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Estranged Students

If you identify as an estranged student then we can provide you with extra support.

What is an estranged student?

Estranged Students are students studying without the support of a family network, due to a breakdown in those relationships. Students in this position often have no contact at all with their family or sporadic and challenging contact. Causes of a breakdown of familial relationships could include (but are not limited to): emotional or physical abuse, mismatched expectations about family roles and relationships, or a clash of personality or values. Estranged students do not necessarily have experience of being in care.

If you identify as an Estranged Student then we can provide you with extra support.

Stand Alone Pledge: We're Supporting Estranged Students logo

Stand Alone Pledge

NESCol has signed the Stand Alone Pledge. The pledge underlines our determination to ensure the specific challenges that estranged students face are acknowledged and acted upon through bespoke support.

Extra support available

Pre-entry advice

We can help you choose a course that sets you on the right path to reaching your career goals.

Transition & learning support

Our Student Advice and Support Team can help and advise you in making your transition to College as smooth as possible. Once enrolled, we can continue to help you with Study Skills Support and Additional Learning & Assessment Support where required.

Academic support

Students at NESCol will have a dedicated Academic Tutor who can support with pastoral or academic issues.

Peer support

The Students’ Association can assist you with peer support and advice on clubs, societies and social experiences that could enhance your NESCol experience.

NESCol also supports the This Is Us student-led community. This Is Us is a dedicated and safe online space for estranged HE students (and recent graduates) in the UK to connect, share info, arrange meet-ups and more! It’s free, national, and open to all ages & years of study.

Employability

All our students can leave College with a CV, and advice on navigating volunteering and job markets.

Let us know

If you identify as being an estranged student, then it is important that you let us know as soon as possible.

The easiest way to tell us is to do so when filling out an application or funding application for a full-time course or at the point of enrolment on your course. Alternatively, contact the team directly by dropping into your local Student Advice Centre, or by emailing studentsupport@nescol.ac.uk.

For Estranged students at Altens Campus, Fraserburgh Campus or the Scottish Maritime Academy your key contact is Aimee Ridgeway: A.Ridgeway@nescol.ac.uk.

For Estranged students students at City Campus your key contact is Lianne Marriott: l.marriott@nescol.ac.uk.

Students using laptops

Student Stories

Don’t take our word for it!  Find out what our students think about studying at NESCol.