Celebrating Excellence
The 2026 Above & Beyond Awards!
What a phenomenal afternoon we had on Thursday, 28th May! Both our Dumfries and Stranraer campuses were buzzing with pride as we came together to celebrate the remarkable successes of our students and hardworking staff.
The event featured the Student Association awards— driven entirely by your nominations! These awards honoured those who truly champion our campus culture, from outstanding Class Reps to incredibly supportive staff. Alongside these, the college’s FE Awards shone a bright spotlight on exceptional academic achievement across every curriculum area.
A massive congratulations to all our nominees and winners! Your dedication is what makes DGC such an inspiring place to learn. You can view all the Above and Beyond Award photos on Flickr.
Incoming Student Association Officers
Nessa Douglas
Student Association President
Karen McIntosh
Student Association Vice President (Dumfries)
Laura McColm
Student Association Vice President (Stranrarer)
Thank you for the SSES
The Student Satisfaction and Engagement Survey was open for 6 weeks during March and April.
A prize draw was provided with two £20 e-vouchers available, The draw was conducted with an impartial member of staff and students from the Lifeskills 1A course. Students from the class selected the winners using a number picker. The lucky winners were a Business HNC Student (Sienna Wykes) and an Electrical Installation SVQ @ SCOF Level 7 student.
Thank you to all the students who took part, a fantastic 61% of students completed our survey!
Enterprise & Innovation: “Start Something” Regional Final
We are incredibly proud to celebrate the fantastic achievements of our students at the recent “Start Something” Regional Final! Following our internal Pitch Fest back in April, three outstanding students – Leon McGarrity, Terence Phiri, and Harris MacMillian – stepped up to represent Dumfries and Galloway College, pitching their innovative business ideas to a panel of regional judges.
A massive congratulations goes out to Harris MacMillian, who secured a brilliant 3rd place overall in the competition! Harris pitched his fantastic venture, ‘D6 Games’, an initiative dedicated to bringing tabletop board games, Warhammer, and Roleplaying Games (like D&D) to a wider audience across D&G, with a special focus on getting more young people involved in the hobby. Along with the bronze medal, Harris walked away with £500 in funding to help bring D6 Games to life!
We want to extend a huge well done not only to Harris for his incredible win, but also to Leon and Terence for their hard work, dedication, and entrepreneurial spirit. You all represented the college brilliantly and have done DGC exceptionally proud!
Powder Keg! End of year Creative Industries Exhibition
What an incredible display of talent we had at Powder Key, the Creative Industries End of Year Exhibition. This spectacular event served as a showcase of work from our brilliant students across a variety of disciplines, including Art & Design, Photography, Visual Communication (Graphic Design with Moving Image), and Foundation in Creative Practice.
It was fantastic to see such a high standard of pieces from learners at all stages of their educational journey:
- National Certificate
- Higher National Certificate
- Creative Practice Degree (Levels 8, 9 & 10)
The exhibition kicked off with a preview evening on Wednesday 27th May, and remained open to the public from Thursday 28th May right through to Wednesday 10th June at D & G College.
A massive well done to everyone who contributed; the standard of work this academic year has been truly phenomenal, and the photos included here capture just a fraction of the vibrant creativity that was on display!
College Sports Awards 2026
This academic year has been nothing short of spectacular for sports at Dumfries and Galloway College, and our recent College Sports Awards provided the perfect opportunity to celebrate the sheer dedication, teamwork, and talent of our student athletes!
From putting in the hard yards during training to giving it their absolute all in competitive fixtures, our students have consistently demonstrated incredible resilience and sportsmanship. We want to extend a massive congratulations to every single student who took home an award, as well as to all the nominees who made this such a thrilling and competitive year. You have done the college proud!
Of course, behind every great athlete is an outstanding support system. We also want to take a moment to shine a massive spotlight on our fantastic sports staff, lecturers, and coaches. Thank you for your tireless commitment, for pushing our students to reach their full potential, and for the countless hours you have spent organising, training, and cheering them on from the sidelines. Your hard work truly makes a world of difference to the student experience. Well done to everyone involved in making this sporting year such a resounding success!
Help & Other Resources
Student Association Resources
Student Support
Welfare Self-Referral Form
Need support? Connect with our Student Adviser team for help with mental health, funding, housing, or general wellbeing. We are here for you!
Student Counselling Service
If you feel you would benefit from professional, confidential support, yoy can self-refer to our Student Counselling Service.
*Please note that our counsellors will reach out to you directly via Microsoft Teams, so make sure your Teams notifications are switched on and you check your messages daily!
SAAS Applications for 2026/27
Funding applications for the 2026/27 academic year are officially open. Go to the SAAS website and submit your application early, ensuring your finances are fully in place for the start of your course.
Student Advisers
Our dedicated Student Advisers — Lindsay Chisholm, Jan Clark, and Tanja Livingstone — are here to support you throughout your college journey. Whether you are seeking advice on student funding, housing, course concerns, or your general wellbeing, the team provides a safe, confidential space to talk.
You can easily reach out to them for support by email
Student Funding
We are dedicated to ensuring that financial worries are never a barrier to your learning! If you are studying at levels 1–6, our Student Funding Team is here to offer clear guidance, advice, and support on a range of options, including:
- FE Bursary & EMA
- Childcare Support (FE & HE)
- Discretionary Funds (Housing & Emergency)
We understand that applying for funding can feel overwhelming. Our team is here to guide you through the eligibility criteria, help complete your applications, and provide updates.
Please note: Students at Level 7 and above must apply for their main funding directly through SAAS.
Get in Touch
- Location: The Point, Room 1012 (directly left of reception)
- Email: studentfunding@dumgal.ac.uk
- Phone: 01387 734 240
- Appointments: Private chats, in-person, phone, or MS Teams, are welcome upon request.
Other Student Help
- Foodbank available in the Student Hub
- Free Soup & Roll available from Canteen at Lunch
- Lunch vouchers are available from Student Advisers for those in need
- Free Breakfast in the Canteen — speak with Canteen Staff