3 February 2023
For school leavers, adult returners to education or those simply looking to boost their employability options, studying at college offers a great way to start on a career path, re-skill or simply improve current prospects.
Starting a new course can be daunting for those about to take the next step in their education journey though.
Those concerns are only heightened due to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, leading many to question whether now is the right time to choose study over work.
However, money worries shouldn’t hold anyone back from thinking about studying.
Here at Fife College, we are committed to ensuring that any prospective and current students who need assistance receive the support that they require as soon as they decide to join us.
That includes our dedicated student funding team who are always on hand to help with funding processes, ensuring everything is in place before anyone starts a course.
The team can also help advise on additional types of funding that may be available during studies such as payment of tuition fees, bursaries and grants.
Our guidance team are available too, and can help with other issues around money including information about eligibility for access hardship funds, access to food shop vouchers and general help with budgeting.
There is also the College’s fantastic scholarship programme. Adam Smith Scholarships, part of Fife College, offer over 30 annual scholarships that are funded by a range of companies and organisations, from Shell UK and Diageo, to Ian Rankin and the Russell Trust.
Other student support initiatives that can help keep the costs down include our popular Breakfast Club, where all students can claim a free breakfast every day, with over 5000 free breakfasts being served since the start of the 2022/23 academic year.
With free bus travel to all college campuses for those under 22, free gym sessions at the College’s Kirkcaldy campus, and access to free laptops and other devices, there are several ways studying at Fife College could be more affordable than many might think.
It’s not just support with keeping costs down either, several other support teams are also here to make the college experience the best it can be for our students.
Making those first steps into further education, or returning to education after a few years, can be a big change.
Here at the College though, the mental health and wellbeing of students is a top priority for the moment they make that decision to continue or step back into education.
With health and wellbeing advisors available at each campus, high-quality support for students to safeguard physical, emotional and mental wellbing is always nearby.
Our employability team are also here to help students as soon as they enrol. Available at all campuses too, the team have a great track record in graduate employability and can offer relevant, practical career advice, meaning students are in the best place possible to go after the best job for them.
By Vicki Anton, Head of Student Experience at Fife College
