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The first group of students to achieve first class honours degrees following an innovative partnership between Abertay University and Dundee and Angus College have paid tribute to the scheme.
This year saw the first cohort of students graduate from the Additional Funded Places Scheme for articulation, which was set up in 2013 to encourage students to progress from further to higher education.
Under the Scottish Funding Council backed initiative, students are offered a place at Abertay at the start of an HNC, subject to them completing that year and a subsequent HND year.
A total of 21 students who took this pathway graduated from Abertay this summer with honours degrees in Computer Arts, Biomedical Science, Computing and Sport and Exercise.
Among them were four who achieved first class honours degrees.
Ben Newcombe, 21, from Dundee, who was home-schooled as a child, came to Abertay after two years at college and now has a first in Computing.
He said: “Abertay is very proactive in going out to the colleges and I’ve benefitted amazingly from it.
“It’s been good to know where I’m going and having that comfort, rather than a fear of not getting into University.
“I’ve now got a job in software development secured at the BBC.
“Abertay is very close knit and there is a great deal of collaboration across different courses which you don’t see elsewhere – it’s a real community feel.
Ryan McGinnis graduated with a first in Computer Arts and has also secured a job.
He said: “While I was at college I was coming into Abertay periodically and getting to speak to students and some of the lecturers.
“I’ve begun work MTC - a creative agency based in Dundee and Edinburgh where I develop web design, branding and other creative projects.
“I interned there last year while I was at Abertay.
“I found that doing the college route was really beneficial, because both Abertay and Dundee and Angus College were great for different reasons.
“College got me prepared after coming out of school and that progression made me feel ready to come into third year. It was a really nice pathway.”
For more information about studying at Abertay visit https://www.abertay.ac.uk/studying/
Caption: Ben Newcombe (left) and Ryan McGinnis graduated at the Caird Hall in Dundee.