Scottish Studies Award
The Scottish Studies Award provides opportunities for learners to develop their knowledge and understanding of Scotland — its people, languages (such as Scots and Gaelic), society, culture, natural environment and heritage — and to make connections across the curriculum. The Award also provides recognition for learners who choose to make these connections by studying aspects of three subject areas in a Scottish context.
The Scottish Studies Award is available at SCQF levels 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. At all levels, the Award has a broad and flexible framework, providing scope for personalisation and choice, which reflects the range of subject areas that can be studied in a Scottish context.
The Award may be of particular interest to learners living and studying in Scotland, as it will provide them with opportunities to broaden their understanding and appreciation of the society in which they live. This, in turn, may provide opportunities for learners to reflect on, and build, their own sense of identity as residents of Scotland and the wider world.
Impact of the decision to remove unit assessment from National 5 courses
The changes relating to the removal of unit assessments only relate to SQA National Courses. They do not affect SQA Awards, including the Scottish Studies Awards. The units of the Scottish Studies Awards remain in SQA’s catalogue and can be delivered and assessed as part of other qualifications, or as freestanding units.
Candidates undertaking Scottish Studies Awards must complete the component units to achieve the overall Scottish Studies Awards. The achievement of, for example, National 5 in History or Geography will not provide evidence of achievement of the previous component unit specifications.
UCAS Points
The Scottish Studies Award at SCQF level 6 attracts 21 UCAS points.
Assessment Support Packs for optional Scottish context units
Assessment Support Packs have not been produced for the optional Scottish context units but you may find the ASPs produced for the non-Scottish context units helpful. These can be found on the subject webpage (eg English, Modern Studies, etc) and can be adapted for the Scottish context.
Update Letters
- September 2019 (159 KB)
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Who does this qualification suit
The Award may appeal to a wide range of learners who wish to broaden their understanding of Scotland, including:
- S3 – S6 pupils in secondary schools
- students in Further Education establishments
- adult learners
Progression
The Scottish Studies Award may provide progression to further study:
- in Scottish Studies at the next SCQF level
- a variety of Courses, Awards or Units at the next SCQF level, depending on the specific subject areas that have been studied as part of the Award
- other Awards, Courses or Units at the same SCQF level
It could also lead to vocational training or employment in a variety of sectors including tourism, hospitality and the creative, cultural and heritage industries.
Approval
Centres with devolved authority are eligible to seek approval through their own internal approval process.
Centres without devolved authority will have to come forward for approval and should contact the Business Development Team for guidance in completing the combined Qualification Approval Application.
Guidance on applying for approval and entering candidates for the Scottish Studies Award can be viewed in the document below.
Approval and Entry guidance
Where can you take this course?
Qualification content and delivery tools
Information about the qualification(s)
Award Specification(s)
- Scottish Studies Award level 2 Specification (281 KB)
- Scottish Studies Award level 2 Specification (Gaelic Medium)
- Scottish Studies Award level 3 Specification (172 KB)
- Scottish Studies Award level 3 Specification (Gaelic Medium)
- Scottish Studies Award level 4 Specification (184 KB)
- Scottish Studies Award level 4 Specification (Gaelic Medium)
- Scottish Studies Award level 5 Specification (520 KB)
- Scottish Studies Award level 6 Specification (449 KB)
The following Award Specifications are being updated.
- Scottish Studies Award level 5 Specification (Gaelic Medium)
- Scottish Studies Award level 6 Specification (Gaelic Medium)
Information about delivery, assessment, quality assurance and support material
Qualification Verification Summary Reports
Qualification Verification Summary Reports were formerly known as Internal Assessment Reports.
Unit Specifications
The following unit specifications are for units in a Scottish context. Other units in the Scottish Studies frameworks can be found using the NQ Unit Search.
N2
Business in Practice: Taking Part in a Business Enterprise with a Scottish Context
Creative Arts: Creating Materials for Display with a Scottish Context
Creative Arts: Developing Skills in Creative Arts with a Scottish Context
Creative Arts: Working with Images, Graphics and Sound with a Scottish Context
Creative Arts: Working with Textiles with a Scottish Context
English and Communication: Creating Texts with a Scottish Context
English and Communication: Listening and Talking with a Scottish Context
English and Communication: Understanding Language with a Scottish Context
Learning About Scotland
Performance Arts: Contributing to a Performance with a Scottish Context
Social Subjects: Making a Contrast with a Scottish Context
Social Subjects: Making a Decision with a Scottish Context
Social Subjects: Organising and Communicating Information with a Scottish Context
N3
Art and Design: Design Activity with a Scottish Context
Art and Design: Expressive Activity with a Scottish Context
Business In Action with a Scottish Context
Drama: Production Skills with a Scottish Context
Drama Skills with a Scottish Context
English: Producing Language with a Scottish Context
English: Understanding Language with a Scottish Context
Environmental Science: Earth's Resources with a Scottish Context
Environmental Science: Sustainability with a Scottish Context
Health and Food Technology: Contemporary Food Issues with a Scottish Context
Investigating Religion and Belief with a Scottish Context
Media: Analysing Media Content with a Scottish Context
Media: Creating Media Content with a Scottish Context
Music: Composing Skills with a Scottish Context
Music: Performing Skills with a Scottish Context
Modern Studies: Social Issues in the United Kingdom with a Scottish Context
People and Society: Comparing and Contrasting with a Scottish Context
People and Society: Investigating Skills with a Scottish Context
People and Society: Making Decisions with a Scottish Context
Physical Environments with a Scottish Context
Scottish Studies: Scotland in Focus
Scottish Studies: Scotland in Focus (Gaelic translation)
Understanding Music with a Scottish Context
N4
Art and Design: Design Activity with a Scottish Context
Art and Design: Expressive Activity with a Scottish Context
Business in Action with a Scottish Context
Creative Digital Media: Introduction to the Industry - Scotland
Creative Industries: Basics – Scotland
Drama: Production Skills with a Scottish Context
Drama Skills with a Scottish Context
Engineering Contexts and Challenges with a Scottish Context
English: Analysis and Evaluation with a Scottish Context
English: Creation and Production with a Scottish Context
Environmental Science: Earth's Resources with a Scottish Context
Environmental Science: Sustainability with a Scottish Context
Geography: Physical Environments with a Scottish Context
Health and Food Technology: Contemporary Food Issues with a Scottish Context
Health Sector: An Introduction – Scotland
Hospitality: Working in the Hospitality Industry - Scotland
Media: Analysing Media Content with a Scottish Context
Media: Creating Media Content with a Scottish Context
Modern Studies: Social Issues in the United Kingdom with a Scottish Context
Music: Composing Skills with a Scottish Context
Music: Performing Skills with a Scottish Context
People and Society: Comparing and Contrasting with a Scottish Context
People and Society: Investigating Skills with a Scottish Context
People and Society: Making Decisions with a Scottish Context
Religion: Belief and Values Investigating Religion and Belief with a Scottish Context
Rural Environment: An Introduction - Scotland
Rural Species Identification and Habitats - Scotland
Scottish Studies: Scotland in Focus
Scottish Studies: Scotland in Focus (Gaelic translation)
Understanding Music with a Scottish Context
Uniformed and Emergency Services: An Introduction - Scotland
N5
Art and Design: Design Activity with a Scottish Context
Art and Design: Expressive Activity with a Scottish Context
Care: Values and Principles
Creative Industries: An Introduction – Scotland
Dance: Technical Skills with a Scottish Context
Drama: Production Skills with a Scottish Context
Drama Skills with a Scottish Context
Gaelic Learners: Understanding Language
Gaelic Learners: Using Language
Gàidhlig: Creation and Production
Gàidhlig: Analysis and Evaluation
Health Sector: Working in the Health Sector - Scotland
Engineering Contexts and Challenges with a Scottish Context
English: Creation and Production with a Scottish Context
English: Analysis and Evaluation with a Scottish Context
Environmental Science: Earth's Resources with a Scottish Context
Environmental Science: Sustainability with a Scottish Context
Financial Services: Introduction - Scotland
Geography: Physical Environments with a Scottish Context
Health and Food Technology: Contemporary Food Issues with a Scottish Context
Historical Study: Scottish
Media: Analysing Media Content with a Scottish Context
Media: Creating Media Content with a Scottish Context
Music: Composing Skills with a Scottish Context
Music: Performing Skills with a Scottish Context
Modern Studies: Democracy in Scotland and the United Kingdom
Modern Studies: Social Issues in the United Kingdom with a Scottish Context
Philosophy: Knowledge and Doubt with a Scottish Context
Religion Belief and Values: Investigating Religion and Belief with a Scottish Context
Rural Business Investigation with a Scottish Context
Scottish Studies: Scotland in Focus
Scottish Studies: Scotland in Focus (Gaelic translation)
Sociology: Social Issues with a Scottish Context
Travel and Tourism: British Isles Tourist Destinations with a Scottish Context
UK Economic Activity
Understanding Business with a Scottish Context
Understanding Music with a Scottish Context
Higher
Art and Design: Design Activity with a Scottish Context
Art and Design: Expressive Activity with a Scottish Context
Business Management: Understanding Business with a Scottish Context
Dance: Technical Skills with a Scottish Context
Drama: Production Skills with a Scottish Context
Drama Skills with a Scottish Context
Engineering Contexts and Challenges with a Scottish Context
English: Creation and Production with a Scottish Context
English: Analysis and Evaluation with a Scottish Context
Environmental Science: Earth's Resources with a Scottish Context
Environmental Science: Sustainability with a Scottish Context
Geography: Physical Environments with a Scottish Context
Health and Food Technology: Contemporary Food Issues with a Scottish Context
Media: Analysing Media Content with a Scottish Context
Media: Creating Media Content with a Scottish Context
Modern Studies: Social Issues in the United Kingdom with a Scottish Context
Music: Composing Skills with a Scottish Context
Music: Performing Skills with a Scottish Context
Philosophy: Knowledge and Doubt with a Scottish Context
Religion Belief and Values: Investigating Religion and Belief with a Scottish Context
Scottish Studies: Scotland in Focus
Sociology: Social Issues with a Scottish Context
Understanding Music with a Scottish Context
Award Support Notes
Resources available
Centre Starter Packs
- Scottish studies centre starter pack level 3 (215 KB)
- Scottish studies centre starter pack level 4 (217 KB)
- Scottish studies centre starter pack level 5 (115 KB)
- Scottish studies centre starter pack level 6 (216 KB)
Support Notes
- Scottish Studies Award level 2 Support Notes (425 KB)
- Scottish Studies Award level 2 Support Notes (Gaelic translation) (562 KB)
- Scottish Studies Award level 3 Support Notes (633 KB)
- Scottish Studies Award level 3 Support Notes (Gaelic translation) (355 KB)
- Scottish Studies Award level 4 Support Notes (686 KB)
- Scottish Studies Award level 4 Support Notes (Gaelic translation) (107 KB)
- Scottish Studies Award level 5 Support Notes (576 KB)
- Scottish Studies Award level 5 Support Notes (Gaelic translation) (121 KB)
- Scottish Studies Award level 6 Support Notes (497 KB)
- Scottish Studies Award level 6 Support Notes (Gaelic translation) (908 KB)
Unit Support Notes
- Learning About Scotland level 2 Unit Support Notes (430 KB)
- Scotland in Focus level 3 Unit Support Notes (282 KB)
- Scotland in Focus level 3 Unit Support Notes (Gaelic translation) (349 KB)
- Scotland in Focus level 4 Unit Support Notes (206 KB)
- Scotland in Focus level 4 Unit Support Notes (Gaelic translation) (144 KB)
- Scotland in Focus level 5 Unit Support Notes (240 KB)
- Scotland in Focus level 5 Unit Support Notes (Gaelic translation) (145 KB)
- Scotland in Focus level 6 Unit Support Notes (589 KB)
- Scotland in Focus level 6 Unit Support Notes (Gaelic translation) (341 KB)
- Scotland in Focus Unit - Overview of levels 2-6 (206 KB)
Unit assessment support and Understanding Standards
Changes to published Understanding Standards materials
Please note: Understanding Standards material is regularly reviewed to ensure it remains up to date.
Examples of candidate evidence and commentaries for unit assessment can be found on the SQA Secure Site. You can access these through your SQA Coordinator.
Case studies
Craigie High School
Crieff High School
Dalkeith High School
Forfar Academy
Grange Academy
Materials from Support Network Events
Event 11 September 2019
- Agenda (189 KB)
- Education Scotland presentation (2.27 MB)
- Scots at Banff Academy presentation (2.95 MB)
- National Library of Scotland presentation (4.35 MB)
- Scotland in Focus film studies presentation (6.66 MB)
- Scottish Studies Workshop 1B responses (335 KB)
- How to Deliver Scottish Studies in a Language, Literature or Media Context (155 KB)
Related Information
Our blog
Get involved in the Scottish Studies and Scots Language blog. We use it to keep you up to date with issues, developments and events relating to the Scottish Studies and Scots Language Awards
Contact Information
- Candidate Enquiries
- 0345 279 1000
- Centre Enquiries
- 0303 333 0330