AHEAD

Access to Higher Education at Abertay Dundee (AHEAD) is a stimulating, part-time evening programme designed to give you access to a wide range of degrees, no matter what qualifications you hold.

Course detail

Start Date

September

Duration

September to May (part-time over two semesters)

Award Title

UCAS Code

APPLY NOW REGISTER INTEREST BOOK FOR AHEAD OPEN EVENING

Why Choose AHEAD?

AHEAD is a free university access course which provides you, on successful completion, with a guaranteed place on a range of Abertay University undergraduate degrees.

If you've been out of education for three years or more and don't have the qualifications, AHEAD could be your access to higher education at Abertay.

AHEAD is free, and provides you with the core academic and study skills needed for you to successfully complete a degree at Abertay University.

Applications for September 2025 entry are now OPEN. Click on the APPLY NOW button in course detail to apply.

Want to find out more about AHEAD? Come along to our Open Evening on Wednesday 9 April, 6-7.30pm. To find out more and book your place click here.

Key Features

Successful completion of the AHEAD programme guarantees a place on a range of Abertay degrees. (You need to join your chosen Abertay course within two years of completing the AHEAD programme.)
Study two evenings per week for two semesters.
No formal academic entry requirements, but you must have been away from full-time education for three years or more.
Key skills module strengthens your core study skills, to prepare you for higher education study.
A choice of subject-based modules.

AHEAD is FREE to applicants who meet the eligibility criteria.

For more information, please email or call Claire Gammie. E: c.gammie@abertay.ac.uk T: 01382 308295.

Entry Requirements

There are no formal entrance requirements other than having been out of education for three years or more. All students will be interviewed to ascertain their motivation to study and the suitability of the AHEAD programme to their learning needs. Entry is at SCQF Level 6.

AHEAD is FREE and is available to applicants who meet Scottish Funding Council (SFC) eligibility criteria.

Helping You Get Ahead

The AHEAD programme is delivered two nights per week between September and May.

Teaching on the AHEAD programme is designed to provide a supportive environment, enabling you to develop, sharpen, and improve your study skills.

You'll be taught in a variety ways, including through lectures, seminars, discussions, group work, practical classes and guided independent study.

Assessment methods vary between different modules, but take the form of portfolios, essays and reports, presentations and examinations.

Learning and Assessment

The programme includes a compulsory 30-credit module designed to strengthen your key study, information literacy, IT and numeracy skills (and is completed in the first semester).

This is followed by two, 15-credit, subject-based modules completed in the second semester (options include:

Social science
Computing
Business
Health
Sports science

Future Opportunities

Access to Higher Education at Abertay Dundee (AHEAD) is a stimulating, part-time evening programme designed to give you access to a wide range of degrees, no matter what qualifications you hold.

AHEAD focuses on strengthening key transferable skills, such as communication, IT, literacy and numeracy skills and should also be attractive to employers thereby enhancing your employability.

Please note that this course is not suitable for progression to the following courses: BSc (Hons) Computer Games Technology, BA (Hons) Computer Arts, BSc (Hons) Computer Game Applications Development, BA (Hons) Game Design and Production and LLB (Hons) Bachelor of Laws.

AHEAD Success Stories

Hear from our former AHEAD students, who have since went on to pursue a degree and graduate from Abertay University.

Thomas Brough

Now that I've completed my degree, with first class honours, and secured a postgraduate job in the field I was studying, I realise that all of this happened because of the AHEAD programme. I would definitely recommend to anyone who's thinking about applying!

India Dunne

The AHEAD programme gives you the skills and confidence to believe that getting a degree is an achievable goal, which some people—including myself at one point—may not think is for them. Applying and getting onto the AHEAD programme changed the whole trajectory of my life!