Ever wondered what it’s like to start college straight from school?
So you've just finished school and are coming to college in the Autumn? You've made a great choice! Why?
- You’ll be studying closer to home, so you won’t have too far to travel.
- By staying local it means you can keep working if you have a part-time job.
- Our classes are small so you’ll get plenty of support with lots of opportunities and networking.
- We’ve got fantastic facilities where you’ll learn new skills to get you ready for when you start applying for jobs.
College is a great option for school leavers. We offer a large range of courses to get you ready for the world of work or university level study in a friendly environment. College is an excellent transition which can help boost your confidence, provide practical experience, learn from industry experts, and give you a head start in your career.
Not sure what to expect? Meet some of our students who chose college once they finished school and have now got the chance to travel the world, get their dream job, and win awards!
Heather Rae – Travel and Tourism student, broadened her horizon by coming to college
Heather said “Being at college has given me a lot of independence over the years. My communication skills have improved - being able to talk in front of an audience and doing presentations and talks. I have also learnt so many IT skills and research skills throughout the course which will benefit me in the future.”
Isaac Woodford studied HNC Childhood Practice and is now an Early Years Practitioner.
Isaac said “When I left school in sixth year, I was only interested in an Early Years career. I’m glad I decided to come to college as it’s so rewarding. I’m happy that I did as it gave me a brilliant experience and I wouldn’t be where I am now.”
School-College courses
Some students started their college journey on our School-College courses and have gone on to further study.
Viktoryia Parkhamovich started an Engineering Skills course when she was in sixth year, then studied HNC Aircraft Engineering at Ayrshire College, and is now an Aircraft Maintenance Apprentice at GE Caledonian.
Viktoryia said “the Aircraft Engineering course was really hands on and I absolutely loved it. It was so interesting, really rewarding and gave me a bit of a head start. That’s when I decided to think about a career in engineering.”
School-leaver and Hospitality student Emma-Rose Milligan, was recently named as the recipient of the inaugural Andrew Fairlie Scholarship.
About her time at college, Emma-Rose said "I learnt all the basics at Ayrshire College. The facilities are really good. All the lecturers are amazing, they have personal experience in the industry so their advice comes from that.”
What about Foundation Apprenticehips?
Foundation Apprenticeships are school-based apprenticeships that pupils can study as part of their school timetable.
We spoke with some students to find out a bit more about why they like being a Foundation Apprentice, the course and what their future ambitions are.
Amy Roan, FA Social Services, Children and Young People
“I would say definitely go for a course like this one because you get new experiences and you also get to see what your future career might look like, and it’s also really fun!”
Calum Thomson, FA Aeronautical Engineering
“College is different from school – it prepares you more for moving on to work. The best thing is the opportunities it gives you. It’s a head start!”
“If you were in a school environment there’s no way we’d be able to use some of the advanced equipment that we get to use at college. I prefer college as I get the hands-on skills to develop myself as an engineer.
"I would say to anyone thinking of doing a Foundation Apprenticeship, absolutely do it! Because when you go for a job, you’ll stand out from the crowd. It’s opened the door for me to further my career and hopefully get a job for life.”
We are looking forward to seeing you at Ayrshire College this Autumn. For all the information you will need during your first few weeks of your 2021/22 course, click here
