Student Services Centre

Sited over two open access floors, the Student Services Centre is a great place to study. We have study pods designed to have the look and feel of café booths, bean bags and other brightly-coloured soft seating. All of this creates a great environment for you to learn and be inspired.

This is your one-stop shop to help guide you through your time with us, from that initial enquiry phone call through to registration, graduation and beyond.

Student Services Centre opening times

In line with COVID-19 guidance from the Scottish Government, the Student Services team will continue to provide support remotely for all student guidance issues, including safeguarding concerns. All queries for current students should contact Heather Henderson and Nicole Hyslop.

The Student Services Centre is open:

Room C108 is available if a computer is required outwith the Student Services Centre opening hours:

The Library

The Library offers a huge range of books, journals, e-books and other media. The library has study pods and group work areas, computer workstations and access to laptops with wireless broadband.

As a student, you can request books from other libraries within the UHI’s 12 institutions through an inter-site loan system. You can access subject and reference databases online through the University of the Highlands and Islands network.

Student finance and funding

The good news is that depending on your personal circumstances there are a wide range of bursaries, grants and allowances available to fund your college studies. Our Student Finance Advisors can advise you on all aspects of, from tuition fees and bursaries to help with housing, childcare and travel costs. The depends upon what you will be studying with us, how you choose to study, as well as your personal circumstances.

If you’ve got any financial concerns regarding your course before you start, or you need help with the funding application forms, including our Bursaries, Education Maintenance Allowances, Childcare Funds, Hardship Funds or SAAS funding for Higher Education courses then please do not hesitate to contact us or drop into Student Services.

Click here to view our comprehensive guide to funding

Student guidance

Our Student Guidance Service is run by a supportive and friendly team who are here to ensure that your time here is as enjoyable and successful as possible. We aim to make your life easier, take away the potential minefield of queries, worries and concerns you may have, and give you all the support and advice you many need.

Whether it’s help with your course choice, progression accommodation, advice on career and employment opportunities, or perhaps you have concerns about your health or a personal relationship. No matter what the issue is, our door will always be open, and you can relax in the knowledge that you’re in a safe and confidential environment. We also offer a Counselling service where you can be referred by the guidance staff.

For all these services please contact Student Services in the first instance on Student.Services.moray@uhi.ac.uk or telephone 01343 576354 or 576265.

Careers advice

Our Student Guidance Service is run by a supportive and friendly team who are here to ensure that your time here is as enjoyable and successful as possible.

We can help you

• find a career that matches your skills, interests and abilities
• choose an appropriate course for your chosen career
• plan your future career through and beyond college.

We aim to answer any queries you may have. Our door will always be open, and you can relax in the knowledge that you’re in a safe and confidential environment. Drop in to Student Services or arrange an appointment with our guidance staff.

Alternatively you may wish to contact the local Career Service Skills Development Scotland in Elgin or Moray College UHI students studying a higher education level course can contact the UHI Careers centre.

• UHI Careers Centre
  For all Moray College UHI students who are studying at higher education level (SCQF Level 7 to 12).
• Employment4students
  A student jobsite with current part time jobs, holiday jobs, gap year information and other recruitment advice.
• Jobcentre Plus
  The site offers help and advice for jobseekers and on benefits and links to related agencies.
• SQA - Scottish Qualifications Authority
  The Scottish Qualifications Authority offers information on a wide range of qualifications. Different users, for example students, pupils and lecturers, can search different versions of the site.
• Find a Job service
  This service has replaced Universal Jobmatch and offers you a range of vacancies, learning opportunities and voluntary work, and information on a wide variety of occupations.
• My World of Work
  This will give you access to a range of possible career options and associated pathways to get there.

Employability and personal development planning (PDP)

We can help students to learn more about themselves and enhance and complement what they are doing in their academic studies. Each learner is supported to consider how prepared they are for employment. These skills are developed along with job search skills relating to application and interview process, helping each learner to more effectively target and prepare for the employment market.

We can help with

• Part-time paid employment vacancies
• SAAS (HE Funding)
• Further and Higher Education
• UCAS applications
• GAP year information
• Course progression
• How to be become a class representative
• Careers advice for pre-college, current and exiting college students
• Employability and citizenship
• CV preparation
• Job application forms
• Interview techniques
• Volunteering opportunities

Study support including wellbeing and disability support

Your personal success is very important to us and our Inclusive Learning Team is here to ensure that you make the most of your potential. We work closely with disabled students to put together the appropriate support that you need.

Our range of services include:

• Study skills, for example referencing, essay writing, revision techniques
• Dyslexia support
• Reading, writing, spelling and grammar
• Basic numeracy, communication and IT
• Numeracy and communication support groups
• General English for ESOL students
• Wellbeing and mental health support

Find out more

Pre-start and induction

If you have applied, have an offer to study with us, or are a returning student, find all the information you need before you start your course here:

Before you start: information for offer holders and new students

Mental health and wellbeing support

Adjusting to life as a student; dealing with coursework, exams and being away from home for the first time can be potentially stressful and may also intensify any pre-existing conditions. Being a student can also be very beneficial for our wellbeing; keeping us connected to peers and friends, expanding our knowledge and our opportunities and provides structure and routine to our days.

We offer a variety of support for you to consider when it comes to looking after your wellbeing. Often, stressors in our lives can be resolved with some practical guidance and welfare advice. These are available to students with a range of emotional, psychological, personal, or mental health difficulties.

• Reach out to Student Services who can offer counselling and ongoing support and linking you to a specialist organisation such as the Moray Wellbeing Hub.
• You may ask for support through your PAT or other academic tutors, they can advise you on academic issues and signpost you to available support.
• Get in touch with our Wellbeing Bar who offer mental health support, personal learner support plans (PLSPS) and run wellbeing and mindfulness sessions throughout the year.
• If you are staying in one of our Halls of Residence you may need ask for support through the Residence teams. Further information and contact details are available in your halls of residence.
• HISA, our Students Association is always happy to help. HISA offer support to all students around a range of issues and can help to talk over any of your difficulties together with signposting you to those that can help further. HISA also host a range of sporting events and activities and can let you know what is happening at your campus.
• You also have access to Togetherall, a 24/7 mental health support service which provides you with access to an online support community, self-help resources and a place to air how you are feeling anonymously. To join, simply sign up with your university (@uhi.ac.uk) email address.
• There is also a Health and Wellbeing Facebook page which offers a wealth of support, advice and information around all matters related to wellbeing and student life.

Care experienced students

Entering college can be a daunting experience for any student but in particular for care leavers who may not have the same support structures at home to help them through as other students do.

Carers and care leavers get tailored support before, during and after college. Our Student Services Team have lots of experience of working with people from varied backgrounds, and we partner with external organisations, including the Quarriers and Become charities, to offer help to carers, young people living in care and those leaving care.

If a student lets us know that they are a care leaver then we can assist in helping them through their time at college. We can help you get financial support and advice, help you settle into college life as well as a range of other things in between.

Funding information for Care Experienced Students

Young carers

The Young Carer Grant is a yearly cash payment for young carers in Scotland. How you spend the Young Carer Grant is up to you. You could use it for things like new clothes, driving lessons or a holiday. You do not need to tell us what you spend the money on. Young carers can claim if they meet certain criteria including:

• they live in Scotland
• they are 16, 17 or 18 years of age when applying
• caring for an average of 16 hours per week, for at least the last 3 months (If you care for more than one person, you can combine the hours of the people you care for to average 16 hours a week)
• they are not paid or volunteer to care