10 interesting things for new students at Ayrshire College
1. Your student card gets you plenty of discounts
‘Student discount’ is a much-loved phrase with students, and with good reason. There are so many places offering discounts to students, from cinemas, restaurants and shopping, whether that’s online or in stores. There are plenty of online discount networks, like UNiDAYS and StudentBeans, plus some places don’t always advertise their discounts, so it’s worth asking before you purchase.
2. We can provide you with equipment
Did you know that our Learning Resource Centres have lots of resources available to you including chromebooks and laptops that you can borrow. You’ll get more information about this later, but if you have any questions about IT equipment, please head to the Learning Resource Centre at your nearest campus.
Be sure to also check out the online library and other free resources!
3. There is 24/7 mental health support available
Everyone at the College can access free online mental health support at any time through our Wellbeing Hub which is available through your college account.
We also have a counselling service and a Mental Health Liaison Officer who provides mental health support across all campuses. If you would like to access these services, please speak to the Student Experience team.
4. We support the national ‘end period poverty’ campaign
Sanitary products are available for you - free of charge - from any public toilet at any of our campuses! Interested in re-usable period products? Our Student Association Offices have a stock of period pants and occasionally have other sustainable products as well. Be sure to pop in or email studentassociation@ayrshire.ac.uk to arrange a time to visit.
5. You can download an official Ayrshire College app from Google Play and the Apple Store
Once you have your college account set up, you’ll be able to start using ‘My Ayrshire College’.
This app – which is also available via your web browser – is a one-stop shop for everything you’ll need during your time with us. Your dashboard lets you access your email inbox, your calendar, myLearning and see a full breakdown of your Ayrshire College attendance to make sure you are on track to meet bursary payment or course requirements.
6. Hair and beauty treatments heavily subsidised
We have training salons across our campuses where students can choose from a wide range of beauty, nail, and hair treatments, as well as holistic therapies. Our salons are supervised by fully qualified lecturers or professionals to ensure a high-quality service. You may also get lucky as our students often need volunteers at the last minute to help them with their coursework, in which case your treatment could be free. Keep an eye on your student email inbox throughout the year to hear about the latest offers from the training salons.
7. There are industry-standard training restaurants at Ayr and Kilmarnock Campuses
Our restaurants help support our hospitality students to gain experience in a real restaurant environment and allow customers to enjoy great food at affordable prices. It’s a win-win! Prices start from £10 for an amazing three-course lunch, using high-quality, locally produced ingredients.
Find out more about Ayr’s Westerly restaurant and Kilmarnock’s Salt & Barrel.
8. Any campus, any time
Did you know you can use any Ayrshire College campus? Pop into any campus for lunch or to use the Learning Resource Centre, etc no matter what campus you're course is based at.
9. Get Social!
Join clubs, groups, and societies run by the Student Association. Popular ones include Dungeons and Dragons, Chess Club, and the online Gaming Society.
We also have our online LGBT+ Society, Deaf Community Group and much, much more! Find out about our Clubs, Groups and Societies by checking your student email or drop us a message at studentassociation@ayrshire.ac.uk.
If you’d like to see some of the awesome stuff available from the Student Association you can also check out our Instagram and Twitter.
10. We help you get into university.
Many college courses prepare you for the world of work right after you finish. But some courses get you ready for the next step in your education: university.
We partner with several universities to make that transition as smooth as possible through articulation agreements. We have these agreements with universities like the University of the West of Scotland (UWS), the University of Strathclyde, and the Open University. For example, completing the HND Acting and Performance course can help you get into Year 3 of the BA Performance degree at UWS.
We’re excited you have chosen to study at Ayrshire College. Make the most of your time and have fun!