FIVE THINGS YOU NEED TO DO BEFORE COMING TO COLLEGE

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FIVE THINGS YOU NEED

TO DO BEFORE COMING

TO COLLEGE

Further Education Students

September 2015

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CHECKLIST

To ensure you get off to the best possible start, please complete the following tasks before commencing your studies.

FULL-TIME STUDENTS

Step 1 Return Reply Slip confirming place on course (page 6)

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Step 2 Apply online for EMA/Bursary funding (page 6)

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Step 3 Provide the evidence required for your funding (page 7)

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Step 4 Enrol online (page 8)

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Step 5 Come to College on Monday, 31 August 2015

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PART-TIME STUDENTS

Step 1 Return Reply Slip confirming place on course (page 6)



Step 2 Organise paying for your course: (page 7)

Apply for ILA



Get evidence for Fee Waiver

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Have payment ready for first day of course

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Step 5 Come to College on Monday, 31 August 2015



We look forward to meeting you

and wish you well with your studies

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STORNOWAY CAMPUS STUDENTS

The start date for Further Education courses is Monday, 31 August 2015. Students are asked to report to reception at 9am on this day.

During your first few days in College you will meet with support and teaching staff who will confirm your enrolment, funding and timetable. Staff will be able to discuss any issues you may have.

BENBECULA & TAIGH CHEARSABHAGH CAMPUS STUDENTS

The start date for Further Education courses is Monday, 31 August 2015. There will be a specific enrolment event on Wednesday, 9 September 2015 at the Benbecula campus. Students need to be there and are asked to report to reception at 9am on this day. You will meet with support and teaching staff who will confirm your enrolment, funding and timetable. Staff will be able to discuss any issues you may have.

Before you start your course you need to complete

these five simple steps (only three if you are part-time)

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STEP 1 Confirming your place

All students must complete and return the Reply Slip which is enclosed with your unconditional offer or email [email protected].

Why? Returning the Reply Slip confirms your place on the

course and allows you access to both the online EMA/Bursary application process and online enrolment.

STEP 2 Apply for your funding

Full-time students - Apply online for Bursary/EMA funding for September 2015

There are no paper-based forms. The deadline for completed applications is 31 July 2015. If you apply

after this date, your funding may not be in place at the start of term.

The application is available on the Student Hub at www.studentjourney.uhi.ac.uk. Once you have accepted an unconditional offer of a place from the College, a letter is sent to you containing your log-in

and password details to get in to the Student Hub to start your application. We also send a leaflet explaining about the Student Hub and giving you the answers to the most common questions.

If you have problems completing it online or don’t have a good internet connection at home, you can come along to any of the drop-in sessions detailed on page 9 and we will help you to complete the form. We can also make appointments outwith these times, just call us to set one up.

If you live further away and cannot get in to see us, you can still call and ask for advice and help with any aspect of the form.

There will be people here who can help during most of the summer holiday, contact Student Services on 01851 770 242.

Part-time Students

Please bring payment for your course with you on your first day. You will also complete a paper enrolment form.

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If you intend to use ILA (SDS Individual Learning Account) towards your course fees, your ILA Account must be in place prior to enrolment, otherwise please bring payment with you. For more information or to apply visit the SDS ILA website at www.myworldofwork.co.uk/ila-scotland.

If you are eligible for a Fee Waiver you must bring your evidence with you on your first day. If you have any queries regarding your eligibility for Fee Waiver please contact Donna Graham, Finance Assistant, on 01851 770 241 or email [email protected].

STEP 3 Provide the evidence needed

Before the College can make any award or give out bus passes, we need to know if you are eligible. Payment of Bursary and EMA cannot be made until we have ALL the relevant evidence.

For us to assess you for your award, you will need to provide:  Your own Birth Certificate

 Birth Certificate of any brothers or sisters under 18 years old still in full-time education

 Evidence of the household income – eg parents/partner P60, proof of benefits, tax credit award notice etc

 Other evidence may also be required, depending on your circumstances. Details of the documents accepted as evidence is available on the Student Hub

These can be scanned and attached to your application or we can take copies if you come in to see us.

If your information is incomplete we will notify you through the Student Hub. You will need to check on the Student Hub regularly to see if we have asked for any further information. This is how we will be telling you about the progress of your application and clearing up any queries.

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STEP 4 Enrol online before you start your course

Full-time students only

All full-time students need to enrol online through the Student Hub before the first day of the course.

You will receive a leaflet with instructions on how to use the online enrolment tool.

It is accessed by the same web link as your funding [email protected] and will use the same log-in and password information.

If you have problems completing it online or don’t have a good internet connection at home, you can come along to any of the drop-in sessions detailed on page 9 and we will help you to complete the form. We can also make appointments outwith these times, if necessary.

If you live further away and cannot get in to see us, you can still call and ask for advice and help with any aspect of the form.

There will be people here who can help during most of the summer holiday, contact the Registry Team on 01851 770 206/207.

STEP 5

Turn up on Monday, 31 August 2015

at 9am to start your course!

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DROP-IN SESSIONS

Online enrolment and funding

If you would like some help in completing the online enrolment or funding application or would just like to use our computers, then please feel free to drop-in to Reception at the Stornoway campus at the following times:

Day Date Time

Tuesday 4 August 2pm – 4pm Thursday 6 August 10am – 12noon

Tuesday 11 August 10am – 12noon Thursday 13 August 2pm – 4pm

Tuesday 18 August 2pm – 4pm Thursday 20 August 10am – 12noon

Tuesday 25 August 2pm – 4pm Wednesday 26 August 10am – 12noon

If you are having difficulty with online enrolment or applying for your funding and can’t attend the drop-in at the Stornoway campus, staff can go through the procedures with you by phone.

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CONTACT US

If you have any questions, please contact the relevant department from the list below:

Admissions Enrolment Catherine Donald Fiona Hamilton/Mabel Finlayson

01851 770 202 01851 770 206/207

[email protected] [email protected]

EMA/Bursary Applications Student Services

Catherine Kelso Kate Mawby

01851 770 242 01851 770 280

[email protected] [email protected] Finance – Part time funding An Cotan Childcare Centre

Donna Graham Erica Gearty

01851 770 241 01851 770 472

Reception – Stornoway Reception - Benbecula

01851 770 000 01851 770 500

Check out our website for more information on the College

www.lews.uhi.ac.uk

and why not follow us on: LewsCastleCollegeUHI

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COLLEGE CALENDAR

AUTUMN TERM

COLLEGE CLOSED - Support staff holiday ... Friday 31 July, Monday 3 August 2015 Lecturing staff return ... Monday 10 August 2015 Graduation ... Friday 28 August 2015 Full time FE students commence ... Monday 31 August 2015 Full time HE students commence ... Monday 7 September 2015 Lecturing staff and students ... finish Friday 9 October ~ return Monday 19 October 2015 COLLEGE CLOSED - Support staff holiday ... Monday 12 October 2015 COLLEGE CLOSED - Support staff holiday ... Friday 27 November 2015 Lecturing staff and student holiday ... Friday 27 November, Monday 30 November 2015 Lecturing staff and students finish ... Tuesday 22 December 2015 COLLEGE CLOSED - Support staff holiday ... Thursday 24 December 2015~Monday 4 January 2016

SPRING TERM

Lecturing staff and students return ... Wednesday 6 January 2016 Lecturing staff and student holiday ... Friday 12 February, Monday 15 February 2016 COLLEGE CLOSED - Support staff holiday ... Friday 12 February 2016 Lecturing staff and students finish ... Friday 1 April 2016

SUMMER TERM

Lecturing staff and students return ... Monday 18 April 2016 COLLEGE CLOSED - All staff ... Monday 2 May 2016 Degree students finish ... Friday 13 May 2016 HN students finish ... Friday 3 June 2016 FE students finish ... Friday 10 June 2016 Lecturing staff finish ... Friday 1 July 2016 Lecturing staff return ... Monday 15 August 2016 Graduation Ceremony (provisional date) ... Friday 26 August 2016

FE SEMESTER/BLOCK DATES

Semester 1 / Blocks 1 and 2 for FE ... 31 August 2015 ~ 22 January 2016 Semester 2 / Blocks 3 and 4 for FE ... 25 January 2016 ~ 10 June 2016

HE SEMESTER DATES HN Courses:

UHI HN Semester 1 ... 7 September 2015 ~ 22 January 2016 UHI HN Semester 2 ... 25 January 2016 ~ 3 June 2016 All UG / PGT Degree Courses:

Semester 1 ... 7 September 2015 ~ 11 December 2015 Semester 2 ... 25 January 2016 ~ 13 May 2016

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Lews Castle College Stornoway Isle of Lewis HS2 0XR T: +44 (0) 1851 770 000 F: +44 (0) 1851 770 001 E: [email protected]

FIVE THINGS YOU NEED TO DO BEFORE COMING TO COLLEGE