Mode of Study

Full-time

Start Date

25th Aug 2025, 1 year

Location

City Campus

Applications from International Students Welcome

Overview

The Diploma in Higher Education is a full-time course, which is designed to enhance the educational and employment opportunities of anyone who possesses a relevant HNC qualification.

The course is facilitated in partnership with the University of Strathclyde and is provided on a collaborative basis. This ensures that anyone who successfully completes the Diploma award can then move directly into year three of the BA (Hons) Education and Social Services provided by the University.

The awards available via enrolment on the course are as follows:

• Diploma in Education and Social Services - SCQF Level 8.
• BA in Education and Social Services - SCQF Level 9.
• BA (Honours) in Education and Social Services - SCQF Level 10.

Entry requirements

Minimum entry requirements

You must have successfully completed one of the following qualifications in the previous five years:

• HNC Social Services.
• HNC Healthcare Practice/Care and Administrative Practice.
• HNC Childhood Practice/Early Education and Childcare.
• HNC Additional Support Needs.
• HNC Occupational Therapy.
• HNC Working with Communities/Community Education.

Any other relevant HNC qualification with appropriate work experience may be considered. 

Additional selection requirements

• You'll be invited for a group and/or individual interview where you can find out more about the course and tell us why you're interested in this subject area.
• You must provide a suitable academic reference.
• You will be asked to submit a personal learning statement, and also participate in an information session, as part of the selection process.

ESOL entry requirements

Applicants whose first language is not English should have minimum SQA ESOL National 5 or equivalent for NC/NQ courses and ESOL Higher or equivalent for HNC/D courses.

What you study

You will be required to attend college on a Tuesday, Thursday and Friday each week from September to May. During this period, you will undertake a range of units, which aim to strengthen and enhance your understanding of the importance of integrated service provision within the health, social services, and education sectors.

The units you will study at Diploma level are as follows:-

• Academic Literacy.
• The Societal Context of Professional Working.
• Introduction to Integrated Services.
• How People Develop and Learn.
• Being Professional: Working Collaboratively.
• Workplace Learning and Practice 1.

You are also expected to undertake a four-week block placement as part of the course. 

After the course

Careers

There is also a wide range of employment opportunities available to graduates within the education and social services sectors.

Continuing Study

On successful completion of the Diploma you will move on to the BA (Hons) in Education and Social Services. Following this, you may choose to follow in the footsteps of previous students, who have undertaken post-graduate study in the following areas:

• Drugs and Alcohol Studies.
• Social Work.
• Primary Education.
• Criminology.
• Counselling Studies.
• Autism Studies.
• Mental Health Studies.