If you have any questions about anything on this page, or you can't find the right information, please just get in touch with us for a chat - we're a friendly bunch and we're here to help!
- I need extra support
- I want to make a complaint
- I am being bullied or harassed
- I've been asked to attend a disciplinary, Fitness to Practice or Fitness to Study meeting
- I'm having an issue with my funding
- I want to check student policies
I need extra support
There is lots of support available at the college and it all depends on what support you feel you need.
Wellbeing and Mental Health Support
The college has wellbeing advisors that you can access through the Wellbeing Hub. There is lots of information and resources on a variety of topics, you can find out about their activities or book a one-to-one session with a Wellbeing Advisor.
Support for Learning
If you have an additional support or learning need then you should get in touch with Learning Support. They will meet with you to discuss your needs, create an Individual Learning Plan, and work out what reasonable adjustments can be made while you studying.
I want to make a complaint
Complaints can be made by filling in the Complaints Form here or sending an email directly to complaints@edinburghcollege.ac.uk
EC Students' Association can submit a complaint on your behalf but you will need to fill out a Data Subject Authorisation Form and submit this to the complaints department to allow us to be disclosed any information about your complaint.
If you would like us to support you to make a formal complaint, you can get in touch here.
When writing a complaint you generally want to think about three things:
- What the issue is
- How it impacts you
- What you would like done to make it better
It's important to note that although your complaint may be upheld, it might not resolve the issue at hand but it does mean that the college have taken steps to investigate the issue and hopefully steps will be taken to ensure its not repeated in future.
You can read more about the complaints process here.
If you aren't happy with an outcome and have exhausted the appeals process at the college, you can complain to the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO) who are the final stage for complaints about public services in Scotland https://www.spso.org.uk/
I'm being bullied or harassed
Everyone deserves to study and live life without being bullied or harassed. Bullying and harrassment is never acceptable in any form, and in the case of harassment relating to a protected characteristic, can be dealt with by the police as a unlawful discrimination.
According to the Anti-Bullying Alliance, "Bullying is the repetitive, intentional hurting of one person or group by another person or group, where the relationship involves an imbalance of power. It can happen face to face or online."
Bullying and harassment can take many forms, it may be subtle and leave you questioning yourself, it could be passed off as 'banter' or it could be very clear, direct and intimidating. If you are being bullied or harassed you should speak to someone you trust, ideally a member of staff that can help. If you have been the victim or hate or misogyny you can report it either anonymously or with your contact details here.
I've been asked to attend a disciplinary, Fitness to Practice or Fitness to Study meeting
No matter what meeting it is you have been asked to attend, you always have the right to ask for someone to attend to support you during it. The Students' Association team have supported many students during these processes and will try to be available. Please get in touch with us here.
Disciplinary Meeting - Relates to Positive Behaviour, Anti-Bullying and Harassment Policy.
- Usually means there has been an accusation made that a breach of the policy occurred as repeated disruptive behaviour or bullying.
- There will be an investigation and then a disciplinary meeting.
- Outcomes range from no action to withdrawal from your course and in some serious cases police involvement.
Fitness to Practice - Relates to Positive Behaviour, Anti-Bullying and Harassment Policy.
- Applies to courses that lead to registerable qualifications such as care, dentistry or nursing.
- Each registering body will have their own values and codes of practice.
- Students can be referred to a Fitness to Practice Panel after a disciplinary if they are found to have acted unprofessional or in a way that brings their profession into disrepute.
Fitness to Study - Relates to the Student Mental Health and Wellbeing Policy
- Used when issues arise in behaviour, progress or conduct due to a mental or physical health condition.
- Support to Study Panel will be convened with student invited along to discuss issues and how best to support student
I'm having an issue with my funding
Student funding issues can affect everyone, and if you're ever needing advice its always best to ask the college's Student Services team in the first instance. There are Student Services hubs on each campus with specific drop-in times, or for funding queries, you can email the Guidance team on guidance@edinburghcollege.ac.uk
- Further education funding paid by the college, is for anyone on a fulltime course other than HNC, HND and Associate Degrees. This can be further split into Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA), bursary and travel funding.
- Higher Education funding is paid by Students Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) and student Loan Company (SLC). Depending on your circumstances you may be eligble for a bursary from SAAS.
Discretionary Funding
If you are struggling with your finances, you should speak to a Student Services Advisor, who can advise you on budgeting, refer you to resources to help you manage your finances, or help you apply for the discretionary fund.
If you wish to apply for discretionary funding, email guidance@edinburghcollege.ac.uk to request a discretionary funding form. You will need to give a brief description on why you want help, and what you would use the money for if it is awarded.
