Campus and student life

What makes Moray such a great place to study

Moray shares much of what’s best about the Highlands of Scotland, including 35 miles of golden sandy beaches, unspoilt countryside and rich biodiversity.

Popular outdoor activities in our region include climbing, golfing, kayaking, sailing, mountain biking, surfing and rafting. With the Cairngorms on your doorstep for skiing and snowboarding, outdoor action runs right through the winter.

Moray is home to half of all Scotland’s whisky distilleries, and our region is justly famed for its exceptional food and drink.

Local history and culture is equally fascinating, with forts and castles, atmospheric ruins and mysterious Pictish stones to discover.

Our region also plays host to some world-renowned festivals of music and the arts.

Top things to enjoy in Moray

• Moray Leisure Centre and Moray Sports Centre - enjoy swimming, ice-skating, dance sessions, gym facilities and loads more
• Moray Playhouse Cinema - enjoy the latest films at our local cinema
• Cooper Park - enjoy our park activities including tennis courts, bowling greens or take a trip along the boating pond
• Moray is home to the world’s only Malt whisky trail and half of all Scotland’s distilleries – enjoy a tour around distilleries tasting world famous brands
• Speybay Dolphin Centre - enjoy a tour around the marine wildlife centre
• Elgin City Football Club - enjoy watching nail biting matches supporting our local football team
• Cairngorms - enjoy skiing or snowboarding in our beautiful mountain ranges
• Golf Courses - enjoy a relaxing game of golf, in one of our 18 courses including the highest tee in Scotland
• Moray coastal walks - enjoy a leisurely stroll along one of our beautiful coastal trails
• Local beaches - enjoy 35 miles of golden sandy beaches, voted 12^th in the world
• Festivals - Moray and the surrounding area is home to a number of world renowned festivals and events that take place throughout the year including Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, Speyfest, Lossiemouth Seafest, Findhorn Bay Arts Festival and Gordon Castle Highland Games & County Show. Check out more upcoming events at Moray Speyside.
• Dining out - Moray caters to everyone’s taste, its home to a variety of cosmopolitan restaurants, unique cafes and lively bistros with most places offering local produce! View places to eat in Moray.
• Night life - If it’s a cosy pub, gin garden or cocktail bar, Moray has a variety of places to relax with friends while enjoying a tipple!

Our facilities

Student life is about more than just studying, and our main Moray Street campus is a lively hub for the whole community. Students and other locals drop in to meet friends over coffee and enjoy a meal. You can even get your hair done!

Nursery
If you need to fit study around childcare, our nursery can make all the difference. Our fully qualified and registered staff take children between 6 weeks and 5 years, giving you the confidence and time to attend lectures and concentrate on your studies. Find out more.

Salons
Staff and students in our hairdressing, beauty therapy and complementary therapies department offer a wide range of treatments at accessible prices. Everyone’s welcome.

The Beechtree Restaurant
The Beechtree Restaurant at Moray Street is open to the general public during weekdays, acting as a showcase for students from our Hospitality and Tourism Academy. Find out more.

Grab & Go Shop
Our Hospitality students run a "Grab & Go" shop in the AyePod from 10am - 11am and 12pm - 1pm. Each day our students offer a variety of options from tea, coffee, cold drinks, confectrionery, chocolate bars, crisps and snacks. There is also baked tatties available over lunchtime. 

Refectory
During 2022/23 our Refectory at both our Linkwood Technology Centre and Moray Street campus will be run by The Bearded Chef. Staff and students can get hot and cold food throughout the day.

Student Services Centre
Our Student Services Centre is sited over two open access floors and is a great place to study, access computers and library services, or find advice and support. Our dedicated Student Services team provide personalised support for all applicants and will support you throughout your student journey, whilst our Inclusive Learning Team will help you with study skills, disability support or mental health and wellbeing support.

Our campuses
Find out more about our campus locations and facilities.

Student association

At UHI Moray, you'll be represented by the Highlands and Islands Students' Association and the local HISA Moray Team.

HISA works with students to improve your experience and as a student, you are automatically a member. 

Their work is focused around three main areas:

• Improving the quality of your course experience
• Providing activities and clubs you can participate in
• Working with management to ensure your learning environment is always excellent

HISA represents your views through elected officers and class representatives. They work in partnership with staff to ensure that the student voice is heard on all issues. The team also organises a wide range of events throughout the year including its HISA Conference and Freshers’ Fayre.

HISA can also help you set up clubs and societies. If you need information or advice, have a great idea to share or want to put your hand up to represent your peers, you can get in touch with the local HISA team.

Student life

Being a student isn't just about studying. It's also about meeting new people, experiencing new things and developing your confidence as an individual. The Highlands and Islands Students' Association team at Moray support students to set up clubs and societies. You can join an existing club or society or create your own! 

Current clubs and societies at Moray include:

• Moray Art and Design Society (MADS)
• Moray Mixed Sports Club
• Moray Table Tennis Club

Browse regional clubs and societies.

Dining out

Moray caters to everyone’s taste, its home to a variety of cosmopolitan restaurants, unique cafes and lively bistros with most places offering local produce! View places to eat in Moray.

Student night life

If it’s a cosy pub, gin garden or cocktail bar, Moray has a variety of places to relax with friends while enjoying a tipple! If you are looking for something a bit more lively, Elgin is home to two night clubs that you can dance the night away.

Festivals and events

Moray and the surrounding area is home to a number of world renowned festivals and events that take place throughout the year:

• MacMoray Easter Festival
• Belladrum Tartan Heart Music Festival
• Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival
• Speyfest
• Moray Walking Festival
• Lossiemouth Seafest
• Findhorn Bay Arts Festival
• Gordon Castle Highland Games & County Show
• Pride in Moray
• Food and Drink Festivals

Check out more upcoming events at Moray Speyside.

Discounts

We don't want you to miss out on all the fantastic discounts available to students. 

When you start, you'll receive a digital student ID card, which will help you access these discounts.

You can download The UNiDAYS student app which will help you get the most out of being a student.

You can also join Totum Digital for free.

Locally, lots of businesses, shops, restaurants, bars and cafes also offer student discounts. 

Our campuses are also served by Stagecoach, which offers a student discount.

Staying connected

There's lots going on to help you feel connected with the wider student community. 

HISA organise a range of events throughout the year. Events in recent years have included: 

• Online quiz night with Mark Labbett, aka ‘The Beast’ from ITV’s The Chase.
• Shout for Students, a campaign to mark the efforts of all the students graduating during the pandemic.
• Virtual movie and games nights.
• HISA Nature Explorer, a project encouraging students to get out and interact with nature.
• World Mental Health Day events.
• Free paddleboarding session for students.
• HISA Conference, with guest speakers, workshops, comedy night and the chance for students to have a say in the future of the University partnership.
• Online yoga sessions.

Staying safe

Starting university or college can make you a target for crime, so make sure you keep safe.

• Police Scotland Student Safety
• Police Scotland Student Safety Guide 2022 (pdf)
• Police Scotland Online Student Safety Guide 2022 (pdf)
• Police Scotland Advice and Information

We have fully trained first-aiders on campus during opening hours. Please ask Reception or a member of UHI Moray staff if you require first aid assistance. In case of an emergency, you should dial 999.

You can pop in and chat to Katrina from the NHS healthpoint drop-in service which is available to all students and staff for advice on a number of health concerns such as contraception, mental health, support to stop smoking, alcohol, healthy eating, long term conditions, and much more:

• Every Wednesday
• 9:30am - 12:30pm & 1pm - 2:30pm
• AGBC Community Hub (room beside the Hay Street Sunninghill entrance)

Groups and clubs in Moray

Indie Game Squad

If you’re an indie game developer you most likely have a dozen or so unfinished games sitting on your hard drive and yet you’ve just started a fresh project, right?! Indie Game Squad was born out of a need to keep people motivated and focused on their game projects and to encourage people who may be interested in making games, but aren’t sure where to start, to give it a go.

It allows designers, developers, and gaming enthusiasts of all skill levels to discuss their projects and ideas in the indie game world (or outside of it, we’re not strict), to collaborate and help other game folk. Indie Game Squad runs regular meetups on discord for indie game developers, artists, players and enthusiasts and we’re hoping to start running in person meetups again soon, pop along, it’s free! Indie Game Squad is a place where gaming comes together.

Moray Arts Development Engagement (M:ADE)

M:ADE is driven by the ethos of having a positive social impact through grassroots collaboration. Their aim is to build, adapt and respond creatively with and for local people of Moray. They are always open to collaboration with artists, community groups, education, organisations and businesses.

Adventure

To spark your sense of adventure, if you love the great outdoors, you’ll not be short of inspiration with the Cairngorms Mountains in the south and the Moray Firth Coast in the north there is something for everyone to enjoy!

Apart from the fabulous surrounding environment there are also some great local clubs to get involved with including hill walking, climbing, curling, ice-skating, kayaking, abseiling, mountain biking and sailing, to name but a few.