The Scottish Wider Access Programme (SWAP) was designed to encourage adults to participate in higher education. Students enrolled in SWAP in 1991-92 and former SWAP students in their first year of higher education in 1991-92 were interviewed twice by telephone, near the beginning and toward the end of their SWAP course or first year. (The number of current SWAP students initially interviewed was 153, reduced through attrition to 131 for the follow-up interview; for the former SWAP students, numbers were 99 initially, reduced to 76 at the follow-up). A majority of both groups felt satisfied with their preparation for higher education. SWAP modules gave confidence by taking a step-by-step approach, but students worried that knowledge was fragmented and some modules were too easy. Continuous assessment helped students learn and built confidence. Over two-thirds saw SWAP methods as good preparation for higher education. Students praised tutors as knowledgeable, patient, and enthusiastic and welcomed study skills courses at the beginning of their programs. Over 40 percent of students cited financial problems and competing demands on time. Over 43 percent of the higher education sample experienced difficulties in understanding the subject. Students were more likely to seek help with academic problems and "admissible" personal problems. Personal problems were more likely than financial problems to affect students' work adversely. Students who failed to complete SWAP courses reported a range and variety of problems in making the transition to higher education. Most students were attracted to SWAP by the offer of a guaranteed place in higher education. (Two appendixes describe the sample.) (YLB)