Access to Allied Health Professions

Our Access to Allied Health Professions programmes combine science and health care modules to prepare students to enter many of the allied health professions: Midwifery, Occupational Therapy, Paramedicine, Physiotherapy and Podiatry.

Two students are in front of an ambulance, one is dressed in Paramedic uniform, the other is wrapped in a blanket with an oxygen mask
Paramedic Science students at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh

What will I study on my SWAP course?

Every college has a slightly varied curriculum, but you’ll cover topics within: 

  • Care
  • Biology
  • Human Biology
  • Healthcare
  • Mental Healthcare

You will also study the core subjects Communication/Literature, Maths/Numeracy and, possibly, ICT. 

Find the list of colleges who offer an Access to Allied Health Professions programme at the links below:

The Access to Allied Health Professions class at North East Scotland College pose for a group photo
SWAP Access to Allied Health Professions students at North East Scotland College

What can I study at university afterwards?

When you successfully complete your SWAP Access to Allied health Professions programme, you can progress onto degrees including: 

  • Occupational Therapy
  • Paramedicine
  • Physiotherapy
  • Podiatry
  • Oral Health Science
  • Nursing
students and staff wearing RGU scrubs experiment with exercise tools
Occupational Therapy students at Robert Gordon University

Healthcare Experience

For some allied health profession degrees, universities expect to see extensive experience in your chosen area of healthcare. 

This can be voluntary or work experience and includes things like:

  • First aid training
  • Shadowing of professionals in your chosen field
  • Work in relevant clinics

For guidance on whether the experience you have will be sufficient for entry to university, please contact the SWAP East office.

Other Allied Health Professions

Not all routes to allied health degrees are via our Access to Allied Health Profession SWAP programme.

  • Radiography: some of our Access to Health & Life Science programmes have progression routes to Radiography at university.
  • Dietetics: our Access to Health & Life Science programmes have progression routes to Dietetics at university.
  • Ophthalmology: we do not currently have any routes to Ophthalmology from SWAP East access programmes.

See our Progression Routes Finder or contact the SWAP East office for more information.

Explore the progression routes we have from different Access to Allied Health Professions programmes into university:

Student Stories

Aurelija

After a long break, I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to study in the SWAP Health Allied Professions group, finding the challenging yet rewarding classes essential for paving my way towards higher education at university and my dream of becoming a paramedic. 

The journey has expanded my knowledge, sharpened my academic skills, and instilled a sense of fulfillment in pursuing my aspirations. Despite the tough and demanding nature of the coursework, the dedication and hard work invested will bring me closer to realizing my long-awaited goals.

Aurelija Spackauskiene SWAP East, North East College Student & Robert Gordon University student

Get in touch

Do you have any questions about which SWAP access course is right for you? Send our SWAP East office an email and we can talk you through it.

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