Our Future

On 1st August 2023, UHI North Highland, UHI Outer Hebrides, and UHI West Highland merged to form UHI North, West and Hebrides.

The merger follows approval by Graeme Dey MSP, the Scottish Government Minister for Higher Education and Further Education, Jenny Gilruth MSP, the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, and ratification through the Scottish Parliament. 

In November 2022, the boards of management at all three colleges formally approved the merger proposal and business case following a 10-week public consultation, which ran from 8 August 2022 to 14 October 2022.

UHI North, West and Hebrides will create an anchor institution connecting rural and island communities through distinctive education and research, shaped by the culture, location, and landscapes of the North and West Highlands, Skye, and Outer Hebrides.  

By coming together, the colleges will have combined capacity, resource, and expertise to better meet the needs of their local communities.

With 9000 students, 600 staff and 19 campuses and centres stretching from Caithness and Sutherland, Ross and Cromarty to Lochaber, Wester Ross, Skye and the Outer Hebrides, UHI North, West and Hebrides covers an area larger than Wales and around 40% of Scotland’s coastline. 

UHI North, West and Hebrides will celebrate its launch in September when all staff and students return.