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How to apply

Our course options are included in your column choices at school. Take your time to think about what you would like to study and discuss this with your parents or guardian and your guidance teacher.

All of our school college partnership courses should be applied for online.

• If you are home educated, visit the Home Educated Guidance section before applying.
• Go to the relevant title for the school year group you will be moving to in August.
• Browse the course selection for your year group and select the course that best meets your needs.  
• Use the 'Apply now' link to take you to the application form.  

It is essential that you submit your application through the school application process rather than any full-time application routes. Applications submitted outside the school process will be treated as full-time applications and assessed as if you are a school leaver. 

Tips on completing your application form

The course lecturer will review your application, so it is important you provide as much information as possible.

All correspondence (course offers, course updates, enrolment) will be sent by email. When supplying an email address, we would recommend you provide an email address that you use regularly.

Our courses will have an entry requirement. This could be either demonstrating your commitment to the course and/or that you have a suitable qualification. If the course requests you to demonstrate your commitment to the course, please tell us this in your personal statement. Details of pending/current qualifications should be stated in the qualification section of the application form.

Please note you can only submit one application for the Friday senior phase courses and two courses as a maximum.

Personal statement

This is your chance to tell us all about yourself and why the course interests you:

• Be confident and enthusiastic.
• Explain clearly why you are applying for the course – e.g. future career, progression into another course, love of doing something.
• Keep it simple and remember to read it over before you submit.
• You may wish to do a draft on a word document prior to completing the application.  

Guidance teacher reference

Please ensure you have spoken to your guidance teacher before applying. They will need to supply a reference in support of your application. 

Select the name of your guidance teacher from the drop-down selection as this will allow an email notification to be sent to them for completion. 

How will I hear if my application is successful?

You will receive an email from our admissions team to let you know whether you have been successful in gaining a place. Offers will be issued during the period Thursday 9 April through to Friday 1 May. Please regularly check your emails, including your junk mail folder, so that you don't miss out on important information detailing what the next steps are if you are successful.    

Qualifications explained

Understanding Senior Phase qualifications:

Foundation Apprenticeships are available to S5 pupils capable of studying at Higher level. Many of our Foundation Apprenticeships are two-year programmes, and pupils will typically attend college and a work placement with a local employer. College and universities recognise FAs as equivalent to SQA Higher qualifications. To find out more about Foundation Apprenticeships please visit Apprenticeships.Scot

Nationals 4s, National 5s and Highers: These are exactly the same as the Nationals and Highers you will study in school. Our offer simply provides you with greater choice if you don’t have access to the course in school.

National Progression Awards prepare you for employment, career development or further study in a variety of specialist vocational areas.

Skills for Work courses are designed to prepare you for the world of work. They offer practical experiences linked to careers.

Scottish Vocational Qualifications form part of the Modern Apprenticeship framework. The Foundation Apprenticeship includes SVQ units so you will already have a head start.

Degree modules: We have a selection of modules available for pupils in S6 to provide a taste of what it’s like to study a first-year university degree module.

Higher National units form part of a Higher National Certificate (HNC) and Higher National Diploma (HND). These qualifications provide practical skills and theoretical knowledge for employment or Higher Education.

Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework

Our Senior Phase programmes are certified by the Scottish Qualifications Authority. The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework explains SCQF levels and helps you understand the difficulty of a programme.

How will I be taught?

Face-to-face

Attend classes at your nearest college campus/centre, or our college lecturer will come to you in your school.

Online self-directed

Access all your learning and assessments via our virtual learning environment, Brightspace, or Google Classroom, using a mix of self-directed study and online discussion boards, with support from college lecturers.

Online virtual classroom

Attend timetabled classes delivered by our college lecturer in a virtual classroom. Students access all their learning and assessments via Brightspace or Google Classrooms.

Virtual schools timetable

These courses are delivered in the same way as our online virtual classroom courses, except they are run as part of the Highland Council Virtual Schools timetable.

Blended, on-campus and online

Attend a combination of timetabled classes at your nearest college campus/centre or your school as well as accessing online self-directed study via our virtual learning environment, Brightspace or Google Classroom.