Further information on what happens after successfully completing your College course
When it comes to leaving College and moving on – whether that is to continue with your education elsewhere or at university, or whether you are progressing directly into work – North East Scotland College has various arrangements in place to ensure you have the support you need.
On completing your course at North East Scotland College, you may decide that university is the next step for you. Depending on the course you have studied, you could gain direct entry into year two or three of a degree programme. This is something that many students aspire to, so the College has developed strong links with universities across the Scotland.
Many students progress to work or further education upon completion of a course at North East Scotland College, but there are lots of other options you can consider.
We urge past students to keep in touch and update us on further achievements. If you have something you’d like to share then please let us know – it could be anything from securing employment, completing a university degree, winning a competition or award or returning to College!
A Gap Year is an excellent opportunity to develop your personal skills and can be a positive and life-changing experience. It should be well-planned and well thought out, structured and relevant to your future plans. If successful, it can help inform decisions relevant to your future career.
Ensure that you research your options, are aware of possible costs involved and seek advice on the suitability and reliability of the companies offering Gap Year opportunities. Useful websites include:
Gap Advice
Website: www.gapadvice.org
GapGurU
Website: www.gapguru.com
Gapwork
Website: www.gapwork.com
VSO
Website: www.vsointernational.org
Worldwide Volunteering
Website: www.wwv.org.uk
Year Out Group
Website: www.yearoutgroup.org
“I thought I was coming to college for education, but I got so much more than that: friendships, support, independence, guidance and a push when I needed it. I have had such an amazing journey here.”
“Teaching was always something I was interested in but it was important to me to get industry experience first. I was delighted when the lecturing opportunity came up at NESCol and I am now really enjoying my time back at College but on the other side of the fence!”
“The course provides you the skills to communicate whatever it is that you’re trying to sell. It’s been fantastic. It gives you a really supportive environment – especially if you are coming back into the world of education from work. That’s the route that I took and it’s been really fantastic in that regard. But if you’re a school leaver as well, College gives you practical skills alongside the theory that you’re learning, so even if you decide not to go to uni, you’ve got those skills there and you can utilise them to go into work. It’s really, really valuable in that way.”
“The lecturers are industry experienced and maintain a high standard which really gives you that extra push you need as a school leaver. My lecturers went above and beyond to help me in any way they could and I know that they still would today.”
“I found my time at college to be the perfect link between leaving school and starting university. The course was interesting, the assessments were rigorous and gave me the skills to work alone, as well as part of a group, which served me well at university. The lecturers were engaging and treated students as adults which created a good atmosphere for learning.”
“I’m so pleased that I had the courage to return to College, it’s opened so many doors for me”
“I am still in touch with everyone in my College class – we all try and meet up – when we can! The majority of us are all working.”
“University would not have been an option for me without my HND so I will be forever grateful to NESCol for the opportunities it has provided me with. “
“I would definitely recommend NESCol to everyone who wants to study computing. No matter what age, or if this is their first course, or – if like me – you want to change your career. It’s a very friendly environment, well quipped when it comes to computing facilities and – most importantly – with very, very supportive and highly knowledgeable lecturers.”
“When you go into hairdressing at first it may seem very easy. Although you don’t need qualifications it is so much harder than it looks. It’s commitment, it’s hard work, it’s remembering, it’s being creative, it’s always knowing what you want as a finished look. As long as you are prepared for this then I would encourage anyone to go for it.”