Our Student Advisors are here (or ‘virtually’ here) to assist you throughout your journey with us. If you are ever unsure who to ask, ask us!

We can provide advice and information about:

• courses;
• funding;
• nurseries;
• services to support your learning

We can also help with:

• password resets;
• advice on accessing college systems for students (e.g. Moodle, MyDay, your new college email account, your free Microsoft Office account).

We also have enhanced support arrangements for students who are:

• care leavers/care experienced,
• unpaid carers;
• estranged from family;
• armed forces veterans

For Microsoft Teams:

• Log in at https://teams.micosoft.com using your student email address (studentNumber@live.wcs.ac.uk) or the address advised by your lecturer. You can also log into Microsoft Teams through MyDay.
• For password resets, we can do that – contact info@wcs.ac.uk with the subject line ‘password reset‘
• For technical issues, please check with your lecturer as the Team Owner (email: firstname.surname@wcs.ac.uk). Unfortunately, Student Advisors do not have access to set up information for Microsoft Teams.

Student Cards:

The Student ID Card is now part of the MyDay app. Click here for more information on how to upload a photograph for your Student ID Card and how to access student discounts.

Telephone:

0300 600 60 60 

Email:

info@wcs.ac.uk

Location:

We recommend where possible to contact us by email on info@wcs.ac.uk or by telephone on 0300 600 6060. Most of our Student Advisors are working remotely and handling enquiries by email and telephone. On campus appointments can be booked where required but due to social distancing measures capacity is limited. All students and staff should make use of the email and telephone service where possible.

💡  Clydebank campus – all students and staff are encouraged to use the email and telephone service. Face-to-face appointments are available on campus where required, but due to social distancing, our on campus team and office capacity is very limited. We’re located at the main entrance, just behind the campus reception desk between 8.45am and 4.40pm (3.30pm on a Friday). Note also, due to a smaller on-campus team than normal, the office may be closed for times during the normal working day to ensure cover of other vital services such as reception and first aid calls.

💡  Greenock campus – all students and staff are encouraged to use the email and telephone service. Face-to-face appointments are available on campus where required but, due to social distancing, our on campus team and office capacity is very limited. We’re located we’re located on the ground floor foyer, just beyond the elevators between 8.50am and 4.45pm. Note also, due to a smaller on-campus team than normal, the office may be closed for times during the normal working day to ensure cover of other vital services such as reception and first aid calls.

💡  Paisley campus – all students and staff are encouraged to use the email and telephone service. Face-to-face appointments are available on campus where required but, due to social distancing, our on campus team and office capacity is very limited. We’re located at the main entrance, next to the campus reception desk between 8.30am and 4.25pm. Note also, due to a smaller on-campus team than normal, the office may be closed for times during the normal working day to ensure cover of other vital services such as reception and first aid calls.

💡  Waterfront campus – all students and staff are encouraged to use the email and telephone service. Face-to-face appointments are available on campus where required but due to social distancing our on campus team and office capacity is very limited. We’re located at the main entrance, within the campus reception. Note, office hours are currently limited. Please contact us in advance to ensure a Student Advisor will be on-campus.

Here are just a few of things we’re often asked about …

Before you become a student with us:

💡  Advice about studying at college;

💡  Advice about choosing a course and making an application;

💡  Advice about funding, fees, the application process, SAAS and Loans;

💡  Advice about accessing services to support your learning

💡  Advice about nurseries and accommodation;

💡  Advice about council tax exemption and discounts;

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When you are a student with us:

We’re here throughout your journey with us. Here are just a few of the things we do when you are a student with us …

💡  Register and process your Student Loan

💡  Help you access other college support services

e.g. study support, counselling (TIME4U) and Wellbeing, the Students’ Association, Enabling Services, Essential Skills, etc

 💡  Help you access external support services

e.g. careers advisors, support agencies

 💡  Help you access college systems 

💡  Help you when you’re not sure who to ask or need advice;

💡  Offer advice about opportunities for volunteering, part time employment and accessing the Third Sector;

💡  Support you with keeping you on course or, if it’s not working out, help you to find something else

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Before you move on from your course:

💡  Advice and support with preparing to take the next step if continuing your studies;

💡  Support you with your UCAS application if you are thinking about university

e.g. Advice on writing your personal statement;

e.g. Who to ask for a reference;

e.g. Application deadlines and costs

💡  Advice about preparing a CV, applying for a job and interview skills

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Student Advisory – Clydebank

Welcome to the Student Advisory Services section for Clydebank campus. Here you will find information specifically relating to this campus.

Note: due to social distancing measures, capacity in within the Student Advisory Services area is very limited at present. Please use of email and telephone service where possible.

Student Advisory Services Co-ordinator: Marie McKeown

Student Advisors: Amanda, Clare, Jade, Lindsey and Niall

Opening hours – term time:

• Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday – 8.45am until 4.40pm
• Friday – 8.45am until 3.25pm

Opening hours – summer and non-term time:

• Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday – 8.45am until 4.40pm
• Friday – 8.45am until 3.25pm

Student Advisory – Greenock (Finnart Street Campus)

Welcome to the Student Advisory Services section for the Greenock campuses. Here you will find information specifically relating to our campuses on Finnart Street and the Waterfront.

Note: due to social distancing measures, capacity in within the Student Advisory Services area is very limited at present. Please use of email and telephone service where possible.

Student Advisory Services Co-ordinator: Simone Stewart

Student Advisors (Finnart St): Lauren, Louise, Maureen, Nicole

Student Advisors (Waterfront): Fiona

Opening hours (Finnart St) – term time:

• Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 8.50am until 4.45pm
• Friday – 8.50am until 4.45pm

Opening hours (Waterfront) – term time:

• Please contact us in advance. Due to social distancing we are currently operating with a reduced number staff of on-campus. Most enquiries are being handled by telephone and email.

Opening hours (Finnart St) – summer and non-term time:

• Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday – 8.50am until 4.45pm
• Friday – 8.50am until 4.45pm

Opening hours (Waterfront) – summer and non-term time:

• The Waterfront Campus is closed during the summer.

Student Advisory – Paisley

Welcome to the Student Advisory Services section for Paisley campus. Here you will find information specifically relating to this campus.

Note: due to social distancing measures, capacity in within the Student Advisory Services area is very limited at present. Please use of email and telephone service where possible.

Student Advisory Services Co-ordinator: Claire Hamilton (Monday to Wednesday); Maureen Kelly (Thursday and Friday)

Student Advisors: Allison, Lynsey, Lindsey, Nicole and Diane.

Opening hours – term time:

• Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 8.30am until 4.25pm
• Friday – 8.30am until 4.25pm

Opening hours – summer and non-term time:

• Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday – 8.30am until 4.25pm
• Friday – 8.30am until 3.25pm

Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) and Student Loans

You do not need to submit your Award Notice Letter or Payment Schedule Letter. When you enrol on your course, we will check to see if there is a Student Loan to be released. Student Loans are calculated based on term dates.

If you have any problems, please email info@wcs.ac.uk with the subject line “Student Loan” or call 0300 600 6060 and ask for a Student Advisor.

You can also contact SAAS direct at https://www.saas.gov.uk/contact-us between 9am and 4pm on normal business days. SAAS have also launched a web-chat service whilst other services are reduced during COVID-19.

The Student Information Scotland (SIS) portal is a new Scottish Government resource which puts information about Further Education (FE) and Higher Education (HE) student funding and finance altogether in one place for the first time, including advice for students, parents, carers and education professionals.

Visit https://www.studentinformation.gov.scot/

Council Tax Exemption or Discount

If you are a full time student, you may be entitled to apply for Council Tax exemption or discount. Please check entitlement with your local authority.

In general, you may be ‘exempt’ from council tax if:

• you are studying full time with a course duration of at least 24 weeks, and
• you are the only adult who resides at the address or the address is only occupied by full-time college or university students.

You may be entitled to a ‘discount’ on your council tax if:

• you are studying full time with a course duration of at least 24 weeks, and
• only one adult resides at the address who is not a full time student

In this example, all full time students are disregarded from the calculation and therefore if there is only one adult who is not a full time student then the address may eligible for a council tax discount.

Any entitlement will end on your course year end date, or if you no longer qualify for discount or exemption (the calculation date is the ‘effective date’ of withdrawal, this is the last known actual date of attendance).

Care experienced students

An exemption or discount from Council Tax can apply where a young person has previously been looked after by a Local Authority but is no longer under Local Authority care.

The person must:

• Have been looked after by a Local Authority on or after their 16th birthday
• Be under 26 years old
• No longer be looked after by a Local Authority

Making an application for Council Tax Exemption or Discount

The process of applying for Council Tax Exemption or Discount varies between local authorities. Most allow you to apply online. Below are some quick links to Council Tax discount and Council Tax exemption forms from various local authorities:

• Argyll and Bute Council
• North Ayrshire Council
• East Dunbartonshire Council
• East Renfrewshire Council
• Inverclyde Council
• Renfrewshire Council
• Glasgow City Council
• West Dunbartonshire Council

What do I need to provide the college with?

Click here to complete our online information request form. For most Local Authorities, we can use the information you provide on this form to confirm your student status with the local authority.

What to do with a paper application form:

If your local authority does not have an online application facility, you will be able to download and print the form from their website, then:

• Fill in your section of the form in BLOCK CAPITALS, sign and date
• Using a smartphone or tablet device, carefully photograph all sides of the form – any photographs that is skewed or contains more than a just the full page will not be usable. We need to be able to print the photograph, fill in our section, then scan it back to you for you to then submit to your local authority.   
• Email your Student ID Number, Full Name, Contact Telephone Number and the photographs/scans to OnlineServices@wcs.ac.uk for processing

Digital Student ID Card

How do I get a Student ID Card?

Your Student ID Card is digital and part of the MyDay app.

How do I get my photo onto my Student ID Card? Download the MyDay app from the Apple or Google Play Store Sign in using your student email account (studentNumber@live.wcs.ac.uk) Tap on the Student ID Card Tile in MyDay Tap on the Photo ID image Upload a suitable photograph from your phone (see below the guidelines on what we mean by ‘suitable’)

What is a suitable photograph? The digital photo you upload for use as your Student ID should be similar to one that you would use on your drivers licence or passport: Your head and shoulders only; Plain background; No filters; Only you in the photograph; No headwear unless for religious or medical reasons; Be the right way up We are unable to ‘crop’ or ‘rotate’ your photographs. All photographs are checked by a member of staff before being approved. If we reject your photograph, we will provide you with a reason and you can try again.

Do I need to have a photograph on my Student ID Card?

No. If you do not want to use your Digital Student ID Card, there is no need to upload a photograph.

The ‘last verified’ date and time is several days ago. How to I refresh it?

Open the Student ID Card Title and tap the ‘Verify’ button.  MyDay will then attempt to connect to our Student Records System to verify you are still enrolled on your course.

Is my Student ID Card an NUS discount card?

No. However, at their discretion, some businesses, organisations and transport providers will accept your Digital Student ID Card as proof of entitlement to discount or concession.

You can also use your college email address (studentNumber@live.wcs.ac.uk) to access lots of discounts and offers through UNiDAYS and StudentBeans. Your college email account will be activated once your are an enrolled student.

You may also be entitled to apply for an NUS Extra Card for an additional fee.

Careers Advice and Help with making your next step

The college works in partnership with Skills Development Scotland (SDS) to provide students with access to careers advice and other services such as:

• help with writing a CV,
• advice on progression routes,
• preparing for interview,
• writing a UCAS personal statement,
• using the My World of Work, and
• accessing a positive destination after college

Appointments with our Careers Advisors are available now by phone or Microsoft Teams. See below for booking links.

If you would like to know more about the service or the My World of Work portal, please ask one of our Student Advisors by contacting info@wcs.ac.uk or calling 0300 600 6060 and asking for Student Advisory Services, or you can contact any of the Carers Advisors direct:

Careers Advisor for Clydebank campus:

Hazel Kennedy, Careers Coach

〉 Book an online appointment with Hazel

Email: hazel.kennedy@sds.co.uk

Telephone: 01389 743 142

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Careers Advisor for the Greenock Campuses:

Heather Forsyth, Careers Advisor

〉 Book an online/phone appointment with Heather (Finnart St. Campus students)

〉 Book an online/phone appointment with Heather (Waterfront Campus students)

Email: heather.forsyth@sds.co.uk

Telephone: 01475 333 033

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Careers Advisor for the Paisley and Renfrewshire campuses:

Glenda Nulty, Careers Advisor

〉 Book an online/phone appointment with Glenda

Email: glenda.nulty@sds.co.uk

Telephone: 0141 849 0942

* Due to current restrictions – Careers Advisors are able to offer 1-to-1 appointments using Microsoft Teams or by Phone.  We’ll ask you for your preference when you book your appointment. Campus based face-to-face appointments will resume when restrictions are eased.

UCAS is the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. UCAS is the preferred method of applying for entry to a university course.

During October and November our Student Advisors will be offering a series of application support information sessions and workshops through Microsoft Teams. Dates and times will be published in the table below. If you cannot attend a workshop, don’t worry, we a step-by-step video guide below.

All UCAS applications should have a Personal Statement from you and a Reference to support your application (you can ask a your Course Leader if they would be willing to be your referee). Please note the important dates below:

UCAS Important Dates

• The internal deadline for full UCAS application support is the 2nd Friday in December.
• The UCAS deadline for receipt of your application is 6pm on the 15th of January.
• If you are relying on the college to send your application and reference to UCAS, your application and reference must be completed by close-of-business the previous working day.

Information on all key UCAS dates can be found at https://www.ucas.com/ucas/events/find/scheme/undergraduate/type/key-date 

UCAS Application Support Workshops

Our workshops have now finished but this link has a copy of the presentation delivered as a narrated video. If you need one-to-one support, please contact info@wcs.ac.uk and ask for a Student Advisor at your campus.

UCAS Guides for applicants

1. UCAS: Guide to writing your Personal Statement
2. UCAS: Filling in your application form
3. UCAS: Support for Care Leavers
4. UCAS: How to get a Reference

UCAS Video Guides for applicants

1. College step-by-step walk-through of how to complete the UCAS application form [VIDEO]
2. SWAP students step-by-step walk-through of how to complete the UCAS application form [VIDEO]
3. General Guidance on how to fill in your UCAS application [VIDEO]
4. UCAS: Jargon Buster [VIDEO]
5. UCAS: Personal Statement – a general guide
6. UCAS: Personal Statement – writing your statement
7. UCAS: How to pay for and submit your application

UCAS Buzzword

UCAS allocates colleges and universities a ‘buzzword‘ that allows applicants to associate their application with an institution for support. When you use the buzzword for West College Scotland, our Student Advisory Services Team will be able to view your application, reference and completion status. They will not be able to see your payment card but if you have set this up, they will be able to send your completed application to UCAS.

Email info@wcs.ac.uk with the subject line ‘UCAS’ for this year’s buzzword.

UCAS Application Form

• Go to the Application Form

UCAS Academic Reference

Students will generally approach their Course Leader, Guidance Tutor or a Lecturer to request an Academic Reference in support of their university application.

If you make this request early enough (e.g. November) then most staff will provide this before the UCAS deadline. If you leave it too late to ask, it may not be possible for that staff member to write your reference.

You can send your application to UCAS without an Academic Reference. However, most universities will insist that this is provided before considering your application. In which case, UCAS will ask you for details of your referee.

UCAS Price 

UCAS will charge you a fee to use its applications service. This is paid to UCAS using a debit card or credit card when you submit your application to UCAS.

For more information on this years fees, go to the UCAS website or email info@wcs.ac.uk with the subject line ‘UCAS’.

UCAS Clearing 

For the UCAS clearning, visit https://www.ucas.com/clearing-launch

UCAS – I need to speak to someone …

• Contact a Student Advisor as soon as possible if you need to talk to someone about your UCAS application. Call us on 0300 600 6060 or email info@wcs.ac.uk with the subject line ‘UCAS’

Guides, Policies and Procedures