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Transitions Course

Registration for the 24-25 LEAPS Transitions course is now closed. 

Please check back for more information about the 25-26 LEAPS Transitions Course later in the year.

 

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!

 

"Since I was the first in my family to attended university, I was nervous and didn’t know what to expect. The support from LEAPS to help me understand university courses and the level of work that would be expected was great. Even down to how to write an academic essay with citations was so helpful. I have used these skills more than once in my course at university now, and can even help my friends who may be struggling."

Hannah, Former LEAPS Transitions Course Student

 

About the LEAPS Transitions Course

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.

Semester one will focus on academic skills and a writing assessment; semester two will have a lecture series and a group poster assessment.

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, while focusing on developing key academic skills.

You will be in S5 when you choose the course, and in S6 when the course begins.

The 2024-2025 LEAPS Transitions Course will run from September 2024 - March 2025. 

 

Watch our short film below to find out more:

 

What will I learn?

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

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 (interactive presentations to everyone on the course)
  • Tutorials (smaller group discussions led by a tutor)
  • Workshops
  • Project Work
  • Library Research
  • Independent study
  • Coursework (weekly preparation for tutorials)
  • Assessments (two formal graded assessments and additional informal formative assessments)
    • Individual Written Assessment on Academic Skills 60% (Formal)
    • Academic Poster Presentations (group work) 40% (Formal)
    • Reflective zine ‘notes for my future self’ drawing on all of the themes of the course (Informal)

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.
  • It is available on Insight.

Course Structure

  • The course forms one option on your S6 timetable.
  • It will run from September 2024 – March 2025. 
  • 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

  • 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 postgraduate student).

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.

Find a sample timetable here which shows what your classes could look like.

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 here
  • 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!

Entry Requirements

To register for the LEAPS Transitions Course, you should;

  • Be LEAPS-eligible.
  • Be aiming to apply to university.
  • Be in S6 when you take the course (you will be in S5 when you choose it for your S6 timetable).
  • Be on track to achieve the Highers/National 5s required for university entry (or have already achieved these in S5).

Questions?

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