Information for Applicants FAQs

Can I apply for more than one course?

If you are waiting for exam results and aren't sure which level is right for you, you can apply for more than one course. We may give you a conditional offer if you dont yet meet the entry requirements, but once you've achieved them, we will change this to an unconditional offer.

If you don't know which course is right for you, why not speak to your local centre staff who can provide advice on study routes and entry requirements.

What happens after I apply?

Once you make an application, we’ll send you an acknowledgement by email. You will then receive an indication from us about whether your application has been successful.

If we make you an offer, you should reply and let us know if you are accepting it. Once you’ve accepted your offer, we’ll invite you to enrol online.

What days or times of the week will the course run?

Most full-time courses will require you to participate in connected learning for around 3 days per week. Connected learning is when you learn together with lecturers, students, and others. Connected learning happens at a scheduled time and will normally be in your local learning centre. You may also be in a practical workshop, an online-classroom, a studio, a specialist classroom, the workplace or in the outdoors.

When will my course start?

Many full time courses will start w/c 26th August. You can ask at your local centre for your course start date.

We'll get your timetable to you as soon as we can but due to the dispersed nature of our centres and the connected way our courses are delivered, we may not have have confirmed timetables for some courses until late August.

Can I study from home?

We strongly encourage all students to attend local learning centres during their scheduled class times. You may be joining a virtual class with students in other locations, but our experience shows that the support you will receive in centres, both technical, academic, and personal, is a significant factor in achieving success.

My course includes a work placement – will that go ahead?

Yes, we're working closely with our placement providers to make sure you'll placement will go smoothly.

I don’t have great IT skills – what support will I get?

Don’t let your IT skills, equipment or slow broadband stop you – speak to us about anything you think might stand in your way, we may be able to help.

We expect ALL of our students will need some support and help in getting started. 

Speak to local centre staff if you think you'd like some extra IT coaching before you start your course.

Will I need my own laptop or pc to access my course?

In 2024 we're expecting all students to be working in your local learning centre where we can provide you with support to help you succeed. We understand that in some exceptional cases, students may still occasionally need to join classes from home.

If that is the case this means you’ll need to have :

• access to the internet (2MB upload and download speed)
• a device with camera and microphone - this could be a tablet, PC, or laptop.

Please note that Chromebooks do not currently work with UHI software and services, and we don’t recommend using a smart phone to join online classes.

You can find more information about what equipment you should have here.

We have a limited supply of laptops which we can provide on loan to students in hardship and who are unable to make use of IT equipment in our learning centres. Please ask staff in your local centre for more information.