Eligibility

Which school year should I be in to participate in Accelerate?

Accelerate is for senior school pupils who are getting ready to apply to, or go to, University. Pupils should be in either S4 or S5 during the application process which runs through February – April each year. This means that pupils will be starting S5 or S6 when the programme runs in June.

Why are there eligibility criteria?

Accelerate is a dedicated widening access programme which means that all places are fully funded. Widening Access term refers to the removal of barriers for groups of students who are under-represented in Higher Education (HE).

Find out more about what widening access means.

I don’t go to a target school, can I still apply?

Attendance at one of the University’s target schools is only one of the eligibility criteria. As long as you meet at least one of the other eligibility criteria, then you can apply for a funded place on Accelerate.

I go to a target school but don’t meet any of the other eligibility criteria, am I still eligible to apply?

Yes. Pupils must only meet at least one of the eligibility criteria to be able to apply. As you meet the criteria of attendance at a target school, you don’t have to meet any other criteria.

I am really interested in taking part in one of the Accelerate Challenges but I don’t meet any of the eligibility criteria, how can I take part?

Accelerate is a dedicated Widening Access programme which means that all places are fully funded. Unfortunately, if you do not meet any of the Widening Access criteria above, we cannot offer you a place on the programme. If you feel that you have other circumstances that we should take into account, please email us accelerate-programme@strath.ac.uk.

Applying

If I meet the eligibility criteria, does that mean I will get a place on the programme?

Meeting just one of the eligibility criteria is necessary for pupils to apply for a place, but does not guarantee a place on the programme.

However, while matching one criterion is not a guarantee of a funded place (if some challenges are very popular and are over-subscribed, we may need to prioritise pupils who match more than one criterion) you will probably have a very good chance of being awarded a funded place if you do only meet one criterion.

The pupil personal statement is also taken into consideration. Pupils need to demonstrate in their personal statement that they are interested in going onto study that particular subject at University. Pupils should provide as much detail as possible in their personal statement.

I am interested in more than one subject; can I apply for more than one Challenges?

We understand that pupils may still be undecided about which subject or course they would like to study at University, so it’s possible that you may want to apply for more than one Accelerate Challenge to help you decide. Pupils can apply for a funded place on one Challenge per week at most. This does not guarantee a place on the programme and it is also possible that you may get a place on one challenge but not on another.

How are funded places allocated?

Places are allocated based on Widening Access criteria with points allocated to applications based on how many of the criteria are met. If a pupil meets one criterion, they will have a very good chance of being allocated a place. However, depending on numbers, for some of our challenges that are very popular and over-subscribed, we may only be able to allocate places to pupils matching more than one criterion. The quality and relevance of the pupil’s personal statement will also be taken into consideration.

When will I hear about the outcome of my application?

We wait until the application deadline has passed before considering all applications. This means that you will not hear back from us until after the application deadline, even if you applied early in the application cycle.

I took part in Accelerate last year when I was in S5, can I apply again a year later?

Most Challenges run the same activities and assessments each year so it may not be beneficial for you to repeat the same Challenge again – an exception to this would be if you did not manage to gain the credits at SCQF Level 7 and would like another opportunity to achieve this.

Separately, if you are a previous Accelerate participant who is still undecided on your future path of study, we would certainly welcome another application from you for another Challenge.

Teachers

How many pupil places is each school allocated?

Schools are not awarded a maximum number of pupil places. If pupils meet the criteria, there is no limit on the number from one school who may be successful.

Is there a limit on how many pupils a school can put forward for Accelerate?

No, there is no limit on how many pupils that a school can put forward.

Can someone come out to our school to talk to our pupils about the programme?

Yes, to arrange this please accelerate-programme@strath.ac.uk,

Attending Accelerate

I live too far away to commute to Strathclyde for Accelerate. Does the University offer any accommodation?

Accelerate is not a residential programme and we are unfortunately unable to offer accommodation to any pupils. We ask that pupils only apply if they are within commuting distance to the University. Sometimes pupils who live further away stay for the week with a family member or family friend who lives in the Glasgow area. Any such arrangement is the responsibility of the pupil's parent/guardian.

How does the week work?

Accelerate runs on the Strathclyde campus from 10am to 4pm from Monday to Friday and pupils are expected to be present for the full week. Pupils will take part in a range of activities based around their chosen subject, potentially including lectures; practical activities/experiments; external visits. Pupils will be working in groups with other pupils, led by student mentors who are current Strathclyde students, studying in the particular department associated with each Challenge.

Is transport provided?

Transport is not provided and you will be required to make your own way to and from the University at the beginning and end of each day. The University is centrally located within Glasgow city centre so there are many public transport options available. We would encourage use of the bus, with your concessionary card, where possible. If train travel is required, then we can reimburse your travel costs. More details on our reimbursement of travel costs will be sent to you if you are successful in being allocated a funded place.

Is there any cost to attending?

There is no cost to pupils to attend Accelerate as all places are fully funded due to the programme being a dedicated widening access programme.

Is lunch provided?

Lunch is not provided. There are many places around the campus where you will be able to buy food if you wish. You are also welcome to bring a packed lunch with you each day.

Do I need to attend the full week?

Yes, the whole week is connected and pupils will be working towards a final goal, specific to their Challenge. Missing a day or multiple days of the Challenge will make it harder for the pupil to engage across the entire week and achieve their end assignment. For credit-rated Challenges, absences may mean that pupils are unable to achieve the credits and unfortunately, we are unable to offer pupils an opportunity to make up the work at another time.