Fastrack is an intensive programme of study for applicants to Edge Hill University who otherwise would not have the relevant level 3 qualifications to access a degree programme.

The programme consists of a one week preparation week followed by six weeks full time study. This is typically four days a week on campus and one of day independent study at home, where you will also meet with your tutors online. Due to the fast nature of the programme, there is a lot of work to get through outside of classroom hours, but you will receive a lot of support and guidance to help you. If you are looking to study on the next Fastrack intake you will need to be available for full time study from 3 June -12th July 2024.

Qualifications

You do not need any formal qualifications for the Fastrack Programme*. We are looking for applicants that can show a good level of commitment to the degree they wish to progress onto, a realistic understanding of the subject and transferable skills. This will be shown through your personal statement.

*Some degrees may have some additional GCSE requirements. If you do not hold these then you can also look at our Equivalency Exams. Whilst these are not a requirement for Fastrack, you would be expected to have passed these before you start your degree programme. Information on the degree programmes with additional requirements can be found at the bottom of the progression routes page.

IT Skills

During your studies you will be required to word process your work , use email and access virtual learning environments. Whilst you will be offered some support with this you will be expected to have a basic level of IT skills already.

Fastrack is open to applicants who:

• are committed to degree study at Edge Hill University,
• have had a break away from education
• do not already hold the relevant level 3 qualifications

Applications are made directly to the University via our direct application form. This is a dual application for both the Fastrack Programme and the subsequent degree programme. You do not need to submit separate applications.

You will be asked to create an account. Please make a note of the username and password so that you can complete the application in more than one sitting if required.

If you forget your username you can either use the forgotten password function which will generate an email to your personal email address (don’t forget to check your junk mail) or you can contact the Catalyst Helpdesk.

It is important that you include as much information in your application as possible. You should include any GCSE’s that you have at grade 4 (C ) or higher, and any other level 2, 3 or higher qualifications.

One of the most important aspects of the application is the personal statement. We will be looking closely at this to assess your understanding and commitment to the course. We will also be looking at your level of written English. This will include sentence structure, spelling and grammar. So please remember to proofread. It is not a good idea to try and complete this on your phone, we recommend a laptop or PC.

You may find the Personal Statement section of our website useful when completing your application.

You will be required to demonstrate a level of English language competency that will enable you to be successful in your studies.

We assess this in several different ways. Firstly, your personal statement needs to meet the required level. Following this we either ask you to provide verification of a relevant English Language GCSE at grade 4 (C ) or higher or higher or a level 2 literacy qualification. If you have these it would be useful if you could attach them to your application.

Don’t worry if you don’t hold either of these qualifications, we offer an interview literacy test. You will be asked to complete this should you be successful at interview. This is a basic online test that you can take at home. Please note that this is not a formal qualification and will not meet the requirements for degree programmes that also require GCSE English as part of the progression criteria.

If your initial application is successful, then you will be invited in for an interview.

The format of your interview will depend on which area you are hoping to study in. However, we will send you essential information to help you prepare.

If you are successful at interview and are able to demonstrate a satisfactory level of written English then you will receive two offers to study at the University for the next available intake. This will be an unconditional offer for the Fastrack Programme and a conditional offer for the degree. The conditions will always include successful completion of the Fastrack Programme. Some subject areas will have other conditions which will need to be met before you start in your degree. These may include GCSEs or DBS and Medical Clearances. You can find more information about these conditions on our Fastrack preparation guide.

Once you have been accepted you will receive a link to an applicant website where you will find most of the information you need prior to the Fastrack Course. We will also send you regular updates via email.