SRUC Scotland's Rural College

Strong in our Heritage: Ambitious for Our Future

Four respected partners – Barony, Elmwood and Oatridge Colleges and SAC – merged in 2012 to become Scotland’s Rural College – SRUC.

We exist to deliver comprehensive skills, education and business support for Scotland’s land-based industries, founded on world class and sector-leading research, education and consultancy.

The integration of these three complementary "knowledge exchange" services is of significant value to all with an interest in land-based activities – be they learners, businesses, communities or policy-makers.

The future for the land-based industries will be extremely challenging with competing demands and new opportunities to be addressed. The next generation of business leaders and policy makers will need to be highly skilled and knowledgeable to navigate their way through a complex operating environment.

To achieve this, we will draw on our accomplished history of more than a century of success in supporting landbased communities and industries.

Strong in our heritage, yet stronger still as SRUC, we will strive to lead the way in delivering economic, social and environmental benefits while providing a strong voice for our rural industries.

Student Life

At SRUC we recognise that life isn't all about work. The social aspect of being a student is just as important and there are various clubs and societies that students can join, either at SRUC or at partner Universities or in the local area.

There are also a wide range of sports and clubs that students can participate in. Each Campus has a range of sports facilities available to it as well as those on offer in their local areas.

In addition, each campus draws on its social facilities and those of the surrounding area to offer a wide range of activities. Various student groups organise discos, ceilidhs, cheese and wine parties etc. within the College. These promote interaction among students on different programmes and very often they are fundraising events for end of year balls.

Thinking About Returning To Learning?

Our students come from a range of backgrounds, urban and rural, direct from school or college, after an established first career, or studying whilst working or with family commitments.

We understand that for many, the chance to dedicate all their time to being a student is impractical or that you may wish to take small steps to achieving a qualification.

Our courses are designed to enable flexible study patterns with the opportunity to cash in your achievements at certain stages (for example we offer both an HNC and HND as stand alone awards within a degree programme).

Also our campus learning communities provide a supportive environment in which to learn, with an excellent staff to student ratio that ensures that help is always available.

Please contact our recruitment team if you need any advice, or better still - come along to one of our open days to meet the teaching staff and learn more about SRUC.

Working from Home

If location or personal commitments make attending a campus-based course difficult, then online distance learning may be an ideal opportunity for gaining qualifications in a manner better suited to you.

We have a growing number of online courses which can be taken for general interest or to gain a recognised qualification.

The courses are studied from the comfort of your own home or workplace and you are supported throughout your course by direct communication with experienced and knowledgeable staff.

Weekends Away and Support

The courses are run from one of our six campuses and for some of them there are study weekends to enable hands on experience for particular aspects of your course.

The study weekends also allow time for further support to ensure that you are on track with your module deadlines.

We are continually developing additional online courses, so if the course you are looking for is not listed, please contact us to discuss your requirements.

Flexible Learning

Learning is a lifelong process, developing knowledge and skills via education, training, work and general life experiences.

We have adopted the broad concept where education and training is flexible and diverse and available at different times and places.

Identifying gaps in knowledge and skills is an essential step for people of all ages and SRUC can help you to achieve your goals by providing alternative ways of accessing information.

Some of our academic courses are available on-line, supported by tutorials and study weekends, giving you control over when and where you study.

Other learners join campus-based students, to study individual subjects (modules) on a part-time basis.

Short courses in both academic and non-academic subjects also give you the opportunity to further your exisiting knowledge or try something new.

All these ways to learn are designed to enable you to study either for general interest, to build up modules which lead to a recognised award or for continued professional development.

Career Prospects

The courses offered at SRUC are very varied and open up a huge range of possible career avenues, from engineers to environmental consultants.

Our courses are designed with industry in mind and our tutors understand the workplace that their students are ultimately aiming for.

So by taking a course at SRUC, you will be well prepared for what awaits once you have finished.