Outdoor Pursuits SCQF Level 5

What is special about this course?

This course is designed to give you a grounding in a whole range of outdoor activities to prepare them for progression into outdoor education and leadership. It's highly practical in content and perfect for people who love the outdoors. The course follows seasonal specialist activities and you'll get the chance to build your knowledge and confidence in kayaking, canoeing, gorge walking, mountain biking, rock climbing, orienteering and skiing.

Activities take place in the Highlands including Cairngorms National Park, Glen Affric, the Fannichs, Ben Nevis, Ben Wyvis, the Black Isle, the Moray Coast and on long-distance paths including the Great Glen Way and Speyside Way.

Students also  have the opportunity to set, plan and undertake an expedition of their choice. Previous examples have included cycling the Speyside Way, crossing Scotland by canoe, and remote hiking/camping adventures.

An international ski trip in Europe takes place in January (optional).

During the second semester, you will have the opportunity to develop your leadership skills in an activity of your choice.

You will also work closely with students undertaking our BA (Hons) Outdoor Education and Learning degree, giving you the opportunity to gain an insight into further study. Throughout the course, you will be building log book experience which is a prerequisite for National Governing Body Qualifications e.g. British Cycling Mountain Bike Leader Award or British Canoe Kayaking Star Awards.

Students can also undertake/continue the Duke of Edinburgh Award or Saltire Volunteering Award.

UHI Inverness works closely with Highlife Highland and there are opportunities for students with National Governing Body Qualifications to can gain holiday employment or shadow outdoor instructors to work towards those qualifications.

Entry requirements

• Your commitment to outdoor activities should be evident from your personal statement.
• Three National 4s at a pass is desirable.
• You might be asked to attend an interview.

This course focuses on practical activities on land and water, including;

• water based activities - kayaking, canoeing, coasteering and gorge walking;
• land based activities - mountain biking, rock climbing, hill-walking and orienteering;
• camp craft and expeditioning - planning journeys, setting a camp, meal planning, leadership, team working;
• winter based activities - building snow shelters, alpine skiing, winter walking;
• anatomy and physiology;
• nutrition and diet;
• fitness training.

The course also includes core skills contextualised to your outdoor learning:

• ICT
• Communication

Equipment

Through bursary funding, students will be provided with a waterproof jacket and over trousers; rucksack; insulating fleece; and thermal base layer. You will also be given a pair of hill-walking boots. All technical equipment is provided e.g. bikes and helmets, skis and boots, boats and paddles. Students must provide their own hat for the conditions, gloves and eye protection e.g. ski googles/bike glasses.

Fees

If you have been living in the UK for at least 3 years, are ordinary resident in Scotland before the course start date it is likely that you will not have to pay fees for your full time course.  Please check our Fee Waiver Policy.

Full time students will automatically receive the fee waiver if they are eligible. We will use the information provided on your course application form to determine whether you are eligible. 

Scottish students

Rest of UK students

For students normally domiciled in the rest of the UK (England, Wales and N. Ireland, including Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) and with a term time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

International students

For students who do not normally reside in the UK, including EU/EEA and Swiss nationals without settled or pre-settled status in the UK, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

 Fees are payable on enrolment each academic year.

Please contact credit.control.ic@uhi.ac.uk if you have any further questions on fees.

Additional costs

UHI Inverness subsidises the cost of an annual ski pass for Cairngorm Mountain, however, students may have to pay a proportion.

The international ski trip is an optional extra cost of approximately £600.

If you haven't started the Duke of Edinburgh Award, there is a setup cost of approximately £30