Discover what it takes to be part of the uniformed services and explore the exciting career paths available within them.
Through the course, you’ll find out about a wide range of uniformed and emergency services, learning about their roles, responsibilities, and recruitment processes. You’ll connect directly with industry representatives through inspiring presentations, hands-on team-building challenges, and outdoor skills activities designed to push you and build confidence.
You’ll also get the chance to visit real emergency and uniformed service environments, giving you a close-up look at how these teams operate every day.
A core part of the course focuses on developing the essential skills these careers demand—communication, problem-solving, leadership, teamwork, and resilience. You’ll build these abilities by taking part in realistic, challenging, and rewarding activities that prepare you for the next step in your journey toward a uniformed services career.
Throughout the course, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to build your fitness and prepare yourself for the physical demands of your chosen service.
You’ll take part in multiple visits to real uniformed service environments, for example, the British Army, Fire and Rescue Service and Scottish Prison Service. During these visits, you may experience drill, leadership tasks, team challenges, and realistic workplace scenarios—giving you genuine insight into the responsibilities, pressures and rewards of working in these roles.
Along the way, you’ll explore a variety of exciting topics that help build your knowledge and confidence, including:
This is your chance to push yourself, learn new skills, and experience what life in the uniformed services is really like.
Everything you need to know before applying to this course.
Suitable candidates will be invited to attend an attend a selection afternoon which includes a course presentation, one-to-one discussion and a practical team building activity.
Following the selection afternoon, you must attend the Transition to the Uniformed Services event on the date below –
NCFE Level 2 Diploma for Entry to the Uniformed Services (Broadly comparable to SCQF Level 4/5)
If English is not your first language, please view the specific English language requirements for this course.
If you are studying a full-time non-advanced course (below HNC level), you may be entitled to funding.
You can apply for a full-time course online or using a paper form.
Open Days are a great way to find out more about this course and what it’s like to study at NESCol. You will see facilities, meet lecturers and get a feel for life as a student.
Our next Open Day will take place on Saturday 14 March from 10am – 2pm.
NESCol can provide extra support to students who have additional support needs, including:
You may be eligible for additional funding to support the cost of living, including travel costs, cost of materials, and childcare.
Find out more about the types of funding and whether you are eligible here
You may be eligible for College transport to Fraserburgh Campus from a number of locations. Please contact collegetransport@nescol.ac.uk for more information.
Whether you wish to progress in your studies or enter the world of work, North East Scotland College has excellent progression opportunities, with links to several universities across Scotland and strong relationships with industry employers.
On successful completion of this course, you can progress to the following courses at North East Scotland College:
“College was the best thing. If I had stayed on at school and not come here, I don’t know what I would’ve done.”
“I didn’t know if College was the right thing for me because I was so young, but the sports lecturers are so welcoming and they’re always happy to help.”
“There are excellent volunteering opportunities during the course and it’s so useful to be able to apply your newly learned knowledge in a real-life setting.”
“Everyone, regardless of age or background, deserves success. Don’t wait for the perfect moment; if you have a goal, believe in yourself and take that first step.”
“After finishing the evening course my mind was set on Sports Massage as my future career and I knew that I no longer wanted to go to University.”
“The evening class was a revelation. I never dreamt of a different career path but I just got completely hooked!”
“College has given me confidence to try challenging things out of my comfort zone. It’s better to try something and reach your full potential. I wouldn’t have considered working with children before or had the confidence to look at university degrees to consider applying for in the future. College has made me truly happy about my future and optimistic I can succeed and achieve things even at my age.”
“The air cadets boosted my passion for joining a service, and College gave me the confidence to grow as a person and develop my social skills in an environment where I felt I could thrive. It’s important to push yourself – you may surprise yourself by how much you can actually achieve.”
“I’d recommend the course to anyone interested in a career in sports & fitness. The facilities at College were great, the course was really interesting and I made some good friends along the way.”
“It’s a qualification that definitely leads directly to related employment which is what most people want out of their College experience.”
North East Scotland College offers hundreds of courses each year, apply for one now.
You can apply for a place on this course by completing an online application form, which you can access using the ‘Apply Online’ button. Once submitted, this will be processed by our Admissions team.
Alternatively, you can complete a paper application and send it to us.
If you take up a place on a College course, at the start of the course you will be asked to complete an enrolment form. In completing the form and/or taking up a place on a College course, you will enter into a contract with the College and be bound by the North East Scotland College Standard Terms and Conditions of Study. Copies of the Terms and Conditions are available for inspection on notice boards and at various locations throughout the College, at the College Reception, on the College website: nescol.ac.uk, or can be obtained on request from the Student Funding and Admissions Manager, North East Scotland College, Aberdeen City Campus, Gallowgate, Aberdeen AB25 1BN. Please note that courses are offered subject to (a) there being sufficient numbers of enrolments and (b) the availability of resources. The College reserves its right (i) not to run courses where the number of students is considered insufficient or where resources are unavailable and (ii) in certain circumstances, to refuse admission to an individual applicant.
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