About the LEAPS Transitions Course

Keen to prepare for university study?

If you are a LEAPS-eligible student, the LEAPS Transitions Course could be an S6 timetable option for you!

Key Information

• S6 timetable option for LEAPS eligible students focused on developing first-year university-level academic skills
• Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from August 2025 – March 2026
• 20 Credits at SCQF Level 7
• Admissions Agreements with many higher education institutions in Scotland
• New application process for 2025-26
• 170 Insight Tariff Points 

Course Description

The LEAPS Transitions Course is designed to give you the skills and experience needed to make a positive transition from school to university. Throughout the course, you will work with academics and students from other schools on developing first-year university-level academic skills. You will gain confidence and an understanding of what it takes to be successful at university. This is a unique opportunity to get the ‘uni’ experience before starting for real. During the course you will be enrolled at the University of Edinburgh, but the course itself will be helpful regardless of which university you hope to study at after school.

The course is an S6 timetable option. You will be in S5 when you choose the course, and in S6 when the course begins.

The 2025-2026 LEAPS Transitions Course will run from August 2025 - March 2026.

Is this course for me?

If you are...

• LEAPS-eligible
• aiming for university (on track with the Highers/National 5s needed for university entry)
• able to accommodate the course within S6 timetable (Tuesday and Thursday afternoons)
• able to commit the time needed for the course (approx. six hours per week, plus assessment preparation)

... then the LEAPS Transitions course is for you! 

Academic Requirements 

To apply for the LEAPS Transitions Course you should (in addition to the above);

• Be predicted to achieve at least BB by the end of S5*

*Please speak to your guidance teacher if you have any questions about these academic requirements.

What will I learn?

The focus will be on developing successful academic practice – in other words, how to be successful at university – and you will have the chance to work with students and academics/lecturers from a broad range of subject areas. You will not study one subject. Instead, you will study lots of subjects, focusing on developing key academic skills. ​

• University-Level Academic Skills (critical thinking, academic writing, academic resources, discussion and presentation skills, academic posters, evidence – including referencing and plagiarism, feedback, data skills, reflective practice, generative AI and uni study)
• Independent Learning (self-directed study, time management, problem solving, self-evaluation)
• Digital Literacy (university virtual learning environments, online academic library collections, learning in an online setting) 

How will I learn?

• Lectures (presentations to everyone on the course) and Tutorials (smaller group discussions led by a tutor)
• Workshops, Project Work, Library Research, Independent study
• Coursework (weekly preparation for tutorials) 

How will I be assessed?

• There are three assessments, and additional informal (formative) assessments including weekly coursework for each tutorial. The assessments provide valuable insights and feedback for students before they start future higher education studies.  

The  assessments are: ​

• Individual Written Assessment on Academic Skills: 60% of overall grade
• Academic Poster Presentations (group work): 40% of overall grade
• Reflective zine ‘notes for my future self’ drawing on all of the themes of the course: complete/not complete 

Course Level

• The course has been credit-rated by the Centre for Open Learning at the University of Edinburgh
• It is offered as a 20 credit SCQF Level 7 course
• It is the same level as Advanced Higher/first-year university-level study
• The course attracts 170 Insight Tariff Points.

Course Structure

• The course forms one option on your S6 timetable
• It will run from August 2025 - March 2026
• Sessions take place on a Tuesday and a Thursday afternoon. (All students must attend both sessions each week)
• Your time commitment works out as approximately six hours per week, plus assessment preparation
• Classes will be with a mix of students from other schools

Teaching

• Semester one will focus on academic skills and a writing assessment; semester two will have a lecture series and a group poster assessment
• Led by the LEAPS Transitions Course lecture team
• Visiting academics from Edinburgh Napier, Edinburgh, Queen Margaret and Heriot-Watt Universities
• Every student has a dedicated class Tutor (current PhD student)

Tutorial Groups and Postgraduate Tutor

• Every student has a dedicated class Tutor, this is a current PhD student who leads weekly tutorials
• Tutors are trained to lead sessions, assess student assignments, but also to share their experience and support and guide you with your transition to university

Location of Course

• The course will be a mix of online sessions and in-person sessions on university campuses in Edinburgh
• Travel arrangements and costs will be supported by LEAPS

Typical Timetable

• Tuesdays 14.15-15.30 Online Lecture
• Thursdays 14.00-15.00 Online Tutorial or 14.00-17.00 On-campus Tutorial (this will alternate each week)
• Students with longer journeys into Edinburgh will have fewer on campus sessions and more online sessions

University Admissions

• Many universities in Scotland consider the LEAPS Transitions Course for university admissions purposes – some will accept it as a Higher, some will consider it at confirmation stage
• Find details in our LEAPS Transitions Course & University Entry Requirements guide.
• By taking this course you are demonstrating to universities that you are committed to preparing for university-level study – a great thing to mention in your UCAS Personal Statement!

Questions?

If you have any questions, please contact us at leapstransitions@ed.ac.uk