Who are these courses for?
- Adults returning to learning.
- Care-experienced learners.
- People facing barriers (confidence, finance, health, mental health, caring responsibilities).
- Young people not in education, employment or training.
- ESOL learners.
- Refugees and asylum seekers.
- Anyone who is not sure where to get started with education, training or employment.
How will I be supported?
Your lecturer will support you at every stage of your course. This might include:
- Learning support & adjustments.
- Wellbeing and mental health support.
- Financial guidance.
- Pastoral and academic support.
- Progression support.
- ESOL and language support.
Progression & Next Steps
Everyone’s journey is different, but we can support you to progress into:
- College courses.
- Vocational pathways.
- Employment or volunteering.
Getting Started
Do I need qualifications?
You do not need any qualifications to take part in our community and widening access courses. These courses have been designed as a first step into college and can help build the confidence, skills and qualifications that you may need to progress.
What does “fee‑waiver” mean?
If you meet specific criteria, you may be eligible for your fees to be paid to the College by the Scottish Funding Council (SFC). This is called a fee waiver. The information provided here may change if there are changes to relevant SFC guidance. Please note that you must meet the residency criteria.
We can offer fee waivers for most part-time courses in the following circumstances:
A - Where you, your spouse, partner, parent or legal guardian are in receipt of:
- Income Support.
- Working Tax Credit.
- Pension Credit.
- Income-based Job Seekers Allowance.
- Income Related Employment and Support Allowance.
- Housing Benefit.
- Universal credit.
B - Where you are in receipt of:
- Carer’s Allowance.
- Disability Living Allowance.
- Attendance Allowance.
- Incapacity Benefit.
- Contributory Employment and Support Allowance.
- Personal Independence Payment.
C - Where you, your spouse, parent or legal guardian is an asylum seeker living in Scotland.
D - Where the taxable income of the student’s family in the year before the course starts is equal to, or lower than, the thresholds below:
- Households with only one person: ÂŁ10,400.
- Households consisting of a couple without children: ÂŁ18,000.
- Single person with dependent children: ÂŁ21,600.
- Households with dependent children: ÂŁ29,100.
Where there has been a substantial reduction in income from the previous financial tax year, the current financial tax year can be assessed.
E - Where you are care-experienced and under 26 years old (looked after and in the care of the local authority – can include living in a foster home, children’s home, residential home, kinship care or in the care of the local authority in your own home)
F - Where you are a school pupil attending college as part of your school timetable.
Please note that you must meet the residency criteria.
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