. You will learn animal biology and behaviour and how animals interact with their environment, giving you the foundations for your future career.
After successful completion of this course, you can progress onto our HNC Bioscience course. It will also help you to progress onto university to study Zoology, Marine and Freshwater Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science and Management and other similar courses with the option to progress onto Life Sciences courses as an alternative.
Entry
This course is for anyone who would like to pursue a career in science, especially if you have an interest in zoology, marine and freshwater biology, ecology or environmental science and conservation. Applicants who have been out of formal education and with few or no qualifications may be considered for this course.
The course is supported through SWAP (Scottish Wider Access Programme). All eligible applicants will be invited for an interview.
As a Scottish Wider Access Programme (SWAP) Science student you will be in the position to apply to many degree programmes in the West of Scotland and beyond.
SWAP university partners in the West are:
Glasgow University
Strathclyde University,
University of the West of Scotland,
Glasgow Caledonian University,
Stirling University and
Scotland Rural College SRUC.
Successful students with a positive team progression reference can also remain at college progressing on to HNC/HND level courses.
Progression Routes are available here: https://www.scottishwideraccess.org/west-progression_routes.php?section_id=285
Learn
On this course, you will cover a number of topics including:
- Biology
- Ecology
- Chemistry
- Maths
- Communications
You will be assessed on an ongoing basis using practical assessments, assignments and short closed-book assessments. There is no final examination.
Where can I go from here?
Graduates of this course will be able to go directly into the following courses:

HNC Mechanical Engineering Day Release - Year 2
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- Duration:36 weeks
- Mode:Day Release
- Starting:25 August 2025
- SCQF level: 7

HNC Manufacturing Engineering Day Release - Year 1
- Location:Motherwell
- Duration:36 weeks
- Mode:Day Release
- Starting:25 August 2025
- SCQF level: 7

HNC Manufacturing Engineering Day Release - Year 2
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- Duration:36 weeks
- Mode:Day Release
- Starting:25 August 2025
- SCQF level: 7

NC Manufacturing Engineering Day Release - Year 2
- Location:Motherwell
- Duration:36 weeks
- Mode:Day Release
- Starting:25 August 2025
- SCQF level: 5

NC Manufacturing Engineering Day Release - Year 1
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- Duration:36 weeks
- Mode:Day Release
- Starting:25 August 2025
- SCQF level: 5

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- Duration:36 weeks
- Mode:Day Release
- Starting:26 August 2025
- SCQF level: 6

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- Duration:36 weeks
- Mode:Day Release
- Starting:25 August 2025
- SCQF level: 7

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- Location:Motherwell
- Duration:12 weeks
- Mode:Evening
- Starting:16 September 2025, 18 September 2025
- SCQF level: 6

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- Location:Motherwell
- Duration:36 weeks
- Mode:Evening
- Starting:02 September 2025
- SCQF level: 7

HNC Electrical Engineering Year 1 - Day Release
- Location:Motherwell
- Duration:36 weeks
- Mode:Day Release
- Starting:25 August 2025
- SCQF level: 7

HNC Electrical Engineering Year 2 - Day Release
- Location:Motherwell
- Duration:36 weeks
- Mode:Day Release
- Starting:25 August 2025
- SCQF level: 7

HNC Computer Aided Architectural Design and Technology (CADT)
- Location:Motherwell
- Duration:36 weeks
- Mode:Full-time
- Starting:25 August 2025
- SCQF level: 7

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- Location:Motherwell
- Duration:36 weeks
- Mode:Full-time
- Starting:25 August 2025
- SCQF level: 7

HNC Electrical Engineering
- Location:Motherwell
- Duration:36 weeks
- Mode:Full-time
- Starting:25 August 2025
- SCQF level: 7

HNC Mechanical Engineering
- Location:Motherwell
- Duration:36 weeks
- Mode:Full-time
- Starting:25 August 2025
- SCQF level: 7

HND Computer Aided Architectural Design and Technology - Year 2 (CADT)
- Location:Motherwell
- Duration:36 weeks
- Mode:Full-time
- Starting:25 August 2025
- SCQF level: 8

HND Computer Aided Draughting and Design - Year 2 (CAD)
- Location:Motherwell
- Duration:36 weeks
- Mode:Full-time
- Starting:25 August 2025
- SCQF level: 8

NC Electrical Engineering
- Location:Motherwell
- Duration:36 weeks
- Mode:Full-time
- Starting:18 August 2025
- SCQF level: 6

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- Location:Motherwell
- Duration:36 weeks
- Mode:Full-time
- Starting:18 August 2025
- SCQF level: 5

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- Location:Motherwell
- Duration:36 weeks
- Mode:Full-time
- Starting:18 August 2025
- SCQF level: 4

Pathways to Animal Biology and Science
- Location:Coatbridge
- Duration:37 weeks
- Mode:Full-time
- Starting:18 August 2025
- SCQF level: 4

NC Electronic Engineering
- Location:Motherwell
- Duration:36 weeks
- Mode:Full-time
- Starting:18 August 2025
- SCQF level: 5

NC Fabrication and Welding Engineering Day Release - Year 1
- Location:Motherwell
- Duration:36 weeks
- Mode:Day Release
- Starting:25 August 2025
- SCQF level: 5

HNC Fabrication, Welding and Inspection Day Release - Year 2
- Location:Motherwell
- Duration:36 weeks
- Mode:Day Release
- Starting:25 August 2025
- SCQF level: 7

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- Location:Motherwell
- Duration:36 weeks
- Mode:Day Release
- Starting:25 August 2025
- SCQF level: 5

HNC Fabrication, Welding and Inspection Day Release - Year 1
- Location:Motherwell
- Duration:36 weeks
- Mode:Day Release
- Starting:25 August 2025
- SCQF level: 7

NQ Animal Biology and Conservation
- Location:Coatbridge
- Duration:37 weeks
- Mode:Full-time
- Starting:18 August 2025
- SCQF level: 6

NQ Computer Aided Design and Technology (CADT)
- Location:Motherwell
- Duration:37 weeks
- Mode:Full-time
- Starting:18 August 2025
- SCQF level: 6

NC Engineering Systems
- Location:Motherwell
- Duration:36 weeks
- Mode:Full-time
- Starting:18 August 2025
- SCQF level: 6

SWAP Access to Paramedic Science and Health
- Location:Motherwell
- Duration:37 weeks
- Mode:Full-time
- Starting:18 August 2025
- SCQF level: 6

HNC Electrical Engineering - Year 2 - Evening
- Location:Motherwell
- Duration:36 weeks
- Mode:Evening
- Starting:02 September 2025
- SCQF level: 7

NC Manufacturing Engineering
- Location:Motherwell
- Duration:36 weeks
- Mode:Full-time
- Starting:18 August 2025
- SCQF level: 5

SWAP Access to Chemical & Life Sciences
- Location:Coatbridge
- Duration:37 weeks
- Mode:Full-time
- Starting:18 August 2025
- SCQF level: 6

SWAP Access to Health Sciences
- Location:Coatbridge
- Duration:37 weeks
- Mode:Full-time
- Starting:18 August 2025
- SCQF level: 6