Peter Shaw returned to full-time education at NESCol with a passion for helping others and hopes of making a real difference with a career in nursing.

27-year-old Peter studied NC Photography at Edinburgh College after finishing high school. Unfortunately, life became extremely challenging when they progressed to the HND.

They said, “I experienced severe anxiety and depression, which was debilitating and stopped me from being able to work or study. I fought this battle with my mental health for five years, finding ways to get myself better.”

During this time, Peter found a new source of happiness in their partner, Hannah, whose support played a vital role in their recovery.

Access to Nursing SWAP course

In 2023, Peter was completing an online counselling course while Hannah was studying medical physics at the University of Aberdeen, so the pair decided to move to the Granite City.

Peter said, “I decided that counselling wasn’t for me, as it was more theoretical and I wanted to support people in a practical way.

“I was looking for a career where I could see firsthand the benefit of my work and help people to get back on their feet.”

Inspired by their own experience, Peter realised they would like to go to university to study mental health nursing.

They said, “I couldn’t go directly to university because of my school qualifications. This was when I came across the Access to Nursing SWAP course at NESCol – and I’m very glad I did!”

The Scottish Wider Access Programme (SWAP) offers a pathway to university degrees for those returning to education after a gap or adults entering higher education for the first time.

Peter said, “Being dyslexic, I’ve always had a difficult time with education. On the SWAP course, I found myself thriving in a way I never had before!

“After learning more about nursing as a field, I realised that I wanted to pursue learning disabilities nursing. I am a big champion for giving people a voice who historically haven’t had one, and I could see myself able to make a real impact in this area of nursing.”

Support at NESCol

Peter has flourished academically at College, achieving A grades in all their course units.

They said, “The lecturers have been consistently amazing, delivering the course content in ways that suit everyone. For example, the flexibility with assignments meant I could do a podcast with Hannah instead of an essay for one graded unit.

“My lecturer, Natasha Bruce, was brilliant and helped me so much. She’s a very busy person but would give me as much time as I needed, which was very encouraging.

“The learning support team at NESCol also helped put things in place to help me with my dyslexia during exams.”

Making a difference

Peter has been a very active member of the College community throughout their time at NESCol. As well as being a Class Rep, they’ve helped at Students’ Association events and taught English and Scottish culture at the Language Cafes.

In their local community, they volunteer regularly at Inchgarth Community Centre, where they also sit on the committee.

Peter’s efforts were highlighted at the Go Celebrate ceremony, where they won the 2025 Go Make a Difference award.

Facilities at NESCol

Peter praised the facilities at NESCol, and emphasised how important they can be to creating an inclusive campus.

They said, “The water fountains are amazing, and I wish more places had them. At City Campus, they’re in the same location on each level in Tower Block and it’s great to have access to fresh, cold water whenever you want.

“I liked being able to stretch my legs every 30 minutes or so, which helped my overall health, and I felt more attentive in class.

“The gender neutral bathrooms are also essential facilities that help individuals feel safe. They’re always clean, many of them are wheelchair accessible and there are free sanitary products available.

“I’m thinking about accessibility and inclusivity more as I move into a career involving people with learning disabilities.”

Advice for students

Peter is set to continue their nursing training after the summer, studying for a degree at Edinburgh Napier University. Their advice to students is to put in the effort and think positively about what you can achieve at College.

They said, “Apply yourself and allow yourself to say, ‘I can do this!’. You get from College what you put in. If you can tell yourself you can do this, stay committed and put in the effort, then you’ll come out with flying colours.”

SWAP courses at NESCol

NESCol offers Nursing, Allied Health Professions, and Social Sciences, Arts & Education SWAP courses.

Find out more about SWAP