Student Support

At Borders College we have a team of dedicated Student Advisors on hand to provide advice and support to all our current and potential students.

Based in the Student Advice Centre at the Scottish Borders Campus, our Advisors offer specialist advice on a range of matters, including:

Course Information

• What courses we offer • How to apply • Career and progression opportunities

Funding Advice

• Bursaries and Education Maintenance

Allowances • Applications to Students Award

Agency Scotland (SAAS) • Childcare • Transport • Discretionary fund and additional support • Benefits and how they will be affected

Progression and Articulation Support

• Advice and information on progression and articulation opportunities to

Higher Education • UCAS (Universities & Colleges

Admissions Service) and SAAS (Student Awards Agency for Scotland) application support

Our Student Advisors are available to provide you with advice and guidance. Drop us an email at studentadvice@ borderscollege.ac.uk or give us a call on 01896 662516. Alternatively, you can follow us on our Facebook page and direct mail us from there with any questions you may have.

Student Welfare Support

The College Student Support Advisors are available to help you with all aspects of your welfare and wellbeing while at College, including:

Your Health and Wellbeing

• Personal and emotional support, including mental health, grief and bereavement support • Sexual health advice, including C-Card and C-Card+ (condom service)

Your Funding, Finances or Benefits

• Help with finances, including applying for College Discretionary or Childcare

Funds • Funding advice, including help to complete online applications for bursary, EMA or SAAS • Advice on accessing benefits, including housing benefit

Other Useful Services

• Accommodation advice • Childcare advice • How to contact other useful local community services and support agencies

Student Advice Centre: 01896 662516 or email:

studentadvice@borderscollege.ac.uk

Remote Reporting Agency

The College acts as a remote reporting site for the Police, providing a safe and welcoming environment where students, staff or members of the public can report any crimes, particularly hate crimes, or any other relevant information.

For a confidential appointment, contact the Student Advice Centre on 01896 662516 or email: studentadvice@borderscollege.ac.uk.

Whatever the problem, the Student Support Service is there to help.

Mature Students

Not all students at Borders College have entered straight from school. In fact, recent figures show a significant number of students over the age of 25. You will be pleasantly surprised by the variety of students you will meet.

Advice on appropriate courses of study is given at the interview stage and takes into account your prior knowledge and/ or experience. All discussions are strictly private and confidential.

Learning Support Service

Learning support is available to learners who have a learning support need. The College has Learning Support Specialists, Advisors and Assistants to provide learning support or advice if you have a learning difficulty. The Learning Support team can carry out an assessment to identify specific learning support needs which may affect your progress on your course.

The Learning Support team are keen to work with learners who may have a barrier to their learning, such as a visual or hearing difficulty, dyslexia or some other learning difficulty which requires specialist support.

If you feel that you require any learning support, please complete a Learning Support request form (available from the Student Advice Centre) or speak to your tutor and they will speak to one of the Learning Support team to arrange a meeting with you.

If you have any queries please contact the Learning Support team on 01896 662600 or email: learningsupport@borderscollege.ac.uk.