Dundee's brightest get head start on campus

Four new arrivals at Dundee University are current pupils from Dundee High School, under a pioneering scheme to promote direct entry to the second year.

Pupils taking the new Scottish Advanced Higher exams can apply for second-year entry, as can A-level students. Entrance requirements are generally for three AH passes, but Dundee has now launched a scheme whereby pupils can replace one AH course with a 13-week module at the university.

Those taking AH exams are the most able pupils, who have generally gained first-year university entrance requirements the previous year. The scheme will be offered to other local schools in 2003.

Four pupils this week began an induction course for arts and social science modules. Another four will join in February to take project-based engineering modules. They will study alongside first-year students.

Those who successfully complete the module and AH exams can still opt for first-year level entry, and are not obliged to go to Dundee.

Under the new Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework, the 20 module credits can be translated by other institutions. The pupils will have access to all the university's learning resources, including computing facilities but, at the school's request, they are barred from the students' union.