General Advice

We are working closely with NHS services and Health Protection Scotland who are taking the lead in responding to this situation and we will take direction from them. Please continue to go to the NHS Inform website for the latest health related information, including advice on self-isolation if you develop a cough or fever.

Meanwhile the following information might be of use:

• Make sure you are aware of the LATEST GUIDANCE from the Scottish Government on how to protect yourself and others  and  detail of the  PROTECTION LEVELS in varous regions of Scotland here.
• The NHS Scotland app Protect Scotland is now available to help reduce the spread and avoid further lockdowns. It uses bluetooth so is totally anonymous and doesn't require setting up an account. We would encourage you to download and use this to help keep you and your communities safe.
• If you have any concerns about your health in relation to suspected coronavirus, please contact NHS24 by calling 111 for advice.
• You might find the current situation around coronavirus difficult and stressful in terms of how it will affect you. This information from MIND, the mental health charity, is useful and reassuring.
• If you are a student with West Highland College UHI you can also contact your personal academic tutor or Student support for further advice.

Studying in Spring 2021

Updated March 17, 2021

Please do not travel to your college centre unless by prior agreement.

You should continue to check your student emails and our website as we regularly update the information we have to provide specific guidance for students at West Highland College UHI. 

Further guidance on travel and transport can be found here, including international travel.  We will also continue to update our website as more information becomes available. 

 If you need to update your contact information for any reason you can help us by:

• HE students go directly to your Student Hub. You will need your Current Student Log in details.
• FE students need to email Registry with your updated details.

If you need any assistance with this, feel free to call 01397 874000 and we’ll be happy to help.

Please note: the Scottish Government have also provided information for your wellbeing and support here.

Answers to further questions you may have can be found here 

or you can get in touch with us at student.services.whc@uhi.ac.uk

Access to our buildings

Access to our buildings for both students and staff is by prior arrangement only and the majority of students and staff will continue to work remotely. Our buildings will be closed to visitors and members of the public.

Initial priority for access to centres is for students on courses that have a highly practical element and need access to specialist equipment and facilities. Except for these practical courses, all other courses will be delivered through scheduled, online connected learning time and flexible learning time. 

We've made a number of changes at our college centres to ensure the health and safety of our staff, students and visitors and have prepared some general guidelines for everyone - please ensure that you adhere to these at all times.

• COVID Safe On Campus Operations – Students

• Safe Conduct and the Coronavirus - a Guide

• COVID Safe On Campus Operations - Staff

Café facilities on our sites

In our Fort William and Portree campuses, we are providing areas for students and staff to eat snacks and lunch, but for the time being there will be no on-site vending or catering. Students should bring their own packed food and we are looking at ways of providing hot water for drinks. This situation will be reviewed and updated regularly in line with Scottish Government guidelines.

Information for students arriving from outside Scotland – Coronavirus

We’re delighted to welcome students and staff from outside Scotland who have to come live and study here in the West Highlands.

Please be aware that the COVID regulations and guidance here in Scotland may be different from your home, so please familiarise yourself with the relevant information here Coronavirus in Scotland.

Further information can be found here from Student Information Scotland.

Local area restrictions

On March 16th, 2021 the Scottish Government published its time frame for the easing of Covid-19 restrictions, 

From April 5, 2021 mainland Scotland will move from temporary lockdown with the instruction to "Stay Local" rather than stay at home.    

The Scottish Government website provides further information.

However, you must remain vigilant to any local changes and abide by any local restrictions that may be put in place if we are unfortunate enough to have a localised outbreak.

Quarantine arrangements

Please check the Scottish Government website for the latest advice as this may change at short notice.

You can find the latest advice on what to do if you need to quarantine  here 

 https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-international-travel-quarantine/pages/overview/

We are expected to take non-compliance of quarantine requirements very seriously and sanctions will be determined on a case-by-case basis, but may include the full weight of the disciplinary process.

What to do if you develop symptoms

ANYONE with the symptoms of COVID-19 should go online to the NHS Inform website to book a test. If you cannot get online please call 0800 028 2816. You should self-isolate at home straight away along with other members of your household.

Further information about what to do is here: https://www.gov.scot/coronavirus-covid-19/

If you are a student living away from home, please contact us and we will support you in arranging for food or supplies so contact us at student.services.whc@uhi.ac.uk - we're here to help.

What do I do / who should I tell if I feel unwell or need to self isolate?

If you are self-isolating, please inform your teaching team so that they are aware. Additional support or questions can be directed to Student Services by email to student.services.whc@uhi.ac.uk or by telephoning 01397 874000.

We have committed to supporting any of our students who need to self-solate and have plans in place for this.  We are also mindful of the guidance from Universities Scotland and have committed to these core standards, so please contact us for any support you might need.

What additional support is there for me?

All students have access to Togetherall, a digital mental health support service which is available online, 24/7, and is completely anonymous so you can express yourself freely and openly. 

The university's health and wellbeing Facebook page provides regular updates, resources and links to help you to maintain your mental wellbeing.

And don't forget to look out for a range of HISA events and activities in the next few weeks to keep you busy and connected.

HISA - social groups and activities

Our Highlands and Islands Student Association (HISA) have been working tirelessly throughout the lockdown period to redevelop existing activity and introduce some totally new opportunities for students across all centres and Academic Partners. HISA can be found through a number of ways including their website, and social media (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram). Please do get in touch with them and see what’s on offer.

Risk assessment

• Covid-19 Risk Assessment

Do I need to register with a new GP?

The Scottish Government has urged us to remind students that you should register with a local doctors' practice to access healthcare support. To register please complete this form. You should then contact a local practice and ask for their email address where you can send your completed form. The link above also provides details of local GPs. If you have problems finding a GP please call 01382 425664 and they will inform you which practices you can register with.