Grant funding worth £64,758 has been awarded to the Forth Valley University College NHS Partnership to design and develop an innovative Fast Track to BSc Nursing Programme.

The Test of Change grant will underpin a pioneering initiative, jointly led by Forth Valley College (FVC) and the University of Stirling (UoS), to create a six-month intensive programme enabling eligible learners to progress directly into Year 1 of the BSc Nursing degree (Adult or Mental Health).

The first cohort is expected to begin in August 2026 with a subsequent cohort being recruited for January 2027. The programme hopes to directly address the challenges highlighted in the Scottish Government’s Ministerial Scottish Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce Report (2025).

The funding will support the design, development, and planning phase, including curriculum creation, recruitment strategies, and partnership coordination. Once operational, the Fast Track programme will provide a clear, supportive pathway for individuals who have the potential to succeed in nursing, but do not currently meet university entry requirements.

This SCQF Level 6 full-time course is aimed at individuals who want to study nursing and who may not currently possess the qualifications for direct entry into the undergraduate nursing program at the University of Stirling.

Examples could include:

• School leavers progressing from senior-phase school/college health and social care pathways.
• Adult returners seeking to re-enter education and train for a healthcare career.
• Career changers looking to transition into nursing.

The course invites applications from individual’s interested in a career in Adult and Mental Health Nursing and offers the student study in numeracy, communication and the influences on mental health and wellbeing. Also included is physiology and the structure of the human body.

Applicants must have at least one Higher at C or above preferably in English or other discursive subject, and a large aspect of the course will centre on academic study skills and student development of an awareness of how they learn. Applicants also must have a clear PVG (self-declaration).

All students who meet the criteria to join the Fast-Track programme and subsequently complete the course and achieve a pass, will be offered a place on the BSc Nursing Programme at the University of Stirling – no further interview is required. The new course will join a number of other opportunities that have been created thanks to the Forth Valley University College NHS Partnership

Sarah Higgins, FVC’s Vice Principal Learning and Student Experience, said: “The course is designed to address a shortage of nursing undergraduates across Scotland and Forth Valley College will support and encourage students who complete the programme to join the degree at the University of Stirling in Adult/Mental Health Nursing.

“This course is a valuable initiative to bridge the gap in nursing undergraduates, offering a tailored curriculum that combines foundational core skills knowledge with essential academic skills development. It serves as an accessible pathway for individuals passionate about nursing, providing them with the tools to succeed in the undergraduate nursing program at the University of Stirling.”

Further information can be obtained by e-mailing – ailsa.elliott@forthvalley.ac.uk  or kim.reid@forthvalley.ac.uk