95% of full-time students would recommend NESCol to others
Care
Your future starts here.
Courses
People are at the heart of a career in care. It’s more than just a job – it’s one of the most rewarding professions out there.
Whether you choose to follow a childcare, healthcare, social care or social work path, you’ll have a direct impact on the lives of the people you support.
At NESCol, our experienced lecturers will guide you through courses designed to prepare you for employment. With facilities like a replica care ward and childcare areas, you’ll feel ready to transition from College to the workplace.
View all full-time care courses
As well as a host of full-time courses, we also offer part-time and distance learning in care where you can study at a location near you or choose to study online.
1 in 13
jobs in Scotland are in social care, social work and childcare¹
My time at NESCol was a hugely positive experience — both in terms of my qualification and the knowledge, understanding and perspective I gained and the social connections I have made.”
Callum Gerrie
Callum studied an Access to Social Care course followed by HNC Social Services at NESCol. He then progressed directly into the second year of BA Hons Social Work at Robert Gordon University (RGU).
Career opportunities
What’s it really like to work in the care sector? The Scottish Social Services Council have put together a careers website, where you’ll find role descriptions and stories from real workers to help you choose which kind of job or course to apply for.
Childcare
Childminder, Childhood Practitioner/ Early Years Practitioner, Childcare Support Worker, Education Support Assistant, Nursery Manager, Playworker.
Healthcare
Health Care Support Worker, Midwife, Nurse, Occupational Therapist, Paramedic, Physiotherapist, Podiatrist.
Social Care
Care Home Manager, Housing Support Office (Sheltered Housing), Social Care Assistant/ Support Worker, Social Work Assistant, Social Worker, Youth Justice Worker.
211,510
people employed in social work, social care and childcare in Scotland²
51%
of care services employers reported a shortage of qualified applicants for vacancies³
Where you can study
Did you know we have a replica of a care ward at our City Campus, complete with hospital beds and specialist mannequins? Fraserburgh Campus also has dedicated health and social care facilities, with childcare areas also featuring materials and learning tools that help students make the transition from classroom to the workplace seamlessly.
Study care in Aberdeen
- 4,500+ students
- Fitness Suite
- 4 Cafés
- Quiet & social areas
Our Aberdeen City Campus is situated in the heart of Aberdeen city centre, within walking distance of shops, restaurants, bars and cafés.
Study care in Fraserburgh
- 950+ students
- Fitness Suite
- 2 Cafés
- Quiet & social areas
The bright and modern Fraserburgh Campus provides a fantastic environment for NESCol students, staff and visitors.
Study part-time
Part-time courses are offered at locations throughout the region.
What our students think
More than 3,000 students responded in our Student Satisfaction and Engagement Survey, covering the 2023-2024 academic year. We are delighted to share some of the feedback we received.
“The quality of education here is very high.”
96% of full-time students feel safe and secure at College
“I am happy to be part of the NESCol community. The staff are of a very supportive nature.”
92% of full-time students feel College has helped them develop knowledge and skills for the workplace
“I've loved learning about how the industry works and getting a better insight into what I can do.”
Student stories
Don’t take our word for it!
Diana Barkauskyte
Diana Barkauskyte has progressed through the different levels of childcare courses offered by NESCol and collected her HNC Childhood Practice at the recent Aberdeen Graduation Ceremony at the City’s Music…
Read More
Victoria Grover
Victoria Grover is a HNC Social Services graduate and a passionate advocate for those in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction, a cause extremely close to her heart. 43-year-old Victoria…
Read More
Shania Thom
20-year-old Shania Thom has completed her HNC Childhood Practice and is ready to start a career in childcare as an Early Years Practitioner. Shania came straight from S4 at Banff…
Read MoreGet in touch
Our student advisers can help with any application enquiries.
Contact the team directly by calling 01224 612330, dropping into your local Student Advice Centre, or by emailing studentadvice@nescol.ac.uk. Student advisors are also available on LiveChat when the chat icon appears at the bottom of our website.
¹ Source: Scottish Social Services Council – Report on 2022 Workforce Data
² Source: Scottish Social Services Council – Report on 2022 Workforce Data
³ Source: Scottish Social Services Council – Staff vacancies in care services 2022 report