Hundreds of north-east school pupils have been given a taste of university life.
More than 200 students from Aberdeen, Mintlaw, Peterhead and Fraserburgh have completed the Access To programme, run by the Robert Gordon University, which gives youngsters a chance to experience what higher education is like.
This year, RGU expanded its taster sessions to offer engineering, law, art and architecture, management, life sciences, health professionals, and communication and media.
S6 Peterhead Academy pupils Megan Karakus, 16, and Chloe Craighead, 17, completed the Access to Allied Health Professions programme.
Chloe, who is hoping to study pharmacy, said: “Getting to meet the lecturers at Robert Gordon University has made us more comfortable and shown us what the different courses would be like.
“It’s also been really useful to find out what we need to do to get accepted to the courses.”
Megan, who wants to study physiotherapy, added: “Each week we’ve worked on something different and learned about a different subject.
“Studying subjects like Pharmacy and Digital Radiography has definitely given me an insight in to what university has to offer.
“It’s been a good experience to meet new people from different schools and an opportunity to work with other pupils we don’t get to see every day.”
Acting senior project coordinator for the programme, Rhona McComiskie, said: “The pupils have been really committed and enthusiastic about the programmes, which has been great to see.
“We wanted the pupils to step out of their comfort zone and they really have achieved that – you can see their confidence starting to build as the weeks go past and they develop more skills and knowledge.”
