You might feel like leaving school is a long way off but it’s never too early to start thinking about what will happen next. One of your options is going to college and we want to tell you a bit more about it by answering some commonly asked questions.
See what students say about college in the videos section.
Please see the list of colleges on the links page.
There is a huge variety of courses to choose from at college, it all depends on what you’re interested in, what you’re good at and what experience you have.
In S3 & S4 you may have the opportunity to go to college part time while you’re still at school. You would come to college for 2 afternoons a week to study a vocational course like hairdressing or mechanics. This is known as Skills for Work or Schools Plus programmes. Each college has their own programme so it’s best to check with your school what is available to you.
After you leave school you can come to college full time to study the course of your choice. You can find out about different courses by looking on the college websites or getting a prospectus (college information book) sent out to you by phoning the college directly.
See some students talking about what they study in the videos section
Absolutely anybody! The majority of college students are school leavers however, you will also find adults who want a career change, mums looking to retrain, people in part-time employment and school pupils who come part time while still at school.
See some students talking about themselves in the videos section
There is no straight answer to this as it depends on the course. Some courses don’t ask for any formal entry requirements but others will require Standard Grades, Intermediates or Highers.
It’s not just about your qualifications but also any work experience you may have, what your hobbies and interests are as well as your overall presentation and attitude. To find out entry requirements for a specific course please look on the college website or prospectus.
See some students talking about the entry requirements for their courses in the videos section
If you are studying a full time course you will be at college between 3 and 4 days a week. The rest of the time you can study at home or in the library and some students choose to get a part time job.
See some students talking about their timetable in the videos section
You will have roughly the same holidays throughout the year as at school. There might be some slight differences in when the holidays start and finish.
There are some similarities between college and school but really it is very different. At college you are expected to take more responsibility for yourself, your behaviour and attendance. It’s up to you to make sure you arrive on time, get your homework done and behave appropriately in class. There is a much more relaxed atmosphere at college and your lecturers and tutors will treat you more like an adult. There are no uniforms, you call your tutor by their first name and you may have some of your classes in workshops, salons, kitchens, offices, laboratories and fitness suites depending on your course.
See some students talking about the differences and similarities between school and college in the videos section
If you come to college in S3 or S4, while you are still at school you don’t have to pay anything and transport will be arranged for you.
When you leave school and go to study a full time non advanced course at college your course fees will be paid for if you have been a resident in Scotland for the three years immediately before the start of the course.
If you are going to study Higher National qualification your tuition fees will be paid by Scottish Awards Agency Scotland for almost all students, unless you have previously had help with study at HND or Degree level.
There are 2 funds that can help with living expenses:
Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) for students who are 16/17 years old
Students, who are aged 16 and 17 years of age on the day the course starts, may be eligible for an Education Maintenance Allowance to give assistance with living expenses. The amount you receive is decided by how much your parents earn, but is roughly about £30.
Further Education Bursary Fund (for all other students)
Each college is given a limited amount of money to give to students who require extra financial support. The money is given to help with living expenses, travel costs and study materials.
See some students talking about how they support themselves financially in the videos section
If you are doing a Skills for Work or Schools Plus programme in S3 or S4, you can apply to come back to college after your leaving date and a full time course. You also have the option of part-time, day release, evening and distance learning courses. Completing some full-time courses can help you to get in to university, in some cases in to 2nd or even 3rd year of the course.
After that the world is your oyster!
See some students talking about what that plan on doing after their course finishes in the videos section